Day: November 14, 2006

SO I sat down last night to finish spinning up the last of Tracy’s Maple Sugar roving. After about 10 minutes of spinning the drive band finally gave way and snapped off the wheel. sigh. Sadly I thought I was going to have to drive to Solvang Village Spinning & Weaving frantically first thing this morning to purchase a new one. Then, as I am talking to Tracy on the phone and playing with the broken band, I realize that I can just heat it and melt it back together. I wasn’t sure I could get it hot enough so I used my hottest burner on my gas stove to heat both ends, remove from heat for a second, heat again, remove, heat again until the whole of the end was molten plastic ready to be smushed together. IT WORKED! Here are the ugly but very, very useable results.

Man was it hard to get a picture of this at night inside. But it is the best my retarded camera can do. I let it sit for about 15 minutes to really set after I got it back on the wheel while I came out to the computer to order myself a new band. And behold, I found a whole new site that I had never shopped from. The Simpson & Co. store, www.cyberfyber.com.  Not only did they have a band for a great price, they sent it with free shipping and no other handling charges. I got it for the stated price! Such great service! Now, if I had ordered another item as well I would have had to pay shipping but how nice is it to not have to worry about some outrageous shipping fee for a small, lighweight item that should only cost 78cents to send anyways. And they have fiber. Good prices on good fiber. And they have Euroflax in all weights and colors available on cones. It was a good find of a store!

So now the last 2 hanks of the Maple Sugar yarn are drying, I will take them to Tracy tonight before my class starts at Knit & Pearl. I am teaching them the heel tonight. Flap, gusset & decreases.

George was supposed to fly home last night but his flight from Reno to SF was delayed due to weather so he was going to miss his flight from SF to SB. He decided to stay the night with his sister and catch the first flight out this morning. He will be home in just 2 hours! Yay! I like my husband. a lot.

Oh & I ripped out the VK Lacy Top out of the Noro Cash Iroha. I couldn’t get the shaping right having my gauge so far off. Then it dawned on me, why don’t you just write your own pattern for it using all the little details you love about the top? dumbass. So that is what I shall do. Maybe not today but soon.

Done! Are the Jaywalkers out of Fortissima Disco.

Let me say this about these socks. Ahem… I finished them last night around 9pm. Put them on, slept in them & took the picture this morning. I have never, ever had a pair of socks that actually fit my feet & stayed up. I even have trouble with store bought socks falling down around my bony feet. These fit so perfectly around my heel/ankle that I don’t ever want to take them off. As a matter of fact it makes me want to cast on for another pair this very instant. But I shan’t.

I am also only 8 rows away from being done with the back of the Green Lacey Hoodie from Rebecca. Just thought I would throw that in there. I am going to finish the back & cast on for the front pronto!

 

I thought it was time for something a bit more light & fun on the color scheme. Who knows, I may change my blog color to a different color a week. I like the thought….

I suppose it should be blue for the project spectrum color of the month. But since I am just today finishing the green May socks I am a bit behind. blue, blue, blue. What can I do that is blue? Well the Carla is blue. It’s an mesh sweater pattern so it’s apropos for summer, that may be the next finished project, after the socks, we see!

 This yarn is the only real reason I want a spinning wheel. I know, it’s probably an impossible spin for a beginner but I LOVE IT!

You can find it here to purchase. I am too cheap to pay for it but good Lord how I want it! Lust & coveting all in one.

I posted a new photo to Photosnotknitting.

I received a comment today from KKF, she directed me to this book.

I can’t get the picture to copy but trust me, it’s the same colorwork and pattern as THE shawl! I ordered the book & will receive it shortly!

Yippee! Now to make myself a shawl chart once I get the book!

Thank you so much Julie for the guidance in the comment!

Totally finished!

I did 3 things differently than the pattern called for.

First, I decided on short sleeves for our down right warm weather here in SB.

Second, I did the increases on the bottom ribbing a little differently than in the pattern to get a bit of a leaf look to them.

Third, I used one small button instead of one large button like it called for. I thought a more dainty look with the short sleeves was called for.

I love it! It’s snug, not too snug I hope! After it’s done blocking I will see if it needs to be stretched with more blocking. I don’t knit my sweaters so fitted normally so it’s a different feel & I must say I dig it!

I do believe I will be wearing it on Thursday JS knitting!