Happy New Year

I hope you had a wonderful holiday and sending best wishes for a fabulous New Year.

Like many people, I recently reflected on 2012.  It was a very busy year for me (not so much in crafts, but in life).  The amount that I knit and spun was less than I would have hoped for, but I am very thankful for what I was able to accomplish.  Work was crazy busy, there was a lot going on with the family and we moved.

I reviewed my goals from 2012 and it is sad to see how little was finished.  My goal list tends to be pretty lofty (aim high).  Generally I spend time in November and December trying to finish up the goals, but that didn't happen this year.

2012 Knit Goals 
Bobbie Gloves 
Knotty Gloves 
Monkey Socks 
Gaudete Socks 
Evenstar 
Arabian Nights 
Poolside 
Girasole 
Bridgewater - wip 
Icarus - wip 
Advent - wip 
Forest Path - wip 
Kimono - wip 
Lena - wip 
Jaywalker Socks - completed

When working on my 2013 goals I decided to add my 2012 list and my UFOs to the list.

2013 Knit Goals 
Whippoorwill - completed 
Lichen Woods 
Noro Dream Stipes 
Lena 
Shipwreck 
12 Stripey socks 
Spinning Goals 
All Spun Up 
Green with Envy 
Spin for Socks 
LimonLime 
Green Mustard 
SSK Gales Art 
Julie Spins 
Quilt Goals   (Did I mention I started quilting?  Must have needed another craft. LOL)
Northwoods 
Pink and Blue 
Amish Star

UFO / WIPs 
Realized I have approx 24 UFOs so I joined the Finish it or Frog it with a group on Ravelry.
So far, My UFO walk of shame Project Page

1 one mitten is smaller than the other. Need to fix 
2 Would like to make it a little larger.

3 4 5 6 7 8

9 11 13 15 17 18

19 20 21 23 24

Finished: 
22 

Frogged: 
12 16 10 14

Stash Down was a major FAIL in 2012.  I did realize I am a stress shopper and was very stressed last year.  :)  Must do better this year.  I am not in any clubs right now.  I am on the waiting list for two and have been for more than a year.  Those will be the only two that I will join (when my number FINALLY comes up.)  Both are well worth the wait.  I also do a spinning group SAL and they are on my "allowed" list.  The swap group is very bad for my destashing efforts and must be more careful in that thread.  

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Politically Incorrect.....

The Green Whippoorwill above is made with PI in I Got a Little Irish in me (lighter green) and Evil Hooker (darker green).  Her yarn is amazing.  But Wait.... There is more....
Her fiber is amazing as well.  I may have indulged in a few batts recently.  But Wait.... There is more....  Her Customer Service is FABULOUS.

Speaking of fiber.... 
In spinning, most of my time was spent on one project this year.
This beautiful Alpaca fleece.  It is really hard to capture the beautiful color.

Sending you and yours Happy Thoughts and Best Wishes.

Welcome to Colorado

I recorded the video last weekend in Rocky Mountain National Park.
It was such a beautiful day.

Never saw this in St. Louis.  We were at the 29th Street Mall in Boulder and there is special parking for those with Alternative Fuel Vehicles.

We found a FABULOUS restaurant on Pearl Street.  Shine has Raw, Vegan, Gluten Free, local organic and made from scratch.  They even have herbal tonics.  It was amazing.

I was so very excited....

The best package arrived. Politically Incorrect sent me one of her new balls to test.  There was a slight delay in me receiving it (due to the move), but it finally arrive.  The colors are amazing and I am so excited to test it out.

Thank you so much Mountain Colors.  

They had their 20th anniversary Giveaway and I was a very lucky winner.  

It was a very fast easy knit (need to take a picture of the FO).

I was leaving work one evening and looked up in the tree and there was this adorable squirrel eating the cherries.  He was only a few inches away.  I could have reached out and touched him and he was so cute, just munching away.  

Swatching for Lena

One day this week I woke up and it was 48 degrees.  I realized, I need to get to work and knit a sweater.  I reviewed my stash and realized I have enough yarn to make six sweaters.  I am thinking I will make Lena and February Lady sweater.  Just need to pick out four more patterns and knit very fast.  

Finally had a few minutes for spinning.  When we arrived in Boulder, I was so excited to pick up my new spinning wheel.  I spent some time practicing.  I love my new wheel.  

Podcasting????

Morrigan by Helen Wynne
Malabrigo Yarn Arroyo in Chispas
US 1½ - 2.5 mm


Starving Artist by Laura Linneman
Manos del Uruguay Maxima in M9079
US 6 - 4.0 mm


Iolite Shawlette by Renee Leverington
Wandering Cat Yarns Slinky Cat Fingering in Baby
Beads - 21788 / 6R553PF
US 6 - 4.0 mm


Loop! Self Striping Spontaneous Spinning Roving BULLSEYE Bump
“Kaleidoscope Eyes” consists of eight colors.

Thank you for watching and have a great day.

It's a Mystery.....

Congratulations to all the recent graduates.  My darling son recently graduated and I am so very proud of him.  I was very impressed by the speeches the students gave as well.  They were excellent and much better than MANY that I have heard from adults with experiences writing and giving speeches.

