Start of Something Wonderful

I’m not sure why I think I have all the time in the world to start this but why not just add on to the already teetering pile ‘o stuff.  Family, work, hobbies, and now let’s add student.  I’m going to put in my order in for 3 extra hours in the day.  I’m also going to order a huge supply of coffee.  


When I say “student” I’m not talking about enrolling in a program or class.  I’m thinking more of a home study, self-guided type thing.  Here’s the thing…I’m going to make up my own spinning program.  Yes, I realize it will not be a real spinning master program.  But I fully intend to challenge myself with techniques and give myself writing assignments, etc.  I also plan to keep fiber samples and fiber descriptions/records in 3-ring binders much like a real master program.  
 
I’m tellin’ ya, I really do need those 3 extra hours in a day.  
 
Where to start?  There will be no orientation with this course to get me started.  No teacher to hand me a list of supplies, or a list of required reading.  Thinking back on my college years I think the first step would definitely start gathering supplies and heading to the book store.  Luckily I already have many of the needed supplies. 
 
Here are some supplies I think I’ll need:
Books
Hand Cards
Flick
Comb
Spindle
Wheel
Fiber dye
General dyeing supplies
As many fibers as I can get my hands on
3-ring binder
Photo protector sheets
Cross Stitch floss cards
Index cards
Notebook
Small plastic zip bags
Tags (metal ring and “sale”)
Self-adhesive labels
Time


Note: I do not plan to purchase everything on this list at one time.  As assignments are realized I will purchase necessary items to complete the assignments.  


Secondly there needs to be required reading material and a first assignment.  This is where I fall flat.  If I don’t know where to start I don’t know what to assign.  I have this amazing sampling of fibers just waiting to be spun but I don’t want to dive in until I have a proper application and clearer view of a beginning and end.  I have some assignments that I know I will be preparing such as ply studies and dye (natural) studies.  But where to begin…



10 Breeds Sample

I just had a thought, the fibers I currently own have been processed into top or roving, maybe I should start with spinning and dyeing them using acid dyes.  As the course advances I’ll purchase unprocessed fleece/fiber and process it from fleece to finished yarn, including natural dyeing.  Hmmm…sounds like a plan.

 

If anybody would like to join in with me on my spinning journey, drop me a comment and maybe we could start a Ravelry group (I’ve even thought of a name: Spin Drills).  If not, you can check back here for updates on my progress.

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Has anybody else notice a correlation between knitting and geekery, knitting and music, or knitting and food?  These three themes seem to run through so many of the knitting blogs and knitting photo sharing I follow.  For instance, I'm about to start a shawl pattern called Evenstar Shawl designed for a Lord of the Rings collection of shawls.  Maybe it’s because these are the things I’m interested in or is it bigger than that?  Just a curiosity.


Some yarn for eye fondling.  The top two yarns are possibly going to be used in a secret project.  Femmebot BTW is my new fav colorway from BMFA.  Bottom pic are some yarns that I'm possibly going to use in designing my own shawl pattern, maybe. 


BMFA - Turquoise and Femmebot




BMFA STR in  (Left to Right) Koi Koi, Flower Power, Femmebot,
and Chapman Springs (x2)

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Wish I had more to say

Sometimes I feel like I have so much going on but nothing to say about it.  Sometimes it's I've got so much going on and don't know how to put it into words.  I wonder sometime if maybe I should even have a blog.  I question why I have a blog. 

I don't have an answer. 

I have so little time anymore but yet I fell I owe people (don't know who) a post about something thought provoking, interesting, or funny.  Problem is most times I don't have anything thought provoking, interesting, or funny.  Just living a regular life with regular stories filled with regular people.

Honestly I don't think that is that bad.  I don't mind regular.  I actually like regular a lot. 

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do it

"I really need to get off my ass and put some of my knitwear designs down on paper and then put the needles to yarn and get them knit."

Note to self on February 23, 2011 lets see if it works.

What do you do?

I ripped.  I frogged.  I actually did it.  I decided that the previous weeks worth of knitting that was hugenormous; was my own fault and I needed to put my big girl pants on and frog it.  Like ripping off a Band-Aid I just had to close my eyes and pull out the needles.  At least with a Band-Aid you can soak it with alcohol and it will not sting so much when removed.  Pulling the needles out stung.  

Let’s discus the Flared v-neck cardigan.  Shall we…

When I cast on the cardi I was unconcerned if it was bigger than the store model.  Actually I was quit okay with the possibility.  Comfy sweater to curl up with, who doesn’t like that?  What I didn’t want was a huge multi-person cuddle sweater.  Saturday I compared my sweater with the store model sweater, faced with the evidence I came to my senses and realized the enormity of my knitting (litterally), I made the decision to plow through and keep on knitting.  She was already 2 inches too long.  I didn’t care, she was going to surround me in comfort and warmth (and style too).  I heard the voice telling me “it’s just not right”, “It is really long and in pieces so what’s going to happen during seeming?”  I again made the decision to squash those negative Nelly thoughts and knit on.  

