Over halfway

The Write Life
Well Nanowrimo is almost three quarters over. I have 35, 776 words at the moment enough to take a break over the weekend but so many ideas to get down.
novel one as yet unnamed
1. old lady pushed downstairs, supposedly by someone who took her husbands watch. 2. kids trapped in elevator. 3 most of community college campus gets food poisoning 4. severe storm knocks out power. So far would like to get the boy and girl to kiss or start dating. his two friends my plot ninjas are proving a little helpful.
Novel two Return of the Grandfather Clock
Main character has traveled back in time to 1939 England, just before world war ii really starts. have written one scene about wainwrights surrender. so far. Need to do, poland invaded, paris overtaken, bomb pearl harbor. important points any my mc is takign forever just talking about anythign but research about movies and music of the time has been fun. got a few songs downloaded on my ipod
Novel 3 the black apple tree
taken a few interesting turns. man in mirror, have written a few major scenes still need to write some more. huntsman taking Eleanor into the enchanted woods, Muriel poisoning apple, giving said apple to Eleanor, prince charming for the moment kissing Eleanor.
Behind the Wheel
Have gotten some spinning done some of the teal brown wool for a hat for my sister. Also got some brown alpaca to soften it up. thought he alpaca isn't spinning up so well. I might try plying it with some of the golden brown alpaca I have.

NaNoWriMo is here!

Well day 2 of National Novel Writing Month and I'm behind on word count. I'm thinking of writing two or more novels at once.
Behind the Wheel
Amazingly got some merino with tussah silk spun up thin with a few slubs. Usually I have spun up Merino thick and thin well maybe time and practice help. Finally spun up the rest of the Halloween Corriedale and Icelandic. Halloween colors are thick thin with crazy corkscrew twists.
On and off the needles
Thought I had finished the Sari Silk Vest for my baby sister but mom thinks it needs to be a little bigger so I had to buy one more skein of silk. I thought I was rid of the sheds like crazy stuff but oh well.

Socks, hats, scarves and gloves

On and off the needles
Well finished the Monkey socks for Mom. They fit good and she wore them this weekend. ripped out all the work on vampire boyfriend sock and started a swatch for it.
Behind the Wheel
Spun up most of the Corriedale I had got at Weaving Works, the black, chocolate, and eggplant, along with a little bit of gray we had at the cottage. I wish I had been able to take my wheel with me to my sister's I seems I am out of practice on a spinning wheel while I got plenty on my drop spindle done. the Corriedale spun up thick and thin with slubs and some of it I will admit is very twisted (like corkscrews) But I still have quite a bit of wool to practice with so I should be okay.
The Writing Life
NaNoWriMo is less than a week away and I still haven't decided on a novel idea to use be it fantasy, mystery or whatever. I'll have to go down to the Writer's Workshop and see when and if they are doing the meetups during November for it.

The Ghost and Ghouls Around the Corner

Well at sister's visiting again while Mom and Dad are on a much deserved vacation in the southwest. But been able to do a little spinning and some knitting. Along with a little bit of writing.
On and Off the Needles
Finished the diagonal scarf for the Red Scarf Project, just need to get an envelope to address then go to the post office and send it off. Along with take a picture of addressed envelope to post for the Spin Doctor's podcast contest. Win or lose I think it's a good cause, so something to remember for next year.
Also working on the Meadow Flowers Shawl for mom some more. Unfortunately today I unraveled the whole thing. Shouldn't have removed the lifeline and tried to move it to undo some mistake.
Have finished one of mom's Monkey socks and started on the Vampire boyfriend for me. I might have to go with Knitcent's motto of knit one for someone else  knit one for me philosophy.
behind the Wheel
More like on and off the spindles, since I let my a friend borrow my spinning wheel  to teach a spinning class late in September. Though I did bring my two drop spindles (One I bought during the WSU Farm Tour in September) and my old one alone with some wool I also bought. Got the wool spun up now. But also got some more to spin up Saturday, when me, sister and brother-in-law decided to get out of the house. We went into Seattle to the Elliot Bay Bookstore. I got the latest issue of Spin Off  magazine and sister got some book. Then we went to Weaving Works. I got 5 single ounces of wool in different colors: Pumpkin, Eggplant, Chocolate Black and Gray. The first four colors in  (I forget)   and the gray in Icelandic. I thought I'd try spinning them up and knitting something for Halloween like a cap. Though I think I might need a little more for a hat. I might see about getting some yellow and red sometime to help contrast the darker colors.
The Write Life
Well It's October and next month is National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo which I plan to participate in again this year. so I am trying to figure out what I want to write another fantasy novel or maybe try my hand a a mystery,see if I can actually finish one. Already have a bit of an outline for the possible fantasy. Or could I try writing first the fantasy then the mystery. Should be interesting.

Fall is Here.

Well fall is here. The days are shorter, and it is cooler outside.
On the Needles
Still working on the Monkey socks for mom. Flotsam and Jetsam is still being worked on as well. And also still have yet to start on Vampire Boyfriend socks for me. I had thought to try work on on some of t he others socks I've started and put aside, like dad's entrelac socks and the spiral corialis socks.
What's Cooking
Well made Texas Sheet cake last weekend then took it over with me to sisters. Mom, Dad and I also made two pots of chili verde, I took some of that with me to sister's house as well. So had that and cake while my sister caught up on her sleep after their mattress died.
The Writing Life
With National Novel Writing Month coming up in November. I've been working on my writing again, looking at some old stories I had started but didn't finish up. So been working on them so I can hopefully get myself up to the 1,336 words a day for NaNoWriMo.   Just multiply 1,336 by 30 and you'll find the aim is to try and write 50,000 words in 30 days.

