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I finally finished spinning and plying the Blevins roving from Dudley Spinner, and I'm loving it! I Navajo plied the singles, and the yarn is a little lighter than a worsted weight, I think. I haven't swatched it yet. I was trying to make a sock yarn, but this may be a bit too thick for socks. Maybe slipper-socks? Or maybe some lovely mittens...
Wow... I started this post a million years ago, and then never published it. The photo is a WIP which has been on hold for months and months. Much like this post, I set it aside a while ago, and it just hasn't resurfaced yet. It's a crazy little baby sweater from the book One Skein. All the pieces are done. It needs to be blocked, seamed, and i-corded. Since it was knit for a class I taught and not for a specific baby, I guess it will continue to wait in the WIP pile indefinitely.
You may remember that several months ago I took a quilting class. Today I got my quilted quilt back from the quilters. I'm in love...
Yes, I sent it away to be quilted. Someday, when I have more time and patience (yes, that day will come) I will hand quilt my own quilt. But for this first one, I just wanted it done and done well.
I did an "art back" of my own design. John said, "Is it supposed to look like that?" Yes, it's supposed to look like that. It's an art back. The class instructor got it.
The woman who did the quilting (on a long-arm machine) did a great job. I just asked for something fun, but not flowery, and this is what she came up with...
Swirly, whirly, fun and fabulous. Now, I just have to find those instructions for doing the binding. And teh courage to tackle that task!
Here's a photo of the goodies I received from my Knit Sock Kit Swap partner, Tammy. What a fun swap! And I got a great swap partner! Two skeins of lovely hand-dyed yarn, handmade soap and lotion, and hand-sewn sock bags! She also printed out several sock patterns to try out, and included a miniature sock blocker key chain. Thanks, Tammy!
Here's a photo of the goodies I got from Rosi G for the Secret Pal 8 swap. I was spoiled! There's Koigu, an alpaca boucle in a beautiful blue, a bag of lovely hand-dyed mohair locks for spinning, and a whole handful of Rosi's handmade soaps, balms and skin care. I especially love the shea butter lip balm. Mmmmm... She also sent the most recent IK and Spin-Off magazines. And a handmade felted make-up case. Thanks, again Rosi! You were a great secret Pal!
This little sweater was fast, fun and easy. The only thing I changed was the shoulder seaming. The pattern tells you to use the three-needle bind off with wrong sides facing so that the seam shows on the outside. I'm not a huge fan of that look, so I did it with the right sides facing. I say keep that seam hidden on the inside where it belongs! And I'm not sure I finished the neck the same way they do in the book... More on that below.
This sweater was fast, not super fun, and easy until I got to the neck. Actually, truth be told, the instructions for the necklines on both of these patterns was a bit wonky. At least this one had a photo in which one can see what is going on with the neck area of the sweater, and fudge the pattern accordingly. The cabled one had wonky instructions, no clear photo and no schematic. I made my best attempt at something in between following the instructions as written and completely making it up as I went along. I hope it fits over a baby's head. I know it looks small, but it's bigger than it looks and it's pretty stretchy.
The striped one isn't quite finished. I still need to knit the button bands on the neckline and find/sew on some buttons. Then, viola! They will be complete! These are both samples for the store. Perhaps someday they will get some use by a real baby. Hmmmm...
Are you ready for Sock Wars? You must check this out. Then, you must sign up. This is an order.
Tonight is for knitting and for watching Season Five of Sex and the City. It is the season of good hair for Carrie. I can't tell you how many photos of SJP/Carrie Bradshaw I've brought in to my hair stylist saying, "Make me look like that." Season Five is also the season where she wears a black bra with e-v-e-r-y-thing. Oh, Season Five. How I love thee.
In knitting news, I have about a bajillion WIPs going right now. I have three -- count 'em three -- baby sweaters in progress for store samples. They're from the new book "Natural Knits for Babies and Moms: Beautiful Designs Using Organic Yarns" by Louisa Harding. This book is full of adorable patterns for babies (and moms... duh!), and the baby models are about as cute as it gets.
I'm also working on the creation you see above. Eventually, it will be a whole blanket of Kureyon-y goodness ala Mason Dixon. I seem to have been unwittingly collecting singles, doubles and triples of random Kureyon colors. Even though it is not the snuggliest of yarns for blankey making, I am *so* in love with the way this puppy looks. I mean, look at it! Spectabulous!
Have I mentioned that I love me some Season Five? It's laugh-out-loud funny! Love it! Gotta get back to my ladies and my baby sweater sleeves. Ciao!
John and I went to Duluth this past weekend. I was a bridesmaid (matron?) in my friend Liz's wedding. The wedding was beautiful -- outdoors with perfect weather, rose petals strewn on the aisle, white fabric draped on the chairs and a lovely bride and groom. I didn't get a ton of photos, but the one above is me and John at the reception.
Among the comments that were made during the pre- and post-wedding festivities, the most common comment was the remark that it took Liz and Steve forEVER to finally get married. But, they finally tied the knot on Saturday, and it was lovely. Now, except for one, everyone in our little high school group of girls is married. We must be getting old...
