Changes

So you may have noticed that the number of projects I'm completing has dropped off a bit, and while part of that is due to a certain dark chocolate angel with poor impulse control around yarn (we are working on it, and he is learning), there's another reason I haven't been getting as much knitting done.  I've been getting Caleb ready to go off to college!

He will be going to Texas A&M Galveston this fall to study marine sciences!  Yes, we have a Sea Aggie!

He is actually a sophomore transfer student because last year he was undecided on his major so he stayed here and took classes at a local community college.  He used the year to re-adapt to classrooms and teachers that aren't his mom after homeschooling for six years.  He also got a bunch of those core class requirements out of the way that all schools require, regardless of the degree program.  He did really well in his classes and in January when he decided what he wanted to study we were thrilled to find it here in Texas.

This year has had more downs than ups, but this was definitely an up for our family.  We're going to miss him so much, but this is an amazing opportunity for him and we couldn't be prouder or more excited for him!

I'll be back here when I have something to show, but between now and late August I'm primarily focused on getting everything in order for Caleb, while keeping Newton (who's teething) from eating everything.  That reminds me, I need to refill the squirt bottle...

Finally!

I have finished spinning the raspberry wool blend singles!  I'm referring to it as a wool blend because there was more than one kind of wool in it as well as some kid mohair (or possibly yearling mohair - it was fine).  Each of the top six bobbins in the photo has 99 grams of fiber.  The lower three bobbins have 40 grams each.  This gives me a total of 714 grams (1.57 pounds) of fiber spun into singles.  I will be making a three ply yarn from these, and my goal was to have a sport weight finished yarn.  We'll have to see what size it comes out! 

This was fiber I bought from Spinner's Hill at MDS&W, back in 2007, and while it's clean and without grease, it has a wonderful sheepy smell to it - something you don't really get in commercial fiber.  Unfortunately, Newton finds this sheepy smell absolutely delightful and wants to hug it, squeeze it, and call it "George."  My Flatiron is now draped in an old sheet when I'm not using it, for its own protection.  When I ply, I like to put my lazy kate as far from the wheel as I can so that the twist can even out over the length of the singles.  This will make starting and stopping mid-bobbin difficult as I try to protect it from Newton (and Newton from the yarn as well).  I may have to do all my plying in the sewing room where I can shut the door, but I've got a couple of projects I need to finish in there first.  Basically, I have no idea when I'll actually get these singles plied into yarn!

Someday...

A Sweater

I've made quite a bit of progress on my Fireworks pullover!  I've knit both the front and back down to the underarm now, which means that I've joined them together and can just knit around and around in circles until they're long enough.  The first time I knit this pattern I skipped the pocket, but this time I decided to do it, so that's what the purple stitch holder is doing - holding the stitches where the pocket lining will be knit.  I haven't decided if I'll knit the pocket lining in the Fireworks yarn or if I'll use a contrasting color.  I think the pocket might get lost if it's all the black Fireworks yarn, but I don't want it to stick out like a sore thumb either.

Any ideas or opinions?  I'm not opposed to the idea of bringing the pocket lining color (if it is indeed a contrasting color) back for tiny stripes at the neck, hems, and cuffs, in an attempt to tie it all together.  Or maybe I should just use the Fireworks for everything.

Spinning

I've been trying to spin a little every day while Newton takes a nap and recharges his crazy.  So far, I have been doing pretty well.  He's seen the spinning wheel and is very curious about it, but what he really wants is the fiber - big kitten eyes and grabby paws!

Anyway, I've finished Bobbin 6.

And Bobbin 7!  The first six bobbins have 99 grams of fiber each.  The last three bobbins (7,8, and 9) will have 40 grams of fiber each, so these should go much faster.  With the woolen prep of the fiber, there was just no way I could get it all on six bobbins.

Logan really likes spinning time because he gets to sit with me without fear of having his tail tackled, and he can relax without being hopped at sideways.  He loves all those things and loves having a kitty again, but as a 10 year old doggy, he wants his quiet time too!

Life At Chez PinkLemon

Newton is teething.

This past weekend one of our A/C units died.*

Tonkinese are very "vocal" cats.

Basically, all this adds up to Newton monologue-ing like a Bond villain for almost a week.

*Fortunately, the house has two units and a very open floor plan.  We're getting a new unit installed today but it hasn't been horrible heat-wise.  Also, yes that is a shark bed that his tiny drumsticks are hanging out of.

Fireworks Pullover

Remember all that black Merino with Sari Silk that I spun?  Well last week I cast on a pullover with it!  I'm calling it my Fireworks pullover because Fireworks was the name of the fiber and I started knitting July 2, right before the Fourth of July weekend.

When I started spinning the fiber, I decided I wanted to knit another Ambiente with it because I love my first one and I thought a black one with all the colored speckles would be fun.  I did some sample spinning and then washed my skeins and knit small swatches with them to make sure I was going to get the yarn I wanted.  Then I spun and spun and spun.  I've got more than enough finished yarn to knit my pullover and I've probably got enough to do a wrap of some kind as well (which will pretty much go with anything in my closet).

This sweater is knit from the top down but you start with the back and knit down to the underarm and then pick up again at the shoulders for the front and knit that down to the underarm.  At that point, front and back are joined and you just go around and around to the hem.  The shoulders and neckline are shaped by short rows.  What you see above is part of the back, but it's rolling on itself pretty enthusiastically so it's kind of a shapeless rectangle at the moment.  Trust me, it will look more sweater-like when I start adding the front.  Also, it's black so it's really fun to photograph!

Another Block, Unblocked

All I have to show for today is the ninth block in Caleb's Sherlock blanket, Queen Anne Way.  For some reason, while this block wasn't difficult to knit, it felt like it took forever - black hole knitting, where you knit and knit and get nowhere.  I guess it's been a while since I've had black hole knitting, so I was probably due for some, but it was just weird. 

In kitten news, Newton is treating Logan the same way he treats us, by walking all over him.  Max never walked on Logan so he's really not sure what's going on.  It makes him (Logan) really nervous, but I think there's probably a good chance that if Newton is walking on Logan, he might curl up with him and cuddle.  They're both being super sweet to each other, but we are always right with them and watching closely when they're together (which is why we don't have a lot of pictures of them yet) because while Logan would never purposely hurt Newton, he could easily do it accidentally because of his size.  Poor little Logan just has no clue how big he is.  If you asked him, I'm pretty sure he would say he was smaller than Newton.  Silly sweet marshmallow dog!

Have a good weekend and stay safe!