Progress

So last night I decided to go ahead and ply the Hot Rocks singles. Unfortunately, the singles broke several times while I was winding them, so I have 4 mini-skeins. And I do mean mini! They look great here:
But here's another picture to show you the scale:
(Yes, I do have a pinkie finger - it just didn't make it in the shot.)

I'd say the yarn came out heavy fingering weight. You know how it is with handspun...thicker in some places, thinner in others.

While the spindle was bare, I decided to try out some of the Spunky Eclectic roving Rosemary sent me a few months ago. It is a wool blend, according to the label. So far, the singles are nice. It's one of those fiber blends that just goes on and on forever, though, so what I think will be a nice little chunk of fiber to spin turns into a long process!

I feel like I have a lot of random thoughts bouncing around in my brain this week and yet, I can't seem to articulate any of them well. I hate it when that happens. It's like I'm right on the verge of saying something very profound, but all that comes out is, "Hey look. I spun some yarn."

Back in the swing of things

I think I've been in a knitting slump lately. I know I was in a spinning slump. I'm not sure what has changed, but I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things again. I even have proof.

After much deliberation, I decided to start Anne's Bee Fields shawl. I've loved the pattern since she designed it, but I was waiting for a lull in the knitting to start it. I currently have 2 of the 4 chart repeats of the first section finished. There's no rush on this, but I do want to finish it in a more timely manner than my last two big lace projects. Here's where things stand right now:
I decided to go with the Wooly Wonka laceweight merino (just as Anne did in the original shawl), but I went with "The Silk Road" colorway. The yarn is incredibly nice to knit with and I will absolutely consider it again for future lace projects.

After months of sitting on my desk, casting forlorn looks my way, I got my drop spindle out this weekend. I have 4.6 oz of 100% merino fiber from Copper Pot Woolies in the "Hot Rocks" colorway and I had spun just a bit of it right when it arrived. Then as I said, my poor lonely spindle has had to wait until now for me to get with the program. Here is the progress so far:
I have not done any plying yet with these singles, so I am eager to see how the actual yarn turns out. I'm loving the color though. And I have to say...as much as I would love to have a spinning wheel, I really do enjoy spinning on a drop spindle! A wheel would just be so much faster.

Maybe I'll have another progress report later in the week.

Finally, Some Knitting

Wow. With all the newfound freedom to branch out a little bit with my topics, I have amazingly little knitting to show you. I don't know why I haven't knit much this week. No good excuse, really. It would be so much more exciting to be able to say, "I would have knit a lot this week but I was afflicted with the plague," or "I would have knit more, but I had scurvy." I think those would be valid reasons...but I have been busy staying on top of Natalie's school work and trying to get the kids outside as much as possible before it gets too miserably hot and humid (which, I fear, is right around the corner).

I did start a new sock in the new(ish) Austermann Step Duett yarn "mit Aloe Vera und Jojoba Oil." Impressive, eh? I was happily knitting along and after trying the sock on I realized that it really needed a higher stitch count. Translation for you non-knitters: it was very tight. So here is where said sock stands now:
Clearly, I am back to square one. The yarn really is nice to knit with - you can definitely feel the effects of the aloe and jojoba. Interestingly, the colors of this yarn are a bit distracting to me because all I can think of is Trix cereal. You can almost smell it now, can't you?

I have also been (slowly) working on the Merino Lace Sock from Interweave's Favorite Socks book. It's an interesting pattern and I think the finished product will be lovely - but I only work on it in the evenings when I can concentrate on the charts:

I do actually have a finished object to show you...I finally knit my Jacobean pattern for myself! (see sidebar for free pattern ------>) These are knit in Socks That Rock in the Beryl colorway, which is darker than this photo shows.
I was really hoping to get some sewing or scrapbooking done this week, but so far, nothing. I suppose the week isn't over yet, but I feel like I need to get the house cleaned up before I can do either of those things. The house isn't terrible, but could use some sprucing up since both sewing and scrapbooking will involve dragging out supplies and having space to spread out. I am left wondering, though...am I letting the valid house-cleaning serve as a way to procrastinate about the crafting? I don't know.

A case of scurvy sure would make things a lot more cut and dry.

A Few Too Many, Cap'n Phil

*Another non-knitting post*

Dear Captain Phil,I am very concerned about you and your 11 Red Bull-a-day (plus coffee and nicotine) habits on the Cornelia Marie. Please stop and get in your bunk for a while to sleep. Falling asleep in your chair in the wheel house is not good. Granted, it's not like you are likely to run into anything out on the Bering Sea, but still. Get some sleep already.