Have I told you how much I enjoy knitting with Manos and  Malabrigo?
Well, I made another Starving Artist by Laura Linneman in Manos and making progress on the Morrigan Fingerless Mitt by Helen Wynne in Malabrigo














The CTA (Completely Twisted and Arbitrary) SAL (Spin-A-Long) for April/May just finished.  Loop was the Guest Dyer and offered two Amazing Choices.  I selected The "Kaleidoscope Eyes" which consisted of eight colors.

Inspiration

Loop Bump

635 yards n-ply

The Guest Dyer for June/July is Woolgatherings.  The inspiration has been selected, the fiber has been selected and she is working her genius.   Can't wait to see what she comes up with.

Woolgathering Stash

April Club

May Club

Swappers Remorse, maybe a little.  I swapped away Red Hot Chili thinking, I wouldn't make anything with it.  I LOVE the color, but .....  Well, TLE recently had an update and guess what, they had Red Hot Chili.... Score!!!!  (Blue Bell wanted to come along as well)

There are so many crafty things going on this summer.

• Stash Dash with The Knit Girllls is May 27 - August 12
• TTL Mystery Shawl by Kristen Kapur  is June 1 - June 29
• Goddess Knits Summery Mystery Shawl June 2 - June 30
• Wendy Knits Summer Solstice June 20 - July 17
• SSK June 27 - July 1st
• Tour de France June 30 - July 22
• Ravelympics July 27 - August 12

Mystery Shawl KALs.
For Goddess Knits - Sheepy Time Panda Lace in Foggy Dew - (Clue 1 finished)
Wendy Knits - Numma Numma The Usual in Over Easy
TTL - WM Twin in Amethyst

Clue1 - Goddess Knits

Raining Cats and Dogs

It has been raining cats and dogs today.

Speaking of cats...  One of my favorite groups has started selling their cat (dog) beds on Etsy.

 The Cat Network
The Cat Network is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit, 501(c)3, no-kill and life-enhancing cat rescue group.
The beds are made by volunteers and all the money goes towards helping cats.

My babies love these beds.  They have very firm sides and they hold up well to washing.

Hello Verdaia


I finished my handspun shawl.
Started with 4 ounces Hello Yarn Rambouillet in Turtle Stew
Spun it into 846 yards 2 ply yarn
Then knit Verdai by Jodie St. Clair
(Still need to block it.)

I finally started spinning my Phat Fiber Box from August
This is the first time that I have made singles (What do you call a finished single?)

I am working on an afghan.  It was supposed to be the Mitered Cross, but it is not showing the Noro Taiyo the way I had hoped.  I did a square as a ten stitch pattern. Think that may be more what I am looking for.  Still not 100% sold.  Maybe after I see it with the white border???

 

I know I have said it before, but I love Woolgatherings.
The March Club - 100% BFL / Choose your Fiber in Polwarth/Silk














Let's not forget my weakness for String Theory's self striping yarn.
Arachnid / Atom
Dopamine / Fermentation

It's Snowing

It is so very beautiful out today.  This is the perfect day to curl up with knitting / spinning with a fire and nice cup of hot tea.

It is so exciting to learn new things.
I am finding that spinning my own yarn, then knitting with hand-spun, I am am learning so much.
Thanks to wonderful talented friends, I am learning how to overtwist less.  That may not be grammatically correct, but it is how I feel about my spinning.

After spinning some Polwarth recently I learned that it was under spun.  BUT when knitting discovered that it was a fabulous fabric.  So, maybe under spun is not so bad.

Cloudlover -Polwarth TopHaunted Vineyard

Polwarth/Silk is AMAZING to spin.  Woolgatherings opened a club with a single type of fiber and I jumped on the Polwarth/Silk.  I absolutely love it.  I must admit a total weakness for Woolgatherings.  The February club (regular club) arrived and it is also AMAZING

Woolgatherings Club
January - Single Fiber

Woolgatherings Club
February - Merino

The Knitters Guild received an inquiry looking for someone to make stocking hats for a local hockey coach.  They were playing a special game and had special jersey's ordered and wanted matching hats.
I responded to the inquiry and had so much fun.  He had PMS colors for the Jersey, so I went to a print store to see the PMS colors.  Then I wen to a paint store to find paint chips to match.  Then I took the paint chips to several LYS to find the right yarn.  Then create the hat to match the Jersey.

So much fun.

On a recent visit to Boulder, I met some great people at a wonderful LYS.  I walked in the store  Mew Mew's Yarn Shop right at closing time.  She was so nice, said take your time we are getting ready for a knit in.  They were getting ready for an upcoming class of a dog sweater.  It was too perfect for my little diva girl.  I was able to purchase the pattern and supplies even though I will not be able to make the class. Great customer service.  They use the cutest bags that support a wonderful cause.

Do you have favorite needles?

I have learned that for lace my favorite needles are definitely the ChiaGoo Red Lace (CRL).  I was recently working on some lace and switched between the CRL and the Knit Picks Stainless (KP) which I do like for lace and was surprised at the difference.  I really like the hole on the KP interchangeable which is great for lifelines, but the tip and the join on the CRL were so much better.  When I realized that I didn't have a long enough cable and would need to switch to my KP needles, I ran to the LYS for a new needle.