I'm almost finished my december knitting! There are two last small projects to complete before New Years Day when I go to the last Christmassy party and give them away. One is a hat and the other is a secret project and will be revealed soon. For Christmas this year I got a wheel! Its beautiful and I was able to start spinning with it right away! The only difficult part was putting it back together. I kinda wish it had a dvd or more Ikea-like instructions because it may as well have been in another language for me. I seem to require pictures to compare things to, now just one that points to items on the finished product. I looked at the first line of the instructions I don't know how many times before DH sat down to help. Once he started reading out the instructions I felt a little less overwhelmed and was able to concentrate on the parts and found what the first line was referring to...it was sitting beside me the whole time. I spun up 4oz of some Waterloo Wools beauty and now I'm working on 4oz of the corridale fibre that came with the wheel. Its a little difficult to draft at first but I do find that its easier to draft when I draft really really thin. No complaints there :)
My goals from earlier in the year:
1) Learn to crochet...turn out at least 1 crochet item.
2) Fill my sock drawer with hand-knit socks or, to be more specific, have at least one pair of hand-knit socks for each day of the week.
3) Now that my stash has grown quite larger than I expected - use what is in the stash and only buy at special knitting events (needle emporium tent sale, knitter's frolic, knitter's fair). Disclaimer: yarn bought with gift cards doesn't count :D
4) Knit another sweater for myself
The 1st I completed! I crocheted a few things. I worked on one of the adorable dolls from Creepy Cute Crochet. I didn't finish the stuffing and putting it all together but other than that it is done. I also crocheted a few baby bibs that were given away as gifts. I'm told they are loved. :) I failed on the 2nd but I'm going to transfer that over to the new years goals. The 3rd I did ok. I bought some extra yarn for gifts and I did buy fibre but I don't know if I'm going to count that because while it will become yarn, it wasn't yarn when I bought it :D I also failed on the the 4th...but I did start one! Really I did. I would have finished it if October hadn't come by so fast with the Christmas knitting. Ah well.
New goals for next year - knitting & spinning!
1) Knit a pair of socks each month
2) Spin a sweaters worth of yarn
3) Spin a sock weight yarn
4) Yarn dieting - same as last year, buy yarn only at special knitting events
5) Participate in the Rare Breeds Challenge with the Spin Doctor Podcast group
6) Knit myself a sweater
7) Learn to spin woolen and worsted
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Cutting it close
So its the last day of November and I'm finally doing the blog post. Its been a looooong month. I'm almost done my current contract, so soon I will have a ton of time on my hands to finish Christmas knitting! I'll also be able to go out and buy buttons for presents that are done minus the button(s). And maybe, just maybe I'll have time for a long post!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Podcasts and Fleece Festivals!
Two blog posts in one month! Oh my!
PODCASTS!
I've been listening to a lot of podcasts lately. It helps me get through the work days and sometimes the bus rides home. Unfortunately the Grey's Anatomy podcast doesn't seem to be happening yet really my list is dominated by knitting/spinning. Here are some that I highly recommend (all can be found on iTunes or with a quick search on the ravelry forums):
SpinDoctor - I can not recommend this one enough! She reviews fibre, fibre processors, indie dyers, all kinds of spinning equipment, books, DVDs...the list goes on and on! Great to listen to and very informative.
Knitmore Girls - A mother-daughter knitting production. They are awesome. They talk about spinning and knitting. Go check them out now!
The Knit Wits - A husband-wife team. Its relatively new. She knits, he doesn't but has a background in radio and voice-over work. Its super awesome. I listen to them when I'm having a bad day and it cheers me up. My favourite bit is the apologies at the end. Can't get enough.
Electric Sheep - A podcast done by a woman in London. Its funny, informative and a really great listen. Don't know how to describe it in a way that would do it justice. I started from the beginning and am working my way up to the most recent episodes.
WOODSTOCK FLEECE FESTIVAL
I went with my very good friend to the Woodstock Fleece Festival today. I think I came out with a pretty good haul. I got my first ever fleece. Its a 3.1lb pure Canadian Shetland lamb. Its first sheering. I bought it from Chassagne Farm booth. The woman there was very nice, helpful and knowledgeable about her sheep. The price was excellent and I saw no reason not to buy it!
I also got 4oz from an alpaca fleece. It was so pretty and so soft! I would have bought more if I didn't think I would have gone over budget. I can't wait to spin this into something!
