Tour de Fleece day 2 (yesterday)

Day 2 was yesterday for TDF11 and this is what I ended up with :)  I finished my 4 ounces of BFL that I am calling Fire Roasted Lasagna.  (a roving from The Dizzy Sheep)  I spun this up on Jolene, which is my Cherub wheel.

Today is day 3 and I am going to start the 2nd 4 ounces of this roving and work a little on some bluey-green batts too.  I also cast on a new hat last night, but no pics yet...but I love it so far.  I think my niece will like this one much more :)

The ugly and the good...

I will start with the ugly.  I finished 2 beach projects and hate them both, sorry, but I do.  The striped slouchy hat is done and I don't like it at all.  It looks like a bucket and fits terribly.  It could be the yarn, I admit that, but I still have no love for this hat and hate to give it to my niece (whom I was making it for). 

My 2nd unloved project is the Laser neckwarmer.  I don't like this either and again could be the yarn, but just not feeling it...

Now for the good.  I dyed some yarn yesterday and very happy with the end results.  I used kool-aid for the dye and it was a piece of cake.

First I dyed some handspun with cherry .  The pic doesn't do it justice, I'm pleased with this :)

I then dyed some Plymouth Yarn Encore worsted with cherry and lime.  Both turned out beautiful and will become hats in the near future.  Yeah for a good end result on something this week.
AND....the Tour de Fleece began and I am spinning.  Pics to come....

You can never have too many hats!

Finished the Quick cable slouch hat by Azure (go to Ravelry now and get this pattern!).
I love this pattern and the end hat and love the yarn (Araucania chunky).

Very pleased, want another.

And while snapping pics I thought I would get another of my Dandelion Beret , since the last pic was inside out....ooppss! Sorry about that mistake.  It looks much better the right way and I love this hat too!  Yes, another I want to make again and urge you to go and get the pattern.

Just another Saturday...

While having my morning coffee (cup number 3) I decided to pull out some old stash yarn and make a quick knit project.  (Why another project?  I have no idea, but just wanted to cast something on AND use yarn I had to make me feel productive.  Yeah, makes no sense, I know)

 I went with the Laser by Ashley Aguilar. 
I pulled out some Lion Brand Homespun and size 15 needles.  I would much prefer the Malabrigo she used, but sadly no bulky Mal in my stash :(
I am also gearing up for a little vacation coming up and need some projects to take with me.

And just like any other Saturday (hee hee) I had a bellydance performance.  Twice a year, the troupe I dance with has a big show and they are wonderful!
The ladies are awesome and I love our group!  My mom and grandmother came (big supporters) and rocked it out with us! :) 
I wish I had more pictures of the costumes, because I am all about costumes, but sadly I don't.  This is the only pic I have from the show...boohoo...and I had some killer costumes!

Baubles :)

 In between knitting, I stopped and made a couple of pretty baubles.  I love these earrings :)

I want to make more!  Plans, plans, plans....I need to plan some jewelry time, as well as stitch marker time.
Maybe even a giveaway or too, how fun!

Round of applause....

for me and my finished hat and it didn't take me forever :)
I love this pattern!  It is for the Dandelion KAL on Ravelry and I just love it....say it again...love it! 
His Majesty was gracious enough to take this pic for me before he left for work.  See the unwoven end???  How can you not!
It is still damp, but I wanted to post it's gorgeousness. (though I messed up several times...my fault entirely)

I have a doc appointment today and afterwards will be going to find Aran yarn for another.
I made this one with worsted yarn in the stash pile, but want to try an Aran, which the pattern is written for....love it!

I love hats :)

I have been busy working on my Dandelion hat KAL, trying my best to finish the hat before I run out of yarn :)  Ever been there?  I have a terrible fear I will run out of yarn...ikes! I decided to go with a slouchier version and did the repeat twice (hence fear of yarn outage)

 Here is the hat at the end of the 1-16 row repeats times two.  I love how it looks and feels.  The pattern is wonderful.  I will definitely be doing another.

Now, I did mess up along the way and it is blaringly obvious to me when I see it, but I hope not to you.  I was knitting in the dark (yes, dumb) and watching a movie and messed up.  Once I figured out I messed up I was already 2 rows up and thought FORGET IT, not going back.  So, I will live with my error and NOT knit in the dark again.

I wish you could see how beautiful this design is knitting up, but my 32 oz tea just doesn't model the hat well!!  (hee hee)

Hopefully I will be able to finish this week and get back to finishing my socks...and making a knitting list for the beach :), which is coming up soon.  Thinking about socks and maybe some fingerless mitts...

Finally, something off the needles!

I finally finished my Multnomah shawl, which I love :)  I'm very pleased with the end result, though I ran out of yarn on the 5th repeat.  That made me sad.

I used some handspun I made during last year's Tour de Fleece.

 This is pre-blocking, when it was a wrinkled mess.

And then with the blocking wires, which made life so much easier!

Yes, need to make this again, but with lots more yarn, so I can have the full 10 repeats and lots of flounce on my edge.

Once again a slacker..

