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It’s vanilla, not really all that exciting to look at, but I just get the biggest kick out of:

How this:

Becomes this:

And then this:

In the process of becoming yarn…which then becomes something to wear - or maybe hold projects like the felted bowl. (Kitty pi that never has ended up with a kitty-filling…makes a good yarn bowl though.)

The brown is from a local sheep, a longwool cross. It’s really kind of a cool looking, but might be kind of scratchy yarn, so may end up being used for Barbie things, soles for some felted clogs once I get more spun up - or other doll things.

The three vanilla (well four counting the lace weight) are very soft Corriedale. Next spinning session will be plying and then I’m probably going to dye them once they’re skeins. I’m trying to spin thicker than I normally do (haven’t counted wraps per inch, just kind of going by feel) and hoping for at least a DK weight final product for part of the batch. I’ll have to spin some more lace weight later to ply this single with and eventually want to use that for a shawl.

At least that’s my vague plan. Right now - truth to be told - I’m just having fun spinning. I actually began knitting (again) a couple years ago, because I was manufacturing so much yarn with my wheel, I had to DO SOMETHING with it. Of course, then that led to seeing what’s out there in the already manufactured yarn world, and oh boy - yarns had improved greatly in the past decade or two. So, while this is, for the moment, really just stash-enhancement, at least I have a vague idea of what I’ll be doing with it when I’ve got enough for a project. That’s progress…really it is.

Tags: spinning by EllyMae
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Well, it’s been a week of starts and restarts. I’m still “swatching” the ladybug hat, I guess.

I’m supposed to be knitting it at 8 stitches per inch. The bad news is - it’s looking like it’s around 10 and I will be ripping it out once again…think this will be the third or fourth time. The good news is - I have a pair of Profi size 4s in my needle case that I’ve been WISHING I could use for this project but thought they were too big. I like Magic Looping socks, hats, anything tubular, and the cable on the Profi’s is so well-behaved and doesn’t get kinked in spots like my Addi seems to be trying to do. So, that will be my next swatch.

Here’s the little mindless project I’ve been picking up and knitting while watching TV or talking - it’s the one from Scarf Style. Pattern was originally written for a cotton/rayon mixed yarn. Guess I’m seeing why with this ball of worsted wool from who-knows-where. It’s acting much more spiraly than I was hoping for. Don’t really think I have enough yarn to make it long enough either. So, I’ve learned a new technique. I like it. Will likely knit more of it and see how long this gets with what I have to use for it - and then some day do it in a yarn that is more similar to the suggested yarn.

(Click for big)

It’s hard to photograph black, you know…

I’m still plugging away on sock #2 for SSD (sweet stepdad). Should start to make some good progress on it now that I’m likely done with the ribbing. Need to compare it to it’s companion and see how close I am, and then it’s just generic stockinette until I get to the heel. My next pair of socks will be one of the patterns from Sensational Knitted Socks and, when I can justify the purchase, I’m getting the new book: More Sensational Knitted Socks. Now wasn’t that nice of Charlene Schurch to keep us supplied with more sensational patterns for our little sock addiction?

Tags: knitting for babies, scarf style, sock knitting by EllyMae
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I can’t find my Scarf Style book! I have combed my tiny little abode, checked every nook and cranny, left no stone unturned - OK….I don’t have all that many stones in my house, but I did up-end a few pieces of furniture…which then led to community demolition for a couple of industrious spiders. I have a strict arachnid rule: If I can’t see you (if you’re an arachnid), you may cohabitate with me. If I see you - not so much.

But I digress…

Scarf Style. One knitting book that, if I had the time and the yarn, I would probably knit almost every project in it. There are one or two that seem rather “huh?” but even those are interesting and I enjoy studying how they went together. So, anyway, since I only have a couple of projects going and a couple others planned….I suddenly had a yen to start another project from Scarf Style that I’ve been seeing FO’s for on the Scarfstyle blog as well as others. I turned to reach for my book and it is GONE. GONE! The only place I have not yet looked for it is the van, but I really do not remember having it in the vehicle. Sock knitting has occupied my hands whenever I’m riding in the van lately, so there would have been no need to bring it on a drive anywhere. Frankly, I’m starting to think it has gone on a snow vacation. You see….I noticed on Carol’s blog that her brown mittens have gone missing too. Perhaps my Scarf Style book swiped them on it’s way to some ski resort where they are now both sitting by a warm and cozy fire sipping chocolate and smiling smuggly to one another over the success of their scheme. OK…so Monk I’m not. I’ll keep looking.

**UPDATE: FOUND IT! I had it in a bag of stash. Found some yarn I forgot I had too! Yaaaay!

Tags: Life by EllyMae
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Well, she’s pretty-ugly not real pretty, and definitely has that “homespun” look, but she sure does do a GREAT job at keeping the tea warm and cozy… This was some yarn I spun from a couple of different sheep - one was soft and fluffy, and one was like a hair-shirt. So, since the hat that I originally made (from Homespun Handknit: Caps, Socks, Mittens & Gloves) from this yarn was too scratchy to actually wear, I decided to see if I could turn it into something else. I keep meaning to make a tea cozy, but, so far, haven’t started that project. Recently, while ruminating over the cold cup of tea I had just poured, I remembered the hairy hat…and steeks that I had just been reading about (for a much more densely knitted fabric, but the principle seemed like it could apply here too). I got to thinking about perhaps reinforcing a rectangular spot on this loosely knitted cap with the sewing machine - steek - cutting it up the back and then finishing the edge with some Cascade 220 (crochet) I had left over from another project. I did a square similarly for a “spout hole” on the opposite side and - there you have it: A rustic-looking tea cozy. So, now I’ve got “cozy tea” while I wait until I can finally find the perfect yarn and/or the perfect pattern to make myself a cozy for my pretty Portmerion pot. Or maybe I’ll just buy one.

Tags: Uncategorized by EllyMae
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I just love the process of spinning. I’m still fascinated how a tiny little clump of grease fleece can be washed, and then it becomes a giant fluffy cloud of clean carded fleece, and then once again reduced back down into a little bobbin full of yarn. I guess I’m easily entertained. I love spinning for many reasons, I like the end-product, of course, but when I spin, I think of the times my spinning mentor and I spent together while I was learning. I miss her. She passed away a year or so ago, and every time I card fiber, or start to spin on my wheel, it’s like I’m back there with her, and she’s coaching me, or smiling at my progress. My wheel had been sitting for a few months, and recently an online friend organized a virtual spinning “date” on Friday nights, so it helped me get back at it. I don’t always make it on a Friday night - but by Saturday afternoons or evenings, I’m usually back at the wheel. This is a cloud of Corriedale that I’ve had for a while. Corrie is so soft once it’s gone from grease to scoured, and it just spins up so obediently. I have some bunny fiber that a friend gave me. She used to raise angora rabbits, so she had some in her stash. I want to blend some of that with the next batch of Corriedale that I process.

Tags: spinning by EllyMae
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