Summer 2012

How fickle I am!  I started spinning to knit a shawl for the competition and then I just didn't like the patterns that I had chosen.  So here we are, two days before the competition, and my entry is on the kitchen floor being blocked. 

I decided to enter my shawl that I started in April, 2011, and finished in January, 2012 - the Ravelry KAL Around the World in 80 Days.  It is a rather detailed shawl made with a scattering of beads, using a yarn I bought from Knit Picks.

When using handspun, I find that I am almost selective to the point of obsession.

I also am part of a group on Ravelry - to make 12 shawls in 2012.  I am in the process of casting off number 10!  Each one is different - only one makes use of some handspun yarn.  All of rest are made with a huge variety of commerical yarn, mostly 100% wool or a wool/silk blend.  I am pleased with the fact that I am ahead of the game in having 10 shawls done before September.  I have learned a few new techniques along the way, and the wealth of lovely patterns amazes me.

I have found so many patterns that I want to try!  So I think that I will continue to knit shawls even after I have finished my 12 shawls.  First and foremost is that they can be any shape or size.  I have always struggled with sweaters because they are so difficult to make to fit right.  I still don't understand how other people manage it.  I do have a sweater almost completed out of handspun yarn.  And I am still wondering just how well it will fit when I finish it.  And I just don't have the patience to take another class on knitting a sweater - I did that before, I learned a lot, but I am not happy with my finished project.  At least with a shawl, scarf, mittens or hat, the finished project always fits just fine.

Here are pictures of the first 9 of my 12 shawls!

The Next Shawl

I am currently spinning the yarn for my next shawl project - that is a shawl worthy of competition. I am spinning two plies of colored cormo top from Karen and one ply of a 50/50 alpaca silk blend. I am currently planning to make the Feather and Fan Shawl from A Gathering of Lace. At least that is the plan right now. In between, many projects are being worked, including the Lace KAL from Ravelry. I finished a sweater for myself, and it turned out very well. I have enough yarn spun for another sweater, but I am still thinking about that. I have a few too many projects going right now, and life keeps taking time too. We did get DSL last week and I love it! I am even getting better about putting pictures up. It is still a chore for me, but not so bad now that they load in seconds instead of lots of minutes! More to follow as my yarn progresses. I am aiming at a 2012 completion for this next shawl.

Best Of Show!

The 2010 Michigan Fiber Festival is over and I won Best of Show in the adult division for my shawl entry. I am so glad it is over and I am so glad that I won! It was a lot of work and when doing something for a competition there is an intensity that I do not have with other projects.















The prize is $50, so that makes the effort somewhat worth it. I spent too much at the festival - glad it is only once a year. Then to top it off, I am picking up a new wheel on September 6 - the Majacraft Aura. Life is good.

The Project Done

It is the week of the Michigan Fiber Festival and now I am starting to feel the jitters of competition. I think that is why I really don't like to compete in this kind of thing. My stomach feels upset, and then I stop and think - what does it really matter? It will be worse on Friday when I drop it off at the competition. I must put it in my head that IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.

It has been fun to chronicle the process of this shawl, and I did enjoy making it. There is always a real rush with the completion of any of my knitting projects. Last night I finished a beaded stocking hat, made from a gorgeous purple 100% alpaca yarn (commercial). It went well and I stayed up until almost midnight to finish it. But I got to the point where I just wanted to get it done.

This morning I pulled out a scarf that I had started a bit ago, and I knitted on that. I am awaiting the next clue in the Ravelry Lace KAL. Maggie showed me her progress and it looks so nice. She is using a lace-weight yarn on fairly large needles; I am using a fingering-weight yarn on smaller needles. Mine will be a tighter knit finished item, hers will be light and airy. It is fun to compare the different results of the same project.

I am continuing with the work on my Allegan Cardigan from Clara Parkes book. I have my fingers crossed that I have enough yarn to finish it. I have more of Kar Kar's fleece to spin, but I am worried that the yarn won't turn out exactly the same. That always worries me with hand-spun yarn.

I am also continuing to spin the multi-sheep top that Steve and I had made last year. I am really interested to see what kind of a yarn it will produce. I have several bobbins full and ready to ply; I am still trying to decide whether it will be two- or three-ply.

My next post will be after the judging of my shawl is done. Fingers and toes crossed. Oh how I hate to compete...

Project Complete!

Again, I cannot believe the speed at which time passes. It is almost two months since my last post, and it feels like it could have been yesterday.

The shawl is done! I blocked it yesterday, and I am very pleased with how it turned out. I guess I will send in a late registration for the show next month. Now I am already contemplating my next shawl, as I continue work on my Allegan Cardigan. And I am caught up and waiting for the next clue on the Lace KAL in Ravelry.

