Mountain Sunset Scarf2

Well, I was going to take a picture of my scarf tonight, to show how much further along I am. I think its too late to take pictures right now. I did knit 3 1/2 inches on my scarf today though. So if my calculations are correct, I should have 16 1/2 inches. I just measured to be sure and I have 16 5/8 inches;................okay so I was 1/8 of an inch off. LOL Hopefully tomorrow I'll get more knitting done on this scarf. I will take a picture tomorrow of my progress on this scarf.

I also spun more Australian Bond Somemore Batts today, and started plying up another 2 ply lace weight skein. I almost had that skein all plied up, but had to stop to cook dinner. I hope tomorrow to finish plying up this skein, wind it off and then wash it.

Mountain Sunset Scarf1

Mountain Sunset Scarf1, a photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/38484177@N04/ on Flickr.

Last night after I posted, I went back to knitting and continued knitting through the GOP Debate.

Then first thing this morning I started knitting again. I started around 6:30 am and stopped knitting around 8:12 am. When I stopped knitting this morning I was at row 108 after 4 days of knitting.

Then tonight I went back to knitting on this scarf again. Today I've knit another 5 inches, so in 3 days I've knit 13 inches. I'm stopped for the night at row 123.

Mountain Sunset Scarf

Mountain Sunset Scarf, a photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/38484177@N04/ on Flickr.

Since starting this scarf on Tuesday night, I've come along way. The green marker represents what I knit yesterday and Tuesday night when I first started on this scarf. Today I've knit from the marke up to where the needle is and that represents 32 rows, from this morning to now. I only stopped knitting to take this picture and blog a little about it.

When I first started this scarf I wanted something that was a no brainer pattern. One that I'd memorize and wouldn't need a pattern to follow. I remembered knitting a baby blanket years ago for my ex-sister-in-law when she was pregnant with her second daughter, and how easy that pattern was to remember. I no longer had that pattern but I remembered it was similar to the Old Shale, or Feather and Fan stitch.

So without further ado, here's the beginning of my take on both of these patterns.

Mountain Sunset Scarf

Mountain Sunset Colonial Merino Lace Singles, a photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/38484177@N04/ on Flickr.

This yarn was spun up on my top whorl drop spindle back in March of year. I left it as singles for knitting lace scarves or shawls.

Today I decided to use this skein (487 yds 64 grams), to knit up a lace scarf.

So far I have 10 rows knitted on it, which I know is not much. However, I hope to get a few more rows done before bedtime tonight.

I know I will get a lot more knitted on it tomorrow, while my husband Tony is in his Pre-Op Class and Testing. Tony's having neck surgery on August 24th. I want something to work on that's portable and a easy pattern that I can remember without bringing a clipboard, pattern and pen to mark off rows.

Somemore's Waving Ribbon Socks Drying on the line

After washing them in Eucalan Lavender Wool Wash yeseterday, I hung them up in my shower to drip most of the water out. Later I decided that I'd hang them outside on the rope I dry my rovings on. It was 86F yesterday and so they dried fairly fast. I kept coming outside to check and see how they were drying. Around 4:30 pm I took them off the line and tried them on my feet and yes they now fit prefectly. These socks felt wonderful on my feet and I just know that my feet will be toasty warm this winter.

Somemore's Waving Ribbon Socks finished

I finished the socks this morning, then washed them by hand and having the hanging out to dry. I will post pictures of them later when they are nice and dry. I did try them on before washing and found them to be a little loose on my feet. This will probably go away after washing and drying them. Since this is the first time, I've ever spun a 3 ply yarn from fleece and knitted socks from I found it to be quite enjoyable. I know my feet will be warm and happy this winter.

Now I just need to finish spinning up the remaining batts into 2 ply lace weight yarn. I've begun warping some of my handspun 2 ply lace weight yarn onto my warping board. I have 1 warp finished which has 121 threads in it and I've started winding for a second warp. I haven't quite decided on a weaving pattern. Although, I have thought about an 8 stitch Rosepath pattern, stilling deciding though.

Somemore's Waving Ribbing Socks

This is day 7 of knitting on "Somemore's Waving Ribbing Socks" I have 5 more rows to knit on the foot and then I'll start taking off for the toes. This is only the first sock of course and I still have the mate to knit up. I'm about half way through my skein of Handspun Somemore's Beige/Brown Australian Bond 3 ply sock yarn. This skein had 269.5 yards, 3 1/3 oz or 86 grams originally and by the looks of my skein and sock, I think I've used about half of the skein already. No way of really telling until I finish this sock and rewind the skein to see how many yards/oz/grams are left. It will give me an idea of how much yarn I'll need to knit the mate.

Normally I'd have 1 sock finished and the mate about half way finished. But I've been knitting on other things as well as spinning up more yarn.

Somemore's Ostrich Plumes Scarf

This scarf was started on June 8th, with my very first skein from Somemore's 4.4 lb 1/2 fleece. This skein had 372. 5 yards in it and weight 2 3/4 oz or 78 grams. I had a very small amount left over from this skein.

