Post vacation

Finished Object

My Turkish spindle provided great entertainment for the long drive to and from Washington DC.

This is a Blue Face Swirl in a Limited Edition colorway by Gale’s Art. I spun two ounces in my Turkish spindle and the remaining two in my Kromski wheel. The final yarn is super spongy. Yardage is to be determined -- skein looks substantial (how about that?).

New to me magazine

I picked up the third issue of the Making Magazine at Fibre Space. This is a gem and I want to make everything in it. I will not pass on next time Madder open up subscriptions.  The magazine is worth every penny, in my opinion!

Vacation highlights

Family time. Priceless. As crazy and imperfect we all are, magic happens when we get together.

Visits to Fibre Space and Looped Yarn Works. No yarn came home. Books, tools, bags and fiber made the cut!

Impromptu escape to the REI Flagship store in DC!

Yummiest empanadas at Panas in Dupont Circle.

Having a great time

Hello February! You are my favorite, my birthday month. Trying to make this month all about pampering and having a great time doing what I love most...

I was eager to knit with Quince & Co. Tern. It is an exquisite 25% linen and 75% wool blend. I am using two skeins of color Kelp. I want this yarn to shine; to be the center of attention. Hence a simple pattern: The Big Blue by Meg Gadsbey / Atelier Yarn.

It is quite a relaxing project. Even more enjoyable has been to keep my hands soft and hydrated with these Loccitane lotions -- thanks Santa for a perfect knitter's gift!

Hope that you are finding peace everyday--no matter how stressful the daily world (and US politics) news can be. Be kind to yourself. Retreat, meditate and knit. It makes the difference.

Pop of color

Blocked and seamed is this cowl inspired by the Mustard Scarf by Jane Richmond. Cast on the number of stitches per pattern but keep knitting until there wasn't any yarn left.  Then seamed the edges and voila!

Three loops, two loops....

Apparently, orange is my new black. Latest handspun, hats and cowl? All orange!

First time using Rowan Pure Wool and definitely not the last one. It is not the softest but nice enough to be close to my skin.

Project page: here

The making of...

...the last handspun of the year!

On a beautiful day, divide fiber with gusto and find a beautiful box to store it.

Second, try out your new fiber toy to ply singles.

Third, dance to your favorite music while admiring your last handspun of the year.

Last, post on the blog and wish everyone who reads a Happy, happy New Year! xo

Forget FOs, think WIPs

Today is my first of a few days off work. I want nothing but to have a joyful time with my family, spinning wheel and knitting.

First project in the needles is this scarf inspired by a free pattern from Jane Richmond, Mustard Scarf. I plan on using up all the yarn, making it longer than instructed. I am almost decided on seaming the ends and converting into an infinity scarf. I will make the decision after blocking.

Also in progress are the Maine mittens from Carrie Bostick Hoge's Swoon Maine book. They are very easy and quick to knit. One done, one to go.

Finally, I have been spending quality time with my spinning wheel and some Pigeonroof Superwash BFL. The colors are spectacular!

What are you working on? If you are in the United States, I hope you have a nice and safe holiday.

Ruins & Handspun

Last Saturday, I dragged my family to a park forty-five minutes away from the city.  Our hiking adventure took us to the ruins of an textile mill that was burned during the Civil War.

Of course, I had to run to my spinning as soon as we got home. I bought this fiber from Moonwood Farm at the Atlanta Spring Fling. It is 21 micron Merino--super soft fluff. 

Singles number one was spun on my cherished Turtle Made Turkish Spindle. The second singles and plying were completed on my Louet Julia wheel. This was not a "jump in the couch out of excitement" project but, I am quite pleased with the handspun.

Hope that you are enjoying your projects. Relax and enjoy the day!

My long weekend plans

Many living in the United States are in the midst of traveling and/or getting ready for family gatherings to celebrate Independence Day. We do not have plans other than laugh and eat. I will selfishly add knitting and spinning to the schedule.

What have kept me busy lately? I am fighting second sock syndrome with plain vanilla, non matching socks. The yarn is Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball in color way Filederduft.

I spun my first "fuzzlings" from Fondant Fibre. The fiber is a delicious blend of BFL, Teeswater and Mulberry Silk. Final yardage is around 380 yards. It is so hard to resist getting more "fuzzlings" for my unofficial participation in the Tour de Fleece! Maybe if I join a team and make it official...you know, there is a coupon code and everything...15% off!

Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful weekend...until next time!

Spring crafting

And Spring is here!!! The season brings beautiful flowers, nasty allergies and asthma and adorable knitting and spinning.

In my mind, I am a much better knitter than in 2013, the year I first attempted knitting Mainline of the Scarves 2013, etc. collection. Back then, I threw the towel after getting insanely confused with the pattern. Everything went wrong...there was no choice than to hide the project in the closet.

A couple of days ago, I convinced myself that I would win over the scarf. A good reading of the pattern, gazillion stitch markers and a better attitude is making this an enjoyable knitting the second time around. Never give up knitters of the world!

Giving my overflow of positivism, I decided to also spin a batt for the first time. The batt turned out  to be rolled combed top (non spinners, take my word: a batt is not the same as combed top). Oh well...so much for paying attention.

The singles are very thin. I see a long plying session in my bright future. Not complaining; the blend of alpaca, merino and nylon is super soft and nice to work with.

A year older...

What a month so far. Birthday, surprise vacation and hand made Valentines had bring so much joy. I am older but just as happy :-)

For my birthday, my husband surprised with a romantic Caribbean vacation. Not only we stayed in beautiful place but he also scored tickets to see my favorite Latin American singer -- she gave a concert in Dominican Republic for Valentines Day!