Signed,
A Worried Deadliest Catch Viewer in Nashville

P.S. Jake does not need a birthday present from you. He bought that tv to trick out his bunk on your credit card, remember?

Too good not to share

I just posted this over at Posts From the Edge, but I simply must post it here, too. It is far too good not to share. Clearly, these people still get The Urge and I think it's pretty awesome.

Do you get The Urge?

Thanks to those of you who took the time to comment and share your thoughts on my last post. I plan to take each posting opportunity as it comes and see what I feel like writing. It may or may not be crafty, but I will try to include a disclaimer at the start of those posts that are not knitting/crafting-related. That way, the ball is in your court.

This post isn't specifically knitting/crafting-related, but about creativity in general. Do you get The Urge? You know...that overpowering need to create. I think it would apply to whatever your passion is: crafting, writing, drawing, painting, etc. The Urge seems to go in cycles for me and I usually feel it the strongest in the spring. It's almost a physical need sometimes and I'm curious to know if other people experience the same thing.

Right now, I'm knitting (of course), but don't have any major projects going on. The Urge is leading me back to scrapbooking (which I haven't done in...well...I don't even know how long) and sewing. I have fabric to make some valances for the windows in this room and have a few shirts that need some work. Realistically, I need to clean things up a bit before I can scrap or sew, since the desk where I used to do those things has now been taken over by Natalie's school things - but it wouldn't take much effort to set up a workstation of sorts on the kitchen table.

The Urge caused me to get out some of my old violin music and do a bit of technical work. It was somewhat disturbing to see that I was working in those books in 1984, but it is pretty amazing how much the brain retains. I would also love to get a (very) cheap guitar and learn chords. Oh, and start writing music again. Yes, I have a piano and don't NEED a guitar in order to write, but it suits that whole vibe better. Plus, it sounds way different.

Now I'm rambling. How does The Urge affect you?

Wondering

I've been thinking a lot about the whole blog thing this week, so bear with me while I ramble for a bit. My blog was created as a place for me to yammer on about knitting and other creative/hobby stuff, with pics of my kids thrown in on occasion. I never intended it to be a place for me to really write much or share deep thoughts. Sometimes I would like to, though, and I find myself hesitating and thinking, "Is that really a good idea? This is really supposed to be about knitting/crafting, after all..." I don't know. Technically, it is my blog and I can post whatever I darn well please. Then again, if I'm really, really honest, I sometimes find myself getting annoyed when people post about non-craft things on blogs that are "supposed" to be about crafting. Should I be annoyed by that? No, not really.

I have considered starting a separate blog. Is it worth it? Would I really post there? I know that some of the decline in posting on this blog has been a result of having Ravelry available. I can post photos and pertinent info about my knitting there, be part of different groups and have tons of knitty info at my fingertips. I suspect Ravelry has impacted many knit-bloggers, but the issue now for me is really this: do I want this to solely be a knitting/crafting blog or am I okay with mixing things up?

Any thoughts? Anyone?...anyone?... Heck, does anyone even read this anymore?

Always Better When I'm Sick

Bed head, I mean. I could get my hair to do this on purpose if I tried.

Enough With the Colds Already

I really thought I was in the clear with the colds/sickness stuff. It's warming up...things are blooming...yes, that means allergies will kick in, but a full-fledged cold?? Again?? Haven't I had about 14 so far this year?? Thankfully, no one else in this house has it, and really, it's far from the worst I've ever had - but it's enough to make me feel pretty gross.

Anyway, you know you look pretty rough when the girl who brings your drink at Sonic says a perky, "Hi! How are you today?" and then takes a better look at you and says, "Ooooh, you look...tired."

Last Supper on Clearance

Just a head's up...in case you needed your own commemorative set. It's at KMart.

Just Another Day...

...and I've been trying to savor it.

Baby Knits

A new friend is expecting a baby soon and while I don't know her well enough to merit spending a lot of money on a gift, I would like to give her a little something. Or a few little somethings. I decided to rummage through my stash and see what leftovers I have that might become fun baby gifts.

I've always liked the Baby Genius Burp Cloth pattern from Mason-Dixon Knitting...here it is in Sugar 'n Cream dishcloth cotton:
I also wanted to make a pair of fun booties. I've knit plenty of socks but never any booties - and besides, every girl, no matter how tiny, needs some fun shoes, right?
These are the Christine's Baby Booties pattern, knit in Socks That Rock fingering weight (colorway: Space Dust). These were so fun to knit - I'll definitely keep them in mind for future baby gifts!
I still plan to knit a few more little things to go along with these, so keep your eyes peeled...