My end of the year wrap-up has been going on at work and I have been a busy bee, which means slacking on posting. I had several posts roll through my head, but they never made it to the blog...anyway, here I am. Just sitting here with a cup of coffee and peanut butter toast slapping on a few pics while the poopies snooze on the couch and the kitties chase each other around the table.

You know I am a slow knitter, but I am slow on the tips and tricks end as well. But I discovered this cool beans way to measure my left over yarn and handspun. I love it!

I just couldn't afford a commercial yarn yardage meter, but read several comments on Ravelry about fishing line meters and their wonderful yarn measuring capability. It works! This is my set-up....so high tech. Toss the yarn in the container, thread it through the top, slide through the meter, and wind away. Genius....

Interesting discovery, was winding a ball with a label stating 153 yards. The ball measured 128 yards, hmmmmmmm 128 and 153 does not add up. I hand measured other small samples and ran them through...the meter caught the correct yardage....so why not the other ball???? Mystery.

I have been monogamous on the Multnomah shawl, because I need the needles and just want to finish it! I am so close! I finished the 5th repeat of the lace last night and will NOT have enough yarn to do the full 10 repeats. I will start the 6th repeat this morning and see how far I get.

Meanwhile...

I wound up some steely blue Chaco worsted for the Dandelion Beret KAL on Ravelry. This is a gorgeous beret from Little Yellow Cat. Come join us!

Now off to walk the poopies and make a grocery list, good times.

Gearing up...for TDF11

The time is drawing near for Tour de fleece 2011 and I have signed up for two teams so far.  Who knows, by the end I may be in 10!
I snagged this gorgeous BFL in someone's destash over on Ravelry and it came in the mail yesterday.  I have fondled it off and on...it is so pretty.

I finally posted my Babe wheel on Ravelry this morning, as well as my hand cards.  I'm working towards thinning the herd and utilizing what I have without excess.  Does that make sense????

This beautiful yarn is another destash that was practically given to me!  It is Araucania Aysen in the number 813, what with the numbers????  It is wool, silk, and alpaca and I could knit undies out of it...it is that soft.  I just fell in love with it when I opened the package.  Gorgeous beyond words and thinking of a vest...but open for suggestions.  I think I have right at 800 yards.

Now this is what I have been busying doing this week...

hooties

monkey

 

 

 

I have been making more drawstring project bags, in the hopes of selling them.  I have given several away and now want to make a little money back to cover costs.  They are quite roomy.  These are the medium bags and I believe they are 12 x 13 with the squared corner bottoms.  I will soon post them (not sure where yet) for $15.00.  I LOVE mine and carry projects in them all over town...and work...and events.  (the gals in Home Depot now call me the "knitting girl" because I follow His Majesty around knitting out of a small hootie bag)

Anyway, I have been sewing, spinning on my fire roasted lasagna BFL and working on my Tuscany socks (those *%$@% socks!).
Have a wonderful day!  I am heading to the store for ice cream, since I rode 9.3 miles on the bike and survived!

It's time we say goodbye....

 

My Babe Fibergarden wheel and I are going to say goodbye.   It has been a tough decision, but I have to part with a wheel and i finally decided on the Babe.  She is a wonderful wheel, but I need to let one go.  Downsizing...debt paying...destashing...

I'm sad, but I figure I will post her today on Ravelry, along with a set of hand carders and get cracking on this destashing business....before I change my mind.

And now...off to take some pics of my soon to be cast on projects and my wish list :)

There was a goat....

that came to school...to see a group of PreK kids.  This little lady stopped by Friday afternoon to round up farm week and I had to go and check her out.  She was beautiful!  I want one!!!

But His Majesty reminded me of the "nothing else that eats, breathes, or poops in the house" rule.  :(



I've been pretty much glued to the Memorial Day weekend Spin Off over at Dizzy Sheep this weekend and haven't gotten as much knitting/sewing/spinning done as I had planned.  I was able to grab up some Malabrigo Lace, which I haven't tried before.  I'm hanging in for the batts...where are they????????????

 

I have decided to use this KnitPicks yarn for casting on the 198 yds of heaven shawl on Ravelry.  It isn't a worsted, but I didn't have one in the stash that would work, so going with this pretty, purpley fingering weight. 

 

And I have been reading up on the Book of Wool, which I picked up at the library.  It has a WONDERFUL chart on wool that I believe will help me in deciding on which types to purchase next for spinning.  (branching out from BFL...living a little!)

And the winner is.....

the random number generator gave me comment number 51, which is WREN!
Wren said...

My pets have been given supervisory jobs in my craft room. ;-)

My current favorite thing is making totes.

Your project bag is great. I can think of a million uses for it!

Congratulations to Wren.  I have sent you an email, just let me know your choice and address and I will get your new bag in the mail.

Thank you all so much for stopping by and participating :)  I enjoyed it!  If you like stitch markers...keep coming back.  I plan to do a few stitch marker giveaways in the next few weeks.  Who knows, I may pick up a new craft after reading all of your comments and throw something else up for giveaway!  (I feel like Bob Barker)

Giveaway officially closed last night :)...

