WhimsyKnits

Tour de Fleece

sherie — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:01:00 +0000

I’ve been spinning everyday for the Tour de Fleece. I don’t have a lot to show for it though because both of my projects are laceweight singles. They are taking FOREVER! I did finally finish up the 3 oz of singles on the wheel and have started plying them. I think the finished yarn will be about 28 WPI.

Here is my spindle project - the 4 oz batt of Merino which I have made into mini rolags. It’s spinning along nicely on my new Golding Spindle. This spindle is 0.65 oz, lignum vitae. It’s a wonderful spindle, spins fast and forever. I’m winding off into outer pull balls for this project and will then ply them on the wheel. I haven’t tried this method of winding off before, but so far I really like it. I learned about this method from Abby’s Yarns, CLICK HERE to read her excellent article.

And here is some eye candy, new batts from Spunky Eclectic

Monkey Farts - Merino/Silk Noils

Smoke on the Water - SW Merino/Alpaca/Bamboo

New Leaf - Corriedale/Alpaca/Tussah Silk

Flutter Scarf

sherie — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:36:03 +0000

click for bigger pics

The Process, handcarded and handspun:

Pattern: Flutter Scarf
Yarn: My handspun, Caramel Toffee
Needles: US #4 Bryspun straights
Completed: July 9, 2008

The Things We Do for Love

sherie — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:04:50 +0000

CRW turned 2 on 7/10. We had an “Amarillo Birthday Party” at my house. We decided to do this separate party because my father is unable to travel to his house, my daughter lives about 85 miles away. As I sat and watched CRW open his presents my eyes drifted over to my parents who were putting on quite the show themselves! It almost made me cry to see them having such fun (especially my father as he has moderate Alzheimer’s and is quite hard of hearing. He usually misses out on so many things). They were so engaged in the activities and laughing and having as much of a blast as CRW!!

Daddy entertaining his great-grandson

Mom with the Hulk Hand

CRW and the cake, our guest of honor!

Tour de Fleece 2008

sherie — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:16:37 +0000

I’m participating in the Tour de Fleece 2008 — which is just basically spinning everyday that the Tour de France competitors are racing. I haven’t spun as much as some, but have managed to spin each day. It’s fun to have a goal and great for the spinning to be more diligent and persistent in actually doing it. Here’s my two present projects:

Spunky Club fiber for June - Flowering Weeds - Merino/Mohair blend. This is 3 oz of the 6 oz I have. Planning 2 ply laceweight.

Here’s my merino batt which was pulled into rolags.

Some stash enhancement additions:

I just joined Enchanted Knoll’s Happy Hooves Batt Club and this is my first shipment. Lovely black merino blended with sari silk.
It’s amazing!!

Here are some silk hankies from Sakina Needles. I’ve never tried spinning silk that wasn’t in a blend so this should be interesting.
I’m trying to decide whether to spin in on the wheel or on a spindle….

Dye Day

sherie — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:39:43 +0000

I spent my day off on July 4th dyeing some fiber. I had lots of fun and I think most of it came out pretty well. I’m pretty color challenged, so it’s always a surprise to see how my dye jobs finish up.

Top to bottom, left to right:
Color Dots, BFL - Woodsey Walk, BFL
Rasberry Truffle, BFL - Delphinium, Merino
Zeke&Zena, BFL - Double Vision, Merino
Tequila Sunrise, Merino - rolags, not dyed by me, just pretty

New Spindle

sherie — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:13:36 +0000

I’ve got a new spindle! As the spindle love is returning to chez Sherie I’ve been in the mood to enlarge my small spindle collection. I’ve had my eye on some spindles by Avi Wasserman and found the perfect one at The Fold. Toni is so great and had just what I wanted. This spindle is a reminder of my trips to Israel and a dear friend, Zvi. The shaft is rosewood. The whorl is olivewood and ebony with little silver accents. It’s the olivewood that is the most meaningful to me. My trips to Israel were wonderful and life changing. One of my fondest memories is standing on the Mt of Olives in an olive grove and looking across to the old city of Jerusalem. So the woods in this spindle are my “souvenir.”

The baby rolags were made from a larger batt (Deep Fried Veggies, Merino, batt by CopperPot Woolies). I used the tutorial at Spunky Ecelctic to make the rolags.

click for bigger pics

MEME!

sherie — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:27:02 +0000

Amy over at Boogie Knitstagged everyone who reads her blog for this meme. I haven’t done one in a while and this was fun and easy.

1. Where was I 10 years ago.
Right here, same house, same husband. The kids were 16 then and still living at home and being “challenging” teenagers.

2. 5 things on today’s to-do list.
Go to work.
Come home from work.
Make TdF avatars for the Team Monkey Farts members.
Spin.
Work on cashmere scarf.

3. Snacks I enjoy.
M&M’s, pretzels

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire.
Pay off my house.
Buy all the kids houses and cars of their own.
Put away enough money in trust funds for all the grandkids to go to college with.
Travel, travel, travel.
Get lots and lots and lots more fiber and wheels and spindles and looms!

