One Last January Post

This post will bring my total for January to 10 - that is about one post every 3 days so I'm kind of on target for my resolution. I'm going to try for 14 in February - and if I keep spinning that shouldn't be a problem showing you all my hand spun yarn. Technically, it's probably horrible but I love it! I love every little bit of it. The roving was from Tanis Fiber Arts 200g superwash merino in Stormy . In the picture of the three skeins, I think the one on the left is my best so far. I was spinning some really nice singles for that one. I keep trying to spin thinner and thinner because I really want to make socks but I've already decided that this yarn is going to be this. I have 200g of 2 ply - not sure about what weight I've managed to make but I'll make it work for that pattern somehow! :)

Jennie came by on Saturday for the Moebius class and showed off her Little Colonnade made out of Tanis Multi in Glacier. She thinks the yarn is fun too!

29 days no smoking - just in case you wanted an update!

Why in the world....

wouldn't everyone want to spin? I plied my singles today and got some pretty good looking yarn. I'm not sure how much because of course, today the scale decides that it's not going to work but it's pretty and I'm proud!

As soon as I got this done, I was digging in my stash from my Tanis Fiber Arts superwash merino in Stormy. I really, really want to make a pair of socks from my hand spun so I'm going to really concentrate on getting it thinner this time. Oh and I'm calling Schacht today to get some wheels in here for sale. Lady Bugs and Matchless will be here soon!

Mom! You made yarn!

Yesterday Emma came home from school and saw the bobbin on the wheel and said, Mom! You made yarn - pretty good yarn. Today she came home and saw the bobbin on the desk and said, Mom! This is even better than yesterday's!

50g of BFL from Fleece Artist - onto the second bobbin and then I am going to ply my first yarn ever! Make my first yarn ever! Yay me!

24 days no smoking today and 3 more blog posts so far in January 10 vs. January 09.

A Day Off

Today is a day off for me - I was piddling around in the store today and my spinning wheel caught my eye, so I marched right over the shelves, grabbed some Fleece Artist Roving and look what I spun. It went so smoothly - I was very impressed with myself.

I also finished another shawl - Mara - I made it out of 2 skeins of Dream in Color Classy - color Butterfly. I used 100 grams for the body of the shawl and finished the ruffle with the other 100 grams - I've got a scale so I knew when I'd reached the half way point. I also alternated skeins because the two skeins did look significantly different once they were wound up but you can't even tell I carried yarn up the side. Ok so that's it for now - it is a day off after all!

Day 20

Before I get to the knitting - I have been meaning to show you this pictures of one of our horses. The kids were making a snow fort and Liam borrowed one of our umbrellas for shelter and must have left it within reach of the biggest brat we have.

My current project is Gaenor. Yarn is Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Mist. It's a simple scarf with a pretty lace border. Just enough to keep you interested. Gaenor has a sister too - Argante - a bit more complicated but just as pretty. Both patterns are Help for Haiti which means the designer has pledged a portion of the price to Haiti relief efforts - you really do need both patterns :)

Here's Little Colonnade all done and blocking. The new sock yarn from Tanis was like knitting with a box of Smarties - so much fun! This pattern is also Help for Haiti so while you're at it, you might as well get it too!

Almost 3 weeks now of no smoking and it is getting better - well, at least today! My husband bought me a surprise to celebrate - since we've saved over $200 with me not smoking (isn't that just ridiculous!!??? so much money just up in smoke!!!!) A Sony Reader - I wasn't sure if I'd really like it since I love books so much but I do - it's awesome. I'm already loading it up with all the books I want to take to Florida - it will mean one less bag because I usually bring a bag of books.

Day 16

Yup 16 days no smoking! Yay me! I wish I could say it's getting easier - it seemed like it last week but not so much for the last few days. Saturday night I just burst out crying for no reason! All things that can happen as you de-tox but wow! Enough already!
Little Colonade is progressing nicely and the yarn certainly does not disappoint. The links for the pattern and the colorway are in the previous post. I've done one repeat of the lace edging so far - I have 3 to go and then a couple of more rows. This will be my first shawl of 10 in 2010. Next up will be a worsted weight shawl out of one of the Knitosophy colors on Classy that arrived on Friday - have you seen them....gorgeous!