PODCASTS!
I've been listening to a lot of podcasts lately. It helps me get through the work days and sometimes the bus rides home. Unfortunately the Grey's Anatomy podcast doesn't seem to be happening yet really my list is dominated by knitting/spinning. Here are some that I highly recommend (all can be found on iTunes or with a quick search on the ravelry forums):
SpinDoctor - I can not recommend this one enough! She reviews fibre, fibre processors, indie dyers, all kinds of spinning equipment, books, DVDs...the list goes on and on! Great to listen to and very informative.
Knitmore Girls - A mother-daughter knitting production. They are awesome. They talk about spinning and knitting. Go check them out now!
The Knit Wits - A husband-wife team. Its relatively new. She knits, he doesn't but has a background in radio and voice-over work. Its super awesome. I listen to them when I'm having a bad day and it cheers me up. My favourite bit is the apologies at the end. Can't get enough.
Electric Sheep - A podcast done by a woman in London. Its funny, informative and a really great listen. Don't know how to describe it in a way that would do it justice. I started from the beginning and am working my way up to the most recent episodes.
WOODSTOCK FLEECE FESTIVAL
I went with my very good friend to the Woodstock Fleece Festival today. I think I came out with a pretty good haul. I got my first ever fleece. Its a 3.1lb pure Canadian Shetland lamb. Its first sheering. I bought it from Chassagne Farm booth. The woman there was very nice, helpful and knowledgeable about her sheep. The price was excellent and I saw no reason not to buy it!
I also got 4oz from an alpaca fleece. It was so pretty and so soft! I would have bought more if I didn't think I would have gone over budget. I can't wait to spin this into something!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Christmas Knitting Begins
Ok...October blog post! Continuing my goal to post once a month for at least a year.
I have started my Christmas knitting! I have a list and I'm trying to work through it. One of the presents I'm going to take a stab at designing. We'll see how that goes and I'll post the results. I don't want to jinx it :) I've finished one Calorimetry and may make another one. I had to decrease the number of cast on stitches but it took up almost an entire ball of Mission Falls yarn that I picked up at the tent sale. I also have one slipper of a pair finished but I'm kind of bored with it so I'm not sure when I'll start the next one. I'm now using the needle size to make the TTL mystery sock 2010.
Not mentioning names but I had a weird encounter at a LYS recently. First let me say that it is a HUGE store. I had limited time because I got there half hour before closing and looking for specific yarns myself would have taken forever! An employee asked if they could help me, so I asked if they had Madelinetosh. She said no. I asked if they had any Spud and Chloe and she said "No, we don't carry any of those American yarns." She sounded extremely annoyed and you'd think American yarns were a bad thing from her tone. I honestly can't believe there couldn't be any American yarns in the store. Maybe she's sick of being asked about those particular yarns? Being annoyed by those yarns seems kinda weird considering among their many many nice yarns they also have quite the collection of fun fur and eyelash yarns. Plus it was just a question. No need for rudeness. The rest of the employees were very nice so I won't hold it against the store...this time :P
And now for another exciting installment of Those Aren't Pants! I was standing in line for the bus and saw these. I had to take a picture, they're the worst ones I've seen so far. I swear I've seen bras that match these. She wasn't wearing anything over top, just wearing them like pants.
I have started my Christmas knitting! I have a list and I'm trying to work through it. One of the presents I'm going to take a stab at designing. We'll see how that goes and I'll post the results. I don't want to jinx it :) I've finished one Calorimetry and may make another one. I had to decrease the number of cast on stitches but it took up almost an entire ball of Mission Falls yarn that I picked up at the tent sale. I also have one slipper of a pair finished but I'm kind of bored with it so I'm not sure when I'll start the next one. I'm now using the needle size to make the TTL mystery sock 2010.