5. Places I have lived.
San Diego, CA - born here
Jacksonville, FL
Hartford, CT
Middletown, VA
Harlingen, TX
Amarillo, TX
Quanah, TX
**was a Marine Corps brat for the first 5 places**

6. Jobs I have had.
McDonald’s
Shakey’s Pizza
Insurance clerk in a doctor’s office
Receptionist for a real estate business
Payroll clerk
Receptionist for the Texas A&M Agricultural Extension Service
Bookkeeper for auto parts store (co-owner w/ex)
Hairdresser
Registered Nurse (still doing this one and will forever)

7. Who would I like to know more about.
Everyone who reads this meme, consider yourselves tagged.
Please leave me a comment if you do this and I’ll run over and read your answers!

Squishy Scarf

sherie — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:07:46 +0000

Here’s a nice, warm, and very squishy scarf I just finished. It’s just a simple pattern, the One Row Handspun Scarf pattern by the Yarn Harlot. I used some of my handspun, Mud Season II which was spun as a low twist single, a la Malabrigo. The finished scarf is just right! I was given the ultimate compliment and a friend from Ravelry liked it and we’ll be having a swap! Cool beans! It’s always so nice when someone likes something you created.

Click to enlarge pics

HHHHH Questionnaire

sherie — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:52:37 +0000

1. How long have you been spinning? What skill level do you consider yourself?
I’ve been spinning for 1 1/2 years. I would say I’m at an intermediate level.

2. What kinds of yarn do you create (singles/2-ply/3-ply/art yarn)?
all of the above

3. What do you spin with (spindle/wheel/both)?
I use my wheel the most, but I also enjoy drop spindling on occasion.

4. What are your favorite fibers to spin with? Anything you don’t like?
Love Merino, BFL, alpaca, llama, mohair, angora bunny, cashmere. Blends with Bamboo and Tencel are luscious! Any of the wools which are soft, I’m not too hot on the scratchy fibers.

5. Who are your favorite crack dealers fiber sources (etsy or otherwise)?
Spunky Eclectic, Loop, CopperPot Woolies, Funky Carolina, CJ Copek Creations, Freckle Faced Fibers, Hello Yarn. Is that enough? I can go on and on!

6. What kind of fiber do you want to try?
Silk hankies!

7. Is there any techniques you would like to learn?
I’d like to be better at the long draw and I’d like to learn some of the new artsy fartsy techinques - think Lexi Boeger.

8. Do you dye fiber? If not, would you like to learn?
Yep! Just took a dyeing class by Judith McKenzie McCuin. I love dyeing, just hard to find the time for it. FYI - I have plenty of fiber in the stash for dyeing.

9. Do you have fiber prep tools (and like to use them) or would you prefer ready to spin fiber?
I have a drum carder and I do enjoy using it. I have a home made hackle I use sometimes. I am not interested in washing raw fleece right now because I work full time and it’s just too time consuming.

10. What do you do with your handspun? What projects have you completed?
I sell some of it and knit with the rest. I’ve done scarves, shawls, mittens, hats, socks and one cardigan.

11. Are you in need of any spinning gadgets (WPI Gauge, threading hook, etc)?
Not that I can think of right now.

12. What colors “fall into your shopping basket”? Any colors you just can’t stand?
I like just about any colors! Not too crazy about hot pink/green/orange. Love blues, greens, purples.

13. What is on your wheel/spindle right now?
On the wheel is 1 pound of a dark, dark, dark brown corriedale roving. On the spindle is alpaca in a lovely gray.

14. What other crafts/hobbies do you have?
I love to listen to books on tape while I knit (I’m a member of audible.com). I also weave on a rigid heddle loom and do tablet weaving too. I do a bit of scrapbooking for my grandson.

15. Other than crafts, what are you passionate about?
My family, especially those precious grandchildren.

16. Do you have an online wishlist?
No

17. Is there anything that you collect?
FIBER! LOL

18. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What magazine subscriptions do you have?
The only magazine subscription I have is to Spin-Off. I would be interested in subscriptions to Interweave Knits and Knitter’s magazines.

19. When is your birthday?
August

20. What book or movie character do you most resemble in personality?
Meg in Little Women

21. What is the climate like where you live around this time (need to know for careful shipments of anything meltable)?
It is HOT, HOT, HOT. I live in Texas.

22. Tell us one weird fact about yourself!
I am the mother of triplets! They are 26 years old now, 2 girls and 1 boy.

Favorites
favorite painting/picture(link):
Starry Night by van Gogh

Candy:
anything chocolate

Food:
chocolate, it IS a food!

Drink:
Diet Coke

Movie(s):
Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Thomas Crown Affiair (with Pierce Brosnan), Pirates of the Carribean movies (love Johnny Depp!!), Narnia movies, Sweeney Todd (with Johnny Depp of course).

TV Show(s):
Survivor, Lost, John & Kate plus 8 (I have a sick fascination watching her deal with all those kids), Dancing with the Stars

Book(s):
Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, science fiction, fantasy

Guilty Pleasure(s):
chocolate!

Ohh Bamboo!

sherie — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:19:04 +0000

Just finished spinning my first batch of a 60/40 Merino Bamboo blend and let me tell you this fiber is wonderful! So soft and it has a sheen like silk. The Merino gives the blend the memory and springy-ness of wool. I had 2 oz of this lusciousness purchased from my favorite person - Amy at Spunky Eclectic. The 2 oz yielded a 2 ply yarn, 222 yards, 19 WPI. I will definitely be spinning up this blend again.

click for bigger pics