Day Thirteen

Ok so the blogging has not been going that well but the quitting smoking has been going exceptionally well. Thirteen whole days today and I can say that yesterday was actually the best day I've had yet in terms of withdrawal etc. For a few days I was very anxious and short but that passed so hopefully things will continue. Lots has been happening on the knitting front. All the Tanis Fiber Arts Multi Sock Yarn arrived and the Dream in Color Classy in the Knitosophy colors - I'm the only shop in the whole wide world who asked for Classy in the new colors. How about that?

Here's my second Just Enough Ruffles - out of Sweet Georgia Merino Silk Aran. I got some good stretch lengthwise out of this when blocking - must be the silk. I just love it!

Finished one sock for Emma out of Dye Hard Self Striping. It's merino/cashmere/nylon and feels amazing. I love self striping yarn - the second sock goes so quickly because I just count stripes not rows! The second one is cast on and should be done today.

Linda dropped off some store samples - Cashsilk Fern in Sweet Georgia Cashsilk. Lisa and I took turns wearing it yesterday. The only thing I would change about this scarf is making it longer so I can feel more cashmere around my neck.

And finally Citron from Knitty - again another Sweet Georgia Yarn - superwash worsted. Yum!Yum!

And finally.....the beginning of Little Colonnade out of Tanis Multi in Prism. Just because I was dying to see what the yarn would do - it's so fun!

Day Three

No smoking for three days....how do I feel? A bit foggy today, tired but overall better than yesterday. Yesterday I would have said that I would have been smoking today - but so far, no smokes! I know if I smoke I will be extremely disappointed in myself and I also know that I don't even know how much better I'm feeling yet. The only way to find that out is to smoke - that one cigarette will remind how yucky I felt as a smoker so I can't - simple as that!

My knitting plan went out the window - I'm only knitting what pleases me at the moment. I cast on Just Enough Ruffles again - in Merino Silk Aran from Sweet Georgia. That's good stuff!

Next up might be some Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock - Tanis Multis should be here next week!

First FO's for 2010

How about that - finished projects already??

Dipped Infinity Scarf Kit from Tanis - blue. I love the way this turned out. It's my favorite colorway so far......very similiar to the original that Laura Chau did. The socks are Through the Loops Mystery Socks - I really enjoyed doing these even though I didn't keep up with everyone - I used Schaeffer Nichole and I can highly recommend both the yarn and the pattern. I going to finish the next sock today - just a bit of foot and toe to do. When I was working on it clue by clue I would work both socks so now I don't have much to do to finish. Then I must finish my February Lady Sweater in We Wear Red - I know, I know a bad knit along-er. Then it's Ulmus Rectangle in my bag to finish and then I can do something new. However, I cannot guarantee that things will go according to plan - this not smoking thing is extremely unpleasant at the moment so I might just knit something new just to placate myself.

This is Dipped Infinity in Green - also a really nice choice of colors from Tanis. Knit by Linda - our very talented Knitter!

Happy New Year

It's an amazing morning out this morning - gentle snow fell all night leaving a crisp clean landscape this morning. I'd take a picture but Laura borrowed my camera on Christmas Eve and has yet to return it.

Resolutions....well, I've got some - just like everyone I guess.............
I resolve to:
Blog at least 3 times per week - I noticed that I'm not a very good blogger and actually haven't been for the last year so I need to so something about that.

Walk on my treadmill at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes - I weighed myself this morning - urrrr - something has to be done about that number!

And last....I'm quitting smoking! Not today but in a couple of days from now - my mother died at 62 from heart disease and give all the genetics I have to get serious about my own health - I'm one year away from my 50th birthday and I vow to turn 50 a healthier person.

Wish me luck!