Some spinning

I finished up the KA(berry blue)corriedale. I have 272 yds of 3 ply at 9 wpi and 48 yds of 2 ply at 14 wpi. I put some extra twist into these singles so that I could use this yarn for socks if the mood struck. Not as much as I thought, apparently, as it is still plenty soft. Better soft yarn than "wire" though.
I have another skein of the Targhee blend-320 yds of 2 ply at 13 wpi. This does not match the skeins I have set aside for my Faroe shawl. They are 18 wpi. Guess I'll just have to use this for another project. Maybe one of those fingerless mitts patterns I keep seeing everywhere.

And here's my promised pic of the CIC sweater...

The cabled sleeves are simply not showing up-you'll have to trust me :~)


Finishing up the Corriedale freed up some bobbins and so I spun up a bobbin of the KA Romney/mohair that I carded up a while back with a friend's Louet. I am breaking away from my usual spinning with this batch and trying for a heavier single. We'll see how it goes. I'm leaving in a good many slubs and not freaking out about consistency. Should be interesting.

I'll leave you with a shot of some Superwash Merino that I've had languishing in the stash. I had space dyed it with cherry KA a few years back and was less than pleased with the result. Last weeek I pulled it out and threw some Jacquard Sky Blue on it. Looks something like a bruise, I know. But it made it out to my spinning basket! I do like it better now. I had enough dye left in the pot to color up some Cheviot/mohair. But that's for another post!

Jinxed!

I was doing so well on my FLAK! Knitting two or more inches per day, had a PLAN. Then I mentioned in my last post that I had goals that I was actually meeting. Now, it's all over. Haven't picked it up since. Why, oh why, did I open my big mouth?!?
Setting hysteria aside, in all honesty, I started the CIC cardi and have been utterly fascinated by it. I love the little cables going down the sleeves. So pretty, yet unintimidating. There's only ONE thing to remember-a simple cable on the sleeves. (I'm finally cabling w/o a cable needle, BTW. High time, eh? Sadly, the FLAK is on blunt-tipped Addi Turbos-making this wonderful technique utterly impossible for me)
The only downside-the wool is horrific. Truly the scratchiest wool I've ever held. I soaked the next skein in fabric softener yesterday and it did help some. I even thought happily(while still in the planning stages of this adventure)that I just might have enough for one in a smaller size. Now, I'm thinking of spinning up the KA Romney for this pattern once the cardi is done.
I want to get another cable repeat in before posting a pic so...it will have to wait until next time!

Misc fiber ramblings

Here's some of what I've been doing...(I'll spare you the horrifying details of the stomach virus that invaded our home last week-I meant the fiber stuff I've been doing ;~))
I've got a-oh, wait, sit down first-mistake stich moebius on the needles in black Nature Spun fingering weight. I know, I must be crazy. But, truth is, it is exactly what I want for my black wool coat. Hopefully, that knowledge will keep me going when I feel like burying the thing in some corner where it will be forgotten.
I chose a pattern for the CIC sweater-a plain v-neck cardi(size 10)with Triple Gull Stitch cables on the sleeves. My goal was to cast on over the weekend, but the virus got the better of me. Today I am honor bound to move the asparagus plants and bathe the dog-given her size and coat length-we'll have to wait and see if I can manage to start the cardi today!
Also, I have a little over four inches on the second FLAK sleeve. I've been setting goals for myself on this sweater that I am not revealing on the blog-perhaps that's why I'm doing better on this sweater than my other projects?!?
And a little quiz...

You Are Grape

You are bold and a true individual. You are very different and very okay with that. People know you as a straight shooter. You're very honest, even when the truth hurts. You are also very grounded and practical. No one is going to sneak anything by you. People enjoy your fresh approach to life. And it's this honesty that makes you a very innovative person.

What Color Purple Are You?

Second sleeve

At long last I am on the second FLAK sleeve. The sts are picked up and waiting for the 1 1/2" seed st border to be added before joining and knitting the "true"sleeve. I found four more errors (on the front and back) and am going to try the duplicate stitch cover up. Only one is noticeable. NO I will not post a photo of them :~)

Here's the finished sleeve in all its 19" glory. For those of you who've wondered if there's a downside to being Very Tall...here ya go. Never-ending knitting.

I got three pairs of CIC mittens done and mailed. The next challenge focuses on the older children-like 6-7 and up. I have a nice mauve colored wool that's been aging in the stash for a while. I'm leaning toward something plain with a teensy bit of interest-maybe a cable running up the sleeves. (Can you believe it?) I'll decide this week sometime so that I can cast on this weekend.

And just one more bobbin for the KA corriedale! Stay tuned!

losing focus?

While it was great to get that little wake up call that resulted when I brought out all the fiber to photograph...there was a negative result.

I didn't realize how close I was to having all the KA dyed Corriedale combed up. So, of course, I had to do that...and then I just had to start spinning it...and so, here I am with three spinning projects on the wheel. (well, sure, I still have the rose colored Romney on the Kundert and I found that lovely turquoise wool/mohair for the new Bossie-but that's different somehow!)
I did knit more than two inches on my FLAK sleeve though! I am determined to finish this sleeve by next week. (Why do I have such long arms anyway?) And I'm on my last mitten for CIC. Should finish that up today.

What do you think?

Think this is enough to keep me busy for the next nine months?
I have to confess that since reading Wendy's post I have tried(despite that inner nudging) to tell myself that there is no need for ME to do this, made a list (or two) of things to order the last week of December, etc. But here is reality looking me in the face. I don't NEED any yarn right now. Probably for a lot longer than this challenge to tell the truth! Maybe three or four challenges. This may seem like a small stash to many, but I am an excruciatingly slow knitter after all.

So, here's my plan

1.The work* from your stash-a-thon will start today, January 1, 2007 and last until October 2007(before my birthday and SAFF!)
2. I will not buy any yarn/fiber during this time with the following exceptions...
a) if I run out of yarn for a project, I may buy enough yarn to complete it.
b) once FLAK is done, I MIGHT consider a little Quarry from Knitpicks(this will be my own personal "fall off the wagon" exception)
c) I may purchase yarn for CIC knitting if I somehow run out of what is already earmarked for them.
d) if something from Cary becomes available, I may attempt to purchase. Since her fiber is snatched away before I even see it is for sale, I'm not holding my breath, but I still had to put it here as an exception :~)
3. Books and notions/tools do not fall into this category, but even so, any potential purchase must be considered carefully over a two week period and then discussed rationally with my Dear One.

*I am making this a WORK from my stash challenge. That means I am including spinning fiber as well. In case of a modern day miracle(meaning that somehow I knit all this up)I can always spin up some of this-