Life continues. On Father's Day, Rick brought Taylor for his summer visit with us. We spent two weeks basically in the house because of the mosquitoes and rain. Taylor did manage to help with the chipmunk control and got 21 of the rascals. He had fun shooting them with my gun and birdshot. Then for the July 4th weekend, the rest of his family arrived. Brian also came on Sunday. We had a very pleasant weekend, and then Taylor and Alli stayed for another week. We went to see Toy Story 3, played some cards and the marble game, and just hung out. The time flew by and the house seemed terribly empty when their folks picked them up.

But after they left, I buckled down and finished the weaving in of ends on the shawl. I have been doing more spinning lately, and it seems good.

And today, Jim and I hiked our trail for the first time in a couple months. The mosquitoes were horrendous, but at least there was no standing water on the trail like last month. He then went back and mowed it, so now it will be even better.

I guess I better get back to my knitting!

Where did the time go?

Here it is - already approaching the end of May. Where did the time go?

We spent a week in Livonia over spring break this year. It was fun and relaxing. We didn't really do much. I had fun setting up my new computer more, using their high speed. The kids were great. The weather was stinky, but we just basically hung around.

Then a week later, my cast came off. My hand really hurt ( it still does), the bone was not quite healed, but what a relief to have the cast gone. I can knit and spin again! Hurray!

Then we were back in Livonia for Alli's birthday party. We had a post-party for adults and made some new friends. That went on until 3 a.m. - too late for us old folks. But it was fun and I acquired a new favorite alcoholic drink - After Shock. It is a cinnamon liqueur and goes down very smooth.

Anyway, as far as my knitting goes, I restarted the Ravelry Lace KAL with some merino/silk yarn from Knitpicks. I just finished the May clue, so I am now all caught up with the group.

I also managed to fit in a baby blanket to replace the one that I gave to Stephanie - her baby girl is due in June.

Now I can get back to my shawl for the Festival. The knitting is all done, ends need weaving in, then it needs to be blocked. I also bought Clara Parkes book, A Knitters Guide to Wool, and there is a pattern in there, the Allegan Cardigan, can you believe named after a town in Michigan! My Allegan! So the cormo yarn for the aran sweater that I ripped out is now going to be the Allegan Cardigan. I can hardly wait to get started on it. Maybe yet this week. So much to do, so little time.

We spent last weekend at Rod and Beth's house. We had a really nice time. We cooked out on Saturday, sat on the deck and painted our nails (Beth and I did, that is), then played Sequence until the wee hours. After a short night, I made French toast for breakfast. Then Beth taught me how to make beads out of paper - what fun! Then Rod grilled hamburgers for lunch and we headed home. It was a very relaxing and fun weekend.

Today we went to the cemetery to put flowers in the urns there. The weather has turned beastly hot - over 90 every day so far this week. Summer has arrived.

March - Revisited

March 15 - the Ides of March. Et tu, Brute. Aunt Ede's birthday - she would have been 87 this year. The day I slipped on the stump outside the back door and chipped a bone in my hand.

So now I am typing one handed (well, maybe cheating a little and using my left hand a bit).

The morning started out with a trip to the bank to get my retirement papers notarized and sent in. Also got more nickels for playing cards. Then to McFarlands to return Paula's book (Knit Two - it was good). The to the furniture store right in Allegan to buy a new chair and side table. We got the chair home and were moving my old chair out when I stepped, empty handed, on the wet stump, and WOW! My feet went out from under and I put down my hand to catch myself. I didn't really think it was that bad. So I came in and changed my clothes that had gotten messed up in my fall, and then off we went to Kalamazoo to Best Buy where I bought a new computer (which I am using right now!).

By Tuesday morning (March 16), my hand was swollen and painful, so at the advice of my friend Suzie, off we went to the doctor's office, then to have x-rays, and then the cast.

I am now over two weeks in the cast - no knitting, very little spinning, not doing much of anything. I have read a couple books and have been hiking the trail a fair amount. And we did go down to Char's to see her new sheep when she was taking fiber samples from them.

But the past two weeks have not been all smiles and laughter. I had a few minor meltdowns (Jim threatened to call 911 at one point because I was being irrational). Partly due to problems getting the computer set up and running. I don't know what I would have done without Maria - my personal computer wizard. I count my blessings that she was willing to step right in and help me. That is one of those pay it forward things - she helps me, and in turn, I am called upon by others to help with their computers. I have learned so much from Maria.

Anyway, Jim has been a super-sport in helping me. I can't even get dressed without help. And he is in charge of all household chores. The problem is that I don't feel bad - I just can't do anything.

So my shawl sits waiting. I will be glad to get my cast off. It will be good to get back to normal - whatever that is. I am looking forward to playing cards and dominoes with my grandchildren next week during their spring break. And then the countdown to getting this cast off!