This picture was taken on June 14th, when I have roughly 15 inches knitted on it. I knitted on this scarf not only at home but in Dr's offices when waiting on my husband and while he was in surgery to remove skin cancer. It helped me to have something to do.

Yesterday I finished knitting the last 6 rows of seed stitch and then wove in the ends, washed and blocked it. I knitted a total of 11 repeats of the Ostrich Plumes pattern. This scarf is 52 3/4 inches long and 8 inches wide. The natural color of the yarn really give the Ostrich Plumes pattern a nice look. This scarf drapes really well and the softness of the Australian Bond wool feels nice around the neck.

My Fourth skein, etc.

This is my fourth skein from Somemore's Fleece. I talked about this skein in my last blog post. I took this picture today on my bed since taking the picture outside is definitely out. Its too overcast outside and threatening to pour any minute. This skein has 405 yards, 2 7/8 ounces, 80 grams, 17 wpi. To date this skein is the my largest skein.
This picture is of my first project from Somemore's Fleece. I am using my first spun skein from Somemore's Fleece to knit this Scarf. The pattern I chose is the {Ostrich Plumes Scarf by Tony Sutton}. I call my scarf "Somemore's Ostrich Plumes Scarf". I have to give Somemore the credit for this scarf. LOL

Ti says, "that's a lot of Batts in that bucket mom". I don't know exactly what the size of this bucket is but its holding 25 batts that I have carded so far from Somemore's fleece. This doesn't count the batts that I have spun up in the 4 skeins, I've spun so far. I have more fleece that I washed today that I'll card up tomorrow. This doesn't count the fleece that I still have left in my bag to wash (which is a little less the half a bag). I did spin up 3 batts today so I'm down to only having 22 batts in this bucket.

All dry and ready for a label

Well, I rewound skein number 4 today and I couldn't believe my eyes;..........this skein actually weights a little more then my other 3 skeins and has more yardage to boot.


405 yards
2 7/8 oz
80 grams
17 wpi

I am very pleased with this yardage as I have never came close to this before with any of the skeins that I've spun over the years. I've had 300 and up but not 405 yards. My bobbin was so full that there was know way of getting any more yarn on it. I was trying very hard to get as much on my bobbin without it spilling over and getting tangled on oriface; and I did it. LOL

I didn't get to take a picture of this skein today as its raining very hard out and when I use a flash it washes out my picture. So since I have taken several pictures already of my yarn in the past, I figured that you didn't need to see what it looked like again. However, once the weather turns nice again I'll take a picture of it and post if everyone wants to see it anyway's.

I'm still knitting on my {Ostrich Plumes Scarf} and this morning I measured what I have knitted and I now have 9 1/4 inches knitted. I pretty much have this pattern down in my head now and really only need my notes to check on when I reach row 20. This is so that I can keep track of where to offset the second half of the pattern.

Skein #4 is done and now drying

I finished plying up skein #4 today, then washed it and hung it to dry. I washed more fleece again today and carded up yesterday's washed fleece. My bucket is filled with carded batts and is now starting to spill over the sides of the bucket (the bucket isn't very big). The bucket hold 6 carded batts without spilling over and I think I have 7 maybe 9 batts over and above that. I can't seem to spin fast enough to keep up. Before I start spinning tomorrow I'll card up today's washed fleece and then I'll have 6 more batts to add to that pile. LOL Plus I will wash more fleece tomorrow as well. I think I spin up 3 to 4 batts a day, sometimes 5. I'm having way too much fun with the whole process.

I've taken my first skein of yarn and started knitting up a scarf using the {Ostrich Plumes} pattern. I've knit 7 inches in 2 days. LOL

Knitting at the crack of dawn

I couldn't sleep this morning so I got up and went downstairs and started knitting around 5:20 AM on my red and white shawl. I'm not exactly sure just how many rows I knitted in 1 hour and 39 minutes but I now have 164 stitches on this shawl. The hearts on this shawl are really starting to make the shawl look nice. I find myself adding more hearts 2 rows after I finished a complete heart. The hearts are spaced fairly evenly over the shawl. I even have some interlocking hearts added in.

After I finished 1 hour and 39 minutes of knitting on this shawl I stopped to fix myself some breakfast, fold some laundry, and wash the dishes. Then I started in knitting on my Frankenstein Clown Socks. I now have the heel finished on the mate and have started working on the leg of the sock. I sat and knitted on these for 1 hour and 40 minutes. I completed 35 rows on this sock during this time.

Now that its 9:33 AM I need to put another load into the washer, make the bed (now that hubby is up), put the dishes away, then head off to the bank. Once I'm finished with the bank hubby wants to go and get his hair cut, get the oil changed on the car, pick up 2 new kennels at Petco for 2 of our dogs (the kennels they are sleeping in are just too small for them now), then go over to Wal-mart to look for 2 lamps (for our bedroom). After that, when we get home I can sit at my spinning wheel and spin up some more yarn, and weave on my weaving loom.

I know that I will be tired come 9:00 PM tonight! Well, I sure hope so anyway's.

