Saturday, January 15, 2011

January Half

I finally finished spinning up the Rambou-
illet alpaca blend for my big squishy cardigan. I need to finish a couple of things before I start on it, so I got back to work on the Jackelope, though so far there's nothing intelligible to show - just pink knitted origami.
This is the next fiber to go on my wheel. I'm not exactly leaping into color, am I. It's Blue-face Leicester, which is always a pleasure to spin. I'm continuing to have problems with my Lendrum, or I will soon. My old wire guides are nearly worn through, and the replacement guides I bought are too big and stop the bobbin from completing a revolution. These are the replacement replacements. The first ones were even bigger. I don't have a back-up plan.
The colors are quiet but inter-
esting. I think it's just about time to weave with some handspun - still nothing on any of my looms. I notice a little energy seeping back into my marrow, this second week of Synthoid. I've started cutting strips for a rag rug, though it's a long-term process.
I've finished my scarf. The Tosh super-
wash merino is super soft, and the subtle color variations please me very much. The Kitchener stitch was painful but by the end, I had finally gotten the hang of it, though you wouldn't know it by looking at my work. There's a lot of Kitchener in the Jackalope too. This pattern is from Ravelry. It was knitted in cotton and was called a summer scarf, which I don't understand. Were I to do it again, I think I'd eliminate one pattern repeat to gain a little more length.

I hope to finish two more scarves this winter. I only have a couple, since I gave most away, and one that I did keep, I'm ripping out to use as weft in a weaving project - more on that later.
Our Tumbleweed Book Club met today and for the first time in a long time, everyone was present. Sandy got us all "on film" using the time-delay on her new camera. This is the third try, which explains a lot of the expressions - lots of laughs. Enjoying these ladies is just one of the many perqs of retirement. BTW, I'm reading Ape House by Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants. Man, can this woman write. Oh, and BTW, I ordered a Kindle.

8 comments:

Marion B. said...

You did order a kindle? Wow, gratulations.

To bad about your spinning wheel though. But the colour of the Blue-face Leicester is great and it looks so soft. Must be a pleasure to spin indeed.

~~Sittin.n.Spinnin said...

I really like the BFL also, but I think my favorite top is now Panda from Ashland Bay, merino, bamboo and silk blend :)
I got a Kindle for Christmas, love the thing dearly! I read a book called Sweety, can't remember the author right now, but I was wondering if you had read it. Its not in my normal repertoire.

Leigh said...

You ordered a kindle! Wow. I'm curious as to what you will think. I still really love my pages.

I've heard that BFL is a joy to spin. The photos look great. Maybe one of these days I'll get back to spinning (currently on a knitting kick).

Maggie said...

That blue faced Leicester is beautiful! Do you like your Lendrum, other than right now in its broken-ness? It's the one I'm leaning towards.

Hilary said...

I like my Kindle, but I still like the feel of a good book, too. The Kindle is very convenient at times though.
Did you really spin all those cones in the first picture????
If you did, WOW.

Benita said...

Are you going to dye that yarn for the sweater, or knit a white one? It seems odd knitting something in white, doesn't it?

My MIL has a Kindle and that is how she reads all the newspapers from the cities she loves.

Robin said...

I just don't know if I would like a Kindle. I have SOOO many books to read here. Maybe after I finish all these books.... Love your spinning!

Nina said...

I love spinning BFL. That colour is quite soft and pretty. Did you contact the Lendrum company to see about the wire guides? I've heard they are good to deal with so they can probably help you out or give you suggestions as to how to fix it.
I'm not yet sure of my thoughts on e-readers. I do love the feel of a book in my hands but I guess there is no stopping change. I can certainly see the attraction for travelling, commuting and storage though.