Not mentioning names but I had a weird encounter at a LYS recently. First let me say that it is a HUGE store. I had limited time because I got there half hour before closing and looking for specific yarns myself would have taken forever! An employee asked if they could help me, so I asked if they had Madelinetosh. She said no. I asked if they had any Spud and Chloe and she said "No, we don't carry any of those American yarns." She sounded extremely annoyed and you'd think American yarns were a bad thing from her tone. I honestly can't believe there couldn't be any American yarns in the store. Maybe she's sick of being asked about those particular yarns? Being annoyed by those yarns seems kinda weird considering among their many many nice yarns they also have quite the collection of fun fur and eyelash yarns. Plus it was just a question. No need for rudeness. The rest of the employees were very nice so I won't hold it against the store...this time :P
And now for another exciting installment of Those Aren't Pants! I was standing in line for the bus and saw these. I had to take a picture, they're the worst ones I've seen so far. I swear I've seen bras that match these. She wasn't wearing anything over top, just wearing them like pants.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Return to blogging
I am returning to blogging. I am a little more motivated to do it again and I'd like to try to motivate myself more towards Christmas knitting. I already have a list of things to make and it feels like its looming over me. I also would love to post more about my spinning. I have made it part of my new 101 things to do in 1001 days to blog at least once a month for a year.
Yes, I have started to spin. In April I bought a beginner spindle at the Knitter's Frolic. It came with some fiber to get me started. I also bought some Fleece Artist fiber to spin afterwards. Its a good thing I quickly learned that due to the dying technique used, the Fleece Artist stuff is compacted, making it slightly difficult to spin, otherwise I may not have enjoyed it so much later. During a trip to the Fibre Garden in Jordon I picked up some different fiber and was well on my way to being completely obsessed with spinning. Since then I have acquired a Majacraft Turkish Spindle and a spindolyn (should be arriving any day now...). Currently I am working on some striped Finn sliver I bought today while at the Fibre Garden for World Wide Spin in Public Day.
Today is a super exciting day for other reasons. I have some time when I can clean up my yarn room (time that I haven't had in recent months). Not only did I find a pair of 2.5mm dpns that I lost quite some time ago...I also found 2(!) tapestry needles I'd also lost months and months ago. Woot!
Lastly I will share my newest game that I play while waiting for the bus to come home. As some of you know I have a really long commute to my work right now...approximately 2 hours and 15-20 minutes each way. I'm on a 5.5 month contract so it will end eventually and I must admit it is worth it for the experience I am getting in my field. Anyways, the game is called "Those Aren't Pants!". I wait for the bus at a university campus and count the number of girls I see wearing leggings. I'm sorry but leggings are not pants. Leggings flatter no one. I don't care how skinny or not skinny the person is...they are not flattering, they're a bit disturbing. I don't count the ones worn with long shirts or with skirts, etc. I'm only counting the number worn just like pants. It just seems wrong...sometimes I feel like they could be charged with indecent exposure. I find it especially weird when they're making out with their boyfriends and the boyfriend is grabbing their ass in public. Ew. My first day playing this game when the new school year started (Monday) I counted 14 in less than 15 minutes. Some of the leggings are interesting because they look like someone cut up a couch to make them. Tuesday or Wednesday there were 17, and Thursday was a bit on the chilly side so the number of not-pants greatly decreased (YAY COLD!) and I only saw 2 in my 15 minute wait.
I'll keep you posted.
Yes, I have started to spin. In April I bought a beginner spindle at the Knitter's Frolic. It came with some fiber to get me started. I also bought some Fleece Artist fiber to spin afterwards. Its a good thing I quickly learned that due to the dying technique used, the Fleece Artist stuff is compacted, making it slightly difficult to spin, otherwise I may not have enjoyed it so much later. During a trip to the Fibre Garden in Jordon I picked up some different fiber and was well on my way to being completely obsessed with spinning. Since then I have acquired a Majacraft Turkish Spindle and a spindolyn (should be arriving any day now...). Currently I am working on some striped Finn sliver I bought today while at the Fibre Garden for World Wide Spin in Public Day.
Today is a super exciting day for other reasons. I have some time when I can clean up my yarn room (time that I haven't had in recent months). Not only did I find a pair of 2.5mm dpns that I lost quite some time ago...I also found 2(!) tapestry needles I'd also lost months and months ago. Woot!
