WIPs Wednesday 10/8 plus a little more fall fun

So last weekend Jess and I went to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.  I had never been to this faire, and have not been to any faire since about 2002.  I did not go dressed in period clothing, and I am glad because I was cold enough in jeans and a sweater heh. It started as a super rainy morning and it was one of the colder days we have even had recently.  Anyway, I ended up having a great time! I got to see falcons, men in kilts, and a few sips of mulled wine before some yellow jackets claimed it for themselves.  I dipped my own candles too. Here are a few photos from the day!

Notice I remembered to bring knitting with me too

Didn't try one, but maybe I should have....

Much harder than it looks. I ended up with two candles, one I like more than the other, but still a fun activity!

We also ran into many fabulous knitters. In fact, I can safely say I have never run into this many knitters outside of a fiber festival! Jess and I also managed to not get any pictures together (I swear we will never break that habit), well except for one when we had an impromptu dance party on the way.

It's all about the bass, about the bass.....

So back to the WIPs, I started a project that will remain secret until after Christmas. I am not sure if the hubby reads the blog, but if he does I do not want to spoil his surprise.  I have been working on my Jane Eyre shawl (I do know my sis in law reads this, but I am warning her now if you do not want to be spoiled, walk away from the blog).  The shawl is getting huge, so huge I added a connector and another cable to see if I could stretch out the stitches more.  It still gets bunched up heh

I really wish you could see how pretty this is turning out

Close up of the flame lace panel down the center

I am almost to the last repeat where the flame lace is the majority of the stitches instead of the center.  It will be slow going for those last 24 rows I am sure, but I am getting there. I plan to work on this as much as I can over the next few days.

I started spinning up the alpaca batt that I got at the alpaca fest a few weeks ago.  I have been remembering to add more twist to the ply and it still has a nice fluffy halo.  It is going to be so soft and squishy when I finish. This is the first ply all finished

I have also started my next stitching project. This is another one from the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. It is the 12 days of Christmas.  Maybe I will finish it in time this year!!

I've also been busy the past few weeks.  As Jen mentioned, we went to the Renaissance Faire with a new group of friends.  I had so much fun and I hope to go again next year!

Jess and her new boy toy

Two weekends ago I went apple picking with my mom after church.  We went to Grim's Orchard.  We picked about 13 pounds of jonagold apples and I picked a couple of a darker type of apple (I forget the name).  The orchard is really cute.  They have a corn maze, hayrides and a play area for kids.  They also sell apple cider donuts and apple cider slushies.  (SO GOOD!!!)  When I came home, I found a bag of cider donuts from Jen hanging on my door.  <3  I was going to freeze some, but I ended up devouring them instead.  With the apples I picked, so far I baked a diabetic friendly apple crisp  and want to make some battered apple rings and a pie. 

My beautiful mama

Pumpkin head Jess

So many apples!

I have a few FO's to share on Friday and a couple of WIP's I have been working on. 

Jen and I are both knitting with our Miss Babs MDSW exclusive yarn.  I am knitting a pair of Jaywalkers.  The pattern is crazy easy, I am just hoping they aren't too snug.  I decided to do an afterthought heel, mainly because I was at work and couldn't concentrate on the pattern heel.  

Jaywalkers in Miss Babs Cosmic-Inspired by Tulips

Jen here, just wanted to put socks up here so you can see how the same yarn in a different dyelot, with a different pattern knits up. I am making Charade socks. I love the herringbone pattern and the bright spring colors are fun, even if it feels weird to be knitting these in the fall.

 I have also been working on some cross stitching.  Since I already finished my Halloween Sampler, I felt that finishing my Gingerbread Lane was more crucial than finishing Halloween Town.  I am almost done with the 2nd house.  I decided that I am just doing the houses, not the scene underneath or the countdown.  I am hoping to be done before Thanksgiving.

Gingerbread Lane pattern by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery

FO Friday 10/10/14

My FO's this week are all about my mom.  Her birthday was earlier this week and since she is one of the most knitworthy people I know, I wanted to make her a pair of socks.  I did a basic 3x1 rib, fish lips kiss heel.

Into the Whirled Pakokku-A Musing Anecdote

I think it's funny how they pooled almost in a tie dye pattern at the leg and then striped at the foot.  I have plenty of yarn left over so I plan on making some fingerless mitts for myself with the leftovers.

