Projects

I hadn't intended spend so much time away from blogging, but life got in the way. I have a few days rest now, so I'm back on track with my fiber projects.
Here are some things I've been working on lately. I seem to have fiber ADD so I'm jumping back and forth between multiple projects. Here are my current spinning projects:

Spanish Peacock Russian with chocolate baby Alpaca, White Angora and Bombyx Silk! Buttah Baby!



Viking Santa spindle with the softest alpaca


Takhli spindle with Cashmere


Donut whorl and chopstick spindle with merino/viscose hand dyed by moi

New Things!

I have completed the handspun shawl. It's the swallowtail shawl by Evelyn A.Clarke made from merino/soysilk handspun lace yarn on size 5 vintage nylon needles. I love how it turned out!





I've also finished the kneee high socks for my husband.



I also purchased two new spindles from the Spanish Peacock. They both spin like tornados!
This is a Russian spindle made of Zebrawood. It's 25g.



This one is a Tibetan Spindle. I forgot to ask what woods are involved.



Here are some recent thrift store finds:

CVM 3 ply

CVM 3 ply
Originally uploaded by nkosit1968

Ok, so I finally finished spinning the CVM into a three ply yarn. It turned out fabulous! Washing made the yarn bloom very nicely. It's so creamy and quishy! I'm very, very proud of this yarn. It only took me forever to finish, but it's done! There is about 560 yards of yumminess in this skein.

Update

I've been working very long hours and when I get home I'm too tired to do anything. That's the reason I haven't posted anything in a while.

I am still trying to squeeze some knitting in on the train ride to and from work, but the spinning is almost at a standstill. My hands miss it terribly.

Here's an update on some things I've been working on. Hope to finish both of these projects very soon.

This is the swallowtail lace shawl by Evelyn A. Clarke. It's coming out very nicely, and after a few rough patches in following the pattern, I'm thoroughly enjoying knitting this. The shawl has been competing fiercely with my other project for my attention! I'm not sure that the yarn I'm using is the best choice for the pattern, as it is such a dark and variegated color. This shawl would probably look best with a single color yarn. However, this yarn is my handspun merino/soysilk (fiber received a couple years ago at a fiber swap)which I really wanted to use in a lace pattern. Hopefully everything will work out and I'll be wearing this shawl soon.



Here are the hubby socks I previously posted about. I had completed them already and they turned out too short in the foot. So, I had to rip out the toes, add length to the foot, and now I'm about the do the toes again. Hubby is anxiously waiting for them to be finished so he can wear them!

Long time no post!

Well, it's been quite some time since I've posted. It's because I've been working crazy, long hours. When I get home late at night, I'm just too exhausted to do anything! And, as a result, this blog has been sorely neglected. I'm going to try my best not to let so much time pass again before I post again next time.

I really haven't had much time for crafting either. I've been squeezing it in here and there when I can. It's been really hard doing that, but it is what keeps me sane and I can't be away from my fibers for too long :).

Here's some things I've been working on lately:

Phang spindle purchased through a destash with some unknown fiber that accompanied the spindle


This phang is a good weight and it spins pretty well. I really enjoy working with it and like the color of the wood a lot. Good fiber prep is really the key to working with these types of spindles.


Carded cotton on a hookless tahkli spindle


Absolutely adore spinning up cotton. This hookless takhli is a nice tool. While it doesn't spin as fast as the hooked Indian takhli I have, it sure does hold way more fiber. I'm challenging myself to see how much fiber I can pack on it.

California Variegated Mutant wool being 3 plyed on a CD spindle


I'm almost done plying this wool. I had a blast spinning this fluffy, springy white wool. I have lots more of it to play with too!

Cashmere on a handmade wittled phang and simple toy wheel support spindle



The cashmere loves these two spindles. It spins so effortlessly! The phang works surprisingly well for me, now that I've gotten some good practice time in. I love it so much. Thanks Janet!

I was also gifted these two beautiful bead whorl spindles and cotton samples from a Ravelry friend. Thanks Jame! They spin very well, making a nice, thin thread. Cotton with silk nubs is on the clear glass bead spindle. I'm always fortunate to come in contact with some very generous fiber folks on line.



I'll be going on vacation in the coming week and I should have plenty of time to play with my fibers! It's hard to choose what to take with me. LOL!

Score at the Thrift Store and Street Finds!

This past weekend I went thrifting. Not really looking for anything specific, just checking out the merchandise. I found this really nice, interesting looking chair for $5.00 (it was half off). I love the shape and simplicity of the chair. I'm wondering what, if anything should I do with it. Any suggestions?



I also found these sweet milk glass vases for $.50 a piece,



and this old tarnished silver platter for $3.50 (again, both half off). Check out the little feet on her!



I decided I could use them to change out the display on my dresser. Now, I'd seen vases like these before and simply passed them by. But, after seeing a lovely vignette somewhere out in blogland, I decided to give them a try. What could it hurt at that price? Turns out I love the way they look on my dresser.

This morning while taking my girls to school, I spotted this lovely cane back chair on the sidewalk. Apparently, the owner had put it out to trash. Well, now that I've gotten the thrifty decorating eye, I quickly got out of my car, inspected it, and finding it to be in great shape, threw it in my trunk. Talk about score!!!! Oh yeah!!!!



And it goes well with the other piece I had gotten from the Salvation Army a while back.



Looks like I got my work cut out for me with all my recent furniture finds!

Knitting and spinning

I started making a pair of knee socks for the "man." They are long overdue. I kept knitting and ripping until finally settling on just a plain knit sock. I'm using Filatura Lanarota's "Fashion Toes" which is a 90% superwash Merino Woll , 10% Nylon yarn. I love this yarn! Knit on size 1 needles makes a nice fabric for socks, and the socks are turning out well. Still have about 4-5 inches of leg left to do, then the long (size 12)feet to go.



Also, I finally finished spinning up the bit of llama that accompanied the spindle that Janet gave me. http://www.ravelry.com/people/popsicletote . The spindle took a little getting used to, but it the end I was able to spin it as I wanted to. Fiber prep is extremely important when using these phang spindles. It really makes spinning much easier. The llama is really soft and nice. I wouldn't mind getting some more of this.





I think I'll eventually ply this bit of llama with some Romney lambswool (in the same natural color) that I'm working on and make a pair of lace wrist warmers-if there's enough yardage.