No photos today, but updates and "Zebra Stripe Gum"

Okay, no pics today. Sorry.

1. Finished Hannah's slippers- felted and currently drying. I'll snap a photo of those before they're off to live with her.

2. Started spinning the Brown Sheep mill ends roving. Not sure if I'm loving it yet, but the second bobbin-full came out more even than the first. I Andean plyed the first bobbin, which was kind of a bust (as in "almost broke my flipping-off-finger in the process" kind of bust) in which I had to do half-at-a-time because my bobbin was FULL. Yeah, well, it's plyed. Not exactly pretty, but for a first attempt at a new technique, I learned a lot! The second bobbin will be spun from a center-pull-ball instead, producing (hopefully) smoother 2-ply yarn.

3. Super-Secret-Mystery dying/spinning project in progress. Let's just say 4 oz. of superwash merino has been begging to be dyed. Leftover Easter Egg dyes were involved. Dh's reaction contained the words "Zebra Stripe Gum," and it's drying now so I can't start spinning yet. :sigh: Probably once I get back from Chicago later this week, as I doubt it'll be dry before we leave tomorrow.

(Leaving y'all in suspense! Mmmmwwaaaahhhhhaaahhhaaa!!!)

Finished "Burrow" Socks

Both socks DONE!
On the needles next- I have a pair of socks using the leftovers from Sarah's Socks (below) and some Wildfoote in solid turquoise, just to use up some scraps. I have tons of other things I could work on (like that raglan- yeah, I forgot about that for a while!) while I wait for the Kauni I ordered. (Still stuck in customs-limbo...)

Feels SO GOOD to be able to finish up some projects without having them "linger," KWIM? Maybe I'll spin up some of the Brown Sheep mill-ends tomorrow. We'll see what kind of mood I'm in tomorrow morning! Gotta love Winter Break!

"The Burrow" Sock #1 Complete!

First sock knit from my handspun, Navajo plied "The Burrow" fiber from Spiffy Knits. Knit on Clover DPN's size 2, using Fleegle's pattern modified for a 2x2 rib on top of foot and up leg. Fits like a GLOVE and is currently drying on my new sock blocker from The Loopy Ewe.
These are pretty rugged socks! I can't WAIT to wear them with my Birki's, even in the dead of winter my feet will stay warm!

Alas, no action shot, but here debuts "Rona!"

Up first, fresh off the needles, is "Rona- Blob stage."
Full shot- blocking
Center Detail
Edge Detail
The giftee was my sister, Nikki, who gifted one of her first knitting projects (a striped purse for our Mom) this year. I completely forgot to get an action shot, but lets just say I think she was happy and maybe even suprised! (Considering about 18 months ago I sent her the link to the Zephyr colorcard and told her to "pick a color." She picked this, Elderberry, and Fuchia, which I *knew* I couldn't knit with for that long (without color-induced migraines!) so Elderberry it is!)

Specs: Yarn- Laceweight Jaggerspun Zephyr, colorway Elderberry, approximately 100 grams. Pattern, "Rona Shawl" from KnitPicks. Knit on DPN's and Circ's, Clover Bamboo size 3. Started in January 2007, finished December 2007, but marinated for long periods of time while I knit plenty of other FO's! Those last dozen-rounds are KILLLER, each round taking a good 90 minutes!

Still can't show you the F.O., but...

(Just a couple more days, and I might even get an 'action shot' of it with it's new owner!)

I *can* show you the socks I finished (in the nick-of-time, literally!) for our school's Media Specialist, Sarah.

Sarah always comments on my hand-knit socks, and for a couple of years now has bugged me to teach her how to knit. I'd be more than happy to, but she (like me) is always busy, and had decided back in October or Novemeber that she was going to put that idea on the backburner, and threw out the "how much would you charge to knit a pair if I bought the yarn...????" question we all hate to hear. (A fair wage for the number of hours spent? A small stipend on top of the yarn cost which is WAY more than most non-knitters expect? Not an easy question, especially when dealing with friends and co-workers.)

So, what did I do? Suprised her with a pair for herself. Her daughter was so impressed she now wants her mom to learn how so SHE can have a pair. I guess she'll learn how to knit anyway! LOL!

Behold: Sarah's Socks:
Specs: Yarn-OnLine Supersocke 100 Tropic Color, pattern by Fleegle. Completed and photographed at my desk on Wednesday, 5 minutes before Sarah came in for her afternoon shift. Instead of wrapping, I just cut a length of leftover yarn, balled up the socks, and tied a bow. Complete with a "Post It" note To/From tag. LOL!

What's up next?!
Tonight- I shall finish the second Convertable mitten, as it's been marinating too long.
(ETA: FINISHED!)

Then- Emily's friend came for a sleepover last weekend and requested a pair of slippers, so it's another pair of FiberTrends Clogs- Bright green & purple! I'm thinking of reversing the colorway to make a mis-matched-but-coordinating set, as that's just the kind of funky girl Hannah is! LOL

One More F.O.!!!

But I can't post pictures!

(Because it's a gift, and I'm not going to give away the suprise! But, if you're on Ravelry, I'm asemumma- look for my most recent finished project!)

First attempt at Navajo Plying! ("The Burrow" Part Deux!)

Here's half of the fiber spun super-fine on my Ashford. (Quarter for scale)
Navajo Plied on bobbin- a little over-plied and the irregularites in the singles are kind of amplified by this method of plying, but I think it's pretty good for my first try at a new technique!
Just for a little more eye-candy- on the winder (see all of the lovely color variations? LOVE how Navajo plying keeps the color sequences intact but still blends them well!)
And finally- skeined. (Once I spin the second half I'll soak and smack to set the twist!)

Teaser for later...

Imagine for a minute what I could do with this...
When I get home and can take some decent pics of my own... you'll see! Mmmwwhhaaahaaaa!

***Thanks to Colleen from "Spiffy Knits" (part of the "Tiny Lady Cooperative" group) for letting me steal your "pre-spun" photo! Stupid me forgot to photograph it before I dove right in there! LOL!

One Convertible Mitten Done!

Problem is, it's too big! Well, it "fits," but it's too wide. Even though I got gague for this project, it's pretty obvious that this convertible mitten is too wide. Considering it's 100% cashmere, I'm leary of trying to felt it down a little for fear of ruining it completely. Now, I need to decide if I

a. Frog it and re-knit (probably not going to happen)
b. Knit its mate and deal with it (likely)
c. Knit its mate and gift them to someone with larger hands. (Although the thumb might be too short for someone else... while I didn't get width gague, the thumb (knitted to the pattern) is almost too short for ME! Of course, I could always rip that back a bit and knit it longer...)

Decisions, decisions!