tuesdays are for spinning

Posted on | March 9, 2010 | 13 Comments

Well.  First let me say thanks for all the comments on my Olympic project!  I can only imagine what I could accomplish in life if I were that disciplined all the time.  But, it’s not my nature, so once every four years will have to suffice!

Last week I was felled by a horrible sinus infection/bug/dreaded illness, and spent several days sacked out on the couch – didn’t touch anything fibery but did discover BBC America, which is my new favorite channel.  Even the NEWS is better with a British accent!

Saturday I felt a bit better and finished up the camel/silk I’d started before the Olympics:

Not as thin as I’d thought, it plumped up quite a bit in the wash.  Still, 400 yards of loveliness that will live in the stash until the right project calls.

After finishing this, I cast on for my next knitting project – Kerrera by Gudrun Johnston.  I thought it would be perfect for Office Air Conditioning Season, which will start soon in this part of the country.  My gauge swatch lied, which I finally admitted after knitting 20 rows, including 15 rows of double garter stitch.  The body of the sweater is knit in one piece from the bottom up and once I finally measured it – it was 20″ bigger than it was supposed to be!  TWENTY INCHES TOO BIG!  I can’t believe I knit on it most of Saturday and wasted all that time.

So now it’s back to the beginning.  The yarn is Misti Alpaca Pima Cotton Silk, which is on sale at Webs for $4.99 for a 195 yard skein – quite the bargain.  I think it will be reincarnated as a blanket, as the more I look at it, the more I don’t really think it’s my color.

With my ego bruised, I went to my fiber closet and pulled out a treat.


These wonderful batts were sent to me by Lynn in Tuscon last summer when I was going through a rough patch.   It’s Brown Sheep Sock Blend from the Sheep Shed that she put through the carder with nylon, and it is scrumptious to spin.  I finished the first bobbin last night and can’t even think about knitting right now!

(that’s not really true – I’m already thinking about what kind of blanket/throw to knit with the cotton/silk!)

Lastly, kind Robyn awarded me this honor:

Thanks Robyn!  I’m supposed to pass this on to 7 bloggers, but I hate putting anyone under pressure, so here is my list and they can play if they like:  Bee House Hives, The Catorialist, Beauty Knitter, Rows Red, Sel and Poivre, These Times We Are Living In, and Wollhuhn.

I’m also supposed to list 7 interesting things about myself, but that’s even harder.  Perhaps I’ll do a random post soon and sneak a few bits in (once I’ve had a chance to think about it)!

Category: spinning

Comments

13 Responses to “tuesdays are for spinning”

  1. Lynn in Tucson
    March 9th, 2010 @ 11:24 am

    I wish I could take your gauge issues as a cautionary tale but I’m sure I’ll go right on making my own mistakes. (Shall I tell you about the shrug I’m knitting anyway, even though there’s NO WAY I have enough yarn?)

    Glad you’re enjoying the batt. That’s going to make some wild yarn!

  2. Tina M.
    March 9th, 2010 @ 12:59 pm

    Heh heh heh… oh how I know you gauge woes well!

    And dude! Thank you for nominating me! That’s very sweet of you. I feel all smiley on the inside now. :)

  3. Bubblesknits
    March 9th, 2010 @ 1:09 pm

    Oh…that’s beautiful! I love the colors on the bobbin, too!

  4. Sandy
    March 9th, 2010 @ 1:14 pm

    That’s some gorgeous stuff there.

  5. Carrie
    March 9th, 2010 @ 1:29 pm

    I thought that looked familiar! lol

  6. Tami
    March 9th, 2010 @ 1:34 pm

    The camel/silk is gorgeous! I haven’t done any knitting since the Olympic knitting. Spinning yes. I have more-yak-merino in my future. ;-)

  7. Cookie
    March 9th, 2010 @ 2:04 pm

    Beautiful spinning!

    At least, you figured out the gauge issue before you finished the first side. o.O

    xo

  8. Cheryl S.
    March 9th, 2010 @ 4:33 pm

    Crappers on Kerrara! I feel your pain.
    However, the camel/silk is gorgeous.

  9. Rue
    March 9th, 2010 @ 5:38 pm

    So sorry to hear about Kerrera! That’s the next sweater in my queue but I told myself that I have to finish Forecast before I can cast on. Hopefully you’ll be able to give that pattern another chance soon.

    Gorgeous spinning – my wheel is jealous and I can hear it calling to me to start another spinning project :)

  10. Becky
    March 10th, 2010 @ 7:27 am

    Whoa! I love the rich burgandy of the camel/silk yarn. Nice! And I think I’m going to pop over to the Sheep Shed (?) and see if they have any of those bats. It looks like a lot of fun.

  11. Robyn
    March 10th, 2010 @ 9:20 am

    You’re so welcome for the award! You’re a new blog to me, but I’m enjoying!

  12. Crystal
    March 10th, 2010 @ 1:06 pm

    That handpun made me hungry! Such juicy berry colours :)

  13. Rachel
    March 11th, 2010 @ 11:01 pm

    Wow–both your spinning projects are beautiful…oh, the colors! I hope that you work through your gauge and yarn color issues with Kerrera. It’s such a neat pattern!

    And thank you so much for the award. You made what was a long, frustrating day to this point bright again! I’d give it right back…I so enjoy your space!