I made yarns

Spinning Wheel

So I bought a spinning wheel. My parents gave me money for Christmas because I didn't go home, etc. So I spent the money on a new shiny spinning wheel - a beautiful mahogany Kromski Minstrel. I loves it.

See..

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Spinning

So a few weeks ago I learned how to drop spin. This was not something I had intended to learn how to do. I am definitely an instant gratification type of girl... why on earth would I want to spend my time learning how to spin, then spinning, then finally getting the time to knit with said yarn. Well the fate of the yarn gods apparently decided me learning this new skill was a good idea. I received a lovely present of roving from a Ravelry contest. It was so pretty.... but I wanted it to be yarn NOW. I tried to list my new found yarn friends in Connecticut to spin it for me, but all I got was we can teach you. No... I don't want to learn, I just want yarn. But the roving won me over, and so I embarked on learning how to spin. I was loaned a drop spindle and left over roving to practice on.... then less than 24 hours later I made yarn.

The roving

The first set of singles...

Half done

Plying

Skeined


Wound and ready to use.
(Ball winder and swift...best inventions and best present EVER)

Now I just have to figure out what to do with it....I think there's about 70 yards. It's definitely not consistent in thickness...oh well. Right now I am just looking at it. Now I have this to play with while I figure out the best way to use my new handspun...

The great de-stash of 08

SO.....

I've decided I am not allowed to start new projects until I finish a few of the WIPs that are sitting around. Moving gave me a perfect opportunity to reorganize my yarn. I found stuff that I had forgotten I even had. Between half of it being in Florida for most of the year and living out of my car, I could only have a limited amount of yarn with me at any given point. I am attempting to catalog all the yarn, add it to the stash in Ravelry and figure out projects for them. But first I have a giant Tupperware container filled with unfinished projects that need to be worked on.

The greatest part of reorganizing everything... I have a handy dandy ball winder and swift thanks to the lovely ladies from Blacksburg. (I miss you all greatly)

I've been knitting the Union Square Poncho from Weekend knitting for over a year...it's not a hard pattern I should be DONE with this thing. I measured it this morning and I am over half way done. I actually might not knit it to the 54' because the yarn has a lot of give, and I am afraid it will stretch out. I've started putting it in my bad daily so when I have a few moments I can get a row or two in... I really would like to finish this thing sometime in the next century.

I found the scarf I am making out of Be Sweet... a plain knitted scarf. I think there's 15 stitches across... yeah half done. Why don't I just finish these things? Also a bag I was making out of noro...everything done except the shoulder strap and the seams. Easy enough to finish.. now I just need to find the time.

With organizing my yarn I've found 8 different sock yarns waiting to be made projects. I pretty much have enough yarn to not buy yarn for the rest of the year and just knit from stash. I could probably go two, but I have no self control. I am hoping with my lack of free time to actually go buy new yarn, that I will get projects done,

I am still trying to figure out what I am going to make with this yarn.....it hasn't spoken to me yet, other than saying "take me home."I won this from Ravelry....so I may learn how to spin. I don't think I have time to learn how to spin, nor do I really have the desire right now... but I am dying to know how this yarn is going to take form.

Moving etc.

Well... I am officially moved and mostly settled in Connecticut. I still need to buy a few things and organize my closet. My clothes have a way of taking over my room. I did order TV and Internet today, so I guess I should actually go buy a television soon. hehe.. I have no couch, TV, microwave, or coffee pot. These things need to be fixed. I also need silverware, I have 4 spoons, that's it. I didn't realize all the stuff I had or didn't have because most of it has been in storage since December and I didn't live at home for almost a year.

Graduation was graduation. My family is crazy and they drive me nuts, but I love them. They are the only family I have. My Uncle hooded me during the ceremony and I got to spend some time with my cousins, who I never see, so that was nice. We visited a few wineries, which always makes me happy. I took the $250,000 piece of paper by Mosaic. I also knitted during graduation. I am only moderately addicted to yarn. :)










I started a new sock the other day, because I completely don't need to start new projects. I bought some lovely Socks that Rock yarn from Knitters Knook. If you are ever out in the middle of no where (aka Boons Mill, VA) Becky was very lovely and she has a good selection of yarn, and you should visit her.




The sock is a little big.... I need to start decreasing for the toe earlier than I think I do. I have ridiculously small feet and I apparently forget that. The pattern is waterfall rib from Sensational Socks. I have a feeling it's going to be a wearing around the house sock due to the largeness... oh well. I guess I could frog it and make it smaller, but that will most likely not happen.

I am thinking about venturing out to the Knitting in Public event in Windsor CT... but first I need to buy a TV and microwave.

Oh hello..

So I might have died, but no worries I have returned from the abyss that was living out of my car for the year. Ok I still live out of my car, but only for a few more days, then I am really homeless, and then I am moving to Connecticut, so all is good.

I am back in Virginia, finishing up my last rotation... 4 days left to be exact. Oh what a lovely number that is... Friday might be the greatest day of life EVER!!! and really I am not exaggerating at all. First it's my birthday, which automatically makes it an awesome day, it's the last day of med school, and really life doesn't get much better than that. But on top of all of that, it's my best friend Sarah's Bachelorette party. So pretty much the most fun had in all of history all in one day... oh can't it be Friday yet?

Then Monday it's off to CT to find a place to live, play in NYC for a few days, see Spamalot for my Birthday, hit up Boston for some food and times with friends. And my sister is joining me for the CT-NYC-BOSTON trip.. so that should be FUN!!!!

After all of that... Sarah's wedding, then 4 day cruise to Mexico with my other bff's Michelle and Gerri. I'll get to spend a little bit of time in Florida, hanging with the family, etc. Then back to VA for another wedding and then GRADUATION!!!!! *** does happy dance***

So that's the recap of what's going on. I am not uber stressed out about the housing thing yet, but I might get there Monday as I drive to CT.

On the knitting front... I've finished a couple of pairs of socks. A 2x2 ribbed sock made from Noro... the yarn is kinda scratchy when you knit with it, but once on... I didn't notice anything and it's very warm. My toes will be toasty warm.


I finished Charade for my momma. I put them in the mail this afternoon. I am sure she will forget to be nice to them, but that's ok. They look nice right now.


I made Knitty's Coronet with some lovely hand spun yarn I got from a LYS in Gainesville (Hanks Yarn). Very lovely store... if you are ever down in Florida.. you should visit. They were by far one of my favorite yarn stores of the many I visited this year.


As always I have a million WIPs... the forefronts are Cozy V Neck Pullover from Fitted knits... in Vermilion Malabrigo. The yarn is a lovely shade of red, the name makes me giggle, and it's just the softest yarn. I want to knit sheets out of it and wrap myself in the yarn...
(the picture was taken before I got to the ribbing.. so I am further along now)


On Ravelry.. the Mosaic Maniacs are doing an online KAL of the Lace Ribbon Scarf from knitty. I am 2 repeats in. I am using Schaefer yarn Anne. I don't the exact colorway, but it's red/pink/orange. It should match my lovely red sweater.


I am sure I'll cast on another sock in a day or so.. I like to have a pair on needles at all times. They travel so well and fit in coat pockets. I really don't sit around and do nothing very well.

I also have Jeanie on the needles... but this is going to be a long process for her. It's not a terribly hard pattern, I just have to pay attention and it's time consuming. Eventually I will finish.


Well I think that's about it.. hope all is well.