Finished at last

Finished the citron at last, last week. I love it. with the browns, the blues, the purples and some yellow and white. Just had to wear it tot he Farmer's Market Wednesday night with my white blouse.
On and Off the Needles
So one project finished, I can work on Mom's Monkey socks and the Vampire Boyfriend socks and maybe find another project to start up or restart up, seeing as how I have a few projects that got started but not finished. Maybe the meadow flower shawl, or another pair of socks.
Behind the wheel
Spun up some more of the alpaca this weekend and might see about spinning up some more. Would like to try to and get it at a lightweight, maybe two ply and then I have an idea of what I want to use it for.
In the Dyepot
I'm hoping it might be a warm not hot sunny week where I can dye some yarn I've got just asking for some color. Some Cascade a neighbor gave me and some Fisherman's Wool.
Gardening Wise
I see one pink tomato and a few yellow ones in the garden. And last week pulled the peas, and then the sweet peas this weekend. so a few bare spots. With plans for winter and fall vegetables where I had the snap peas.

Cool and cloudy, finally

Well this morning started cool and cloudy, don't mind if we get some sun but hope it stays cool.

 Mom's monkey socks in progress

On and Off the Needles

Citron is almost done, though binding off seems to take longer than knitting, started binding off yesterday and still have more stitches to bind off today. And been trying to start the Vampire Boyfriend socks with the Kool Aid dyed Malabrigo sock yarn but all the cables and small needles (1 1/2 US or 2.5 mm. What's next 1 3/4?) makes it a little bit hard. Will see about working on mom's Monkey socks some more.
Behind the wheel
Well did a little spinning with the yellow green wool that I had got to spin on the spindle at the apartment last week. Some wools are just hard for me to get consistent. Maybe I'll try spinning some more of the alpaca I got or see if I can find something else at either of the local yarn stores.

Kool Aid dyed Malabrigo sock yarn

In the Dyepot

So the kool aid dyed sock yarn finally dried out so I could wind it and start to knit with it. though now that I think about it maybe I should have tried to dye something more while the weather was so hot. Oh well I'll enjoy the cool weather and take advantage next time. I still have some yarn, both hand made and store bought I can try dyeing.
In Other News
I got to watch one of the local yarn stores, Sunday. It was hot so not that many people but it was nice getting to see all the pretty yarns and fibers there. Though of a few ideas for color combinations I can make into yarn with the fibers and colors of yarn to use in possible future projects. Dad was nice enough to come by with a late lunch or early dinner.

County Fair and Tomato Leaf Spray

The Jefferson County Fair is only a few weeks away. I have no finished knitting. Then yesterday I go into one of the local yarn stores and get some roving and the clerk asks if I am entering the fair. I told her I have no knitting to enter then she mentions spinning. I didn't know or maybe I had forgotten they had a category for that. Which gets me thinking. Yes I do have a lot of spinning I might enter. Though some of the Navajo plying has little off twists shooting off. so I am not sure at the moment, what if anything I might enter. Entry time is Monday, the deadline for pre-registration was Sunday, August 1st. So we'll see. Maybe this weekend with Mom, Dad, the sisters, brother in laws, and two nieces. I might ask for some help selecting something to enter. Now I just have to find my catalog for the fair.
Yesterday I went into the garden, checked on the peas and beans, picking sweet peas for a bouquet and noticed aphids on the sweet peas and there was one tomato branch sticking out. So I've got that cut off, cut up and brewing with some water to make tomato leaf spray. Hopefully that will take care of the aphids.
On and Off the Needles
 Still slowly finishing off Citron but I must say it is looking beautiful. Also worked a little more on flotsam and jetsam though I have frogged it a few times because I was unhappy with the pattern or something. Also started working on the Monkey socks. And they are coming along pretty goo so far. It's pretty easy and I've got the lace pattern written up on an index card so I can take it with me.
On my Wheels
Spun up some blue, purple and a beautiful orange for a scarf I'm working on. Other than that, not much else it is now waiting for family so I can show sisters and nieces how you can make yarn when they visit.and the yellow and green wool I got to spin up for socks I've decided is a little to thick for socks, might use that in the scarf and just look for sock yarn.
The Dye Pot
The sun only comes out in the afternoons so the kool aid dyed sock yarn is still on the patio drying out thought I might see about hanging it up to let it drip dry before working on the My Vampire Boyfriend socks with it. I do have some other white yarn just waiting it's turn to be dyed. Maybe I'll save it for this weekend and let my nieces help me. We'll see.

Green and Red

No, not talking about colors on a flag. But green things in the garden and then thinking about a certain pair of socks I want to knit sometime.

Gardening
So I was out checking on the garden. Picking snap peas and admiring the blooming flowers. Lillies, phlox, roses and sweet peas. I also picked some of the green beans, noticing the squash blossoms and nibbling borage flowers.
Knitting
Got some more work done on Citron finally. And then thought of a possible way to get a red variegated sock yarn for knitting up, My Vampire Boyfriend socks. I've got some white Malabrigo sock yarn, so I use some black cherry, and cherry Kool Aid. Dye the yarn, let it dry outside on the porch and knit. Hopefully I have enough yarn to make the socks, hopefully I can buy and dye some more. What fun.
Spinning
Got the yellow wool spun up yesterday. and got bright pink wool and mohair to try spinning up.

News Here

On and off the needles
Haven't got more knitting done this weekend busy spinning, reading, and keeping cool. Will see about finishing Citron so I can work on Flotsam and Jetsam.

