Hello, Internet
Posted by: fourpeass on: September 28, 2009
- In: knitting| spinning
- 2 Comments
During the first few weeks of being engaged, I bought a wedding planner and started reading every wedding blog I could find. Hello, information overload! I thought wedding planning would be hard and scary but it’s only been two months and most of the important things are done. The wedding is still 11 months away so there’s a few things I can’t do yet but I feel pretty good about everything. I can’t wait till next spring so I can get started on the fun DIY stuff.
Other than wedding planning, I’ve been doing some spinning and knitting. First, spinning:
I bought some very fine Merino fiber from Alafoss when I was in Iceland. I forgot to take a photo of the before but it came in 1 oz strips and was striped with purple, orange and blue. I tried to separate the colors somewhat but it’s still a marled yarn. I thought it would be ugly knit up but I actually love the scarf I made with it:
Next up, a merino/tencel blend from Yarn Chef:
Turned into:
I was able to retain the colors by splitting the braid in half. Now,what to make with it? I only have about 200 yards and was thinking of using white or black yarn to go with it. I may do something like this to showcase the gradual change in color. By the way, tencel is my new favorite thing to spin.
Everyone is having babies which means I get to knit cute baby sweaters like this tiny grandpa cardigan:
Pattern: Baby Sophisticate
Yarn: My Family by Muench Yarns
Needles: US 8
Notes: This is for Conor’s future cousin once removed, little Liam, who is due in December. Doesn’t this look like a sweater for someone named Liam? First, let’s talk about this yarn. I went to the yarn store and asked for a super wash wool or wool blend for a baby sweater but was immediately met with a “We only have acrylic”. I never use acrylic yarn because acrylic = plastic and plastic = gross and not fun to knit with but not this yarn. I reluctantly went over to feel it and was floored. This is the softest synthetic stuff I’ve ever touched and it was great to knit with. I’m still going nowhere near Red Heart but I’ve learned to feel before I judge.
The construction of the sweater is really simple but it was a fun knit. I love the garter stitch edging and the shawl collar. It usually takes me an hour or more to pick out buttons for a sweater but when I saw these leather buttons, I knew.
I need to figure out how to make one of these for myself. More photos below:
This photo shows the true color of the yarn.
It’s been awhile
Posted by: fourpeass on: July 19, 2009
So, a lot has happened since I last blogged. I got a new job, went to Iceland, purchased a spinning wheel and most importantly:
Got engaged! He proposed right after I purchased my spinning wheel, in the parking lot of WEBS. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
101 Goals in 1001 Days update
Posted by: fourpeass on: May 5, 2009
I changed my official start date to May 4th. I’ve also started a new photo blog for goal #14: Post one photo a day that I’ve taken. Will post on new photo blog. Check it out!
CT Sheep & Wool
Posted by: fourpeass on: May 4, 2009
I couldn’t make it to Maryland this past weekend because I had to move but I had a great time at CT Sheep and Wool the weekend before. Much tinier than Maryland and Rhinebeck but way less overwhelming. I was able to walk around and see each vendor a couple of times before buying anything. I also got to see some New Haven SnBers! There were sheep, of course:
These guys were running at me and I was a little terrified that they’d run right into me but a sheep dog showed up just in time. I didn’t go crazy with the spending. I brought $100 in cash and spent probably about $98. I bought some nice Cormo cross:
My goal is to spin it up this week because I need to return my rental wheel. I tried out a ton of spinning wheels and ALMOST bought one. Luckily, Conor was there to talk some sense into me. Right now, I’m leaning towards a Lendrum because not only was everyone and their mother spinning on them but I felt the most comfortable with it. I heard such great things about Kromski’s but I didn’t like any of the ones I tried. I need to get my hands on more Ashfords before I decide. In the meantime, I can spin using this:
I thought I had given up on spindles but I had a decent time using this Golding spindle so I bought it. So much better than the crappy $5 one I bought in Maryland last year. Maybe I’ll master the spindle while I’m saving up for a wheel. The spindle is resting on some lovely pink/orange Cormo:
I’m a little sad I missed Maryland but there’s still Rhinebeck and Stitches East (in hartford, whoo!). I came home with a good lot and had a great time. Conor had fun too:
PS. Changing my start date of my 101 in 1001 list to today. This weekend was waaaay to crazy and I forgot all about it.
101 Goals in 1001 Days
Posted by: fourpeass on: April 23, 2009
So, I decided to try this 101 in 1001 thing. The idea is to set 101 goals that you can accomplish in 1001 days. I’m being totally realistic about this. I know that I might not accomplish all 101 things and that I might drop out completely half way through but making the list itself was a good exercise. I’m officially starting May 1st and will have until Friday, January 27, 2012 to finish. The end date will be my 27th birthday. Most of the things are pretty basic because some of my larger goals are a bit too personal to share on the internet. Here are the hobby related goals. The entire list can be seen here.
1. Knit a full-size afghan.
2. Knit Conor a sweater.
3. Knit an intricate lace shawl in actual lace weight yarn.
4. Complete at least one knitting project a month. (0/33)
5. Design my own knitting pattern.
6. Knit a cowichan style sweater aka “the dude” sweater.
7. Organize my yarn storage…again.
8. Knit for at least 15 minutes a day. (0/1001)
9. Buy a spinning wheel.
10. Once I purchase a spinning wheel, spin for at least 20 minutes a day.
11. Spin enough yarn for a sweater
12. Purchase Photoshop and Lightroom.
13. Learn how to use Photoshop and Lightroom.
14. Take one photo a day that I like enough to show people. Will put on flickr or my blog. (0/1001)
15. Sew a vintage style dress that I love enough to wear.
16. Sew a quilt.
17. Sew curtains for my bedroom.
18. Make one skirt that fits me perfectly.
19. Then make it in multiple colors.
20. Take a class at Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven.
21. Paint my bedroom green.
22. Have apartment fully decorated by the end of summer.
23. Adopt a puppy.
24. Learn to crochet.
25. Go record shopping once a month. (0/33)
26. Listen to a new music once a month. (0/33)
27. Buy an accordion.
28. Learn the lyrics to Paul Revere.
29. Take a cooking class.
30. Work on my pie crust.
31. Bake Devon an apple pie.
32. Make Crème Brule with a blow torch.
33. Make another roast chicken.
34. Stop fearing chicken in general.
35. Put my favorite recipes into one format and complete my first recipe binder.
36. Buy a nice bottle of tequila.
37. Host a beer tasting.
Read complete list here.
