This and That

 To day was all about getting paperwork done and packages out the door.  I packed the boxes and John went to the post office.  I was reminded again to pack the books separately because the postage is less that way. I must say that I took a few minutes to swoon over the Golding Fiber Company Spinning Wheels. The only one in my budget range is a small traveling spinning wheel. Not to say if budget was not a problem there were one or 2 spinning wheels that I might consider. 

Then it was on to the paperwork. I am not surprised that the durable medical equipment company who refused to take my insurance also failed to provide their company tax identification number on the paperwork they sent me for the insurance claim.  I will be going to another more reputable company for the on going supplies.  

I even managed to get some paperwork out for a nonprofit out 2 months early.   I still have 2 on line forms to fill out. I really hope that they are quick forms and the pages are not to long.  

On the fiber front. I unravel 3 rows of Tunisian crochet due to a dropped stitch.  I also worked on the Doodling Shawl for 40 minutes and knit a little over an inch.  

Well it’s time to call it a day.  

Reorganizing Again

 I got a new mushroom shaped ottoman for the knitting room.  It has enough storage space for most of my very small warping yarns.  This in turn gave me room to swap out to shelves that store yarn and projects.  The warping cones went to the small bookshelf and the kits to the more roomy bookshelf.  The advantage to this is that when I want a larger cone of yarn, I will not have a bunch of cones falling on my feet.  I also have a larger area to put kits of yarn. This makes them more visible.  

To tell you the absolute truth is that I am searching my yarn stash for a certain shade of brown and yellow in a luxury fiber like  silk and linen blend or just silk or maybe something more exotic, before I search the bins.  This of course is for my bespoke shawl.  So far I have not found neither.  So the bins it is for some stash diving. 

I also put away a slew of books and started a Bookman’s bag.  All totaled it took all of 30 minutes.  Which was wonderful, because I only had 30 minutes of spoons.  

I also got 6 inches into a broken rib charity scarf from the 3 pound cone of yarn.  This will be scarf number 5, with at least 15 to 20 more to go.  At least when I pair the yarn on the cone with a worsted weight yarn I can use U.S. size 13 knitting needles so it goes extremely fast.  

I am wishing everyone a wonderful week. 

My Doodling Shawl

 Today’s progress was made on another one of my favorite designs.  My Doodling Shawl by Sheri Karobonik , this time using Perth by Queensland Yarn in the color Bay of Fires.  Using US 10.5 circular knitting needles.  The pattern can be found on Ravelry.com under Sheri Karobonik.  The shawl is very easy to knit. It is a perfect beginner pattern or a break from lace knitting.  

No projects got finished today  

The Best Way to Work Down My Yarn Stash

 I am making a good amount of progress in knitting and Tunisian crochet projects today.  Except for weaving in the ends they are basically finished.  So today’s  knitting and crochet count is one of each.  I do wish I had a bigger Soak Wash tub to hold the projects that need seaming or weaving in the ends.  The basket includes one pair of Maxi Fingerless Gloves to seam in the Della Q snap bag and 3 scarfs that need the ends woven in.   Maybe it is a good thing that this is the small wash tub.  I am sure I could get 3 times the amount of projects in the bigger wash tub.  I like to weave in the end in natural light.  I also tend to have more energy earlier in the day.

Currently I am on a finishing binge on the project front.  My body seems to require more rest right now.  So the best thing besides napping that I can do is listen to a book and knit.  Also winter is coming, so I need to knit faster.  I say this tongue in cheek, because today was yet another day over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. There has not been enough rain this summer. So the summer seems longer than normal. A good afternoon rain storm just makes the day more pleasant. Because of the long-term drought in the desert Southwest, we haven’t seen regular afternoon rain showers for a long time.

Projects Half Done

 It was a day for drop spindles and Tunisian Crochet.  I am almost done with the first ply of a lace weight yarn of Striken Lock. I got a four ounce or 100 grams worth to try out. I fell in love with the roving    It has taken almost all my feather weight drop spindles to complete the project.  As soon as I am done with the first ply then it will be time to get the yarn off the spindles to ply.  

I also made progress on two Tunisian Crochet projects. One is a charity scarf that I am completing the edging.  The other is my advent calendar from last year.  I am almost finished with the first of 5 sections.  The next section will be solid white.  Then the next color section, followed by white and the last color section followed by a white boarder.  

If you have not guessed it already, I am working on my Ph.D in knitting and spinning = projects half done. I think the projects half done have won. 

Of course I had a bad body day and spent most of the day resting.  

Today Was All About Knitting

 I am currently designing 2 new knitting patterns.  The good news is that the elements for one pattern have come together. I will begin to type up the relevant information and instructions.  Taking pictures in 100 degrees Fahrenheit is not ideal for this pattern. So I’m going to have to come up with an alternative that’s indoors. 

The Bad news is that the second pattern on the third section will have to be tinked. I can say at this point having two out of three sections done is helpful. However, the last section is the largest section. Tinking will take place soon.   

I have finished the Maxi Fingerless Gloves for my daughter.  All I can say is that The yarn is scrumptious. It is an alpaca, silk blend from the Yarn Dragon in Seattle, Washington. It even came in a worsted weight which was needed for the pattern.  He has a beautiful on line shop. It is a luxurious fiber that I’m sure my daughter will love. And hopefully there won’t be any allergies involved. On gloves looks larger then the other because I just had to try them on. I might have to get a skein of this yarn for a pair of gloves for me. 

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

 While visiting in San Diego last week we had a chance to visit the state historic park called Old Town, San Diego. When going through La Casa de Estudillo, we got to see some very old spinning and fiber preparation tools.  In the main bedroom there was a very small spinning wheel.  In one of the other rooms we spotted a squirrel cage for taking skeins of yarn and wrapping them into balls. There was no adjustments to be made like the Squirrel cage I purchased from Shepard’s Woodworking . Of course all the skeins of yarn would have been made the same size, so there was no need to make it adjustable. What I am really saying is that if you wind large amounts of yarn at home you definitely need a squirrel cage at home.  Some things never change. I have had mine for a few years now and wish that I had gotten it sooner.  The hand carders looked very similar to the hand carders produced today.  The difference was in the handles.  The handles looked like they were carved or whittled by hand. The blacksmith would have added the pins on the carders with each one made by hand. The handles had no grip like the modern ones that I use. 

Of course there were no acid dyes around to dye the yarn. It is my humble opinion that various plants, spices and flowers were used to make the colors.  

Below are a few pictures.