Show and Tell

Remember this roving that I bought a few months back?

Lindy had fun this weekend making this:

Here are the singles before plying.  I had never spun color before.  It was fascinating watching the colors blend and wondering what it would look like in the end.

Here is the skein....4 oz....100% Merino...444yds...prebath!

And some close ups!

Yum!

I'm an addict!

As promised....here is what Lindy and I've been up to!  Here are the bobbins full of singles!

They kept multiplying....6 in all (maybe I need more bobbins...who would have thought!)

Then I plied them!  Here is some of the yarn wrapped on the niddy noddy (this pics is for those who don't know what a niddy noddy is...I was right with you a few months ago...but they are handy little things)

and a close up!

So the 6 bobbins turned into 6 skeins of yummy yarn!

This is in the prewashed state.  Now the yarn is drying all over my apartment :)

a close up!  It is 70% Shetland, 30% Mohair...710 yds.....14.7 ounces of yarn!  I think it turned out fairly uniform too!

This is my favorite pic with Lindy in the background.   (shhhh...this yarn is a Christmas present for a dear friend....shhhhh don't tell)

Introducing...

.....so I didn't go with any of the names I was thinking of....or any of the suggestions given....although I appreciate them all.....after some bonding time.....it is clear.....she is a 

LINDY!

Meaning: sweet or pretty!

Let me be the first to admit that I'm completely, hopelessly addicted to spinning!  It is so true!! Here are my first two skeins from Lindy!  

5 oz and about 400 yards!  (It looks a lot better than what I was able to do on my spindle!)

This is some of the fiber sent with the wheel that I just grabbed the first night to get going.  I'll have to look again to see what is all in it!  I plied it Sunday and gave it a bath.  Today it was finally dry!

So last night I spun this bobbins full of singles....I told you I'm addicted!  I was surprised that I'm getting faster....this took under 2 hours!

Don't worry, there is so knitting going on too!  My Old Shale Shawl is almost done, but showing unblocked lace is so uninspiring, so you'll have to wait!

Am I boring you?

Since I don't really want to bore you with pics of last nights spinning....well I can't resist!

The unnamed wheel and I are getting along brilliantly!  Okay enough about that....last week I agreed to my first commissioned knitting project!

I'm going to make a stocking like these.  A lady on campus sent out an email looking for a knitter.  Her mother made these stockings all the time (often as baby gifts) and had made them for the whole family too.  Her mother has now passed and she it not a knitter.  With the addition of a new daughter in law another stocking is needed!  I'm trying to match the discontinued yarn Patons Look at Me baby sport weight yarn.  Any suggestions?  I'm going shopping this weekend to see what I can find!  Have a super weekend!

How did that rumor start?

Yesterday in the comments it seems that someone, who will remain nameless, started a rumor about me making handspun yarn for all of you.  Now trust me I wish that were possible, but I do have to finish a degree in this lifetime!!!  (maybe...after the first of the year....I'll have a contest....with a prize....maybe some handspun yarn....what do you think?)

Wheel update: It is on the truck coming to my house!!! DH graciously rearranged his schedule so he could be home for most of the day to sign for it (thank you dear!) so hopefully....

Today I'm also going to participate in "Whisker's on Wednesday."  KSee always has such cute pics on Wednesdays and I caught a few of Knox this week so I thought I would share!

Who knew a brown bag could be so much fun?

And just the right size?

In response to my most recent socks....here is the chart I followed.  (I've posted it on my ravelry project page too!)

The dots in the cable mean you purl that stitch when crossing the stitches.  I had a hard time telling which ones had a dot in the original pattern.  Still have questions about this pattern?  Ask away!

