Projects and Sheep and Wool

I finished my traveling socks.



Originally this was a top down sock, I didn't bother doing anything to the pattern, so technically it's upside-down, but I don't care - looks good.




I also finished a teddy bear. My husband asked if I'd make one for a co-worker who went back to Japan, who's wife is due this summer sometime.


Kindof cute - now it just needs to be shipped.


So, suddenly, the day before MA sheep and wool, I didn't have any knitting projects. I had a couple spinning ones, but nothing knitting. So I cast on something I've been wanting to do for a while. Using some of the yarn I spun last July I'm making a Rivulet Scarf.



Originally the pattern gives no gauge and uses sport weight with a US6 needle. This gave me such a loopy wide scarf that I ripped out the 10 rows or so I had done and dropped down to a 3. I did about 15 rows and decided it was still too wide. I actually dropped down to a large US1. That's the same needle I just used in those socks I finished. I think I actually hold the yarn and needles differently (looser?) if I know I'm not working on socks, because it still is loose and drape-y but looks like a scarf instead of a wrap now, which is much better.


With apologies for the bad picture, I am also spinning on the wheel...


A friend of mine bought this wool for felting purposes and now, after using some for that, is ready to not have a big bag of wool in her life (or house) so I'm spinning it for her in exchange for probably some house repair advice from her...or something.



A few hours down, many hours left.... but it is fun - as she had no specs in mind for the yarn, so I'm just spinning it the way the wool and wheel want it to work.


I also got my May Yarn Pirate Fiber. This time it's BFL in colorway Zephyr. Pretty. :) I really want to start it right now, but have too many things going on at the moment.




Ok, so the Massachusetts Sheep and Wool was this past Saturday. Since we didn't go to any fiber fairs last year I was really looking forward to it, in fact, I think the whole family was happy about going. We looked through all the barns and stalls and saw the sheep, and then started going back and making purchases.

Curly has been wanting a sweater - most likely a Wallaby with a hood and pocket. I was spinning some yarn recently that she's tried to claim (and I probably will use it for her too) but this bag should be perfect...


especially since it has purple and blue :)


I then went over to the Journey Wheel booth and bought myself a 'real' spindle. I have a big ashford boat anchor from my mom, a spindlyn and a small ebay spindle (which is good, but not very sturdy). I chose a Purpleheart Featherweight. It's only 17 grams (.6oz) and it spins forever!



While buying the purple wool bag I also picked up just one small silk cap from Fantom Farm. I'm spinning it now on the new featherweight and will probably make a small kerchief for Lily with it.


I wish I had grabbed a couple more... oh well.

My husband picked out two projects he'd like to make, both are lacy, both use fingering weight. One will be blue, and one will be green, both from Sliver Moon Farms.


He also decided he wanted to at least try spinning, so when we walked by the Spunky Eclectic Booth he picked up some BFL in a nice green...


...and a little turkish spindle.


He says that if he like spinning it will be his for good and I can buy another one sometime soon - and if he doesn't like it then we made sure that I also like the one he chose. He has dabbled a bit now and seems to enjoy it. So far he's using some of my mill ends white superwash (mostly the pencil roving bits) and he's picking it up pretty quickly...-


We also stopped at The Wheel Thing and got some fun tools. I haven't tried them out yet, but hope to soon



We also sat through a senior (teenagers?) class sheep show that had a variety of breeds and listened to the judging, got to watch one shearing, saw the winning fleece and knits and yarn, and the girls had a chance to weave - they now want to borrow a loom and do some more 'real' (not potholders on a peg loom) weaving...

To finish off the day I ordered a tiny bit of yarn for a vest and helped one of my friends pick out a pattern and yarn for a sweater I'll be making her (she did some sewing for me), so I have a bunch of things I'm working on, and a bunch more planned. Fun Fun Fun!

...been working

I finished a little blanket and bear for a baby shower I went to.






I usually love the way these baby gifts turn out, and this one was no exception. I thought this combo was especially cute!


My husband discovered The Loopy Ewe (which I tried to tell him about almost a year ago, but he just wasn't ready for it). He did his first order, which included a couple of Wendy Knits sock patterns (big hit - can't wait for her book!) ...and since he was already going to order, he kindly put this in the cart for me:



Isn't it pretty? It's called Little Fish and it's from Enchanted Knoll Farm. Of course, I hadn't ordered from The Loopy Ewe yet, so now that I know how quickly it comes.... I believe he already has a cart waiting, waiting of course for the new knee socks from Wendy Knits (Catriona) to hit the store - as soon as they do, the cart will be on its way to us.


Of course, he made that order purposefully before his business trip to Japan. He had a week between when the patterns got here and when he left - so he whipped up a sock:



I think he was even surprised by how fast it worked up, and then he knit its match while in that super-long-when-is-this-going-to-end flight, finishing it up (weaving in ends, etc) while recovering from jetlag.

Details for all projects on Ravelry because, really, if you care about details, you should be on there by now.

Made for me (with love)

Made by my husband for me...


A pair of socks (I do the sewn bind off for him) - it's a wonderful lace pattern made with yarn that is sock and squishy and has elastic in it.





A hat (one of the ysolda patterns - I now have two).


Isn't it pretty?





A shawl from the latest knitty - called Versatility.



It is just missing buttons then I can wear it ummm... four or five different ways :) It's pretty cool, you should click the link and check it out!

He's still working on a sock for me (first sock), and has cast on another shawl... which we won't curse by talking about it.

Details of all projects will be added to his ravelry page (some time) or you can ask him!

G is for...

Gifts!

Hannah of Arkansas (Missouri?) won the contest for my first finished object. I will be emailing her and mailing something off soon. In the meantime I am working to try to finish some of my other projects, because...



