On my needles: I'm still working on the sample stitch kimono. 
I'm anxious to see what it's going to look like after nearly a year on my needles. I'm always surprised by the new stitches. I start out not really liking them but, after I've worked five or six inches of the pattern, I decide I love the pattern and want to make a whole sweater out of just that pattern. I'm definately learning a lot of new stitches that I'll want to use again.
I'm anxious to see what it's going to look like after nearly a year on my needles. I'm always surprised by the new stitches. I start out not really liking them but, after I've worked five or six inches of the pattern, I decide I love the pattern and want to make a whole sweater out of just that pattern. I'm definately learning a lot of new stitches that I'll want to use again.
I'm also just starting my second sock from a pattern in Charlene Schurch's book, Sensational Knitted Socks. 
The yarn is some that was given to me by Judy Ditmore at Knitter's Connection -- a beautiful and colorful blend of merino and silk. They won't be machine washable, but the yarn is practically edible. 
Off my needles: I've given up on the Secret of the Stole knitalong. I'm just not patient enough to deal with lace yet. I had to rip it out three or four times and start over and -- although I can see it would be very beautiful -- I can't see spending that much time to make a garment I really would never wear. Seriously, I'm just not the gauzy lace type. My time would be much better spent knitting an aran cardigan.I recently spun up the second half of the Lime and Violet roving I bought from Vi at Knitter's Connection. The superwash roving I bought was a 2 ounce hunk of varigated blue and a 2 ounce hunk of varigated red. I didn't like the idea of plying blue and red together, so I spun up the blue and plied it with a very thin black superwash yarn. 
Unfortunately, it wasn't thin enough and the black pretty much overwhelmed the blue. Still, it's pretty yarn and will make some great socks -- it looks better than the picture shows.
Unfortunately, it wasn't thin enough and the black pretty much overwhelmed the blue. Still, it's pretty yarn and will make some great socks -- it looks better than the picture shows.Now I need to figure out what to do with the shades of red singles. 
I want to keep the end product superwash so I can use it for socks, so I'm thinking of plying it against some silk thread I've got. I'm not sure how that would work out. The matter requires further investigation.
I want to keep the end product superwash so I can use it for socks, so I'm thinking of plying it against some silk thread I've got. I'm not sure how that would work out. The matter requires further investigation.I've been looking at my blog side bar and noticing how empty the "Finished Objects" category is. It's not really as bad as all that. I've been working steadily on the Sample Stitch Kimono all year but -- by design -- it won't be finished until December (or, more likely, January). 
I also finished these fingerless gloves from my handspun merino/silk blend. 
And I made these hats for Ally's History teacher's children. I made a tea cosy, but I still need to needle felt a decoration on it. 
I also made a pink ribbon scarf for a friend of mine who has breast cancer. So, I haven't been completely knit-less.
I also finished these fingerless gloves from my handspun merino/silk blend. 
And I made these hats for Ally's History teacher's children. I made a tea cosy, but I still need to needle felt a decoration on it. 
I also made a pink ribbon scarf for a friend of mine who has breast cancer. So, I haven't been completely knit-less. I'm still working on my fiber studio/law office in the basement, which Jeff has christened "Wool & Bull." Progress has been made -- but there's still a lot to do. 
I do have my work station up and running complete with printer and scanner. 
I've set up files for patterns and organized my crafting books. I have pictures on the walls and 
I converted my spinning wheel clock to a battery operated mechanism. 
My yarn is ensconced in its cubbies and my spinning and dyeing tools are organized in the dresser drawers. My soap making equipment is organized. 
My overwhelming stash of roving is contained in eight plastic tubs stacked against the wall. Still, there is much left to do.
I do have my work station up and running complete with printer and scanner. 
I've set up files for patterns and organized my crafting books. I have pictures on the walls and 
I converted my spinning wheel clock to a battery operated mechanism. 
My yarn is ensconced in its cubbies and my spinning and dyeing tools are organized in the dresser drawers. My soap making equipment is organized. 
My overwhelming stash of roving is contained in eight plastic tubs stacked against the wall. Still, there is much left to do.A special addition to my studio/office was contributed by my favorite sister, Kathryn. She bought this enormous steamer trunk at an auction by accident for $25. 
She never dreamed it would go that low. She brought it home and cleaned it up ... refinished the exterior wood and polished the brass and tin exterior and gave it to me as an elegant stash storage unit. I'm working now on refinishing the interior. 
The paper on the inside was a really nice bee pattern, but it was so old and discolored that I have to remove it. 
After I finish removing the paper, 
I'll sand it out and reline the interior with tacked on cotton fabric. The bottom, however, will be solid cedar! I've already bought the planks. I'm looking at fabric from a company that sells reproduction fabrics, or maybe just some upholstery fabric that looks in keeping with the time period. The only thing I'm on the fence about is the exterior -- the tin and wood are great, but there's a lot of black metal that I'd like to paint a deep blue or forest green to lighten it up a little. I'm afraid that will take away from the authenticity, but I'm the one who will be living with it. I suppose it could be repainted black in the future if necessary.
She never dreamed it would go that low. She brought it home and cleaned it up ... refinished the exterior wood and polished the brass and tin exterior and gave it to me as an elegant stash storage unit. I'm working now on refinishing the interior. 
The paper on the inside was a really nice bee pattern, but it was so old and discolored that I have to remove it. 
After I finish removing the paper, 
I'll sand it out and reline the interior with tacked on cotton fabric. The bottom, however, will be solid cedar! I've already bought the planks. I'm looking at fabric from a company that sells reproduction fabrics, or maybe just some upholstery fabric that looks in keeping with the time period. The only thing I'm on the fence about is the exterior -- the tin and wood are great, but there's a lot of black metal that I'd like to paint a deep blue or forest green to lighten it up a little. I'm afraid that will take away from the authenticity, but I'm the one who will be living with it. I suppose it could be repainted black in the future if necessary. Thanks for looking in after my long absence from the blog-o-sphere!