Since my mom is also a knitter, I decided to spin her some yarn.  I managed to get 302 yards of a heavy fingering/sport weight yarn, 2-ply.  

Knitting Knorth Polwarth

Overall, I think she was pleased with her gifts and I can't wait to see what she makes with the yarn!  

I have another Christmas present off the needles, and the last pair of socks that I am making as a present this year too!  I finished up the socks that I was working on for my mom. They are soft and squishy and I think she will love the color'

Angee by Cookie A knit in Cephalopod Yarns Skinny Bugga!

I also knit up a few bibs for the Hufflepuff Baby Gift Brigade this last week for Quidditch.

Stay on Bib - Lily Sugar n cream ombres

Grandmother's Favorite Baby Bib in Plymouth Fantasy Natural

Alpaca Festivals and Apple Picking

Even though this weekend didn't feel much like fall I spent it doing some very fall activities.  When we were driving home the other day I saw a sign that said alpaca on it. I was so excited that I had John turn around to see when it said. 

Evidently we have an alpaca farm less than 5 miles from my house!  According to the sign these alpacas have been on the Late Night with David Letterman too. I have no idea what that is all about, but I went to the Autumn Alpaca fest anyway.  
The farm is behind a golf course, which explains why I never noticed the alpacas.  There were a few vendors there selling fiber and fiber related items. There was yarn from the local alpacas and they had items made from alpacas in Peru.
I bought two needle felted pumpkins that were made by a lovely local fiber artist. She was needle felting while we talked!

Shepherd Hills Alpacas 

I then went to the next booth where I saw a table full of alpaca locks, and some fiber batts.  I met a wonderful woman named Deborah from Black Diamond Alpacas.  She was so friendly, and even invited me to her local knitting and spinning groups. I will definitely be joining them at a meet up soon. I told her how I have some alpaca fiber at home, but have been scared to spin it. It is so soft and pretty, I would hate to ruin it. She let me try some alpaca on her wheel

I am so used to my double treadle wheel that this was a real challenge for me. Once we lessened the tension I was able to get the wheel going and not have too much backspin.  Alpaca was not as hard as I thought it would be.  I learned that I need to add way more twist than I think that it  needs.  Evidently the fibers do not lock together like a wool fiber does, so you need that extra twist to make it stable.  She also recommended that I try an alpaca blend first. She had some lovely batts so I bought one for me, and one for Jess.

This is 60% alpaca from two different alpacas from Black Diamond Alpacas, Rhett and Romeo. I got to see pictures of them too! The other 40% is Rambouillet.  I am eager to spin it up.
The rest of the time on the farm I spent looking at the baby alpacas on the obstacle course

He did not want to go through the hoop, kept backing up, it was so funny

I love their faces so cute!

It looks like he is kissing the other one!

It was a lot of fun, and so exciting that the farm is so close to my house.  I was sorely tempted when I saw this

So tempted

But I went home with just my fiber and needle felted goodies.

Sunday we spent the morning in New Jersey apple picking!It was so nice that John had the day off and could go too! We picked Mutsu, Honey crisp, Macintosh, and Red Delicious apples. I have plans for apple bread and hopefully enough for some canned apple pie filling.  We had some yummy cider and apple cider donuts too.  

We had lunch at Hot Dog Johnny's. If you are near the Belvedere area of New Jersey, I highly recommend it. The hot dogs are cooked in peanut oil and are delicious. I am not a big hot dog fan and  I really like them.  We ate them on picnic blankets with some friends and their sweet little girl. It was a really fun afternoon. Have I mentioned how much I love fall? If only we could have these amazing falls and then just skip winter heh

FO Friday 9/26/14

Where has September gone?  I swear I was just on vacation and now the month is over??  October is going to be even more insane.  Haunted hayrides, Rhinebeck, Renaissance Faire and Halloween!  My calendar is full and I am looking forward to every single thing on it!

What have I been up to lately?  I went to the Renaissance Faire with family last weekend (and am going back next week with some friends.  

I started a pair of 3x1 ribbed socks for my mom.  I'm using Into the Whirled Pakokku Sock in A Musing Anecdote.  I am knitting them top down, using the fish lips kiss heel.  I finished the first sock and just finished the heel of the second sock today.

I have also been spinning a lot lately.  I still have my friend's wheel, so I have been trying to use it as much as I can before she wants it back.  

