Mama don’t let your children grow up to be spinners…
I went to Wool Gathering 2008 yesterday and had a grand time. More on that later. But first this most amusing/disturbing news…
I went to Wool Gathering, met up with my friend MysticSpiral who helped kick me into gear again on my spinning. She ever so patiently moved my spinning over to my new spindle (if something about 9 months old counts as new…) and I was off like a prom dress. [oh lord did I just say that?] For your viewing pleasure - the new spinning chair the boy made for me when I said I need to sit somewhere else to spin:
I wanted something with a little height so I could spin longer before winding the yarn back onto the spindle. It’s awesome isn’t it? (I’ve heard a rumour that there is a 12 step program for this…)
Tags: Spinning, Yarn
Part of my package to my swap partner for the yoga swap was a water bottle cozy. It actually knit up pretty easily (once I stopped being a goober). I did attempt to knit it in the round at first, however the pattern doesn’t completely lend itself to being knit in the round. It leaves a weird seam that doesn’t look as good as when it is properly seamed. 
I finished up all the weaving in of ends while I our power was out on Sunday. Good timing, eh?
Cory’s modeling again - water bottle cozy
Description: Water bottle cozy
Pattern: Lacy Yoga Bags by Alison Green Will in the small size
Yarn used: 1.72 skeins of Tahki Cotton Classic in Colorway 3872 (100% mercerized cotton) 50g (1.75oz)/ 108 yds (100m)
Care Instructions: machine or hand wash, dry flat
Needle Size: US 7 (4.5mm)
Modifications: none, since my initial modification didn’t work out.
Finished Size: Small bag size
Date Started: 9/5/2008
Date Completed: 9/14/2008
Notes: This bag is pretty nice and I would totally recommend making one. It’s cute to boot.
full shot of the bag
I love the detail in the bottom of the bag.
The top of the bag has an eyelet row for the icord straps and has a turned hem. I quite like the technique.
Tags: Knitting, Swap, Yarn, Yoga
My friend won a skein of handspun yarn at Sticks N Stitches 2007/2008. She doesn’t knit so she gave it to me. I decided (perhaps with some prompting from my mother) to find something to make for her with it. I searched around on Ravelry looking for something that would highlight the handspun nature of the yarn without overpowering it with a strong and busy pattern. Plus, I only had about 200 yds so I couldn’t do anything super large. A scarf seemed like a good idea and modifying the Clapotis to scarf size looked easy enough. I hope she will wear it in the winter all the time.
Cory’s been doing a lot of modeling lately. The scarf is a little big on him.
Description: Mama T’s Handspun Scarf
Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn used: 194 yds (177m) of Coridale Sheep spun by Judy of Five Points Llamas
Care Instructions: Handwash
Needle Size: US 6 (4.0 mm)
Modifications: I modified this to be a scarf so it’s a lot smaller.
Finished Size: 5″ x 64″ (13 cm x 162 cm)
Date Started: 8/23/2008
Date Completed: 8/28/2008
Notes: This worked out pretty well. I could have probably done another repeat but I was afraid I was going to run out of yarn. I had also already ripped it back once to add in another repeat so I decided to just go with it this time.
Full length view (folded in half)
Detail view
Tags: Knitting, Ravelry, Yarn
My blog chum and fellow Master’s student KnitWitch recently started her own yarn company, Amia Yarn Company. She has a contest going through tom’w (Thursday July 31st) to win some of the amazing yarn her company has to offer. Click on the picture below to get more details!
Tags: Yarn
Today’s Eye Candy Friday is brought by the letter E and the number 2. The lovely EcoWool you see before you was purchased on my last business trip to Denver, CO. I found it at the very fun Fancy Tiger yarn shop. Hopefully I can go see them again when I head back to Denver in 2 weeks. This yarn is destined for a Hemlock Ring Blanket 
the recipient at this time is unknown.
Name: Ecological Wool
Brand: Cascade
Weight: Aran / 10 ply (8 wpi) [Information on yarn weights]
Yardage: 478 yards (437 meters)
Unit weight: 250 grams (8.82 ounces)
Gauge: 16.0 = 4 inches
Needle size: US 9 / 5.5 mm
Fibers: Wool
Texture: plied
Tags: Yarn
