For the most part, I have been sticking to my promise to spin for at least 15 minutes every day. I finished spinning all of that brown alpaca and skeined it for the purpose of picture taking, but it still needs its soak. I did a chain ply and ended up with 452 yards of what so far looks to be a sport weight, maybe a heavy fingering weight. In any case, I love the rich brown of it, and while it's soft and squishy, I may gift it since I don't wear much alpaca. I bought it purely for the experience of spinning a 100% alpaca, and I have to say, it's not my favorite fiber to spin. I still consider myself a beginning spinner, so I'm trying as many fibers as I can to find that perfect 'go-to' fiber for me. So far, I still lean towards a BFL (blue face leicester), or a Merino/Tencel or Merino/Silk blend. I also don't mind a 100% merino, especially a pretty hand dyed braid of it!
Currently on my wheel, I have a 65% merino 35% nylon sparkle that is just beautiful! I'm enjoying spinning this and can't wait to see what I end up with. So far, the single is a lace weight and it would be so lovely to end up with a fingering weight that I could make a shawl or something with!! I love the colors! I have spun two ounces out of four, and then I will more than likely do a 2 ply. I can't wait to get to the point in my spinning where I say "oh, I want to knit this, so I will spin this for it!" Even so, I'm still enjoying what I end up with and then pick a pattern to knit from it.
We only have one more clue for our Downton Abbey mystery shawl, which should arrive Saturday night. I only have three more rows of the last clue and I will be caught up. I probably won't get to the new clue when it arrives tomorrow though, since it's Valentine's Day. Scooter and I don't have any real big plans. We're kind of private like that and prefer to be alone enjoying each other's company, rather than surrounded by "the masses", as we like to call it. Anyway, where was I? haha Oh right, the shawl...I'll get to it during the last episode of the show on Sunday night. I can't believe that has arrived already!!!
As for my mystery socks, well....I'm two clues behind now, but it's okay. I will finish them when I finish them. Besides, why would I just want empty knitting needles hanging around?!?! LOL Oh wait, maybe so I can cast on for another project? Uh, that would be a BIG FAT "YES!!"
So, the only picture I have of some knitting today would be a preemie hat...one completed for a baby boy, and one cast on for a baby girl. I just love doing these little hats to warm a baby's little body!! They are very quick stash busting projects, and they do some good for a tiny human. My knitting guild I belong to supports one of our local hospitals, so after these two I'm working on, I'll knit some up for that charity as well. I'm just using Bernat's baby sport and Bernat's Jacquard, both acrylic, and they are so cute. These two will go to a hospital in the San Jose, CA area, and I may have time to knit up a couple more, we will see.
Stitches West 2015 is just SEVEN days away and I am so excited!!!! Thank you to Benjamin Levisay and all of the people that work so hard to put this fantastic event together!!! The two hats I just showed you up above are to donate to the Knitmore Girls (Jasmin,Gigi,and Genevieve) for their charity they support in the bay area where they live. Like I said, I'm hoping to fit in a couple more, or as many as I can in the next few days. In my excitement for Stitches, I totally forgot all about doing these hats until I heard Jasmin mention it on their podcast a couple of episodes ago. I still need to put together my wardrobe to pack, which is proving a little challenging these days. With a 30 pound weight loss, I'm not even sure what size I am now. Even those clothes that I had put back for "someday I'll fit into those again" are now too big. I have a huge stack that will be going to my local SPCA's thrift store. I have friends telling me not to do that...not to get rid of them because you never know. Oh yes, I DO know I will never be that size again..EVER! This feels better than what any cake, chips or junk food could ever taste. For the first time in my life, I'm actually enjoying excercise too...now, that's a weird one. Even when I was petite in high school, I hated it...always have, but for some odd reason, I'm now loving it! I still have a few pounds yet to go, but I've never been so committed to being healthy in my life!!
I have rambled on enough for one blog post, so I will close this out and I will be back with other news in the next few days...who knows, maybe even tomorrow...:)
Marijane looks beautiful in her new cowl! You are getting really good with your spinning. One of these days I will get the bug to spin. Have fun at Stitches and maybe next year I will be able to join you again. We did have alot of fun! I was like a kid in a candy store last year!
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