Tuesday, July 12, 2011

and I am off....


Every year, my family goes dip-netting for salmon the the Kasilof. Last year, I was only able to watch as I wasn't yet an "Alaskan Resident" but now I am a "real Alaskan"!

We will head out tomorrow. My house will be able to get 45 salmon -- that scares me. What does one do with 45 salmon? The boyfriend (BF) heads off to his job on the North Slope tomorrow and will be gone for 3 weeks.

That leaves me to deal with whatever fish we manage to get -- gulp!!!

Needless to say, the Tour de Fleece spinning will be put on hold until our return (I think we have this weeknd off for a rest anyway, maybe).





So far, I have gotten three skeins completed, and have one on the wheel.


FAR LEFT: The blue is 50/50 silk and merino 4 oz. three ply. Didn't get as much as I would have liked, but I am very happy with the way the yarn turned out. 282 yards


MIDDLE: all sparkly and neon pink and neon green, mixed with black--"Hot Nights". Two ply; about 110 yards.


FAR RIGHT: "Chocolate Dipped" deep browns with richt pinks and sparlkes - single ply - 270 yards.

My spinning will stay home, my knitting will come with.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Tour de Fleece -- July 2 - 24, 2011

Okay, I really do not think I will be able to spin all 14 fleeces I have during the next 22 days. But, I will give it my best shot!

Today I popped out of bed, enjoyed the quietness of the house as the others slept. Brewed a pot of coffee, sat down to spin a half hour or so, and two hours later, I looked at the clock and low and behold, I got 120 (+/-) minutes of spinning in!!!

My goals are simple:


1. Complete what I currently have on the bobbins. I had one bobbin completed of this beautiful 50/50 silk merino. I am attempting to spin 820 + yards of 3 ply fingering. This morning I was able to almost complete the second bobbin. I love spinning this beautiful roving. I am hoping to have enough to knit the Forget-me-not Shawl.

2. Play with this lovely roving from LittleMonkeySns. A wonderfully soft and luxurious batt -- the pictures did NOT do this roving justice. It is called "Chocolate Dipped" with 52% Merino, 42% bamboo, and 6% nylon sparkle. Not sure what it will become other than yarn. Am thinking I might try to knit a hat with it. It will become what it will become. After the stress of 820 yards 3 ply fingering, this will be a wonderful break.

3. Finish spinning some boring natural BFL that is to knit into a bag to be felted (need it to go with some other wonderful self-striping yarn I spun over a year ago).

4. Back to fun as I spin some more roving from LittleMonkeySns -- it is the wonderful green/orange braid in the front left of the basket.

This will push me! If I get those 4 goals done, I will play with the 5 +/- ounces from the Phat Fiber [rip-off] box.

Oh! Sock update -- mom's socks are almost done. I am working on the cuff and happy with how it is turning out.....pictures to follow...maybe after Tour de Fleece!!!!

Spin-on!!!






Today's accomplishment - 3 hours