Some close, and others reopen....

The "rustic" shawl is finished. Those of you that are on Ravelry (who isn't??) may find it in my projects listed as "my kinda shawl". That just about says it all. I actually think I may use this one. Will look terrific with blue jeans, and it's long enough in the front that I can tie the corners. Quite a fashion statement I'll be! LOLI made a matching pair of mittens for BG - matching his handspun hat, (that he may or may not ever wear). Well, the mittens (or mitts - as they are thumbless) were a big hit. He is all about clapping right now - and playing patty-cake. The mitts enhance that experience, and he thinks its quite humorous. Hmmm - perhaps he just thinks I am humorous! I spun the first 2 oz of the oatmeal bfl up.....as an experiment. It's soft, lofty, squishy, quite beautiful actually. A great fiber to work with! I still want to practice my spinning before I start in on the large amount reserved for the sweater however. I was trying for a ww, and I think the majority of it is just that. But - some areas are thinner, and some are thicker. I was actually doing that a bit on purpose, as I spun - testing the results. I think the next attempt will be more consistent. My knitting priority will be more sets of hats/mittens for CIC's current challenge. I planned to call it quits, content with the 4 sets that I had made. But there was a recent plea for help. The original goal was for 100 sets, and they feel they are falling far short of that. So...I grabbed some ww from my stash and started in again. They go quickly, and I really enjoy knitting mittens. The hats are not as enjoyable for me, but it's a worthy cause. My new goal is 10 sets. I am finishing up the 7th set now, so I think I can make it. Perhaps I should up the goal...... ?? For the mittens I used the "No Swatch, No Gauge Mittens" pattern and this is the "Hurricane Hat", both of which can be found on Ravelry.

Sofee and I are off to the veterinarian's office now. She needs her rabies shot. She is quite uncomfortable with her seasonal allergies again. While I have started her on meds, she seems to be having more issues with her eyes this year - more than normal. He predicted that each year would be a little more difficult for her. They are predicting an early frost here in Iowa. While my apologies go to all the Iowa farmers, I hope they are right!

How time flies.....

Where have the last 10 days gone? Sorry - I have been missing in action, but I have not been idle.
I finished up these three sets of hats/mittens for CIC's current drive. I am not sure what size child they will fit, but hopefully someone can wear them. They are all made out of sock yarn - scrap yarn....double stranded. I hope to make a couple additional sets before the end of the challenge, which I think is the end of September.

I am currently working on a pair of gloves knit out of the handspun that made the feather and fan scarf. I am "winging" the pattern as I go, and hoping for the best. They will be plain gloves, although I gave some thought to putting a F/F design on the back of the hand. But - pattern writer - designer, I am not. These will be simple gloves.

On the spinning front, the blue and green rovings in the previous post, spun up into these singles
I decided to just do a 2-ply as the 3rd single had a bit of mohair in it, and was not as soft as these were. The two plied up into almost 800 yards of a very serviceable yarn. I think it would be considered fingering weight. It's a little more uniform than my last attempt. I think I am getting better....hopefully so! (Opps...I forgot the dime for size comparison)I have it wound up this morning (I love my jumbo winder...8oz is a good deal of yarn), and I think I will make a very plain-jane, non lacy shawl out of it. I always say that I am not a "shawl person", but a month ago, I wasn't a spinner either. There should be some subtle striping, and I think a shawl would showcase that very well. I so love knitting with handspun, that I can't NOT knit this up into something?? I am open to other ideas if anyone has suggestions.

Today is Monday, so I had to assess BG's development this morning.....what had he learned over the weekend. Last Monday, he had developed speed in his walking technique. And today...he is climbing!!!! Yikes!! He has already perfected the art of tossing food to the floor.....much to Sofee's delight! This kid might not be so bad after all, huh Sof? :)

Till later....enjoy life. Hopefully I'll be back before another 10 days has passed. Hmmm....wonder if this fast walking and new found climbing could have anything to do with my lack of blogging??? One would wonder....... (Sorry - no complaints from this Grandma!)

As promised....

Actual knitting...FINALLY! These are the Bella Mittens and Bella Hat, patterns found on Ravelry. The reddish color is Lambs Pride bulky weight, and the charcoal in the hat is Plymouth Galway Chunky. Sort of a stash busting project, and hopefully the colors go well enough that it can still be considered a "set". The hat has the same cables running from the ribbing to the top of the hat, although the photo does not show it well.

These will go in a box to CIC. In collaboration with Hand of Help, CIC's current challenge is mitten/hat sets for children in Romania. Sizes fitting from age 3 to 21 are needed, so these should qualify. I hope to make several sets to send.

I started a project with my handspun last night, and so far, I am REALLY enjoying it. It just may be true what they say about knitting with your own handspun yarn. A bit magical!

In the beginning.....

I can't get this spinning thing out of my head. So, thought I'd gve a go with a spindle and some wool roving that I have had stashed away for "someday". Of course, I didn't have much patience, as I didn't really know if I was doing it correctly. What would I get when I tried to ply this.... how do I even do that??
What I have is my very first handspun "skein" of yarn. It's 25 yards, approximately. It weighs 9 grams. I expected breakage of the singles during the plying process, but everything held together pretty well. I think it's beautiful! LOL... Only a total newbie spinner would probably understand my adoration. All the rest of you can smile, and wonder "why"?? And on the knitting front, I have called it quits after the 12th pair. I think CIC's goal was 150 pairs. Hope this helps. I still have a few more skeins of ww when the next challenge is announced, but I did manage to make a bit of a dent in the stash bin. That's a good thing.....

Wondering, Waiting, and trying not to whine!

I wonder why life is so different as a grandma?? I don't ever remember turning my living room into a play station circuit workout room when my kids were at the "cruising" stage. But here we have it..... and I quite enjoy watching BG travel from one area to the next.
And while I wait for my yarn to arrive, (the yarn for my husband's gansey), I am knitting some worsted weight wool socks for CIC. They have a mini challenge on from Memorial day through the end of June. Their goal is 150 pairs, sized from 5.5" - 7.5 inches. These fit the requirement. Obviously, I have been using up small snippets of yarn on some of these. I always wonder if they are the most favored, or the most dreaded of socks by the kids who receive them. It's a fun, quick, and useful project.

And now, for the whining part..... I have a HORRID case of contact dermatitis. AKA Poison Ivy, although we don't think my offender is actually poison ivy - but the result is the same. (Don't worry - no photos!) The assumption is that I came into contact with something at the farmer's market last Saturday. My doctor has given me all the help she can, and now it's just a waiting game. (I had great hopes for the injection of steroids, but alas...not much relief!) It's been a few years since I last had such a reaction. I hope it will be MANY more before it happens again..... I am not a pretty sight!!! or a happy camper. OK - whining time is over.......

That's all folks.....

Six pair. That's it for right now. The current CIC challenge goes thru the end of February, so perhaps I will make more next month. I had an undeclared goal of a dozen pair. But....not going to beat myself up if I don't make it. Six is good....right? But....not as good as Twelve! We'll see.....

For right now, I think I am going to dig into my vintage sock yarn stash and pull out a fun self-patterning yarn. Depending on my selection - it will dictate the recipient. A fun no-brainer sock project will be just what I need as I watch tomorrow's inaugural celebration - sitting on my couch - a little HD action going on. At least I will be warm and cozy. (And no line for the potty either!) Actually, I have never been to Washington D.C. Perhaps some day....... I hope. The Statue of Liberty is also on my list of "some-days".