Old Shale

First off....I voted, did you?  whatever your opinion, please go vote!  We are so blessed to live in a country where we have the right to voice our opinions!  (The lines weren't so bad at my polling place)

With the socks finished a new project was needed!  I started Evelyn Clark's Old Shale Lace Triangle Shawl (it is published in Spinoff...which one of my knitting friends gave me)

 

The pattern is really simple but well suited for handspun yarn and interesting enough to not be boring!  Yes I'm using my second skein of handspun on the project.  It looks super, but as with all lace the true transformation will come with the blocking.  I'm just going to knit until I run out of yarn and then call it good!  Hopefully it will be big enough.

Knox wanted to help take the picture!  :)  She has been so cuddly since the weather turned cooler and I'm enjoying every minute of it!   Spinning wheel update:  Fedex says it will be here tomorrow!!! Talk about fast.  I must hurry and get all these Christmas projects finished!!!  I got a good suggestion on a name for my spinning wheel yesterday and I'm definitely mulling it over. 

No pictures today, but...

A post without pictures....is it still a post?  Even though there are no pictures I do have some exciting news to share.  Monday night I bought a spinning wheel!  Yep, it will be here before long.  A very nice lady in Michigan was selling her Lendrum DT complete (with bag).  She said she was doing to many crafts and needed to focus on what she liked best, so....now I get a new toy (and an early Christmas present)  Pics will follow as soon as it gets here.  Now I'm working hard on my knitting and Christmas crafting projects so I can play when it is here!

What super friends!

Six months ago I only knew 2 people who knit/crochet/spin in Baton Rouge.  Since then I have met this awesome group of ladies who are so much fun, who share so many of my passions!  They are spinners, knitters, crocheters, encouragers, enablers, and givers!

Tuesday night, one lady GAVE me these:

A whole bunch of spinning magazines!!!  She decided spinning isn't for her right now and thought I would like them.  (They aren't helping me be patient to find the perfect wheel!)  There are so many great projects made with handspun yarn. 

Doesn't this scarf show off the yarn great?  Plus the magazine shows 10 others scarfs (all the same pattern) made with different handspun!  (Oh where is my wheel....must spin faster)

and look at these socks!  I don't feel ready to make sock yarn yet, but the pattern looks nice and I know it won't be long.

Then fellow grad student and knitter (she also attends knit night) thought I would like to borrow this book of hers.

Very cool!  My personal favorite are the pillows showing different braid equivalences.  Yep!  real topology in this book (that is what I study in case you were wondering, not braids, but topology)

Now that my reading list is set for a while, I need to figure out how to knit and read at the same time!

Well...

...sometimes it is love at first sight (like my spindle) and sometimes it isn't (like the wheel).  I haven't given up, but this didn't come as easy to me as the spindle.  And trust me after and 1 1/2 hours I was ready to go back to my spindle.  N keeps telling me it is a "feel thing", so I will keep trying at it, but it didn't "click" last night.  Here I am, very excited before starting on the wheel.

Watching N show me what to do.

S at the Great Wheel.  I tried that too and it was much easier, but it operates on a different principle and there is no way one could fit in my apartment.  (DH just wouldn't go for it....I think I could talk him into a smaller wheel, but I want a little more confidence that I can do it)

Here is my humble attempt at spinning on the wheel!

So all in all a fun night, but it is a new skill that needs some serious practice!

WIP Friday

I don't have a whole lot to show you today, but here is what is on my needles/spindle:

1.  Clapotis using my new Silk Noir!  So last night I just couldn't resist casting of for this project.  I am loving the yarn and how happy all the colors look.  It is really hard to capture this yarn accurately in a pic, but trust me it is lovely!

2.  Retro Rib Socks #2 in Knit Picks Risata.  I have turned the heels and started the gusset decreases.  The first time I made these socks I thought it was a slow pattern....it still is.   These are my September socks (for PAMC) so I must keep going!  This is top of my weekend to do list, even though I really want to work on my Clapotis!

3.  Here is my first plain (ie-Knit Night) sock finished!  (It was good to work on during the hurricane too)  I'm using Online Cotton and really liking it! 