It was one of the best gifts ever! Great music, succulent food, new friends, fun knitting and warm weather.

Here are some pictures of the trip. The full album is here.

A dear friend gifted me a pattern for my birthday. Seemed logical to cast on my way to Dominican Republic. This shawl is a joy to knit. Project details: here.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend.

Charity knitting

One of my ongoing goals is to knit more projects for charity. This can be a mind blogging as there are too many organizations in need. 

I have narrowed it down to three projects:

• Scrappy sock yarn blanket squares for Bertie's blanket

• Preemie hats to be donated to the hospital my child was born

• Worsted weight blanket squares for Project Linus

Where to look for additional resources & organizations? I recommend checking out:

• The Knitting Guild Association - Organizations Links

• Ravelry Group: Charity Knitting

• Charity Vault (USA)

Hope you all have a great weekend! Looks like is going to be warmer in my neck of the woods. That is an unexpected gift that I hope to enjoy!

Thankful

I am so thankful for the opportunity to spend some time with my family and wool over the past days.

This is my latest handspun. It is an Aran to Chunky weight-- which is not my standard spinning. I am super happy with this skein of 126 yards. I am thinking it could be a hat with a big pom-pom.

I am currently finishing up the L'Arbre hat. The pattern is included in the book "Magpies, Homebodies and Nomads" by Cirilia Rose.

Little did I know the pattern was very popular thanks to a Fringe Association hat along. Turns out you can get the pattern for free as linked in this post. You should check it out!

Hope that you have a great, woolly, weekend.

When your craft matches the season

Can you believe is mid November already? I love Fall and everything the season brings: colors, baking, gatherings and opportunities to wear hand knits.

This handspun is 420 yards of Falkland in sports to fingering weight. It is perfect for a Wild Goose shawlette.

My mittens are finished and fit perfectly. This is a pattern I would knit again and again.

Enjoy the season. Knit happy!

Being in the right place at the perfect time

A few weeks ago we found ourselves on a mini vacation three hours north...more specifically: in Nashville, Tennessee. A great city that rarely disappoints in two areas that are utterly important for this family: food and crafts.

After checking in the hotel, we headed to the 12 South District. We ate at Burger Up with all the intention of stopping by Craft South with a full stomach.

Craft South is a beautiful place. From knitting to sewing to embroidery...the store carries a great supplies selection, all beautifully arranged. The staff is as friendly as the famous store owner, Ana Maria Horner, whom I I had the pleasure to meet and chat. What a beautiful, sweet and talented woman she is.

Already in cloud nine, I noticed that Natalie Chanin, from Alabama Chanin, was teaching a workshop right next to us. I have been following Ana Maria and Alabama Chanin's blogs for a long time. Their books are part of my small library. I am a fan; now more than ever.

My souvenirs are two skeins of Malabrigo Rastita in Mostaza and Quince & Co. Owl in Acacia.

Liv: a cardigan

There is not a design from Carrie Bostick Hoge, of Madder, that I do not like. My current work in progress is Liv --a lovely light, open cardigan. The pattern is part of Madder's Anthology 2: Simple Preasures. It can also be purchased as a single pattern on Ravelry.

Sometimes I fail to read the pattern entirely before casting on. No wonder why I experienced some hiccups with "at the same time" instructions. There is nothing complicated with the design. One must pay some attention at the raglan and center increases. Pattern page: here.

On this holiday weekend, I have been cuddling with my family, eating delicious food and trying new beers. 

Beer tasting: Ybor Gold Amber Lager distributed by Florida Beer Company and Estrella Damm, brewed in Barcelona, Spain and distributed by Damm S. A.

More on goals...

Something very strange is happening...I've been making progress on my goals. Don't know how long this will last, but so far so good!

2015 woolly goals

• finish three pair of socks: finished pair one; pair two in progress

• cast off two sweaters: paired stashed yarn with pattern

• start spinning for a sweater: two bobbins done; a gazillion more to come

Today is a perfect day to be outside. We already been about & around town. I've even discovered a new Jenny's Splendid Ice Cream location and a mini garden. Gotta love it! 

Enjoy the weekend, walk, laugh, knit...see you next time!

Goals or wishes?

My fiber goals for the new year are simple. Most important, I've promised myself not to stress about them. I know you will not judge me if I only knit a hat in 2015.

goals or wishes?

• finish three pair of socks
• cast off two sweaters
• start spinning for a sweater

habits!

• stash down (yarn not fiber)
• craft everyday
• participate in a KAL or SAL
• charity knitting

Before we say goodbye to 2014, I want to thank everyone who had visited this blog and/or left a comment. It means a lot to me to have you around!

I'll be back in the new year! In the meantime, you can find me at the treadmill. The smaller the size I cast on, the easier to achieve the goal.

Have you been naughty or nice?

I decided to take it really easy this holiday season. So easy that there are no handmade gifts to give and no home baked cookies to eat. I think my family and friends are thankful for my unusual "let's go with the flow and buy the cookies" state of mind. 

Remember that handspun that I've been working on? Let's officially call it a 246 yards skein of yarn. It is a 2-ply Merino in sports weight.  More pictures & details here. I think the Elk Tooth shawl pattern by Catlin French will be a perfect match for this yarn.

Hope that this post finds you surrounded with what warms your heart the most. Take time to celebrate ~ your family, memories, stash, successes, lessons learnt and even those gifts that were cast off at the eleventh hour. I'll catch up with you after the Holidays. Be Merry!