Fiber, fiber , fiber

I am surrounded by fiber and some of the nicest spinners in the world. What could be better? January Spin-in started on Wednesday and it has been fiber overload ever since.

So far I have purchased another Trindle and some Blue Face Leicester and some incredible dyed Bombyx silk mawatas. ....and I'm just getting started.


a few hours later...I purchased more BFL in a slightly different colorway than one I usually use but it has enough blue in it to keep me happy.

So far the January Spin-in precision niddy noddy drill team has been awesome in their performances. A 3 foot stuffed lamb has been kidnapped and is being held for fiber ransom, and we have had a Spin-in Sit-in complete with flower children and music from the '60s. "We Shall Overcome" was converted to "We Shall Overspin". You just never know what to expect and that is what I love about this event.

Hooray for Friends

Thank goodness for friends. They came to the rescue this weekend. I am trying to finish the 2nd sock of the first pair ever. How in the world it can be easier to knit the first sock than it is to knit the second one of the pair is beyond my comprehension but that's exactly what has happened.

I took a break in the middle of the second sock--holidays and all that. Well, my count got off and the heel ended up going off at a really, really weird slant on one side of the heel only.

Off to one of the local knitting shops for help. They helped me rip back and get back on track with the short rows. I came home and happily knitted away--until I really, really looked at the thing. It was at this point when I realized that what was throwing things off wasn't the short rows but rather the start of the heel flap. Apparently it does make a difference as to the number of stitches you have on your needles. So much for my cavalier attitude.

Another friend to the rescue. Stephanie is a sock knitting genius and a great friend. Who else would come out on a rainy Saturday afternoon, patiently get the stitches back on the correct needles and then wait while I slowly knit rows in the correct manner.

I finished that portion and will do the rest of the sock early this week--"Lord willing and the creek don't rise."

Dr. Who scarf. Season 15

Dr. Who scarf. Season 15
Originally uploaded by january spin

It's finished, it's finished!!!!! This was an easy knit if a somewhat long one. I used Vanna's Choice acrylic yarn and large needles (size 11) so that it wouldn't become a lifelong project. The total length is over 18 feet. I didn't use the entire pattern and quit more than finished it but it was long enough to give the "look". We were going for fun rather than "authentic".

This is definitely an act of love knitting project as it takes so long but on the other hand, it's great for visiting since there isn't a pattern to remember.

I know there are people who have actually knit several of the Dr. Who scarves. I won't be one of them....unless Favorite Son needs another one for some strange reason. Before you begin to wonder, Favorite Son is also our only son so no one else is being neglected. Actually since birth he has been know as Number One Favorite Son and remains so years and years, and years later. (Sorry to digress but he's got a birthday coming up and I couldn't resist.) I on the other hand, am not aging.

So, 2010 is off to a great start knitting wise as I have now finished the Dr. Who scarf and also a prayer shawl for the Prayer Shawls for Fallen Soldiers group. More on that later.

On the needles are the sock yarn hat mentioned earlier and the First Socks ever . The FSE should be finished this week if the hands don't freeze from our over the top weather. It it's going to be this cold, we should have some of the white stuff at least.

On a side note about the weather--just because you live in an area of the world that is used to cold weather, and you have lower temperatures than we do, doesn't mean that you shouldn't at least try to sound sympathetic when we complain. Cold that is unexpected and not the usual thing, is colder than cold that is a regular thing. It's a well know fact!

Cheryl's Big Knit scarf

Cheryl's Big Knit scarf
Originally uploaded by january spin

Roc Day is a great excuse for getting together with friends you don't see nearly often enough. If you aren't familiar with the history of Roc Day, be sure to look it up on the web.

I got a great idea from Cheryl for using leftover sock knitting yarn. I'm going to have to make more socks to have the yarn but I loved the idea. I forgot where she got the idea but you are knitting on size 8 circs and using 2 strands of sock yarn to make a simple hat. Just change to another yarn when you run out of a strand. Naturally I have cast on for the hat but need to actually finish the socks to have "leftover" yarn.

Catchup--the holidays were wonderful and I actually finished a couple of projects which will be in the next post.