Projects by the Dozens.

 This is the year to complete as many UFO’s as possible.   Every where I look in the sewing and knitting rooms I  seem to find more UFO’s without even looking.  I just seem to be scattered trying to finish everything at once.  Right now I have one on the sewing machine with two more lined up, meaning under two hours to finish each project.  One on the espinner, a little over halfway done with the first spin, then plying, hot bath and thwack. Too many on Tunisian Crochet Hooks and knitting needles to count. 

Did I mention I still have to write the directions for a beginner weaving class on mudd rugs?  That will be two different pdf’s. 

Now if I could only be more organized.  Wait a minute, if I was more organized I would be able to complete one project before starting another project.  I don’t think that is going to happen anytime soon.  

Spinning Yarn Right Handed

 I did not realize how hard it is for people to spin right handed.  I started trying to spin right handed when my left hand started to get sore.  I am ambidextrous and try to learn everything with both hands. I have been spinning left handed for over 15 years. I guess by now the sensation of the spun yarn going through my left hand is ingrained. So it might take me a while to learn spinning right handed. 

On my e spinner I am currently working on a project for my sister.  The roving is thinner than pencil roving. If you can believe that.  The rolls are huge 270 meters per 100 grams plus or minus the industry standard of 5%.  Which translates into United States measurements as 295.276 yards and 3.527 ounces plus or minus 5%.  With any luck the first roll will fit on one bobbin. I am approximately half way through the first roll. As you can see from the bobbin this should ply into a Worsted or Aran weight yarn.  Once I finish spinning this roll and the second roll my sister will get 2 to 3 skeins of  plyed yarn. Since she has a skein winder at home I am going to give her huge skeins and not break it down to 100 yards per skein.

Time to Wash the Mittens

Hand knit woolens don’t have to be washed very often.  When mine do I use cool or cold water with some Soak Wash.. The soak label says that you don’t have to rinse, but I rinse anyway.  Today since it was nice and sunny I hung the mittens on the fence to dry so that they would be ready for bed time.  

After I brought them in I shaved off the little balls of yarn that happen with very frequent use.  My sleeping gloves are now ready for use again.  

The yarn is by Merino-y-Vino on Etsy.com.  She does a fabulous job. Her color combinations are delightful.  She is a one woman show. The gloves below are a little over a year old and are used nightly. 

The Soak Wash can be found in some local yarn shops or www.soakwash.com or www.soakwash.ca

The pattern is on www.ravelry.com under Sheri Karobonik. The pattern name is Maxi Fingerless Gloves.

*I do not make any commission from Merino-y-Vino or Soak Wash. I do however try to recoup some of the cost of the yarn for my designs from pattern sales.  

Happy New Year 2025

 I am wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.   Happy 2025.  

And It’s a Mixed Day

 I had a very good start to my day. I got a lot of work done.  Sadly I ran out of spoons before lunch and spent the rest of the day resting.   

Number One Finished

 My first finished UFO.  Now I only need to complete 9 more before I can start another project. I did find that my drop spindle from Ankerworks broke on the top of the whorl, but the 3D Turkish spindle that John made for held up.  The stitch marker has been put in the the small vase.  

This is a mini skein of wool yarn.  I spun the wool on the Turkish spindle starting with the pink then adding the green. I plyed them together.  It will be washed thwacked,then put in a box for coasters or embellishments.  

One Amazing Man

 My amazing husband can go from chopping the vegetables for tonight’s soup to heading to the workshop to trim down ridged heddles that were meant for a 20 inch loom and cut them down to fit my 15 inch loom.  

Now on to the less amazing part of my day.  Who would have thought that all the slippers in my size that I wanted would be sold out.  On the day after Christmas, no less.  Not available until next fall.  Seriously I was not ready to buy winter slippers when the outside temperature was still in the 100’s.  I am definitely not looking for warm and woolly slippers then.   Today it’s in the 60’s the perfect weather for warm woolly slippers.  I want to buy them now when they will be immediately useful.  Apparently it’s to much to ask for.

Now to finish the scarf on the loom so my husband can do his final check of the heddles.