Where has all the time gone?

Oh my gosh, here it is, a week later, and I have hardly anything to report! I started the slipper as promised, but after almost finishing, I realized I had a few problems going....

The are reasons why this was looking so hugh. 1). I was using size 13 needles, not 11. The gauge was close, and as I was going to felt these, gauga often means nothing to a felter. At the time, I think this was the only pair I could find that was larger then a 5. For some reason all my circular needles were/are hiding from me. Maybe the cats are taking them to play with....heck, they play with a lot of my "tos". Darn cats!!!

I digress.

The second reason these are so hugh is that I was using 2 strands instead of just one. In my brain, it made sense, as I've done felting with one strand and two-strand projects. I think I was trying for a thicker overalll affect. I am about 10cm from finishing the first slipper, when I realized my problems. This has stalled out my progress. I don't kow what to do- proceed as I was and see what happens, or just undo and make as instructed? I have plenty of examples where I altered a pattern in some small way and the end result wasn't quite what I hoped. I am a little gun shy this time(which is kind of funny considering how much of this wool I have on hand, and even if this doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world....or IS it?).

I must admit, I have also been kind of pre-occupied with spinning lately. I have some wool I am in the process of spinning up so I can try dying it another color. I am much more excited at this prospect right now. It's kind of a brownish-white blended roving I got from SheepShack. I want to try overdying it with some red wilton's dye. But now as I think about it, I have some grey wool (same source) that is just about all spun up- most of it done in a 2-ply. Still have a few singles that need to be plied up, but wouldn't take long. I could go home and finish this first, then try overdying with some green Wilton's. I don't know if it will take the dye much, but it might be fun to see what I get.......hmmm the mind is already spinning off in that direction.......

Toeses still freezing...

Progress is slow on my new slippers. I have started them, am about 1/3 done with first one, but let me tell you, this is huge! I will knit one, then felt it up to see how it goes. If everything works out ok, I'll knit the second one. If not.... either way, Ill post before/after picture so you get an idea of how it looks.

I received my Christmas gift from BIL, and all I can say is " WOW "! 3lbs of Alpaca, in a beautiful russet brown. I am surpised how little this stuff smells(actually it smells clean but is still pretty dirty). I thought it would have an "earthier" smell to it, but not bad at all. I did pull some out to play with a little, but I want to clean it up before doing too much with it. I will try an wash the stuff this weakend. Too bad it's not spring/summer, the stuff would dry quick and easy, but the way it is around here, it's taking a little bit of time to get things to dry out. Oh well, good things come to those who wait. I can wait a little longer if it means really good alpaca!

Cold Toesies

Well, I found my first project of the year. As I was walking around the house the other day, I thought something was stuck to the bottom of my slipper. When I went to remove whatever the clump was, I found it was a part of the slipper itself. The sole was falling apart. When I spin, I kick off my right slipper, so I can feel the wheel better. I would often walk around the house with just the left foot on, so I must have managed to wear that slipper down faster then the right one. Drats! I found a cute slipper to try. It looks simple, warm, and practical. I have plenty of wool in my stash that would work great for this....(think big box of NewZealand Wool in corner of sewing room...ebay gone awry).

I have some aegen blue yarn that work great for this.

After that, don't know. I got some great dk brownish-grey yarn from friends for Christmas, I think from their recent trip to Ireland. It's a little bulkier then I've used in awhile. I am scouring the internet, looking for ideas of what to do with it. Nothing decided yet. Also received some great dk yarn from another friend, that's a greenish-black sock yarn. I don't know for sure howe much I have, but it sure looked like a lot of skeins ( I just didn't get around to counting it yet). I want to find a feminine styled sweater to wear at the office. This year I want to wear more dresses to work. Last year I wore a dress/skirt onve, so it won't take much to achieve this goal....I've been feeling like dresses lately (until I go outside into the cold, then think maybe it's not such a great idea), so I want something for the office. It may be time to head on a field trip to the fabric store...just me and my yarn. Sigh!

And so it begins....

Merry Christmas!

Another year has gone, and now we prepare for the New Year. 2007. I hope to fill the year with lots of fiber projects. I can't seem to find enough time in the day to play with the fibers- yarns, roving, materials.... especially with 2 daughters, ages 3 &7. Many times it's late in the night when I finally find some time (and energy) to play with my stuff. This is the gift I give to myself this year. Time for my "stuff".

Current projects...do I have anything at this time? Let me see, there's the baby blanket I started for some friends a few years ago, but for one reason or another, it was never finished, but now I have a different recipient in mind, and think it will do well to go home with them when it's done. I will dig this out, and see if I can post some pictures of it. I also have some wool I received for Christmas from dear friends, and want to do something good with it. It's a little on the bulky side, but I think it would make up into a sweater/coat, or thick sweater. The color is a natural dark brownish grey, and I'm wondering if it might be better to dye this another color. Something with more brighter, or rosier. I'm still thinking.

I also have some roving I am trying to find a good sweater pattern for. It was some roving I bought and have spun up (mostly by spindle), I love the look and feel, just looking for the right project for it....looking.

Welcome
A new year, a new resolution. Come on, let's all chant together...Bust That Stash! Bust That Stash! Bust That Stash!

I have a whole room in my home devoted to my crafts- sewing, knitting, crochet, spinning. I need to down-size the stash some, it's a small house, and my 2 girls are growing...we need some room. This year, I want to use up before buying. Ok, realistically, that won't happen, but I can try to use one from stash before buying.....right (hey, a girl has to have her dreams)? Also, want to check local schools to see if they have some kind of sewing program, where they might be interested in a donation of fabric...like 8 boxes of fabric. I tried several years ago to donate fabric, and was amazed how hard it is to find group/organizations that would be interested in it.

I know I have some yarns in my stash I won't use. I need to try and weed those out and help them to find a new home. Maybe I'll make a list, check it twice, look to see what naughty and nice...then put them all up for adoptions to new homes....that's an idea worth looking into. Hmmmmm.