4.  And on the spindle....a friend who thought she wanted to spin, but decided she wasn't going to get around to it gave me a huge bag of 70% Shetland 30% Mohair roving!!!  (I'm spinning it up for her for Christmas....shhhhhhh!)  It is coming along nicely!

5.  Okay Gertrude (the giraffe) is still in her balloon stage waiting for a rainy day, my alpaca sweater is still just the back...it is still hot here (but maybe starting to cool down)

Do you see something missing?  Yep!  I started the second plain sock (the mate to #3) for the tutorial (thank you for all your encouraging comments) and messed it up at Knit Night.  Yep!  Can't even do ribbing at knit night....so I went shopping instead....and am loving the Silk Noir.  

From the comments yesterday, Carole wrote:

Hi, I really enjoyed the lesson. I have a question. I got my needles from knit picks size 2 circulars. I'm wondering if my cord is too long, as I spend more time pulling on the cord than I do knitting. I did get the heel made, but just to had to give up . Could anyone tell me is there a trick to get them to slide smoother? They seem like really nice needles.

Carole brings up a good point and in my opinion one of the real draw backs of Magic Loop knitting.  You do spend a lot of time readjusting your work, especially is you are a tight knitter.  I have never used the knit picks circulars?  Have you?  Do you have any suggestions for Carole?  

Thanks in advance for your help dear readers!

Silk, but not Seasilk

So Tuesday we had knit night at our LYS (we do this once a month)  They were have a 50% off sale.....I thought I could resist....I was wrong.

I picked up this beautiful Silk Noir by The Great Adirondack Yarn Co.  It is 900 yds of 100% raw silk....and very soft!  The colorway is storm.  And it will be a Clapotis!

Now please don't worry that I have given up on seasilk.  I love it!  But....I put a lot of pressure on one garment....it needed to be perfect.  Plus the color my mom and I picked out is gone and it would be a long time before I could afford it.  So I caved and think this will be great (and I stayed in budget!)

Here is my second skein of handspun!!!!

It is 4 oz of Corriedale.  It is 2-ply and 345 yds long.  I compared it to my first skein and my work has gotten much more even and thinner.  I thought I had overspun my first singles a little bit, so this time I tried not to do that.  Now I think I underspun a little bit.  Hopefully the third time is just right!  I'm super excited about it!!

and here is my new pillow in its new home!  I will be looking for a nice round button! (thank you all for your help!)

Another Library Trip!

Saturday (after DH got home!) we went to the library again.  I had been waiting for this book to come in (it was recommended in a raverly discussion)

Spindle Spinning by Connie Delaney.  It is currently out of print (so check your library)  Amazon does have a few used copies, but they are $20-25.  It is a small book, but completely devoted to spinning on a spindle---no wheel talk here!  She gives good info on different types of wool.  If you've tried to by fiber to spin with you understand how overwhelming it is when you here all these types of wool....come on isn't all wool the same?  The author explains the different lengths of the fiber and when you might prefer one over the other.   It was a quick read, but very good!  Much of the info I was familiar with, but not all.  It isn't overly technical either! I learned better ways to wind my yarn into a skein, ply, and get the right amount of twist in my singles! By far the best spinning book I've read so far (best of 3)  If you want/need more details about the book let me know!

Look what Bea sent me!!!  When she was showing her finished object (her pics are worth looking at---much better than mine) I commented on how much I liked the pillow and how it would brighten my office....then I get an email saying if I want it she'll send it to me! WOW!! The generosity of knitters overwhelms me!  Thank you Bea!!  It is so fun! and I can't wait to take it to its new home!  Bea thinks it needs a button, what do you think?  if so, what kind?

Today it goes to school...I snap a pic for you all!

Spinning Kitty!

Did you think I forgot about you? I'm trying to adjust to my new schedule (made harder by the hurricane) and haven't quite figured out where blogging fits into that...so tonight it is!  I think I've miss named my blog....instead of "Knitting Giraffe" maybe it should have been "Spinning Kitty"?

See Knox loves when I spin!  She comes running to "help."  Don't know how I could do it without her!