I will be using a random number generator to pick the winning comment and post this afternoon...so exciting!!!!  I will be in touch, thank you so much to all that have left comments and I will tell you that I have read some new crafty obsessions I want to try....I'm doomed!

I've joined the giveaway day!

I have joined the exciting giveaway fun over at Sew, Mama, Sew blog.  I am a giveaway host and so glad to be here!  I'm glad you clicked my link and came by to see me.

So, what do I have up for grabs?????  I am offering a lined, drawstring project bag to one lucky reader.  If you are like me, you have too many projects and not enough bags to store them in....or is that just me?

I will be using a random number pick to determine the winner from the comments.  Entries are open until May 25th, so join in the fun! 

The winner will choose between the Dogs on Hogs (blue lined) bag or the Sunny Fun (yellow lined) bag.

I love to sew and have started making project bags.  I hope to start putting them up for purchase on my blog or Etsy....in the future, so please keep coming back.  The bags are sturdy, roomy, washable, flat bottomed, and just darn cute!

Dogs on Hogs bag, lined in blue (10.5 in x 11 in)

inside view, knitting not included :) just there to give you an idea of the roominess

Sunny Fun bag, lined in yellow (12.5 in x 13)

I am a smoke FREE home, but I do have pets, though they are noncrafty. Plus, until they learn to take care of their toys, they are not allowed to play in mine! :)

Please leave a comment....any old comment will do, but I would love for you to share your crafting obsession of the moment...that would be interesting, but could prove dangerous and get me wanting to start a new craft!

Dug through the stash...

So I was having a fiber pity party and wanting some fiber to love on....and decided to go through my stash before I spent money.

I found this lovely 8 ounces of BFL that I had purchased from Dizzy Sheep the last time they had fiber.  (I want them to have some more fiber up for the daily special!)Anyway, I couldn't remember the name of this colorway, but I am calling it Fire Roasted Lasagna :)  The pictures do not do it justice.  It is full of rich yellows, oranges, reds and brown (almost black) and has a little salmon stripe too.

with flash

without flash

I love it!  I'm so happy with the colors coming from this fiber.  What I spun is a little bit that I did to show a group of 4 year olds what a spinning wheel can do.  I was invited to go and talk to a Pre-K class about wool and spinning.

I love doing that.  I took 3 spindles and let them each have a turn at spinning.  We played with raw fleece (that was hilarious...the looks on their face when they smelled the lanolin), we played with locks, I demonstrated hand cards and knitting.

We just had a wonderful time and hopefully at least one will keep that spinning spark in them!

Now....I'm still going to have to buy some fiber to quench that need :)

Wishful Wednesday...

It is a chilly, dreary day here and it has me wanting to go play in fibery goodness to warm my spirits.  So, I'm looking at all of the gorgeous things out their that make me smile....

FibersToYarns has this gorgeous Army Camoflauge superwash BFL fiber that is screaming for me to buy it!  I realize I have no green fiber and I really need this, really I do !  So thinking I may have to get one of her greens by the end of the day.  She has some beautiful colors in her Etsy shop....like this one called Spring Garden.



Christinamariepotter always has beautiful things in her Etsy shop and this yarn is one example.  It is a sock yarn called Fruity Oaty bar and I love it, it is a happy yarn.

FiberFancy is another awesome shop I have discovered and added to my list.  This is Playing in the Kettle and I WANT it!  :)  I deserve it, right?  Since I don't get to go to the fiber fest in NC this weekend, can't I order some roving?????  (Tell me yes!)

FiberFancy also has this SAL going on and it makes me giggle with glee.  I love this movie (if you haven't seen it, get in the car and go find it now) and seriously want to order this fiber.....aaahhhhh self control.  I hinted to my husband that I really needed this, but he didn't bite.  :(  He just doesn't understand my needs....

Rainbows :)

 

We have had major storms in our area for several weeks, including yesterday.  I had an outdoor bellydance performance that was stormed out...but after the rain we had a beautiful double rainbow :)

We had a performance practice this afternoon and the clouds rolled in, causing worry.  But all turned out well, the rain held off, and we were able to practice for an upcoming performance in a horse show!!  Oh it will be so cool!!!!!  I will post pics in a few weeks.

On the knitting front, I am making decent progress on the socks.  I am working on getting to the heels and finally understanding the toe up heel directions.  However, I have decided to try an afterthought heel on my next pair.  If you have done an afterthought heel, please give advice!!!

And on the reading front, I am loving The Zombie Autopsies :)  I love zombies, I have a fascination/obsession with them and this is the latest in my zombie reading.  I recommend it!
I also want to join the Shaun of the Dead SAL in FiberFancy's Etsy shop.  Go check it out :)  and tell me to do it.  I need permission to break my "no fiber/yarn" diet....I need permission :)

Henna....

henna drying...lovely glitter sparkle in the mix

side view of the design

no that isn't mud at the top....that is where the henna is dry and starting to flake off

next morning...all flaked away revealing the lovely design

I love my henna tattoo :)