by Kat | Jun 24, 2016 | General
The spinning this week continues. I have been working patiently though this gorgeous Targhee from Sheepspot Fiber Club.
This is a serious spin – as in counting treadles and lacing my flyer to get a nice lace-weight yarn – these things are not things I have done before for any project! I have half spun up and have half to go. This is such beautiful fiber – I have never spun Targhee and so this was a real treat! It has so much spring and the fiber drafts beautifully – practically by itself! Truly, this is drafting so easily, I am able to pull just a few fibers out at a time getting a nice fine single. I am using the 15:1 whorl on my Schacht Matchless, so I am putting a good bit of twist into the single. I love how my ply back sample looks and this is what I will be aiming for when I ply this up. This will bloom drastically in the wash so my goal is a light fingering weight, heavy lace weight and I think I will achieve it! Stay Tuned!
Friday Link Ups:
For the book lovers out there when a book appears in your vision, not once but three times in a week it is a message from the Book Gods! I heeded their call and have queued it up on my Kindle to read. I also finished Still Life and loved it! My bingo card is getting close to my first bingo! Summer reading FTW!
That’s all I have this week, have the Happiest of FriYAY’s! I will see you back here on Monday – and Tuesday there will be a special update on the Summer Knit Along that you won’t want to miss!
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by Kat | Jun 23, 2016 | General, In This Moment
The yuccas are blooming rather beautifully this year. And while I don’t really care for them, I cannot deny their beauty right now. And the ants are sure having a love affair with them!
But the garden is really amazing.
I harvested my first beans.
And the last of the rhubarb, which will shortly become Rhubarb Lavender Shrub. Thanks, Vicki for the great suggestion!
How’s your view today?
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by Kat | Jun 22, 2016 | General, Making
Wednesday’s are for knitting and reading, okay, perhaps every day is for knitting and reading! But, today Ginny is leading us all with her Yarn Along!
So, on to the knitting: I am making great progress on my Summer Knit Along list, I have finished Aestlight, and I would have a photo for you, but it is currently getting a nice soak and then it will be ready for a wee bit of blocking. Not too much, I do not want the garter stitch sections to lose their lovely squishy feel. I will have photos to share soon!
I also have completed clue three of Through the Loops Mystery shawl, clue four is out today and I am ready to go!
Also, I have picked out another item from the WIP Basket to knit, this is another mystery shawl, this time from Jen Lucas. While the shawl is no longer a ‘mystery’ – I am working through Chart C. I am on repeat 2 of 6. Then I just have Chart D, which has 3 repeats. I am getting to the point of having lots of stitches on my needles, and they are growing with each repeat. It feels like the knitting is slow, but I am making progress. It is perfect for knitting and listening to a good book, like Still Life by Louise Penny. I am really happy with the recommendation that Carole gave on the Inspector Gamache books, I am enjoying book one tremendously and look forward to reading more from this series.
I am also still reading Jo Nesbo’s The Redbreast – I am about a quarter of the way though and, as previous books in this series, I am thoroughly enjoying the antics of Harry Hole.
I have a little bit of gardening to get done this morning, then you will find me under the pergola knitting and reading. Have a great Wednesday everyone!
P.S. On a spinning note, Sheepspot Fiber Club is open today for new registrations, just sayin’! You can read about my experience as a member here.
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by Kat | Jun 21, 2016 | General, Words
It’s Tuesday and that means Carole wants to know:
10 Things to Do While Listening to an Audiobook
Well, I have been enjoying Audiobooks a tremendous amount. I don’t know about you, but for me there is just something amazing about getting things done and reading (listening to) a book as the same time!
So, here is the list of things I have recently accomplished while listening to Audiobooks:
- Laundry is really not so bad when you are listening to a great book!
- Knitting – of course, this has been a huge help in me getting my Knit Along List whittled down!
- Spinning – again, the best companion to treadling away!
- Walking – this really is fabulous. Getting some exercise in during a half hour or so walk has helped increase my daily step count!
- Gardening – specifically, weeding. Thanks to a good book, the gardens are staying weed free this summer!
- Cooking dinner – unless your other half wants to talk to you while you are cooking…
- Preserving – making pickles and jams is fun, but more fun while listening to a good book!
- Sewing – Inspector Gamache is fabulous while sitting at the Bernina™
- Vacuuming – while it does not make the task entirely fun – it helps tremendously!
- Ironing – again, a most tedious task made better with a good book in your ears!
So tell me, Gentle Reader…Audiobooks – yes? No? What’s in your ears right now?
by Kat | Jun 20, 2016 | General, Making
Recipe for the Practically Perfect Summer Weekend:
- The best Friday Happy Hour, complete with barbecued shrimp and martini’s.
- Gardening time.
- Strawberry top infused Blushing Mules, oh my was this good! Oh, and both GIN and vodka are spectacular, just sayin’.
- Knitting and spinning. (Another item crossed off my Summer Knit Along list!)
- Moving my blog to a new server. (A million thanks, Steve!!)
This combination makes for a much more palatable Monday.
How was your weekend?
P.S. If you previously subscribed to my blog, you will need to do so again, thank you!
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by Kat | Jun 17, 2016 | General
Friday. Oh how I love you! But, some Friday’s are just uber-appreciated. Today is one of those days.
It has been a busy week here, work has changed things up for me and I have still not gotten into a good rhythm with the new schedule, thus Friday arrives and I am still feeling a bit “behind the eight ball” with a list that still has things to get done.
Time coordination – the bane of my existence. Seriously.
And, apparently plying is right up there as well.
Which brings me to the Fiber portion of today’s post! Thanks to Rachel for hosting Fiber Friday’s!
I spent some time this week plying up the singles I spun. Some of it was lovely, and some…not so much. It is the one aspect of spinning that I really struggle with. I look at all the amazing photos of plied yarns that drift around on Instagram and I am in awe that people do this so well, yet it seems somehow elusive for me. I struggle most with worsted spun yarns – but maybe that is because the loftiness of woolen spun yarns fills in the plying problems I seem to have. I am not sure exactly how to fix this, but I am really thinking a plying class is in order.
But, not one to give up – I will “re-ply” this yarn and see if I cannot improve the areas where it is under-plied, or not plied as the case may be. I will update you next week on how this re-do goes!
There is some welcome rain forecast for today, and while an “on the road” version of Happy Hour is not looking good for today, there will be a snacks and beverages to usher in the weekend. Photos courtesy of last week’s FriYAY celebration that were preempted on Monday for a more somber post.
And, lest you think there were no links this week – you’d be incorrect! There are a few, even a few spectacular ones:
First off – everyone could use More Love! (and right now it’s free!)
Gradient Knits – how I love thee!
Perhaps you’d like a Party on your needles?
This is such a fascinating construction method.
And, then there is Jutta! I am in love and I am pretty sure that Genevieve needs one!
That’s all I have for today, Gentle Reader. Have a fantastic Friday and be safe this weekend.
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