Lastly I will share my newest game that I play while waiting for the bus to come home. As some of you know I have a really long commute to my work right now...approximately 2 hours and 15-20 minutes each way. I'm on a 5.5 month contract so it will end eventually and I must admit it is worth it for the experience I am getting in my field. Anyways, the game is called "Those Aren't Pants!". I wait for the bus at a university campus and count the number of girls I see wearing leggings. I'm sorry but leggings are not pants. Leggings flatter no one. I don't care how skinny or not skinny the person is...they are not flattering, they're a bit disturbing. I don't count the ones worn with long shirts or with skirts, etc. I'm only counting the number worn just like pants. It just seems wrong...sometimes I feel like they could be charged with indecent exposure. I find it especially weird when they're making out with their boyfriends and the boyfriend is grabbing their ass in public. Ew. My first day playing this game when the new school year started (Monday) I counted 14 in less than 15 minutes. Some of the leggings are interesting because they look like someone cut up a couch to make them. Tuesday or Wednesday there were 17, and Thursday was a bit on the chilly side so the number of not-pants greatly decreased (YAY COLD!) and I only saw 2 in my 15 minute wait.
I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
A Year in Review
I got most of my Christmas knitting accomplished and then some. I added an extra scarf because a little birdie told me my mom was really hoping for a scarf really close to the last minute...eek. But mission accomplished and the scarf was well received.
It's been a very yarny Christmas, for which I am very grateful. I plan on cutting back on my yarn buying this coming year a little bit. Which brings me to reviewing my new years resolutions of 2009:
It's been a very yarny Christmas, for which I am very grateful. I plan on cutting back on my yarn buying this coming year a little bit. Which brings me to reviewing my new years resolutions of 2009:
1) Knit a hat that fits without adding elastic - DONE! x several more. There were several Christmas hats knit this year, all of which fit and some were hats that were double thick!
2) Knit a pair of socks - DONE! I love knitting socks...socks are beautiful.
3) Acquire more bamboo needles - DONE! Love the bamboo needles. I use them for every project I can. I really only switch to plastic when I need to use my circular needle set.
4) Start attempting to knit a sweater (if not finish one) - DONE! Vivian turned out beautifully and I managed to make a sweater for my husband very secretly.
5) Fix a mistake vertically (if a problem presents itself) - DONE! ...thanks to Vivian but still she turned out beautifully.
6) Increase my stash - increase the amount of wool I have - DONE...and oh boy have I ever.
My new years resolutions for 2010 (yarn related again of course and in no particular order):
1) Learn to crochet...turn out at least 1 crochet item. I'm already on my way. My nana showed me on Christmas so maybe it would be better to say I want to teach myself more about crochet a to crochet a few items.
2) Fill my sock drawer with hand-knit socks or, to be more specific, have at least one pair of hand-knit socks for each day of the week.
3) Now that my stash has grown quite larger than I expected - use what is in the stash and only buy at special knitting events (needle emporium tent sale, knitter's frolic, knitter's fair). Disclaimer: yarn bought with gift cards doesn't count :D
4) Knit another sweater for myself
My new years resolutions for 2010 (yarn related again of course and in no particular order):
1) Learn to crochet...turn out at least 1 crochet item. I'm already on my way. My nana showed me on Christmas so maybe it would be better to say I want to teach myself more about crochet a to crochet a few items.
2) Fill my sock drawer with hand-knit socks or, to be more specific, have at least one pair of hand-knit socks for each day of the week.
3) Now that my stash has grown quite larger than I expected - use what is in the stash and only buy at special knitting events (needle emporium tent sale, knitter's frolic, knitter's fair). Disclaimer: yarn bought with gift cards doesn't count :D
4) Knit another sweater for myself
Friday, October 9, 2009
No judgement here
First off I have 4 pairs of socks on the needles (3 for me, 1 for dh) and I have my eye on another pair of socks that I really feel I must start making immediately! Hold your judgement! To be fair one of the current ones and the one I have my eye on are sort of mystery socks... so I have to wait for the clues to go up and there's plenty of knitting time in between to work on the other socks and knitted gifty items. Speaking of which....
I'm modifying my items to knit for Christmas list. All the items in red are probably not going to happen...oops. I think I got in a little over my head!
Christmas
- Socks for Omi(-in-law) - (see below)
- Socks for Opi(-in-law)- I don't think I'm going to have the time... and am selfishly hoarding all knitted socks for myself. How else am I going to realize my dream of having a sock drawer with only hand-knit socks? If I keep knitting for others, the demands are going to keep growing and growing. I think a nice hat or scarf would be a lovely substitute.
- Super Secret Sunset Sweater #2 - super secret sunset sweater #1 took a tad longer than I thought and super secret knitting is a little exhausting... add to that the companion sweater that MUST go with super secret sweater #2 probably won't be knit by the companion knitter in time either and we have a sweater plan that is being put off for a while.