I spun up this Corriedale by Into the Whirled that I picked up at MDSW this year.  The colorway is Blink.  I spun it 2-ply, worsted weight.  Even though I was able to get it more consistent than the last skein, I got less yardage :(  This is 178 yards.  It's still enough for a hat or a cowl, but I was hoping for a bit more yardage.

Right now I have some secret spinning going on that I can post about after next week.  ;)

The only other FO I have to share is a pair of French Press Slippers.  I knit these for my swap partner.  This was the first time I felted anything that I needed to control.  My seaming was a little funky so they look a little off, but they should fit and I hope my partner likes them.  

September was a pretty busy month for me too! We just had our first house guest, which was actually pretty exciting. It was so nice to have a guest room and bathroom available for him.  I think he liked staying here too.  The kitties did not like that the door was shut at night though, and greeted our guest each morning by being right outside the door when he opened it.  I love October for so many reasons, but the main one is RHINEBECK! I am so glad that Jess will be going too.

I have two FOs to share this week.  I also made a pair of French Press Slippers. This was also my first time felting something that had to fit.  I think mine turned out okay, and I hope that my swap partner loves them.  The best part about these slippers though was felting them with Jess. There were a few Lucy and Ethel moments, and we laughed a lot.  Bill the cricket was on hand to give his opinion too. (Bill has decided to live in Jessica's basement, at least I think he does because he was LOUD). Did I mention that I am scared of crickets?! It was true comedy that night.

French Press Felted Slippers - Cascade 220 - Pacific

I also did the first spinning I have done in the new house. My couch is actually a great height for spinning and I didn't have the back problems that I sometimes get from it.  I spun up some punis that I got from NaturallyKnitty on etsy.  The punis are merino, cormo, bamboo, and firestar.  I ended up with 228 yards, which isn't bad for 2.1 ounces of fiber. I haven't done the wraps per inch yet, but it looks like maybe a sport weight yarn. The colorway is Summer Sunset, which I think is just perfect for the yarn.

FO Friday 8/29

Sorry I have been so silent lately.  I've been feeling a bit off for awhile and haven't felt motivated enough to do anything.  I did get caught up with the Halloween Town cross stitch and started the most recent clue.  

I also spun my first skein of wheel spun yarn.  My friend, Kit, let me try out her Ashford Kiwi and I love it!  It is so much faster than the drop spindle!  I chose my Woolgatherings Mixed BFL that I purchased at MDSW in 2013.  I need to work on my drafting since some spots are a little over spun, but I am pleased with my first attempt.  I managed to spin 236 yards of worsted (mostly) weight.

Woolgatherings Mixed BFL

I also finished a test knit for Susan Claudino, but I have to wait to share the photos since the pattern hasn't been released yet ;)  

Based on the teaser pictures that Susan has posted on Instagram, I cannot wait to see your finished test knit!  I finally finished my Jeck socks that I am making as a Christmas gift for my grandma this year!  

They are knit with Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet. I think this yarn is great for socks, it is super durable and comes in great colors.  I think my grandma is really going to love the color, since they have some spots that are very Dodger blue.  Another present off the needles and it is only August! Hopefully this year will be much less stressful. 

Spunday (just one day late) 7/20/14

With just one week left of Tour de Fleece I don't think I will be able to finish spinning and plying my current fiber.  When I first realized this, I was a little disappointed.  Last year I was able to spin and ply 4oz and I was pretty much a newbie at it.  It wasn't until after I looked at the little bit of leftover yarn from last year's skein that I had that "duh" moment.  Of course it will take me longer, I am able to spin much finer compared to last year.  

Jess's Tour de Fleece yarn from 2013-Gale's Art Corriedale

I finished my first single during the week and wound it on my toilet paper bobbin.  I doubled it over on itself so I could get an idea of how the yarn will look when I ply it and I think it might end up being a fingering weight, maybe even a light fingering weight.  It's neat to look back at the 3 other skeins I spun and see how my consistency keeps getting better.  The Knitmore Girls had talked about how every time you spin fiber and make a skein of yarn, it should be your favorite that you have spun.  Every time I spin, I learn something new and I improve compared to the skein before it.  I am really enjoying sitting in my rocking chair, spinning on my spindle, knowing that after I am finished, I will be able to knit with it and enjoy it all over again.

