What to Start?

A friend is head over in about 40 minutes.  We are going to talk Ravelry for a few minutes then probably work on our knitting.

I am doing a mental check of current projects.  There are the airplane socks.  They are fair isle and on pony pearls.  There is the Russian warm shawl still at the 40 row repeat stage.  And there is the big brown sweater of plain knitting.  It is probably going to be the big brown sweater as long as I can get  a cuff cast-on.  The shawl is out of question.  I can't listen and keep track of where I am.

I did grab out some sock yarn for more plain socks with a dutch heel.  I am really itching to start something new like the Lopi sweater or a Lavold sweater or a vest for me.  Hmmm!  The problem is that starting something takes a bit of concentration.

I have lots of scarves I could start.  I really should only start one thing.

Yarn Crawl or House Work

The choice this weekend was go check some yarn shops participating the Yarn Crawl along the Rockies or help clean the house.  I am sure you can guess what the choice end up being.  It would have been cheaper to stay out at home.

Rudy was kind enough to drive to the stores in Colorado Springs and Boulder.  And I did make some purchases but tried to contain myself.  The future has a sweater for him,  some wrist warmers, and a scarf.  Maybe, two scarves since there is some fiber to spin.

Blue as a Bird

This took months to finish.  It wasn't because it was hard.  Everything else was taking up my time. There is about 6 ounces if I remember correctly.  My slip doesn't really tell me.  Two roving amounts are list but there were three colors.  So, with out a scale I am just guessing.

The fiber was purchased in Hayden, Idaho from Boucle's.  People who know the shop, know it has been awhile.  The store has been closed for several years.  I hope the owner is doing well.

So, it was spun over several months using the second smallest whorl for my Kromski Minstrel.  That produced two bobbins of single ply.  They were almost over loaded.  Then I decided to Navajo ply to get a three ply yarn.   Each bobbin filled more than a bobbin when plying.  So, I ended up with four skeins: 80, 24, 34,  and 114 yards.  I am calling it an aran weight although it might be a heavy worsted.

I did notice after a friend alerted me to it, that when Navajo plying, the chain of the loop may try to scrunch or bobble. I think this is because I wasn't holding the loop as tight as the ply coming off of the bobbin.

I did get the yarn off of the bobbins in time to possibly do some spinning for the Ravellenic games.

I am not Steve

I think only a few people know that I have a cell phone that has a contract.  Possibly because it is rarely on. Plus I got it in March.

I am now dealing with the delights of having a number that belonged to someone else.  That someone seems to be Steve.  At least three people don't believe I am not Steve when they call.  They get sent to voice mail which I am pretty sure I put my name on it.

Yes, both of us have names that start with S but I think the similarities end there.  I don't know about hardboard insulation.  At least not enough, that anyone would want to talk to me about it.  Also, there was a message from a slightly flirtatious female.  I would really prefer, he got these messages.

They could be mis-dials.  In which case, I am still wondering why the caller would leave a message for a person whose name doesn't match the voice mail ID.

Let's all promise to not leave messages for someone who isn't mentioned on the voice mail unless that person has assured us that the owner of the number is O.K. with it.

Gift Certificate

For Christmas, my DH gave a gift certificate since he couldn't find a spin control card or a fiber sphere.  He really did try to find them locally.

So, today, a friend and I took a tour of Boulder to spend the certificate and see the fiber and fabric stores. We had a great time but still no luck on the spin control card.  Maybe they aren't used much any more.  I did find two interesting books and some roving that followed me home.  A piece of velvet almost followed me home.

Still no spin control card or fiber sphere.  Maybe,  they will show up somewhere if I stop looking for them.

Loopy Ewe Road Trip

Sorry, there are no photos.  As usual I forgot the camera.  If I remember, I usually forget to take pictures.

Yesterday, several of us made a road trip to Loopy Ewe.  I am not going to mention names but we all fit in a mini van.  It was nice that one person had already visited and directed us to the correct place.  The Loopy Ewe is tucked away on a second floor above some retail stores.  I didn't expect that.

They have lots of natural light and lots of yarn.  I suffered from yarn overload but not so much that I didn't  manage to pick some out.

The other discovery for the day, is that 5 Guys burgers are good.  The small one is inexpensive and just the right size when drinking pop.

Before Setting The Twist

Wow, It is has been a while and they changed the interface for blogging.  I am just going to move on to my recent spinning.  I still need to put in skeins and set the twist.

 First up is some CVM Cross from SheepFeathers Farm.  The bit over my hand is what was left on one bobbin after plying.  So, I did the center pull ball trick and plied the last few yards.  Probably, won't need it but why take a chance.

 For spinning, I used the bigger setting on my small whorl.  If you have a Kromski this will make sense.  Otherwise consider the second smallest one.  I think I left more energy in the yarn than I really wanted. I am still getting use to my tensioned lazy kate.   I am going with that excuse today.

And here, we have Rose Quartz Multicolored Merino Wool Top by Ashland Bay Trading Company.

It is time to grab the Kniddy Knoddy and skein yarn.