SourCherries

The Last of 2008

I did  manage to squeeze in one final project for 2008. The previously mentioned Habitat Hat. This marks the first time that I have spun yarn with a specific project in mind and I couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome. A perfect way to finish off 2008. J was even so kind as to go down to the lake with me and pose for photos reminiscent of my Koolhaas hat from 2007. We missed our annual Christmas Eve walk due to weather, so New Year's Eve it was.

 

   

The yarn was spun  from CVM roving into a three ply. Four ounces yielded approximately 190 yards of yarn at 12 wpi. CVM is a new favorite for me- very bouncy and springy and while not as soft as merino, definitely soft enough for next to skin wear.

I also finished up my 'Hive' yarn. It's super sunshiney, just like I imagined.

 

I hope everyone has a lovely start their New Year! 

Handspun Habitat in Progress

Handspun Habitat in Progress

It's taking up all my attention right now. Can't blog. Must finish.

Making Some Sunshine

New boots- an early Christmas gift from J that I needed due to the incredible amount of snow we got in the last two days. It ended up being right around 30" in twenty-four hours. Ridiculous. My house seems practically buried.

So, needless to say, I'm staying inside (except for the three hours I spent shoveling yesterday) and spinning up my own dose of sunshine.

This is 'Hive', dyed by Hello Yarn. I'm spinning it into a traditional three ply that I hope will be around worsted weight, because I find myself in desperate need of some sun-shiny mittens.

Christmas...

Christmas Cactus

I've really been enjoying the thought of Christmas this year. I put lights on my house and my little Charlie Brown Tree up (it really is a Charlie Brown Tree... I had to tape the stand to the floor with duct tape to keep it from tipping over because all the branches are on one side). I don't really have any plans for Christmas because I'm working, but I am enjoying the season. I wouldn't even mind if it snowed. Oh, and this Christmas Cactus, I've had it since I was seven. I bought it at the hardware store for twenty-five cents. I am definitely a saver.

Tis The Season...

In the past few weeks I've started knitting on no less than three new scarves. Each one is with fingering or finer weight yarn and only one is big needles. I am loving all of them, and I'm not much of a scarf knitter. However, since I keep on switching between the three not one is finished.

The first one is the Lace Ribbon Scarf from Knitty. I'm using my own handspun yarn, spun from some optim fiber dyed by The YoYo. Optim is seriously soft and drapey. It was loverly to spin, although if you don't like superwash merino, it might not become a favorite for you.

Here is a photo of the scarf the way it looked on the first day of knitting... when I was still addicted.

When I was about halfway through the Lace Ribbon Scarf, I was sorely tempted by some Cashmere.  Specifically, some Plymouth Earth Ecco Cashmere that I got at the new LYS in town- CDA Yarn and Fiber.  Fairly close to the day that I picked up the cashmere, I just happened to get Nancy Bush's new book, Knitted Lace of Estonia. It's fabulous. I was forced to start knitting the Peacock Tail and Leaf Scarf (Ravelry Link). 

 

It is so, so soft. I have now reached the point on this where I'm deciding how long I want it to be, so I put it on the back burner and started yet another scarfy project. However, since there is no pictorial evidence of the third scarf, I'll save it for another day.