Tuesday, June 06, 2006
It's a new month!
It seems that the last couple of posts may appear to be a little on the negative side. I'll try to be more positive in this picture-less post.
I have been knitting some, but more so I've been spinning on my drop spindle. When I took the class a month or so ago to learn to spin I purchased some fiber, and the mere act of looking at it day after day, has motivated me to work thru some of it. I'm currently spinning up some gorgeous purple roving, which will become socks someday, as soon as I figure out what I want to ply it together with. Also, I've spun up some handpainted llama on the spindle to swatch it and it's gorgeous, but will not become socks as originally intended. It's a little too furry and the thought of all that fuzz gathering between my toes whilst inside shoes is not very appealing. I'm thinking maybe the "boobholder" sweater from Glampyre instead.
I went Saturday with my daughter and Amby to Heritage in Lake Orion to check out some spinning wheels and of course their fabulous fiber supply. I met several great ladies there, and Crystal especially took me under her wing and helped me spin on a few different wheels. Since I've been actively looking for a wheel, I thought it would be wise to spin on different ones to see which ones I like, and more importantly which ones I don't. The Schacht was nice, but way too pricey for my meager budget. I spun on the Ashford Joy, but didn't really like it's small frame. I kept thinking I was going to knock it over or something, and the wheel kept backspinning on me. I think I need a little more wheel to feel comfortable sitting at it. I have met a really nice person who is selling an Ashford Traditional so keep your fingers crossed that I can get all my ducks in a row and take it off her hands for her. I've used both the Ashford Traditional and Traveller and feel comfortable with either one. My daughter and I went to Ewe-nique Knits after Heritage and rented a Schacht for 2 1/2 hours. I got about 1/2 of my llama spun, while my daughter kicked some serious fiber butt, by getting thru most of her bright yellow roving. She does me proud, that girl!
While at Heritage, I bought some fun pink, black and white COTTON to try my hand at spinning that. I know what you're thinking. Cotton is very hard to spin and not for the weak fingered or newbie spinner. What can I say? I like to get the hard stuff out of the way early on. Maybe that's why my first two major knitting projects after the scarf break-in period was a sweater and a pair of socks. I enjoy the challenge and don't buy into the "it's too hard for beginners" that is floating around out there. I'm hoping to free up my spindle soon so I can get that cotton flying!
This is the last week of school for my darling 5th grader! Whoo hoo! I'm happy for her, even if I still have to go to work every day. I have 2 more aerobics classes and then I'm off till the end of July. I'm looking forward to the break and to having our evenings almost completely commitment free. More time for knitting, spinning and just out and out playing. That's always a good thing.
No socks yet, but I did get an e-mail from my sock pal that she was almost finished with the socks and they should be mailing out soon. I'll keep you posted!
Have a great day!
I have been knitting some, but more so I've been spinning on my drop spindle. When I took the class a month or so ago to learn to spin I purchased some fiber, and the mere act of looking at it day after day, has motivated me to work thru some of it. I'm currently spinning up some gorgeous purple roving, which will become socks someday, as soon as I figure out what I want to ply it together with. Also, I've spun up some handpainted llama on the spindle to swatch it and it's gorgeous, but will not become socks as originally intended. It's a little too furry and the thought of all that fuzz gathering between my toes whilst inside shoes is not very appealing. I'm thinking maybe the "boobholder" sweater from Glampyre instead.
I went Saturday with my daughter and Amby to Heritage in Lake Orion to check out some spinning wheels and of course their fabulous fiber supply. I met several great ladies there, and Crystal especially took me under her wing and helped me spin on a few different wheels. Since I've been actively looking for a wheel, I thought it would be wise to spin on different ones to see which ones I like, and more importantly which ones I don't. The Schacht was nice, but way too pricey for my meager budget. I spun on the Ashford Joy, but didn't really like it's small frame. I kept thinking I was going to knock it over or something, and the wheel kept backspinning on me. I think I need a little more wheel to feel comfortable sitting at it. I have met a really nice person who is selling an Ashford Traditional so keep your fingers crossed that I can get all my ducks in a row and take it off her hands for her. I've used both the Ashford Traditional and Traveller and feel comfortable with either one. My daughter and I went to Ewe-nique Knits after Heritage and rented a Schacht for 2 1/2 hours. I got about 1/2 of my llama spun, while my daughter kicked some serious fiber butt, by getting thru most of her bright yellow roving. She does me proud, that girl!
While at Heritage, I bought some fun pink, black and white COTTON to try my hand at spinning that. I know what you're thinking. Cotton is very hard to spin and not for the weak fingered or newbie spinner. What can I say? I like to get the hard stuff out of the way early on. Maybe that's why my first two major knitting projects after the scarf break-in period was a sweater and a pair of socks. I enjoy the challenge and don't buy into the "it's too hard for beginners" that is floating around out there. I'm hoping to free up my spindle soon so I can get that cotton flying!
This is the last week of school for my darling 5th grader! Whoo hoo! I'm happy for her, even if I still have to go to work every day. I have 2 more aerobics classes and then I'm off till the end of July. I'm looking forward to the break and to having our evenings almost completely commitment free. More time for knitting, spinning and just out and out playing. That's always a good thing.
No socks yet, but I did get an e-mail from my sock pal that she was almost finished with the socks and they should be mailing out soon. I'll keep you posted!
Have a great day!
// posted by Dana @ 2:52 PM 
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I guess you figured me out -- they went in the mail on Wednesday, Priority Mail -- so they will likely get there this weekend or on Monday. You notice that I didn't post the finished picture as I wanted there to be a little surprise (not that there hasn't been enough anticipation). I will likely post the sock pictures on Monday so...check out the blog at your own risk -- hopefully you will have them in your hot little hands by then. I do hope they fit -- I think they turned out pretty cool and I may have to make some similar ones.
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