Progress on several fronts

It seems progress is being made all over! Labor Day weekend, indeed!

First up, we've got some socks that indeed are rocking. I'm officially part of the I Heart Jaywalker fan club and the I Heart STR fan club as well. Never was there a more perfect pair than this yarn and this pattern. Just look!


Socks that Rock in "Fire on the Mountain"

But seeing the sock colorway seems awfully familiar... maybe a little enchanted?


Psychedelic grotto at the Enchanted Forest

Hmm. Maybe the fire is in the mind of the artist? It's pretty darn colorful. I think they should re-name it "Eugene" because of the tye-dye colorways. Eh, oh well. These socks aren't without problems, however. My short-row heel was a little holey, so I gussied it up with a few quick chain-stitches to close it up. Then I continued on with the same number of stitches as the foot instep had. Bad choice. While my feet and ankles are narrow, the area around them- the whole circumfrence of my ankle/instep/heel portion of my foot is not. What does that mean? Jaywalkers that don't go on quite well. Okay, it's a two-handed struggle. Now that I'm farther in, it's increasingly apparent that I may have to frog all the way back and add in stitches. I am reticent to do this for two reasons. One, the socks fit great once they are on. Two, who wants to frog back when they are so close to being done? Ugh. Choices.

Spinning Roving Swap FAQ

1)How long have you been spinning?
I've been spinning since only this summer. I don't do it as often as I'd like to- knitting tends to take up most of my crafting time.

2) Are you a beginner, novice or experienced spinner?
I am a beginner spinner! My handspun is slow-going, uneven and never perfectly spun. But practice makes perfect, or so I'm told. We'll see.

3) Do you spin on a drop spindle or wheel, or both?
I currently covet a wheel, but my finances have left me with an Ashford top-whorl. However, it's quite nice and I'm happy with it, for the time being.

4) What types and weights of drop spindles (or what type of spinning wheel(s) ) do you currently own?
Again, Ashford top-whorl spindle. It's pretty substantial, so I'm guessing it's a heavier weight.

5) What type of fibers have you spun with before?
Hee. Here's the thing. It's the $12/ball stuff from the LYS. There isn't really a well-posted sign for what it is. I think it's a merino blend. It's really soft. I love, love, love it. I'm still working on the ball I bought, so it's the only thing I've ever used. And it's still undyed! I may buy another ball this week and dye it just so there's something else to see when I spin.

6) What fibers do you prefer to spin with?
Wool, I guess. I've never used anything else. But I hear silk is alternately "hard" or "easy" depending on the spinner. It sounds really neat to try. I'd love to try different breeds of sheep, especially the Blue Faced Leceister (sp?) that everyone goes on and on about.

7) What fibers do you dislike?
I don't really dislike any fibers so far. Anything scratchy, I guess. Or unprocessed- I don't have any way of cleaning unprocessed wool.

8) Do you prefer natural colored fibers, or handpainted/dyed fiber?
I love handpainted or handdyed fiber! It's so pretty and unique. I love color!

9) Would you prefer all one type of roving or smaller amounts of different types to sample?
I think I'd prefer all one type. That way I can make a project out of it. A bunch of little things might get lost or frustrate me- just when I figured it out, it's all gone!

10) What are you favorite colors?
Blue first! Anything blue. Then the "cool color" spectrum- greens, purples, etc. Red, pink and white from the warm color spectrum.

11) What colors do you dislike?
Neon, halloween orange. Especially when placed next to that one neon yellow-green color. The season is coming up, and it's killing me seeing all that orange and green.

12) What would you like to do with your handspun yarn, or what do you plan to do with it?

I'd love to be able to spin for some type of accessory- socks, mittens, scarves. Maybe something I could wear for the graveyard shifts coming up this year at work? To remind me at four AM that I can spin something really, really cool and really, really warm just when I need it. And then brag about it to anyone nearby.

13) What spinning projects are you currently working on?
Again, just learning the ropes here. I'm attempting to see how thin and how even I can make a yarn. Maybe somewhere around a fingering weight. I'd love to be able to spin laceweight.

14) Do you have a wishlist?
I'm sure it's too long for this blog! I'd love a spindle that offers a different capability than my current one- a lighter one, a different hook, etc. And more fiber!

15) What are your other favorite hobbies?
Just spinning and knitting. The two cost enough already. I tried beading, but it didn't work out. Do you need some beads? I don't, and they are just sitting there.

16) Do you have any allergies (pet, smoke, food, fiber,etc...)?
I detest cigarette smoke, but it's not an allergy thing. No specific (or known!) allergies here. Hooray for easy shopping!

17) What is your preferred shipping method (USPS, UPS, FedEx)?
Any way it gets to me is fine. My mailbox is big enough for a parcel box, and the UPS man and FedEx man have found their way to my house just fine.