Merry Christmas from Spinning Ginny's

I would love to take this time to wish all my friends and Customers a very Merry Christmas. I've had a wonderful time these past 5 years knitting on socks, shawls, scarves, spinning up wool into yarn, weaving scarves, and making goats milk soap. I hope to continue doing these items for you all for a long time to come. Thank you again for being great friends and customers.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Ginny

Lap Dog, Knitting and watching old Addams Family reruns

This morning after I set up my computer to watch some old Addams Family re-runs and knit on the mate to my hubby's socks that I'm knitting him for Christmas. Then up in my lap my dog Sue-chi jumps and gets all comfy. She's never laid in my lap while I've knitted before, so this was a first.

The Addams family tv show that I was watching was about Grandma learning to paint from a Sam Piccasso. While watching this show Sue-chi was snoring away in my lap and my knitting needles were clicking away. I am almost ready to start the gusset on this sock, I only need to knit 20 more rows.

Ti one of my other dogs likes to sleep in my lap as well as Sue-chi but he doesn't like me to be knitting as the yarn tickles him. Well, now that Season 1 Episode 14 of the Addams family is over its time to watch Episode 15. Have to wake the sleeping princess though to change the disk.

Snowy Night Gansey Stocking3

Day 3: Dispite the fact that my blood sugar dropped to 90 (low but in the normal range) and making me very tired. I managed to finish this Stocking today and start on another one in cherry red. The one I just finished was in a Paddy Green color for my husband and this new one in cherry red will be mine.

These stockings are bigger then normal stockings due to the Red Heart Super Saver Worsted Weight yarn I used. I'm sure that if I had used a different Worsted weight yarn they might have been the size the pattern says they should be. But I don't really mind and neither does my husband. He's tickled to death that I made him something. I don't get around to doing that very often. So busy making items for my website that he sort of gets neglected in the hand knitted or the handmade department.

Snowy Night Gansey Stocking2

Day 2: Hubby had a Dentist appointment this morning so I brought my knitting with me. I sat there knitting on this Stocking while he was getting his broken tooth looked at. I managed to get the Snow Flake pattern (2nd pattern), finished and started on the next pattern before hubby was finished. Then we drove to the bank and from there to make dog grooming appointments. Once that was done we came home and I went back to knitting.

I sat knitting on this stocking the rest of the day. I was able to finish up the last 2 remaining patterns on the leg and start on the heel flap. Once I finished up the heel flap I then started on the heel turn and gusset. When I finished up the gusset I measured from the heel flap to where I was and found I still needed 2 1/2 more inches to knit. I then continued knitting until 8:20 pm when I stopped for the night. I won't be knitting for the next 2 days as we need to pack up more boxes for our move back home. However, come Monday I'll be back to knitting on them again. I hope to finish this stocking on Monday. Then I can knit up another one.

Snowy Night Gansey Stocking

Day 1: Knitted a swatch first with red heart super saver #0368 Paddy Green, using size 7 dpn's. My guage was not right so had to move up to size 8 dpn's. Once I had the guage right I cast on the 72 stitches needed to knit this stocking. Then I knit the 10 rows for the cuff and once that was finished I started following the chart. Before heading to bed I will have the first 13 rows of the leg finished. Tomorrow I'll have the whole day to work on this stocking and hope to get lots done on it.

Finished 2 Lighthouse Dish Cloths

Yesterday I started on the first Lighthouse Dish Cloth and finished it up this morning. Then because I still had enough yarn I started and finished up a second one. These Dish Cloths knit up fast for me and so now that I have 2 finished, I can make up the labels for them and add them to my website. They will have to be packed up with the rest of my website items for our move back home to MA, but that's okay.

I only need to knit up 10 more of these Dish Cloths, but they will have to wait while I knit up other items too.

Knitting on Lighthouse Dish Cloth

Yesterday after finishing my 4th pair of socks this month, I decided to start knitting this Lighthouse Dish Cloth. I managed to get the Dish Cloth almost finished before going to bed last night. Then this morning I finished it up and decided to start on a second one. I'm using Peaches n Cream Light Blue Worsted Weight 100% Cotton Yarn, with size 7 circular knitting needles. The pattern was written by Rhonda K. White. I love knitting her Dish Cloth Patterns. They are really easy to follow along while knitting.

Tic Tac Toe Up Socks4

Tic Tac Toe Up Socks4
Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/38484177@N04/

Wooohoooo, I finished my Tic Tac Toe-up Socks today. I stopped packing long enough to finish this pair of socks. I just love this pattern. Yah, it wasn't as simple to memorize as the Diagonal Lace Socks or the Dead Simple Lace Socks. However, it was really fun to knit the X's and O's in these socks.

I did make a simple mistake in the mate this afternoon, but I fixed it and went on. The mistake was do to my not paying attention to the pattern as well as paying attention to my knitting.

I love knitting with Lorna's Lace Sock yarn and will definitely be ordering more to knit up socks with. There's lovely solids, multicolors and striping. I can't wait to try more of these yarns!