This weekend, I didn't get to spin as much as I would have liked.  Friday & Saturday were spent re-organizing the entire kitchen and creating a little coffee bar out of my Nana's old bookcase.  

Jess's coffee bar

I did spin one color change and part of another so there is some progress.

Hopefully I can get in more spinning time during my lunches and breaks this week.

I am amazed that I have been spinning at all. Between getting my house ready to put on the market and packing to move to the new house I have been BUSY.  Spinning has been a good stress relief for me, so I am glad that I have been able to keep up with it.  I have a few finished yarns to share.  I have one more plied up yarn that is still on the bobbin that will just have to wait until next week.

First I wanted to show how my Into the Whirled Polwarth looked like off the bobbin.
So this is the pic that I shared last time:

This is what it looks like after it has been soaked and snapped

Next I spun up my first 3 ply, this is Knitting Knorth 100% BFL in blues and purples

So far this Tour I have spun up all the fibers that I had planned to spin, and one extra braid. I also made sure that my fiber stash is completely up to date on Ravelry (I had to add 5 fibers....).  So now I just need to finish the yarn I plied yesterday and start something new tomorrow. I am not sure that I will have any more FOs for the Tour, but I am proud of how much I have achieved.

Spunday TdF Edition 7/13/14

How is everyone doing for Tour de Fleece?  This week was a challenge for me.  There was a night where I didn't get to spin much and 2 days that I didn't spin at all.  I am still on my first single, but almost at the end.

Shadawyn Fiber Arts Merino Silk 80/20 Severus Snape

I am really enjoying this blend and would definitely like to spin more of it after I am done with this braid.

So I finished up the braid that I started with this Tour de Fleece, the Into the Whirled Polwarth. It is still on the niddy noddy and I don't have a pic of that, but here is the plied yarn on the bobbin.

I ended up with 522 yards in a light fingering to fingering weight yarn! That is by far the most yardage I have ever gotten from one braid. This braid was 4.3 ounces to start so that helped. I was able to spin it so thinly. I am eager to knit up a big shawl with this braid.

I also spun up and plied my punis that I got at Maryland Sheep and Wool this year.  

Punis are very different to spin up then braids, but I enjoyed it. It was interesting to spin up so many different fibers at once too.  The punis totalled about 1 ounce, so I ended up with 62 yards of a DK to Worsted weight yarn.

Lastly, I started spinning up a braid that Jess gave me for my birthday.  It is Knitting Knorth 100% BFL in blues and purples. I split this braid into 3 pieces and am going to attempt a traditional three ply, which I have never done before.  Here is the first bobbin

Spunday 7/6/14 TdF Edition

Yesterday was the start of Tour de Fleece and everyone is off to a great start!  I am loving seeing everyone's photos on Instagram and in our group.  Keep it up!  

I had a busy start to my day yesterday so I didn't make much progress on Day 1.  I definitely made up for it today!  I spun for a couple of hours and am almost half done with my first single.  I am so pleased with how I am able to control the colors while spinning.  The fiber I'm working with is soft and real easy to spin.  I'm staying consistent and the yarn is pretty thin.  I am hoping by the end of this I will have enough to make a shawl.  The only issue I am finding is the black dye keeps rubbing off onto my fingers.  At first I thought it was from the heat and my hands since I was spinning outside at the time.  Later, after being in the central air and my hands were no longer sweaty, it was still staining them.  Now the dye from my fingers is staining the shaft of my spindle.  I just hope that most of the color stays after it's bath.  

Shadawyn Fiber Arts Merino Silk 80/20-Severus Snape

Yesterday I was really productive with my spinning.  I just got going, and it was so hard to stop. I managed to spin half a braid yesterday!  

Into the Whirled - 100% Polwarth "Godswood"

I bought  this fiber at Maryland Sheep and Wool this year so it is nice that I am already spinning it up.  The colors range from a light blue, to a deep green, a deep purple, and a deep wine color.  I think it will be gorgeous once it is all plied up.  I am managing to spin it pretty thinly so I think I should get a good amount of yardage from it.  I will be turning this braid in for the final round of Quidditch this term too. I love when something I was going to do anyway, spin for Tour de Fleece, can be used for the House Cup. 

Today I actually did some chores around the house and ran a few errands so I only spun for about an hour.  I am aiming to finish up the braid tomorrow and hopefully ply it up on Tuesday. Keep spinning everyone!