 Bombyx silk spun up on my wheel, Saturday.
Spinning my Wheel
I did try spinning the cotton I have on the wheel. No go, did try to spin some on my drop spindle, not much lock there, though I might try again sometime. Or I might see about getting or making a takli spindle sometime. But I do have some green spun up that I'm meaning to try using for the Bavarian socks in the Knitting Traditions.
I did get around to talking to one of the owners of the LYS about holding down the shop while they are out of town. He said they don't need anyone right now but will let me know if anything comes up. Maybe if I had talked to him about it earlier I could have done that last week. Oh well. But I'll go by Friday when he's there and he can show me what I need to do when the time comes.

Finish line

Imagine this. Horns honking, people yelling in a foreign language. A lone biker pulls over. Some officious looking person walks over. "The race is over and you still have cotton and alpaca to spin."
Yeah I still have cotton and alpaca. Though I'm saving some of the alpaca for my baby sister to try her hand at spinning. I did spin up the ounce of silk. That's a bit hard. it's spun thick and thin. I"m thinking about getting some wool to ply it with. then I'll wash it in hot water, aggitate. Yeah I'm going to felt it! Okay enough of that.

Inspiration
So I went to the beach and took some pictures for inspiration. Above is some seaweed with the little bulbs. I'm thinking felt some yellow green wool like bulbs and attach them, like an art yarn.

Then there's this, the big brown stem. Don't know about art yarn, maybe some knit pattern with some cable using a brown yarn.

I love the red-orange in this piece of seaweed. maybe I'll keep the color in mind for dyeing sometime in the future.

here we have a feather with some seaweed. The sunday before when I went with mom and dad I had seen something similair and thought of some art yarn, some green or brown wool with feathers and  wool locks in it.

Spinning my Wheel
Above is some of the 8 ounces of alpaca I bought during the week and spun up. in reality it's a little more reddish brown. I also got some green and yellow wool Wednesday in Sequim for a pair of socks I want to make some time with pink roses on a black background so I still need the black, pink and light pink wool to spin up instead of buying the yarn.
This week I'm planning on going back to Sea-Tac with mom and dad. So I'll take some wool, the cotton and some alpaca and spin on my spindle. Then we're going to Spokane to visit and take my sister and nieces back to Port Townsend.
On and Off the needles
Still working on Citron got some more work done just at the last two rows of the last section before the ruffled edge. Haven't got anymore done on Flotsam and Jetsam but maybe this week while I'm with mom and Dad in Seatac.

Tour de Fleece Day 16

On and Off the Needles

Still working on citron. And been having too much fin spinning to work on Flotsam and Jetsam any. Though I might try sometime soon.

Spinning my Wheel
Well I may have finally got the hang of Navajo Plying on the wheel at least. On the spindle may require some more practice. For those of you non spinners it's sort of like trying to crochet with the yarn that you're spinning, make a loop bring the yarn through, let it twist and go onto the bobbin.
 I got some more wool and some alpaca for spinning. Spun some of the alpaca and it colors my fingers a little bit. Will have to see about spinning the cotton and silk I have for Tour de Fleece since it's almost over, just 4 more days.

 The food color dyed yarn, spun up. Didn't turn out as bad as I thought. I might try doing something similari with the once of silk I have got.

In the Dyepot
Waiting for the days to have more sun and heat before I try dying. though I might just plunge ahead with the once of silk I have. maybe I'll get some Rits and dye the cotton question is should I dye it before or after I spin it?
Inspiration
Was at the beach at Fort Worden with mom and dad, Sunday and saw a number of things that gave me ideas. Different colored seaweed, kelp along with feathers, sea glass patterns of sand and rocks. I might try going back and getting some pictures to help me remember some of the stuff.

Tour de Fleece Day 12

 

On and Off the Needles

well still working to finish Citron. But also started up Flotsam and Jetsam again (above) .

 

Spinning Away

Got some more spinning done. Both on my drop spindle and on the wheel. Found a few videos on YouTube about Navajo plying. I had tried it before, thought I had messed up. Seems I got it right, oh well. so will try plying on the wheel and spindle tonight, maybe.

In the Dyepot

The weather has been so warm here lately I might try and do some more dying today or this weekend. Got some nice spun and plied white corridale that would do.

 

Puttering Around

So potted a begonia, geranium and another plant I can't remember the name of in a pot like mom asked. Had to go the garden center to get some more potting soil but got it out of the way safely out of harm from the snails. Will see about making tomato leaf spray today so we can see about the aphids.

Tour de Fleece day 4

Well it's day four of the Tour de Fleece where you spin or knit or crochet while they bike. Here's what I spun up yesterday some silk and merino. At first it kept breaking on me but I finally got it. Also got some green spun up. And the food coloring died roving has dried out so I might try spinning some of that tonight to see what it looks like spun up.

On and off the needles
my second citron is progressing very well. Finished a hat made with handspun, kool aid dyed yarn. Ran out so spun up some purple batt to finish it off.


 

Tour de Fleece Day 9

On and off the needles
Still working on the Citron, I'm on the fourth section. And plan to start working on Flotsam and Jetsam again sometime soon which means writing down  what I do.

Great Unknown spun up, plyed and wound. I blame the hot weather for thick and thin, along with any other things in here, turkish knots, coils, etc.

Spinning my Wheel
Spun up the lemon yellow mom choose to go with the marigold, then plyed that and plyed that together with the marigold. She choose really well it looks really nice. Also spun up some merino in "Great Unkown" Colorway by Kitted Wit that I got at Diva Yarn and Trim. Also got some bamboo/merino in "Spring" from both places to spin up later. But still have to ply the Great Unknown. And let the marigold and yellow set.
In other news
Pat is going to be off soon sailing with her husband. I will miss my time listening to podcast and knitting or spinning with her at the Twisted Ewe. But there might be something interesting for me to do in the near future. I'll write more about it another day.