- Hat for dad - double-thick wool hat!
- Scarf for mom - this item is in grave danger of being taken off the list! she's just so hard to buy for, let alone knit for! I knit her a pair of socks and those accidentally got put in the dryer...I knit her a scarf before that to a length that I thought she would like. She always says she wants shorter scarves....apparently it was too short. Along side that, I just don't have the patients for most scarves anymore (minus the buffy scarf which is coming along nicely...it made a nice tv companion for a few nights and I love the colours...so maybe if I make it colourful...)
- Hermione Hat for brother's gf + one for myself
- Socks for SIL - well I started them...and there was this thing where I had to make 5 stitches out of 1 (four times)...I kept knitting and am falling in love with how awesome they are. Maybe slightly less complex socks would be a better gift... i don't thing I'll be able to bring myself to part with them. Besides we have lots of gifts stockpiled for her...and I can always make them another time! Maybe for her birthday!
- Hat for FIL - finally I added to the list! Well he said that he had this hat knit by Omi out of shetland that smelled, and got worse when the hat was wet so he was convinced that all wool knit hats would do that. aha! a challenge. Then he told me the story of his favourite Montreal Canadians hat he accidentally left in store once. Well I still have quite a bit of yarn left over from the sweater, more than enough for a hat!
- Hat for DH - probably will be more of a just-because gift since I sort of promised him the hat a while ago but it will be around Christmas so I'm including it in this list.
- Felted bag for friend of the in-law family - her brother is getting this giant awesome gift... draagon realized she's a little left out in the big gifts so draagon is knitting her a present and I'm probably knitting this as a companion present. I hope she appreciates knitted items! But it will be fun to work on some felting anyways :)
- I think there was something else that I'm not thinking of at the moment...but maybe that's good. The modified list is already too long :P At least there are less socks.
I'm modifying my items to knit for Christmas list. All the items in red are probably not going to happen...oops. I think I got in a little over my head!
Christmas
- Socks for Omi(-in-law) - (see below)
- Socks for Opi(-in-law)- I don't think I'm going to have the time... and am selfishly hoarding all knitted socks for myself. How else am I going to realize my dream of having a sock drawer with only hand-knit socks? If I keep knitting for others, the demands are going to keep growing and growing. I think a nice hat or scarf would be a lovely substitute.
- Super Secret Sunset Sweater #2 - super secret sunset sweater #1 took a tad longer than I thought and super secret knitting is a little exhausting... add to that the companion sweater that MUST go with super secret sweater #2 probably won't be knit by the companion knitter in time either and we have a sweater plan that is being put off for a while.
- Hat for dad - double-thick wool hat!
- Scarf for mom - this item is in grave danger of being taken off the list! she's just so hard to buy for, let alone knit for! I knit her a pair of socks and those accidentally got put in the dryer...I knit her a scarf before that to a length that I thought she would like. She always says she wants shorter scarves....apparently it was too short. Along side that, I just don't have the patients for most scarves anymore (minus the buffy scarf which is coming along nicely...it made a nice tv companion for a few nights and I love the colours...so maybe if I make it colourful...)
- Hermione Hat for brother's gf + one for myself
- Socks for SIL - well I started them...and there was this thing where I had to make 5 stitches out of 1 (four times)...I kept knitting and am falling in love with how awesome they are. Maybe slightly less complex socks would be a better gift... i don't thing I'll be able to bring myself to part with them. Besides we have lots of gifts stockpiled for her...and I can always make them another time! Maybe for her birthday!
- Hat for FIL - finally I added to the list! Well he said that he had this hat knit by Omi out of shetland that smelled, and got worse when the hat was wet so he was convinced that all wool knit hats would do that. aha! a challenge. Then he told me the story of his favourite Montreal Canadians hat he accidentally left in store once. Well I still have quite a bit of yarn left over from the sweater, more than enough for a hat!
- Hat for DH - probably will be more of a just-because gift since I sort of promised him the hat a while ago but it will be around Christmas so I'm including it in this list.
- Felted bag for friend of the in-law family - her brother is getting this giant awesome gift... draagon realized she's a little left out in the big gifts so draagon is knitting her a present and I'm probably knitting this as a companion present. I hope she appreciates knitted items! But it will be fun to work on some felting anyways :)
- I think there was something else that I'm not thinking of at the moment...but maybe that's good. The modified list is already too long :P At least there are less socks.
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