Strings and Yarn

This post is long overdue! I’ve got lace blocking for all of you!

This is the only picture that the beads really showed.  I am now completely addicted to putting beads in knitting.  I love the finished product, I love the process, and it seems like one more way to make my lace even more special.

The edging was by far one of my favorite design elements in the shawl.

The whole shawl in it’s glory.  This shawl was the first lace weight to survive the puppy.  Ella has decided she likes lace yarn, and when she can she goes for those balls.  Luckily, she didn’t get into it too badly, and there were only a few breaks as I knit along.

I haven’t worn it yet, but I’m sure we’ll have a dressy evening to show it off with soon.

I know, I’m terribly behind.  Sara did a nice post about it here, and Miriam did one here.  So I went, I spun and we wove (almost) another shawl.  This time we didn’t have loom problems.  We were using a table loom, and this time our pattern just took to much time.  Especially on the table loom.  Our weft was a electric green and blue, while the warp was a dark charcoal gray.  Unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures of it, but there are pictures on both Sara’s and Miriam’s posts.

In between spinning sessions I did manage to get a little shopping.  Here are the goodies.

I’ve been feeling a little Sock yarn crazy lately.  It must be these Sock Knitters Anonymous challenges that have got be constantly thinking about socks.  This is beautiful sock yarn from Anogora Valley. It’s now spending it’s required time in the stash while I meditate what I’ll do with it.

These little bundles of fiber were a great deal.  They were from Hokulani Farms and are an alpaca/superwash merino blend.  I could resist, and I’ll be plying the two colors together.  They’re just 2 ounces each and this will be my first time spinning alpaca.  Even though I have a have quite a bit of it in the stash, it requires some washing and picking before it’ll be ready to spin.

I think I’ve figured out all of the Christmas gift ideas, and have gotten yarn for many of the gifties.  Except for a few more Christmas purchases, I’m now going to be on a yarn diet.  Why?  Because the time has come fore the payment of student loans.  It’s been perfect timing because my violin studio is now full!  However, it doesn’t leave a lot of yarn money, and I don’t need to be making any purchases.  I have enough yarn to have a closet full of hand knit clothes.

I’ve been trying to get some of my projects off the needles to make way for Christmas knitting, and I finished my Mystery Stole.  Lace blocking photos to come soon!

At Black Sheep Gathering I caved in and got another fleece. This is the second fleece I have purchased. The first is half way carded (blended with kid mohair and silk) and waiting to be spun. I would have posted the carded batts, but they aren’t that interesting. Just white fluffy batts of goodness. This however, will be full of natural color.

This is a 4.25 pound Rambouillet variegated fleece. I washed it when it was still sunny and beautiful outside. However, I didn’t seem to get all of the grease out. It still has a faint feeling of greasy texture. Not nearly as much as it did have, but a little. I’m not sure if I’ll be trying to wash it again or if I’ll be trying to card it as is.

I love the color of the fleece and I can’t wait to see what it’ll be like all spun up. Guess it’s time to invest in some hand cards…

The contest has been finished!  I put everyone in (even the Aussies) and here are the winners….

Sock Yarn - Rachel - Red and Blazing - Written/sung by Abigail Washburn

Roving - Ging - Hazy Shade of Winter - the original Simon & Garfunkel version

So first I have to say that this wasn’t rigged.  I put names on a little piece of paper, and decided to include Ging even though she wasn’t a knitter.  I put her in fiber, because then I could make something nice to send her.  Anthony (who is good friends with Ging) must have sensed her name in there (I swear I didn’t tell him anything.  He didn’t even know why he was picking little pieces of paper out of the bowl), so she got picked.  I guess I’ll get to make something to send now.
However, I found I loved doing this contest, so hopefully there will be more to come.  I loved your ideas for pieces may be using some in the future.

Thanks for playing!

I just wanted to show off some knitting.  I can’t keep up with taking pictures of my projects, because I would rather be knitting on them than taking pictures.  Oh well.  Here is the Lady Eleanor.

Now just imagine that it is 33 inches long instead of 5.  I know, I just haven’t been able to take a picture.  Here’s another progress shot.

These pictures don’t even have all the colors in them.  There is also a redish brown and a lighter purple.  The way this is knitting up, it’ll probably be done by the time I get another picture.

By the way don’t forget to participate in the blogiversary contest and check out the shop.  It’s been updated fairly recently.  Enjoy!