G is also for Goals:
I'm working on the yarn pirate sock again. I still love this yarn and this colorway. Now that I'm working on it consistently it is moving along a bit. I like a fair amount of ribbing, so I will be starting that soon, and then it will move quickly and I'll be done with the first sock!



Spinning was accomplished last week. I have yet to measure it, but it is now dry and looks very nice.



I realized I never photographed my bracelet. If you remember, my first attempt was huge and silly, so it turned into a small bowl. This second attempt, done earlier this summer, is almost perfect. Another attempt once I finish some more things.



I also thought I should show the socks my husband made for Lily. She danced around in this and kept telling people that the top has a ruffle. This weekend we left the house and everyone was wearing tofutsies. (My husband's socks made by me, everyone else's made by him). We all had happy feet.



So, as I said, goals. My husband offered me a challenge. He is currently working on a sock (one from Cat's new book, out of Valley Yarns, Franklin) for him. He has challenged me to finish both of my yarn pirate socks before he finishes one of his socks. ...and to finish all *current* projects before he finishes his pair. I think it'll be a stretch, but it is possible for either of us to win. (The lace scarf is not considered current, and MS3 - while it's considered current in general, I don't know if it is part of this challenge).

My current projects are:

the yarn pirate sock
the project from knitting lingerie style
some more I cord rugs
MS3
my lace scarf

I think that's it. If I forgot something, let me know!

A is for...

...adorable.

This isn't my favorite finished bear and blanket, but I am always pleased with how they come out. The bear is, as always, from a Debbie Bliss pattern that I've adapted to knit in the round (tiny arms and legs aren't so much fun to sew up). The sweater was my own creation, and as it is the piece I am not so impressed with, no more info on it.

The blanket is Jack's blanket. I measured both the blanket (about 28" by 30") and my gauge (starts at 3 st per inch and ends up about 2 1/2 st per inch, maybe even pushing 2 st per inch - I loosened up as I got used to the yarn/needle combo, and I think most people would too). I realized I didn't give that information with the pattern, and will fix it at some point hopefully.



A is also for...

...absolutely ecstatic.

Those are the socks my sshusband finished for Curly. She was sooo excited to get them she did a little dance around the floor. She was very willing to let me take pictures, but it was a bit difficult as she didn't want to stand still. They do match a pair he made for me, and there was just yards left when he finished with hers. There are a couple of other left over balls of yarn, but I don't know if any more tiny socks will be made from them, as these are just barely fitting her.

Hmmm... what will B stand for...?

Update on Moth Shawl

I finished!

...in its unblocked state - measured 61 across and 32 inches down the center - blocking will hopefully be done tomorrow!
[EDIT]: I have 114 yards (7/8 ounce) left - wow I used the right needles, eh?


And since these have been patiently waiting in my basket for some ends-weaving-in since mid-week (sorry, I was obviously busy knitting.... and yes, he could have finished them, but we were in a waiting game and I will enable my husband to knit in any way possible - such as finishing stuff that he dislikes to do... whatever it takes to get socks made for me) here are the most recent socks that my sweet sweet husband made for me.


Tofutsies, US1 and US0, Priscilla's Dream Sock pattern, nice and snug on my feet.


Very comfy! :) I plan on wearing them tomorrow.

Don't forget to leave a comment for the contest!

My husband knits (tons of pics)

Peggy commented:
Wow!!!! A husband that knits!!!! What or what would my stash look like if my husband did the same? Hmmmm, might cause a family feud. :) The socks are beautiful and such a sweet gift.

Yes, this is a blog about my crafts, but sometimes my crafts and my husband's crafts overlap. Since he was working late tonight I ran around the house and snapped pictures of things he has knit. I'm amazed at how much has been for me.... Thank you sweetie :)



His first big project was this green blanket.


We worked together on a pair of slippers for our older daughter. (We both knit and then I seamed)


Socks, socks, socks... some for me, some for him.... and his latest pair for me


He also made me this lopi hat - the matching sweater-which-shall-not-ever-be-blocked was made by me.


This hat was for our younger daughter - very pretty noro. He also did another hat for her when she was younger - red/brown woolease. I'll post a picture when I find it (that closet needs some help) and snap a picture.


We called this 'Big Gray'. It's a Lavold design made with Lopi. He was planning for it to be big, but it kept growing. It's nice a comfy looking on him, but we keep joking about felting it down a bit.


Pi shawl with arms, made with a WEBS tent sale find - again, for me. This picture doesn't do it justice, I'll have to post another one soon.


Big cushy pillow made with Bamboo yarn, completely designed by him.


There is also his recently completed hedgehog

This is his normal craft bag. It makes me smile since it's a tool bag and says 'Craftsman' right on it. It's big enough to hold medium sized projects and it doesn't have flowers on it.


He has a small cube that holds all the random needles and such that every knitter gathers.


...and a new travel bag for knitting. It will hold a small project or two and a book or something else to do. It's currently holding the nice lacy socks that he is making for me.


His stash... the first picture is in a big basket off to the side of our room. The second picture is in a big tub under the bed. (hiding yarn in with lopi sweaters, perfect plan - he claims the lopi is all mine to make another sweater with) The only thing not included is the fact that there's more lopi in my stash - I claim all lopi is pretty much jointly owned. Most of this stash is yarn that's been left over from old projects.


And here's where it starts getting fun. Here's some yarn that he started more socks for me, but ended up deciding it wasn't working. This yarn is now mine, I just need to frog it and move it to my stash.



And thus ends the husband portion of the show... almost. While digging around and taking pictures I found an old finished object. There are two pairs of finished toe socks I made for him. t-o-e socks. four of them. measured and custom knit. yay. maybe some day I'll end up making more for him, just not right now with my present project load.



So there we have almost all of his knitting... more on my current projects next time.