Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Spring Spinning

I am supposed to be finishing the red socks but have found myself doing a lot of spinning the last couple of weeks.  I plied 3 oz of angora singles, spun & plied a couple puffs of a purple wool blend and started the pink silk batt yesterday.

I have to report that spinning a soft and fluffy batt of pure silk is an amazing thing.  Most of my prior silk experience has been with hankies or top / sliver and it is slippery and compressed or drifts apart and flies away.  Figuring how to get into the batt took a few moments, but once I ripped off a strip and started spinning, it went very well.  Also... a little goes a long, long way.  I am still only halfway through the strip I pulled off last night!  The batt is from Lambtown a few years ago and is a lovely mauve color. The shop specializes in natural dyes.

 One puff spun, one puff to go
 Both mini skiens. It sure does compress!
 The angora skein, about 350 yards
2.25 oz of wool / silk blend from Ruth N. It might be next on the spindle after the mauve silk.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Glamp Loopy


It is time for Camp Loopy again and I am all prepared. Our theme is to pick a project that is based on a book or movie (or TV series) and which uses about 400 yards.  I have also been mulling over what project to make to remember Fritti Kitty.  They and a well-timed birthday gift certificate converged and I will make a Tailchaser's Affection.   The hard part now is waiting for the cast on date (6/1)

There is plenty else to do while I am waiting, however.  I have been making lots of blanket squares for the Steampunk Blanket and the end of that project is in sight after two years.  The red socks for Martha passed the last fitting and now I can knit with impunity.  I would like to get the spinning wheel(s) spruced up and ready for the Tour de Fleece and I also have quite a pile of half finished projects staring at me.  Dogkin, Juno Regina, Irtfa'a, and CeCe for starters.

A processed polwarth fleece found a new home with me and I realised that it would make a nice 3 ply for a Sky Ladder blanket... it could be a busy spinning/ knitting summer.

Monday, May 05, 2014

Birthday Revels

Pretty tipsy right now, let me sum up.
Saturday:

  • chores, chores, chores
Sunday
  • renaissance faire. Great fun
Monday
  • crochet
  • pie with Ruth
  • margaritas with Martha & Dennis
  • can't feel my face. 
  • got an emai from someone thanking me for a picture, don't know which one. Am concerned.
  • Also washed the rats in the morning, before tequila




And because I am still riding the tequila high & can't use my computer, a picture of a silk batt & the Ravenclaw tower from last fall at Blizzcon