Idea Brewing

Was as the Twisted Ewe, spinning some of the grey coriedale that I had got with my spindle. When I took a break kept looking at the black and red batt and thinking that would make a cool True Blood themed sock if I can get consistent enough to spin up sock yarn with it. So bought an ounce of it to try and spun it up last night along with started on the my second citron in some beautiful alpaca yarn I had so far it's looking pretty cool. The wool spun up great. So got some more red and black when I went down to work on citron some more. Talked to Pat, and listened to a podcast with her.

So It's the First Day of Summer

The day started out cloudy and cold but the sun is shining finally (looks out window) or was.

On and off the Needles
So finished the Sari Silk vest Tuesday, got mom to take a picture of it on me. Got a little more done on dad's argyle socks. and plan on doing a second citron shawl with some lace weight alpaca and I might try adding beads to the edges. Also the the Spin Doctor podcast is having a KAL (knit along) to use up handspun doing the Maine Morning Mitts from Clara Parkes The Knitter's Book of Yarns that I plan on doing. I even have the handspun yarns picked out unless I find something else. Also started work on a plastic bag knit from plastic yarn, see below.

Spinning
So I've got quite a bit spun up and Saturday Mom and I cut up plastic bags  and then (cring) I spun them up on my spinning wheel. The plan is to knit up a bag with them.

In the Dye Pot So the weather has finally warmed up a little bit, and Friday I took some of the white Corridale that I spun and plied and dyed it with Kool Aid, grape, watermelon cherry, and Pink lemonade. I think I might knit it up for a scarf for my nieces or something. Though I have been told the older niece's favorite color is now blue instead of purple. So it will be knit up for the smaller niece

Stuffed and Tired

Cast on and bound off
nothing finished yet. but the vest is about 3/4 done. haven't worked on the socks in awhile.
Spinning
Well got a lot of spinning done, even did some regular and Andean plying. So lots of balls of yarn, small, medium and one or two large. Maybe next I'll try some Navajo Plying.
Book Review
The Intentional Spinner: a Holistic Approach to Making Yarn by Judith MacKenzie McCuin is very informational. I found it very interesting reading how they got fibers from plants like flax, cotton, ramie, etc. Then all the different relatives of the llamas and alpacas. And of course the different synthetic fibers, acrylic, and seacell (made from seaweed) and soysilk. Did you know people make fiber by collecting spiderwebs? I didn't.
Then she also write about making different types of yarns, boucle, with beads and with the metallic threads. And also three projects and how to make the yarns for them. I especially liked the bit on how to spin for sockyarn with different colors of yarn. I cannot wait to try and use it, well maybe when my spinning improves some more.

Food and Spinning

Taste of Port Townsend
Thursday was the Taste of Port Townsend. I had purchased a ticket. So first I had to sit down and figure out where to go. I decided to start at the one place uptown, Sweet Laurette's. Crostini with a chocolate dipped macaroon for dessert, pretty good.
Then to drive downtown and find a parking spot. Found one by the stadium, then walked to T's Restaurant since it was at the one end all by itself. Smoked salmon chowder delicious and warm. It was nice after I decided to do a little running to exercise of some of the food.
Next Elevated Ice Cream! I know ice cream and I hadn't even had all the little main dishes what can I say it was the closest and I was getting a bit warm from all the walking. Loved the brandied Apricot and cardamon ice creams and the Sequim Strawberry Italian ice. Not crazy about the chocolate hazelnut ice cream. Next was Jordini's passing the Belmont. (I had decided to skip the lobster and crab cakes there.)
Subs, grilled paninis, appetizers and fudge brownies at Jordini's was delicious and a glass of water. Then it staying on the same side of the street I walked to Fin's for a little salad and some lamb with a ravioli, very good and well worth the wait in line. Then I crossed the street and went to Undertown for a bite of sandwhich and a little pastry, didn't drink the hot coffee. (I usually like some sugar and a little cream or milk to cool it off)
From Undertown to Silverwater Cafe for crab cakes with lemon grass sand plum sauce, delicious. Then across another street for a cupcake and tea. Decided on a chocolate coffee cupcake, I needed caffeine for a small burst of energy. And mint tea to settle my slightly overstuffed stomache.
Then I drove to the Food Co-Op for some salads, panatone with goat cheese, and raspberry lemonade, I think. Then I drove to my last stop for the night, the Castle Key at Manresa Castle. Glazed prawns and mozarella and tomato with pesto on toasted bread, which I took to where they were having the wine and cider tasting. Didn't finish the food, though it was good and had a little bit of a merlot from Fair Winds. And with that I called it a night. Eleven places visited I turned in my ticket to enter the drawing for the Tasty Prize.
Spinning
Got quite a bit of spinning done this weekend esp Saturday during the Secret Garden Tour, thanks goodness that is over. Though Mom had fun painting. she and dad got sunburned while I stayed inside most of the time. Then Sunday just before we headed to Twisted Ewe to get my book, Pat called there was someone at the shop wanting to learn how to use a drop spindle. Pat thought of me. So I gave Lois a lesson and there is talk of me teaching a class so I am trying to figure out how to do that.
On and off the needles
still working on the sari silk vest mainly. on the second underarm almost to the left front, then just have to sew the shoulders, crochet the edge and make ties. though I might keep it in a bag, the silk tends to shed maybe not like a dog but a cat.