I rigged up a tool to help me wind my singles into a ball.  See you spend lots of time putting twist into singles and this twist wants to twist onto something....I think of it as a magnet that is attracted to anything it can twist onto to even out the tension so to speak.  It will twist on itself (which can be very annoying)  Eventually you ply (put two singles together) and let them twist on each other.  Then all is happy and you have yarn.  BUT....until you ply you must keep tension on your singles or it will twist back on itself.

So I poked a hole in a shoe box and cut a notch to put my spindle in and voila.  I am able to keep tension on my single while winding.  (If that doesn't make sense and you want more details let me know....I'm still a novice and learning a lot)

Here is my 4 ounces of Cordial top ready to be plying!  Note:  toilet paper rolls are perfect for fitting over a ball winder to help keep the middle of your ball under tension.   I used this to help me make a Lazy Kate.  Mine doesn't work quite as well as hers because I don't have bobbins (not using a wheel) but over time I think I will be able to tweak it!  Plus the price was right!  (You can by lovely Lazy Kates, but I'm not ready to invest in that)

Soon I'll have yarn! :)

Shawl Relay Update

Oh my...I had every intention of posting these pics yesterday, but well the day got away from me!  Yesterday I gave two math talks to incoming grad students (remember I knitted a pseudosphere for one of the talks)  They went well, but they sort of consumed my day...especially with prepping for the class I'm teaching in the fall too.  No complaints mind you, just reasoning for neglecting the blog.

So without further ado...here are the progress reports on the swallowtail shawl:  

I'm almost done with the Lily of the Valley border (those are my favorite flowers)  In fact I just have one purl row left.  Then the lace border and I'm done (less than 20 rows left).   The numbs in the border look nice and aren't too bad, but these last 20 rows will go faster because there aren't any numbs!

Spinning Book Reviews:

Last week I checked out 2 spinning books and some of you wanted my opinion.  I feel like there should be some sort of disclaimer here because I'm a novice and may not know enough to give a good opinion, but.....here goes.  My thoughts:

1. The Complete Spinning Book by Candace Crockett.  The book was chocked full of history of the art of spinning and wool.  It didn't offer much practical advice about how to actually spin, so it wasn't what I was after.
2. The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning.  This book had some strengths and weaknesses.  I felt the strengths were in how to prepare wool to spin (if you don't buy it already prepped)  It also did a good just explaining some of the common terms used in the spinning world.  It definitely favored spinning with a wheel (I haven't done this and really just skimmed those sections)  The weakness was on this books attitude towards spinning on a spindle.  At one point they said they won't even speak about how to ply on a spindle because who would do that?  I'm paraphrasing of course, but...anyway this wouldn't be a book I would buy but it was nice to have a better understanding of the fiber I will use.
3. On Ravelry the book Spindle Spinning: From Novice to Expert by Connie Delaney was highly recommended.  It is currently checked out of my library, but I will get my hands on it soon and let you know what I think.

Library Love!

Last night, after knit night, DH and I went to the public library. On a whim, while I was watching the Olympics, DH said he was going to the library...I jumped up, hit record (gymnastics were just starting) and got in the car. Why? to see what spinning books they had or course!

I've gotten a lot of info about spinning from N and ravelry, but sometimes reading a more structured book on a topic helps! I haven't had much time to look through them yet, but am looking forward to it!

So last week I caved and bought more fiber!!!! (This is Colonial Top, if that means something to you) I got it from Alpaca Direct. I got 4oz of it! It is spinning up nicely, although it is more slippery than what I was using before (that N gave me so I have no idea what it really was) But it is going well and I am happy so far!

Of course in order to maximize shipping I bought two other things (pics another day) some merino and some alpaca. Being a novice all the different types of fiber is quite overwhelming and I have no idea what the pros and cons of each are. So I figured I would just have to start sampling some. That is how I learned about yarn, so it should work for fiber too! (I think those library books might help too!)