Wheelinsticks

Summer of socks started last Saturday. I only have two goals to really accomplish during the kal. The first one is to learn to make 2 socks at once on 2- circular needles and the other is to learn how to make toe up socks. Well the first is accomplished. Here's the first pair. They are a kind of a cheat since they are worsted weight. I made them smaller than my feet since they will go in the gift box for Christmas. I need to make a few more pairs to actually feel comfortable making them, but its a start. Next up, a real pair!

1. How long have you been spinning? What skill level do you consider yourself? About 8 months, so still learning. 2. What kinds of yarn do you create (singles/2-ply/3-ply/art yarn)? 2-ply and 3-ply right now, but I want to try some new creations. 3. What do you spin with (spindle/wheel/both)? I spin on my Ashford Kiwi wheel named Molly. 4. What are your favorite fibers to spin with? BFL of course, blended batts, and Merino are the current favs. Anything you don't like? Not yet. 5. Who are your favorite fiber sources (etsy or otherwise)? Crown Mountain Fibers, Butterflygirl Designs, and Dudlyspinner. 6. What kind of fiber do you want to try? Just about anything. The fun of being totally new at this. 7. Is there any techniques you would like to learn? Making different types of artyarn with beads or sequins added in. 8. Do you dye fiber? If not, would you like to learn? Sure I would love to learn. 9. Do you have fiber prep tools (and like to use them) or would you prefer ready to spin...

Mr. Hunting Hat Lady Hunting Hat I finished the second hat that I am kindly referring to as Lady Hunting tonight. The first hat was way to big and I had plenty of the scrumptious yarn still leftover that I decided to make another. Where are they headed you ask? Well, Mr. Hunting has already been delivered and Lady will go after a nice bath in Soak. Love that stuff. The couple are our closest married friends. The hubby has been helping use with building our fence in the back. He was here the other morning helping Lawn Guy drill the holes in the concrete for the last 4 post for the fence and gate. Lawn guy was telling hubby friend about me buying part of a fleece and discussing the very large hat, when it dawn on the 2 of us to gift it to the friend. Since my friends are kinda of that couple that will have a few things that are the his/her factor, I decided that it would be fine to make it a matching set. Please excuse the coloring in Lady, she is the same color as Mr.

So the backyard is coming along at a snail's pace. The back fence is complete and 2/3of the one side is done. Of course, we are still unsure of the shed since tracking down the size we need is becoming a a royal pain. However, just 2 gates and another 24 feet and the heavens will sing its praises. We still plan to redo the other side of the fencing, too. On the upswing, the plants are doing very well considering we had to stand in the garden to hang that section of the fencing. They looked awful after being invaded, but perked up by the next morning. We now have 4 tomatoes and a couple of yellow squash growing. Nothing on the green peppers or the cauliflower. Oh, not sure about the eggplant - it may have bit the dust, and the spinach is gone. For some reason it did not care for the concrete that flowed into its path. Oh well there is always next year. I finished the hat that I was making. Unfortunately its could fit a large man and not me, so I have enough of the yarn left over to ...

Rachel was looking at these socks last night as I was working on them. She had forgot that the yarn was her yarn. This is quite understandable since I have had it simmering away in my stash for close to year. It's funny to be able to trip people up sometimes. I love her colorways and this is the second sock yarn that I have used of hers. So, without further ado,

Thanks to Mindy, I have a nice looking banner! You rock!

So this is the roving that I am playing with. I want to make Gust out of it if I have enough. I think I will. I spun up 1/4 of what I have and I have 180 yards of fingering weight yarn. So if my guess-o-meter is close I should have in the neighborhood of 700 yards when I'm through. That should be plenty. This really pretty stuff. It has colors in light browns to dark browns, blues, greens, and shades in between. I think it will be just what I want for a sea themed scarf. Will see. I have lots of spinning time first. How's the new banner look?

Okay its just hot. Why is it that in St. Louis the whether changes so drastically. I have been piddling around the house. The privacy fence is coming along nicely. The shed on the other hand not so well. The area that we have will only fit a shed that is the size of 6 x 8 or 6 x 6. You would think that finding a metal shed would be simple. Ah, not so much, we are still looking. We can adjust if needed but means redoing a couple of posts that are already in the ground and fencing that we have already hung too. Surprisingly the dogs are handling the orange mesh fence in the back very well. They don't jump on it like we thought they would, so that's a plus. Here let me distract you with pics of the babies. On the fiber front. I have started a couple of more projects. I have a Swallowtail Shawl in a very light purple-gray colorway in alpaca and silk, and I just started a top down hat in the orangy-brown color. I have to re-start the hat on smaller needles because I don't care f...

I spent a good part of last night and today finishing up the Calumet 2. I think it turned out pretty good. I haven't been spinning and it shows a little. Thankfully, a good soaking and thwacking can do wonders. I have about 253 yards in a DK to worsted weight. I am planning a hat for next winter and we'll see what else, maybe a small scarf that buttons over. I can't believe I am even talking about winter, but you have to remember I live in St. Louis. Last week was lovely, now its 90 and still, rain and more rain often. Oh well, onward and upward!

Yeah, I love it! It turned out so pretty. I still need to block it, but I just had to show it off. Here's a close up of the pattern I also have a pair of socks on the needles. Sport weight yarn and stockinette stitch and they go pretty quick.