All Spun Up

okay so a bit thick and thin but I think I finally caught on to the drafting part of spinning. 
On and Off the Needles
Let's see the give away lap throw used up the ball of olive green and started on the yellow. Then cast on and started the Nepal Silk Vest from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Vests Finally actually looked at the whole pattern and it's in one piece just have to sew up the shoulders so it is just flying already got one front done and now working on the side.
Bobbin Along
Well got the pink washed up finally and hanging up to dry. And then there's the teal pictured above that I spun up this morning. Now I might go and get some more so I can spin and ply it up.
In the Garden

Planted the snapdragon seedlings along with my cilantro, got two zuchinni starters at the Farmer's Market to plant.

An Early Bithday Present

Well got the spinning wheel put together.

On and off the Needles
Nothing off the needles just yet been working on the spiraling corealis from Cat Bordhi's book. But having gotten my spinning wheel has changed my thinking about a few things so instead of just giving away the balls of Lion Brand homespun in my stash I'm knitting them up into an afghan or lap rug and then I'll give them away. So got that cast on 120 stitches and a few rows done my little ball of left over olive colored year in getting smaller. Also did a little more work on the simple yet effective shawl with Malabrigo sack yarn in Prima Vera colorway.
Spinning

Got the little bit of mauve that I had from when I got my drop spindle  spun up. didn't have any more so just put it on the niddy noddy, will see about washing and hanging it later tonight. Then might see about trying to spin up some of the white, green and blue carded wool I have.

Busy week

Last week was busy and happy. Monday mom, dad and I went to Sequim meaning to go to McCombs Gardens and maybe Henery's Garden Center and also I had mentioned a knitting store that also had spinning wheels that my spinning teacher had mentioned. I didn't remember the name so we stopped at the visitor's center and asked. One of the ladies there knew what we were talking about and was able to tell us how to get there along with McCombs. So we went to A Dropped Stitch and looked around. Though they didn't have an Asford Tradional but one Ashford Kiwi and two Schachts, one of them a matchless that we tried out with an ounce of a bump we had gotten. I guess the pressure of trying to spin with an audience caused me to have a hard time so I gave up.
Tuesday I had a dentist appointment then went to practice my spinning and encourage another spinning student. Also shared an article on plants you can use for dyes with Pat the spinning teacher. Saw a wonderful book on dyes that had pictures of the different shades and colors you get with different mordents.

Wedenesday we tried to clean up the house, and finish the planting. I forget whether I had mentioned it or mom or dad found it searching ont he web but we also called up Paradise Fibers. They said they had a Ashford Tradional spinning wheel displayed that I could try out and they would order one so they'd have one when we came over for the weekend. So then we headed back over to Seattle so mom could go back to work Thursday and Dad report to his new job, Friday. Dad and I cleaned the apartment Thursday. Then Friday afternoon we headed to Spokane, arriving a little after nine. We sat up talking and went to bed.
Saturday we got up and had waffles. We left about the same time as my sister and niece left for the final dress rehearsal. We arrived at Paradise fibers. I tried out the wheel, then the salesman helped mom then dad try out a Kromski Sonata, well he had them try it out not that we were getting two spinning wheels. Mom's was like most beginners even mine, thick and thin. But Dad surprised us and seemed to get it right away. After awhile looked around the store on our own. I picked up a niddy noddy, a few old spinning magazines. We got a pound of wool so we can all practice. We also got a video to help us, a little bottle of oil for oiling the wheel.
On the needles
Spiraling Corialis socks in Noro Kuryeon Sock yarn.  I have got a little more done on dad's socks but looking at it something doesn't seem right where I might end up frogging them.
Spinning

will have to wait until we've got the wheel to Port townsend and set up. though I am tempted to set it up here and get started but I can restrain myself I think.

Rhody Fest

Rhody Fest or the Rhody Festival happens once a year, with kids and pets parade, big parade with float and queen., princess and court, along with the Rhody Run. Seven miles and mile 2 up the hill on a street near our house so were were sort of stuck in our neighborhood for awhile. Planting and cleaning house.
Off the needles
Clapotis not going to post a picture it's not perfect but mom's okay with it and it's finished almost ran out of yarn. If I do it again I'm going to use a heavier yarn than lace weight I think that is part of what gave me problems.
On the needles
So with clapotis done I restarted the spiraling corealis sock in Noro Kuryeon sock yarn. so far the first sock seems to be going fast.
Spinnning
Got quite a bit spun up on my spindle with nowhere to put it. Also looked at spinning wheels at the Dropped Stitch Yarn in Sequim. Got a little roving to try them out. Maybe it was the pressure of performing or the different wheel but not so good. We might try a shop in Spokane when we are there this weekend. Hopefully they have what I'm looking for.
The Dye Pot
Well been looking at the competition in the It's Kool to Dye group on Ravelry, thingking if weather is nice enough I might try dyeing. May is characters so need to find a character for inspiration though have seen things that inspire me like wild rhododendrons. 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day to all those mothers, grandmothers and mother's to be out there.
I fixed breakfast and coffee this morning. White Lightning scramble with toast. consisting of egg white, three eggs, grilled chicken with Anaheim peppers. Then we did some more planting out in the yard. Mom cut some tulips to make a nice bouquet. Then she and I went out, thinking we might go tot he bookstore downtown but first we went to some of the nurseries and got more plants.When we got downtown it was parked full because of the Arts and Crafts Fair so we'll go there tomorrow before heading back to Seattle for work and dentist appointments.
On the needles
Well got some more work done on clapotis. And some more done on my the socks for Dad.
Spinning
Well got some more roving spun up. might have to see about actually trying to ply or maybe just setting and knitting with what I've gotten spun up so far.

I want a Niddy noddy

On the needles
Well still working on the Clapotis.
Spinning
Oh boy, well I did say I was  going to work on using my drop spindle so I now have quite a bit of roving spun from the three Kool Aid semi felted ones  along with one or two others that I had gotten from Twisted Ewe in Port Townsend and Weaving Works in Seattle.

