Posted in Current Projects

Three S’s: Spinning, Scarf, and Stash

Last night at knitting, I was talking to one of the group members about spinning. I think there’s 2 people in the whole group that spin! I mentioned that this year, I’d really like to get a wheel, so we talked a little about wheels and said that I should come over when the weather gets warmer and we can spin outside. I have wanted to get a wheel for a long time now… I think since 2005! I got a drop spindle in 2005 and there are a few posts here that I talked about it. I did spin up the first roving I had. Then in 2007, I went to Knitter’s Connection and took a class on spinning. I learned more about drafting and my second go round looked a lot better that my super bulky first try, but I never did finish it. I started having a lot of pain in my right shoulder and it made it really difficult to spin, so I put it aside for “some other time.” Every so often, I’d get it out and look at the spindle with the little bit of yarn I’ve made on it and just dream about having a wheel. This year is THE year. I want to have a wheel by the end of the year.

Anyway, last night I was talking to her about spinning and I mentioned how it hurt my shoulder. She asked if I pull it up or to the side when I’m drafting. Up. Then it hit me – duh! No wonder it’s bothering my shoulder so much. I’m pulling UP instead of to the side, which would be much easier on my shoulder. She said I should try it sometime. No better some time than now!

7/365: Spinning

I haven’t actually tried it yet, but I plan to this weekend.

On Monday I started my sisters Hogwarts scarf in Gryffindor colors. After knitting on it last night and today, it’s looking pretty good:

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I’m hoping this will end up being a pretty quick knit. It’s great for knitting in front of the TV, while on the phone, having conversations with people, or while reading a book (as long as you have something to hold the book open!). I was wondering, though, what the height should be on the stripes. It doesn’t say in the pattern and looking at it I almost feel they should be taller. Right now the are 3.75″. It does say the scarf should be 7 to 8 inches wide and mine is about 9 inches wide. I added 10 extra stitches to make it easier to knit in the round (70 was just a tad on the tight side).

Monday I had to go to Michael’s to get the yarn for the scarf (it’s Vanna’s Choice yarn, my sister requested something not itchy and this definitely isn’t). After I got home, I decided that I needed to get all the yarn I’ve acquired photographed and entered into my stash on Ravelry. All of it was either given to me or acrylic that I bought a skein of here and there.

I thought I’d have some fun and create a little picture with all the yarn I took pictures of and uploaded to my stash:

Yarn Stash

Might be a little boring here on the blog while I knit this scarf. I’m hoping it won’t take the eternity it feels like it will. Then again, I’m sure I’ll come up with something to talk about!

Posted in Current Projects

Organizing and Sock Progress

Happy (one day late) Thanksgiving to all those in the US! I had a good time visiting with family and eating delicious food yesterday. It was a long tiring day, but a good one. Matt and I first went to his family’s get together. We brought pecan pie and mac & cheese that I made. There was a ton of great food and I had a really good time! After that, he went to his dad’s and I headed to my family’s house. We had a really nice dinner and I got there just in time, bringing pumpkin pie (which I made) and cool whip with me. Everyone was nice and I was glad I decided to go. I should have taken pictures of the pies and the mac & cheese, but I didn’t think about it until it was too late. Ah well, I’ll share pictures of pie the next time I make some. The pecan pie came out pretty good. I think it might have needed another 5 to 10 minutes in the oven because it was just a tad runny in the center. Still was delicious, but now I know for next time!

About two weeks ago now, I went to Outdoor World (aka Bass Pro Shop) to pick up two items that I’ve been wanting and needing. Now, none of these items were to be used for any type of outdoors thing, which I thought was amusing as I was going through the store, finding my things and checking out.

The first thing I picked up was a Extreme Finesse Binder:

Front:
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Back:
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I’m sure you’re wondering what I could be doing with this, right? Well last year when I went to Knitter’s Connection (2007), I saw a lady who had one of these. She said her husband had found it for her and said it would be great for her knitting needles! So she showed me everything she stored inside. I thought this was a GREAT idea, so I needed to get one myself! I found one at Outdoor World not long after Knitter’s Connection, but I didn’t have the money for it at the time. I thought the bigger one was what I wanted, but when I went back, I found that the medium sized one would be perfect. So two weeks ago, I finally got my butt over there and purchased the binder along with some extra refill sheets so that I could fit all my circulars and all my DPN’s.

Here’s the inside:
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I accidentally got the wrong size fillers, so I need to go back and get the right size ones. The DPN’s are the only thing that I don’t have in the plastic things.

The other thing I purchased was two ammo boxes (.44 if you’re curious). Mostly I just went through and looked at them until I found one that worked well for what I needed then purchased two.

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Since I don’t own a gun, I’m sure you’re wondering what’s in them if bullets aren’t.

SNIFFIES!

Perfume Oil Storage

Miss Violet (from the Lime & Violet podcast) gave the idea to me on the Ravelry forum for her sniffies/soap site – Happy Housewife Soaps and Sundries. I’m part of the Cupcake Club and I recently bought some of the sniffies Miss Violet no longer wanted, so my collection of little sniffy bottles has grown and will keep growing for at least a few more months. I really needed a better way to store them and this is perfect!

While I was at the mall (that’s where Outdoor World is), I went by Kohl’s to get Matt a new belt (I did, but had to return them as they were the wrong size). While I was there I found these cute see-through shoes on clearance. I thought these would be perfect to wear my hand knit socks with to show them off. I’m not 100% sure I like them, but I haven’t worn them anywhere besides the house yet. They are tinted a very light pink.

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~~~~~

Yesterday I was able to finish up the first sock of the test knit I’m working on. It looks really good, if I don’t say so myself! I’ve received a number of compliments on it already. I think the second one should go much faster now that the kinks have been worked out. I love, love, love this sock! I’ll be sure to let you know when the pattern is available so you can make a pair yourself :o)

Front:
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Back:
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