Today on the other hand I guess I was thinking a little clearer, or less optimistic. While listening to a podcast, the podcaster talked about finally making the decision to frog because the arms of her sweater were going to be the wrong size.  I’ve also succumbed to my inner smarty.  Partly because it dawned on me that I’m knitting with a yarn that contains a substantial amount of cotton.  Yes there is some wool but not enough to counteract the wet cotton growth phenomenon.  It grows and grows and grows.  So, a cardi that is huge now will be hugenormous once wet and blocked.  

Here is where we find out if a lesson is truly learned.  Will I swatch or will I simply drop down a needle size and cast-on again?  

it's back

… with jazz hands.  Not really, but it did come back carrying a novelty(ish) yarn.  

For the past year I have done little to no knitting.  I know.  I know.  I used to dye yarn/fiber and knit (or spin) all the time.  Then I just stopped.  I carried some projects along, but didn’t knit.  I would meet with a few friends and carry my knitting projects with me but didn’t knit, just hung out.  I can’t specifically put my finger on it but I know it’s related to post-partum and quitting smoking.  It just didn’t work for me and I just didn’t have interest in it at all, even the spinning was put away.  I just excessively focused on Nuggy and nothing else.  

Slowly my mind has rallied and I’m feeling more and more normal.  Not the same obviously but normal again.  My friend wisely said that it just took me a while to find my new normal.  I think she is right; it took me a while to find my new normal and then learn to live with that normal.  

That same friend also has been gently poking me to come out to knit night at a LYS, Four Purls.  She would mention it or text me.  I just could never commit to it.  Then one day I felt I was ready.  Ready to go to knit night.  I packed up my everlasting bagstopper WIP that I had started using natural colored cotton (not the noveltyish yarn; I’m getting to that) and headed off to knit night.  I walked around, fondled yarn, and oogled the wonderful selection.  I also knit of course.  And laughed to the point of tears.  I also found that to my surprise I was attracted to the bling yarns and in particular some really soft recycled sari silk yarn.  It was bright jewel tones, soft, and slightly fuzzy.  My idea of a Novelty yarn.  Probably not really novelty yarn, but it is to me.  I didn’t buy it that night but it haunted me.  2 days later I had a Doctor’s appointment a couple of blocks from Four Purls.   It just happened that this Dr. appointment took no time and I had an entire afternoon to spare.  Somehow I happened to go to the LYS and somehow I bought 2 skeins or the silky goodness.  **ahem**

A recycled silk yarn handspun from silk weaving mill waste.  I decided to do a rather thick bulky version of the Wisp.  

That yarn and that scarf could be considered my gateway drug.  I have since bought the yarn for a sweater and 2 hats.  It’s only been 7 days since the first purchase.  7 Days.  I should probably be a little ashamed, but I’m kinda not.  I’ve got 3 more projects that I badly want to knit.  Yep, the knitting mojo is back.  Seriously, I’ve had to place a self-imposed limit on myself.  1 project for the car (traffic lights and trains = many stitches knit), 1 sock to go anywhere, 1 large project, and 1 just for fun.  

Here’s the breakdown: 1 project for the car = the bagstopper.  Its big needles and mindless pattern make for great red light knitting.  1 sock to go anywhere = I’ve been knitting on one pair of socks for over a year.  Shameful.  First sock is done, I’ll be finishing the second soon.  1 large project = Sweater (see below).  1 just for fun = um, I had to fit in the wisp somewhere since I had already started it with the silk wonderfulness.  4 projects at one time.  I can’t cast-on until I finish something.  Of course as most of you know I have several projects that have been chillin’ on the needles among all my WIPs for a long time.  One of which is the Noro blanket.  I’m not taking off the needles, but I’m just counting it either.  I’ll get to it, but cut me some slack; it’s a blanket after all.  

Oh, the sweater.  It’s the Flared Bottom V-neck Cardigan from Cascade Yarns.  The original version was knit using Cascade Venezia which is a great wool/silk blend yarn.  I used it to make a sweater that I will not discuss at this time.  All I’m saying is “felted”.  You can probably guess the rest.  Anyway, I decided to knit this sweater using Cascade Sierra a cotton/wool blend.  Not as much sheen as the Venezia, but soft and will have great drape.  Within 4 days I had 5”, not much as compared to what I used to knit but pretty good considering I can only really knit once Nuggy has gone to sleep.  

To wrap up this post…The knitting/spinning Mojo is back.  Oh, I didn’t even talk about the spinning…next time.  

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The State of the Grape

Do you ever notice how one idea will lead to another?  This one is comes from the previous post.  “The State of the Grape” will be a monthly post with an update on the family muscadine grape vine.  Maybe boring, but fun for me and since I might be the only one reading this…it’s all about what I want to write/read.

yes there is a vine in there

Well as you can tell from this picture there seems to be 2 stray trees trying to grow up through the middle of the vine.  Paul is going to be taking care of that in the next week or so.  I love trees but these have to go. 

As far as the vine is concerned, it looks to be doing very well.  It's running all down the fence up all over the structure that the neighbors put up for it. 

I guess all I can say about it now is that it is dormant for winter and will be coming back to life in the spring.









 

If I had only shown this image, you might never have known the true state of the vine but then I would be acting like a politician.  I felt that the whole truth was best. 

Hopefully next month the trees will be gone and we can see the entire vine.