A Hard Lesson Learned

Strung up the trellis for the peas, notice mom's bugs she got at the NW Flower and Garden Show

On the Needles
more like off the needles, no I didn't finish the clapotis though was at the part where you started dropping stitches to find one dropped stitch would only go about a half of the way down. I was afraid something like this might have happened though I am starting all over again.
Bobbin' Along
Well did get a little spinning done. and a lot of pre-drafting. I found that one or two bits of roving I had Kool Aid dyed had gotten a bit felted in the process. So I am promising here and now any more kool aid dyeing I do I will 1. do to yarn whether I have hand spun it or bought it at the LYS (local yarn store) 2. be more careful when dying roving. I predafted one roving two times and then tore it rather slowly in two so I've got a little bit of that spun up and have a bag ready to take to Fiber Frenzy at the library with that roving, my drop spindle and book. And I might take clapotis with me.
What I've been listening to
Had heard Jasmin  mention Sherrill from Belle of the Ball podcast on one of the Knitmore Girls podcasts and so finally checked it out and immediately fell in love with it. The fact she's in Washington helped convince me to subscribe. It makes me feel like I have a fellow knitter and spinner nearby that talks to me.

Garden work

On the needles
Well finally figured a way to solve the problem of Clapotis I got some straight needles since I had been using a circular needle. So I got two repeats of the increasing section done five more to go. didn't work on the socks but will get to that sometime today.
Spinning
Haven't gotten anything done need to keep reminding my self to practice my drop spindle. more practice means I'll get better. Though over the weekend I got some dowel at the hardware store .I have a top whorl and think I would like a bottom whorl so I can maybe try spinning some finer singles for plying though worsted is okay too.
In the garden
Well put up some string on the trellis for the peas and planted some lettuce seeds. And used some popsicle sticks to mark what I planted where.
What I'm listening to
A podiobook I'm listening to it Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword by Tee Morris. I thought it was interesting a fantasy character in 1929 Chicago as a detective. It's pretty funny. I must be on a mystery/ detective kick having checked out the Maltese Falcon and another mystery movie from the library along with two knitting and one crochet book.

Mint and Basil

So went to the grocery store and got a few things including soe fresh mint and basil. the Basil actually still has roots on it in some water. So I have that out int he kitchen and it smells wonderful.
On the Needles
Well just frogged the Clapotis I'm working on for Mom. A bit drastic I suppose since it was only a dropped stitch but I hadn't gotten that far yet. oh well not that far to get back to where I was. still working ont he discovery sock from Cat Bordhi's Personal Footprints book.
Spinning
Haven't done much spinning probably should get back to it so I have some practice to get up my experience.
What I've Been Listening To
Was listening to the latest episode of KnitCents and she talked about composting. We don't exactly compost though we do have a worm bin which we put kitchen scraps in: vegetables and fruits, except citrus peels, bread, coffee grounds and tea bags minus the metal staples, no meat or dairy and I sometimes add egg shells so they get their calcium. We get plenty of good worm tea and compost to use both outside and on the indoor plants.

no, not more plants!

I had thought that the last of the plants Mom had ordered had arrived and we could start diminishing the number we acquired. But when I had come back from the first knitting group Wednesday there were three boxes waiting on the porch. Well we did get another dent made in the stash of plants, tubers, bulbs and seeds. I planted the Belles of Ireland that had been in the fridge for a little over a week. Didn't cover them up since they require light for germination. Mom planted  dahlia bulbs and we planted a number of other plants. Dad got some weeding done along with taking care if his personal corner of the garden. Meanwhile the petunias, snapdragons and okra seeds in the biodomes from Parks are seedlings. Still no tomato or pepper seedlings showing but they take longer to germinate so I'll wait and be patient.
On the needles
I started on Clapotis for mom with Curious Creek's Meru in Special edition colorway. Discovery sock from Cat Bardhi's Personal Footprints  in Noro's silk garden sock yarn. I had thought to try and make Fargyle socks with Socks that Rock lightweight in Vancouver Violet for my friend but I keep thinking about maybe making a shawl instead.

Off the Needles
Citron shawl

Mysteries + Knitting = Fun reading

Okay so yesterday at one of the knitting groups we got to talking about books with knitting. Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs, and the knitting mystery series by Maggie Sefton Knit One, Kill Two along with other books like community reads.
I didn't like Friday Night Knitting Club a bit tragic. The Maggie Sefton books as much as my mom says I can write better I love her books with knitting patterns and recipes. Maybe I should try and see about writing a knitting mystery.
Other knitting mystery writers mentioned and that I know of Mary Kruger and Sally Goldenbaum. I've read Mary Kruger but not Sally Goldenbaum.
On the Needles
Almost done with Citron. So next is clapotis

Busy day

The day seems to have gone by so far...well okay it's not over  yet. I baked some pirozhki, gave some to the neighbors and attended the first of two knitting groups for today.
Yesterday got a book on using a drop spindle, Respect the Spindle by Abby Forquemont. It has helped me with spinning on my drop spindle

A Little Bit of Green

So yesterday planted some pea starters we got and transplanted some of the sensitive plant seedlings to pots.
On the needle
swatches to test for felting, I want to make some needle cases to avoid  so many loose double pointed needles.  along with the citron and sock for KnitCents cheap sock knit along though April is coming to a close and I"m running out of time.
On the Spindle
Some seafoam colored roving. I need to see about spinning up the pink colored rovings for plying sometime soon.

 Some Kool Aid dyeing I did last year when it was unusually hot. Up top some roving. lemon lime highland wool, dark cherry wool and grape alpaca

Out of the Dyepot
Coming soon.

