Too many projects, too little time

I definitely have too many projects going on right now. I don't know which one to work on first, so I have been working on each a little at a time. Yesterday, I did some spinning, knitting, and crochet all in one day. I started off by stringing the remainder of the beads onto the yarn for the last piece for the Crochet Club. I knit booties for the display at Make and Mingle. As soon as I sew them up, there will be photos. The rest of the time was spent spinning my yummy Polworth top from Spirit Trail Fiberworks.

At first I was having a bit of a fight with this stuff. I looked around on the internet, and discovered that this fiber is supposed to be easy to work with, softer than Merino. I'd say that the first portion of the bobbin is not going to be great, I was pulling way too hard to draft. Then I discovered that if I fluffed it up a lot, and took it in small pieces, it drafts like a dream. I am making a worsted yarn using the Short Draw, or Inchworm method.

I am convinced that spinning to music helps, currently addicted to The Suburbs by Arcade Fire. It won Album of the Year at the Grammys, and it was much deserved! Check it out, its amazing!

Excuse my slippers on the floor! I had to get my daughter to take the photo. Here is a closeup of the color. Its going to be a beautiful semi-solid of sea blues.

May I also add how much I am enjoying my Woolee Winder. I bought it at Rhinebeck this past October. It's so nice not to have to stop all the time to adjust the yarn on the bobbin. Everything winds on so evenly, and the bobbins are larger than the ones that came with my wheel. The guys over there are super nice as well. This was a great addition to my wheel!

Vermont Yarn Crawl

Went to Vermont for a few days this week. I don't ski, have tried, but its not going to happen. I have an unnatural fear of heights, and anything related to speed. I always say that I don't do anything where I have to strap something on my feet and slide. Anyway, I set out to find yarn and fiber. The first day in Rutland, I found a fantastic and friendly shop called Green Mountain Fibers. I had a great morning hanging out with Sandy. They had some lovely local yarn, and of course, I couldn't stop myself from buying a hat kit from Green Mountain Spinnery. I didn't get a chance to take photos from the inside of their shop, but I love these sheep over the top of the entrance!

Notice the palm trees behind them! So cute!

The next day was a stop at Six Loose Ladies and Friends in Proctorsville, near Ludlow. I had stopped there on the last ski trip. What I didn't realize is that their shop is a Not for Profit. It is run by Fiber Arts in Vermont, and the ladies all volunteer their time. They sell lots of local yarns, and items made by local crafts people. The ladies are super friendly, offering me tea. I stayed for the entire morning, happily knitting my sock. This was my vantage point.

Lastly, I am moving along on the Crochet Club for this month. I finished two of these.

I want to take a break now, as I have until the 15th of March, and am nearly done for the month. I am going to concentrate on spinning my fiber, and another craft that I am about to begin. Hopefully by my next post!

Fluffilicious

In another one of our TransAtlantic moments, Nathalie and I both joined the Spririt Trail Fiberworks Combination Club. I really don't need any more projects right now, but I love her stuff. I also thought it was a fantastic idea, half yarn and half fiber. It runs for 6 months. The first installment just arrived, and I don't know whether to just cuddle with it, or start spinning immediately! Its 100% Polworth Top.

This is SOOO Nathalie's color by the way. She is going to flip. I've sent her a spoiler photo as I don't think it will reach her for a few days. I think I have to cuddle it before I start spinning because...

I have begun the second installment of the Crochet Club. She has us beading this time. Its not the best photo, not blocked, but you can get the idea.

The next panel has over 200 beads. Will post a photo when its finished.

Been there, done that?

I've been there before, and I think you may have too. You know, its Saturday night...back from dinner...had a few glasses of wine...start looking at your favorite Etsy Shop! Over the past week or so, I have been eyeing the spindles on St. Seraphina's shop, so I guess it was going to happen one of these days, sober or not.

This beautiful new spindle arrived in my mailbox today. Check out the lovely sample of fluffy stuff that came along with it!

I have to admit that I don't use a drop spindle very often, but there is something about them that makes me want a collection. This one is from Kundert Spindles, its Walnut with a Cherry accent. Off to try it out now!

TransAtlantic Knitalongs

Nearly two years ago, when I broke the news to Nathalie that I was moving back to CT, the first thing we decided to do was to keep doing Knitterly things together. One of them is our annual trip to Rhinebeck, which has been a huge success the past two years. The other is that we knit projects "together". At the moment, we are both doing the Crochet Club mystery blanket. I am getting close to finishing this months pieces, just in the nick of time for next weeks update. I still have the 4 corner pieces to go. These are a couple of close ups of the others

So far, I love them. The colors are great, and the patterns have been fun, but not too complicated.

As if we don't knit enough together, we decided today to start this one, from Cookie A's new book Knit Sock Love. It's called Cusp, and we chose it mostly because it is pretty, and didn't look as complicated as most of the others in the book. We are talking socks, they shouldn't drive you crazy, or so we think.

I decided to use ShibuiKnits sock yarn in a lovely shade of Mulberry. Not sure what the actual shade is called, but the number is 229. Here is a better photo with Lola in the background.