Spinning beginnings....

I wish I had a much better camera to show off this awesome fiber! My spinning isn't much to look at, but I am enjoying myself. Also, I am intimidated to have to go back and ply all this once it's done! SheepsPyjamas and I are finally having our sockspinalong - we bought the same fiber (same color, too!) and we're going to spin it and see what kind of neat-o neon spring green socks we get! I will invite anyone who reads to join us! Spin to knit socks! It's my first -along, so I hope to make it a good one.

What I am particularly excited for is trying out something in Favorite Socks, or More Sensational Knitted Socks... I am nearly done with my sunrise/sunset socks, and still plodding along on the Sockotta ones. Eventually all will be finished - I'll need needles!

The fiber came from Nick's Meadow Farm. I have some more than this finished, almost 1/2 a bobbin!

To give myself even more impetus to finish, I went on a spending spree at the Woolery and ordered all sorts of Ashford goodies. 4 more bobbins, a niddy noddy (so i can get my *other* spun yarn into a hank!), a repair kit, and The Ashford Book of Spinning. Wow. Yes, I really went all out and treated myself, largely for no reason. Sometimes it just has to happen.

New and knitworthy!

Well hello again! This is what I've been toiling away on..... Enjoy!
Finally, as promised, pictures of my beloved Tsuki scarf. As you can see, I only have ~16" done, but they've been a GREAT 16"! It is being knit on size 6 Nacre needles, which somehow combine the sleekness of metal and the grip of bamboo. I love working with them! The yarn is beyond pleasureable to work with (and it's mohair! Mohair! oh, and silk! Silk!). It is luminous.






Here is a close up so you can see the bubbley, foamy ripples of the scarf. Isn't it delicious? Yummy silk, fun pattern (I've made a few mistakes on how many repeats I've done, but I am sure not ripping back! Besides, I very much enjoy the organic, unrefined nature of the scarf).










Introducing: Sunrise/Sunset Socks! This is a close up of the Sunrise sock (I think because I am working from inside and outside of the ball it sort of reverses). Cherry Tree Hill Supersock (can't remember the real color name...) Size 2 needles, Hiya Hiya, new at Woolcott! They are a little more grippy than my Addis, but my Addis are also really worn out! So these feel great, comparatively. They are also much smaller than my Addis, which I like. They are nice and pointy. These are being done toe-up-two-at-once-magic-loop! It's going pretty well, they are coming quick (ummm maybe because they are all i've been working on!)



And here is the far! See the sunrise and sunset? Kinda a little? Ah well, they might just be my most favorite pair of socks yet! The yarn is so so soft and wonderful to work with. I love the texture of the fabric - perfectly firm! They feel great on, cushy, and the ribbing makes them so comfortable. I'm in love! I need more! Thankfully I have some DK weight in neon blues-greens-yellows (I have a think for brights!)

New aquisitions....

Here is what tempts me as I labor away on a variety of other projects.... Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Crazy Woman! HA! It is my favored combination of blue-red-purples, ever-so-soft, and apparently likes to be knit on 3s.... Although I'd like to see how that works for me before committing to something like that. I like a good, firm sock.

What is keeping my hands away? Still, the Tsuki scarf, which slowly grows and ungulates out of my hand like a coral reef. Pictures to come...
Still, the Sockotta socks, one down, one to go. At least it's started, and living in my purse, ready to go whenever I am.
Lastly, I'm cranking out a baby sweater (bottom-up raglan cardigan in Cascade Superwash). Lotsa straight knitting, but it's small and it's going fast, even at 5 stitches/inch.






And also, this! This is two singles tightly spun together. Next step is plying the 2-plys, which will thankfully not take as long as plying the singles... I thought it would never end! My poor bobbin decapitated itself somehow (I found this out after wondering why my wheel was making all these weird noises....) but maybe with some glue and a little luck I can mend it.
So now, after I publish this, I will get to plying! I am very excited, it's my first 4-ply yarn. I am sure it will be just beautiful.