Good knitting

On the needles
I'm past halfway done on Citron. And have acquired two more projects. One is Clapotis for mom with yarn from Curious Creek Fibers. The other is either a shawl or maybe a pair of socks from the Socks that Rock mentions in Stash Enhancements below.

My student spindle and some yarn I spun up last year

On the Spindle
well spun up some wonderful oatmeal Romney. Will see about trying to spin some of the sea foam roving I have along with some others.

Stash enhancement
Got some Socks that Rock in Vancouver Violet since my best friend is up in Vancouver, B.C. had thought about knitting up a pair of socks for her in it but might see about a shawl instead.

Twisted

Got some house cleaning done but had a hole in the garden worrying me. I know we had plans to transplant a tree elsewhere but I didn't know where so when I didn't see where it had been transplanted to I thought it might have been stolen. Don't laugh it has happened with rarer and more valuable trees.
So went to the LYS to get some more practice on the spinning wheel. It helped to calm me down and I got some fiber spun up. might return there Sunday to do some more. Though the yarn is very twisted, I need to learn to slow down. with more practice I'll get better.

On the Queue
Clapotis

Spinning Class part two

I've gotten a little more done on my Citron shawl, the teacher liked it so much she copied down URL for the pattern. It was disappointing no one else showing up for class though having Pat, the teacher all to myself was helpful.
Well the last day of spinning class over with. I feel pretty good. After the teacher help me get started on the one wheel I was off and actually spinning. I guess repetition helped. At least until the bobbin stopped spinning. So we fiddled with it for awhile and finally gave up. So the teacher plyed some yarn it was fascinating watching the yarn take shape on the bobbin like watching a piece of pottery take shape on a potter's wheel and the sound was so soothing.

Spinning Class part one

Well went to spinning class to find one classmate called to work and the other didn't show up. Guess she didn't know the time and the store didn't have her phone number to call and tell her. So had the teacher and three spinning wheels all to myself. It was nice but I didn't want that. Got a little bit of roving spun up and I'm going to do some with my drop spindle maybe even ply some before class. The teacher said she'd be at the store Thursday so I might go there then and practice some more.
I found the Louet a bit hard so switched to one of the Ashfords and that was a little harder but seems to work better.
Got some more work done on my knitting.

When Something Better Comes Along

 Two socks on the same needles

Remember how I said I had started knitting two socks at a time on the same two circular needles. Well there's also the lace pattern I though would make suck a pretty pair of socks along with the perfectly colored yarn Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Gold Rush. Pictured below.

Well I keep trying to do it encouraged by Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns in which she has a note about using lace patterns in circular knitting. I keep going back to it to try and figure out what I'm doing wrong. But I think I've got it all figured out now at least I hope so. And just love this so I might do this pair of socks instead of the birthday yarn from my neighbor for the cheap socks KAL for Knitcents.
But also still looking forward to the spinning class tomorrow. Though I did hint to mom I still might ask for a spinning wheel for my birthday maybe. Dad's thinking electronic one but I wouldn't mind a manual one first.

on the needles
one pair of socks
leaf lace socks
meadow flowers shawl

Citron in Malabrigo lace, consecha colorway

Spinning (coming soon)

on the queue
simple yet effective shawl, mom got some malabrigo and suggested I see about finding a shawl for it. it calls for a nice big yarn so I think it will work just fine.

what I'm listening to
Knitmore Girls
Knitcents
NPR's Wait wait don't tell me
and Car Talk

I Believe in Second Chances

Even if it includes me and something or someone. In this case the something is spinning, not the thing involving bicycles but spinning as in making your own yarn.

So yesterday, while mom and dad had deserted me for plant shopping. I drove downtown to do some walking and shopping. I parked and headed for one of the LYS that I hadn't been to in awhile in order to avoid temptation and saw a sign in the window about another spinning class. I had taken one there last summer. But I didn't have my checkbook. so I made a point to come back and bring my mother. So the teacher was there and I signed up for the class. She, mom and I went to look at the rovings and yarns. Talking about patterns and such.

So Tuesday and Thursday I'm going to be going to spinning class, learning to ply yarn and trying to figure out spinning wheel spinning.

No Knitting at New Moon

There's a t-shirt I've seen that reads so many books so little time. My current state could be explained by changing just one word in that. books = projects. Well I've seen so much knitting so little time too.
The script writing has pettered down to where I'm using my second idea. It's working out okay except I haven't been working on it for the past two days.
I've just been having too much fun with knitting ...too many projects. Instead of working on one sock at a time I did something like what I saw in a book on sock knitting and have both socks on the same two circular needles it suppose it will help me fight second sock syndrome but it's still kinda slow. Knit on sock one, knit on sock two. Kind of boring as well and there's trying to work on the meadow flowers shawl for mom. Trying to start work on a pair of fingerless gloves my old ones are just a bit loose. Maybe I should just put that on hold since spring is here. I can start working on them later this year before or when it starts getting cold again.
Then I ripped up a finished object, a Quant I had knit for myself, because I decided it needed to be a bit longer and I still had some yarn left over. Well I got that lengthened. And also I'm trying to restart a pair of socks I thought I'd try to design myself using a lace pattern I saw in a little book. Having checked out A Treasury or Stitches and Second Treasury of Stitches by Barbara Walker didn't help. So that's one, two, three, and four projects along with other just calling to be started or finished.
Also watched New Moon Wednesday night didn't get much knitting done. Loved it might have to see about buying a copy either for ipod or DVD.
On the needles
socks, socks
shawl,


