Uneven Balls

Knit and Caboodle

It was a crafty weekend.
Saturday was the Knitters Guild meeting.
Sunday was a Spin-in at Knit and caboodle a LYS. She is carrying quite a bit of fiber and even has a couple fleece.  This weekend she was showing some Mohair locks that just arrived.  Gorgeous!!

Angora Wool Blend

At Yarn School, one of the girls gave me some angora to play with.  I had never spun with angora before.  She recommended blending it.  I played with some of the mixed wool and made a batt.  It was amazing how a little bit of angora made such a difference.  The angora was white base with gray tips and the wool was a light purple.  I had about an ounce.  Adrian had provided some tips (I tend to over spin).  My spinning was better (maybe, I hope) but I over plied.
1 ounce      N-ply    approx. 85 yards.

One Big Ball

For those that will be attending the SSK, there is a KAL from October 15-November 30th.  Knit something from the featured designer with bonus point if you use a vendors yarn and extra bonus points if you spun yarn from a fiber from a vendor and knit with that.

I previously spun some Tempted fiber. When I spun it, it was in two balls.  The balls were uneven.  I was trying to figure out how to make them even because I wasn't sure which was larger or by how much.  If it was commercial yarn, I could just weigh it.  Well I wound them together into one big ball and marked the end.  Then wound them back into separate balls.  But now I know which one is smaller.    I think I am going to knit Fire and Ice by Wendy Johnson.  The pattern increases until you have used approximately 1/2 the yarn, then decreases.  I wanted to make sure I started with the smaller ball so that I don't run out.  We can't cast on for a few more days, but I wanted to have everything ready.

Pattern - check, needles - check, handspun with size indicated - check.

Fiberlicious

My first club package arrived today from Woolgatherings
It is very beautiful.  All the colors of the fall leaves that are changing and in a Polworth Silk blend.

Fiberoptic had an update today that I couldn't resist
More beautiful fall colors and a wicked gorgeous halloween gradient.

I finished two hats this week.  

Starving Artist by Laura Linneman
Malabrigo Worsted Deja Vu

Brambles Beret by Amanda Muscha

Malabrigo Rios Purple Mystery

It is amazing what blocking can do for a project.  The Brambles Beret seemed very small.  After blocking it is huge.  

I cast on Through the Looking Glass by Janine Le Cras with The Unique Sheep Green Sheep Fingering Gradient in Henry.  Finished the set up section this morning.  Love how this yarn is knitting up.  Using Chia Goo Red Lace circular needles and they are fabulous.  Pictures when I make more progress.

Yarn School

Yarn school was amazing.  Harveyville Project

We arrived Thursday and set our wheels up in the gym.

We spent the evening knitting, spinning, swap/destash and getting to know one another.

Friday we split into two groups.  Our group went to the Dye Lab in the morning.

Then we went to an Alpaca farm for a fabulous lunch

In the afternoon the groups switched and we played with the drum carders, hand carders and learned how to drop spindle.

Saturday we broke into two groups again.  Beginning spinning / and those that knew at least the basics.  We learned how to make beautiful art yarn.  At lunch the goats and bunnies came over to play.  They were so soft and adorable.  Then more spinning.  In the evening we had a camp fire with smores.  Yum!

Sunday we learned to core spin.  Very cool.
Then there were prizes and the opportunity to purchase Hello Yarn.  Awesome.

In the end I came home with 5 pounds of fiber, made new friends and it was one of the best weekends ever.

Finished!

The finished blanket

Angelica with blanket

Just before assembling the second section, a photo of the layout

current (ish) state

Actually, I've impatiently joined one line of squares, the left front of the blanket. It's so hard to wait for the rest of the squares!!!

Anybody Out There?

Hi, Knitters...

I'm back from the MN, and thought I'd see how things are going. Looking forward to Thursday, and hopefully a flood of finished blanket squares! I'm so very ready to see the blanket completed - now that the borders are started, it's hard to be patient...

If you have your square complete, please put it in some sort of small bag, along with your original pattern square (or, if that is missing, write your name on a slip of paper), and slip it in my red Loopy Ewe bag sometime Thursday.

Cheers!

Borders!!

Hi, knitters!

I went on an extensive search for yarn this weekend, and the only color I was happy with was not actually cascade 220 superwash, but in fact an acrylic blend. . . don't hate me - it's only the borders, and you don't have to knit with it!

I've completed the borders on the 8 squares I have, and can't wait to get started on more. Alas, wait I will, since I'll be out of town till Monday.

Here's a photo of the current state of the ABP. The color's a little off in the picture, but you get the idea, I think :)