 Off the needles
Quant

Listening to
Knitmore Girls back episodes

What was Lost is Found

Over two years ago I finished a pair a socks. I had gotten the yarn with a gift certificate from one of my sisters as a Christmas present I believe. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in these jewel tone colors. So then I went online looking for a sock pattern to use it with. And I found the Lacy Trellis pattern and that was it . So i printed up the pattern. The one hard thing about the pattern the first row of the lace pattern since it started with a yarn over so I would slip on the last stitch from the other needle to keep the yarn over from sliding off  and then move the stitch back for the next round. I finished one sock and second sock syndrome struck.I started it and then another disaster struck. I lost the printed copy of the pattern. I went online  to search for it again searching the same way I did before but I couldn't find it. I figured it had gone off line.
I did finish the second sock the lace pattern stuck in my head. Then yesterday thinking to put the pair of socks up on Ravelry I had to try and find the pattern again. So I tried different variations of the pattern name in Google. Lo and behold, there was the same picture, the same colored text as I remember. So now I've got it marked down where it is and another printed copy just in case I find some yarn to knit another pair.
The socks are just a little bit big for me so I might see about selling or giving them away if I can find someone to give them to.
Didn't finish the baby socks yesterday but finished the heel late last night so now I'm working on the foot and almost at the toes so should be finished soon where I can start on the socks for the socks in a month deal.
So rented New Moon on iTunes yesterday and tonight will watch that on my iPod while working on those socks. Already own Twilight so might watch that as well.

What I'm listening to
The Anatomy of Knitting
BarkNKnits
Knitmore Girls
Knitting in the Round
Knitcents

My Babies

No, I am not a mother. But my babies are any little seedlings I am growing at the time. For awhile last year I had a basil seedling that I kept on the windowsill in the kitchen. Away from all the nasty slugs that had eaten it's seedling siblings.

At the moment I have some sensitive plants five successes from 9 peat pellets. Yes I know there are those that don't recommend or complain that using peat decreases the peat bogs. But I just wanted to use up the package of pellets I had so I wouldn't feel bad about them sitting around when I use a package of seed starting soil.
It could have been six seedlings but one died off I'm thinking from damp rot. I am still looking for my little spray bottle of chamomile tea that I use to avoid that. Once I have my babies transplanted to some small pots and maybe given to some neighbors with warm hearts and homes the weather here in the Pacific Northwest isn't conducive to the warm weather they like.
Next seeds I will start will be some for me and mom. We got some Bio domes from Parks along with the plugs, so for my mom I will start some Okra, along with petunias, snapdragons, tomatoes and peppers. For me, I'm going to try growing some basil again. Slug and snail just don't seem to scare me off.

second baby sock before frogging.
Does ripping out count as off the needles? I was working on trying to finish a small pair of socks so I could use the needles for another pair of socks. Was still working on the leg, k1 p1 ribbing when I noticed it looked more like a moss stitch so took another look and saw I had dropped a stitch. So in the process of trying to correct it I dropped more stitches did try to correct that but just finally had to frog it. I do have the needles free but would like to just try and knit up that sock. I already have one and that I knit up in a day so I know if I put myself to it I could knit it up and have free needles to start on that sock.
Also I decided to start working on the little heart shaped sachets again. I had knit so many that I had stopped for awhile. But it's thanks to closing all those up that I felt comfortable knitting a sweater and then doing the seaming to put it together. Though I would love trying to knit one up on circular needles and not have to worry about seaming.

Where to find me?
I'm stitchers on Ravelry. So feel free to friend me or PM me.

Post One

Okay introductions first. My name is Ruth. I would call myself a intermediate knitter. I've  completed two small child size sweaters, quite a few socks, several dishcloths. I am an on again off again crocheter, usually whenever I take on a crochet project I require a book on crochet nearby so I can look up how to do a single, double or half double crochet or even treble crochet. I am trying to figure out how to spin my own yarn. I do some dyeing with Kool Aid.

So many things to do this month and now I've added another. I must be a little crazy. What do I have to do that one more thing is possible to tip over the balance in my life? you ask. Well other than knitting,  another hobby I have is writing. And last November I did my first dip into the world of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) I won that. March was Editing month and thanks to a particularly nasty cold or something I was so sick the last week well there was not much chance of closing the 11 to 50 hour gap. And now April is Script Frenzy, I did have two possible script ideas in my head. One well I wont' admit to here. but two was a vampire movie script based on the little stories I started when I didn't have internet I did write a little series of vampire stories on web pages. though A third idea has come up, based on my current real life dilemma between knitting and trying to write a screenplay in a month.  And now after listening to so many knitting podcasts on my ipod thinking I might try blogging about my knitting and crocheting. Oh another thing to do now that it's spring is planting, seed starting and gardening. So let's list this:

1. Script Frenzy
2. knitting
3. blogging
4. gardening

Okay that said and done. What am I working on?

Meadow Flowers shawl by Donna Kay from Knitter's Stash pictured above as the raspberry colored wool yarn
Flotsam and Jetsam Shawl No real pattern I sort of am making it up as I knit it. Lots of yos, ssks, sl1 k2tog psso overs. Also pictured above a variegated blue cotton yarn
Entrelac socks
Entrelac Scarf pattern from allisonknits

Finished Objects
prayer shawl knit with some acrylic  yarns in white and different shades of blue, then crocheted around the edges. pictured above.

On the Que
Aside from what I've got on my queue at Ravelry  I plan to knit a pair of socks this month using two skeins a neighbor gave me as a birthday present as part of a sock knit thing on one of the knitting podcasts I have subscribed to. with bright pinks purple and orange.

What I am listening to
 (podcasts)
Knitting in the Round
Knitcents
Electric Sheep
Knitmore Girls
plus several more.