It's been a year?!

Well, almost a year, since my last post.  I'm calling it a "sabbatical" because that sounds much better than saying "I was too lazy and distracted to write". 

So here's a quick review of 2014:

February--went to New Zealand.  It's really, REALLY far away from South Carolina, but it's beautiful and the people are amazingly nice.

May--older daughter graduated FROM COLLEGE.  Yes, I'm using my outside voice to say that because it seems impossible that she's old enough to be finished with college.

July--went to Beijing, China.  It's really, REALLY far away from South Carolina.  It's such an incredible place to visit with it's huge cities and ancient history.  It's also very hot in the summer.

August--started our homeschool year with the younger two kidlets, ages 13 and 9.  We are working on Latin and Greek.  Don't tell them I said this, but they are way better at both than I am.

December--wonderful Christmas with family.

 
On to 2015!!

In November I started a couch-to-5K program.  The idea is that it takes you from slug on the couch to 5k runner in about 2 months.  You start by running short intervals, broken up by walking intervals.  It has worked really well for me so far.  I am now running 25-30 minutes at a time.  I'm really slow (pretty sure I walk faster than I "run"), but I'm doing it!  Go me!

I have been knitting for just over two years now and I'm completely addicted.  I would have said "hooked" but that's only funny when talking about crochet.  It's a pretty good bet that this blog will take a definite turn toward fiber art--knitting and spinning with an occasional crochet project thrown in.
______________________________________

Recent FO's (finished objects):

Zigzagular socks by Susie White
Yarn--Yarn Zwerger Garn Opal 4-ply in the Sweet and Spicy colorway

Fun socks with a twisted stitch, zigzag pattern on the side.  It's a free pattern on Ravelry (thanks, Susie!).  The pattern is clearly written and very easy to follow, including moving the zigzag for left and right socks.

 
Chill Chaser Cardigan by Sylvia Hager
Yarn--Spud and Choe in Toast and Grape Jelly

This was a Christmas Day cast on.  It took just under three weeks to complete it, made possible by taking time off school and watching the Mythbusters marathon.  I was a little concerned that the sleeves were going to be too tight, but a little blocking and this sweater fits just fine.

Currently on the needles:

The Lawrence sweater by Melissa LaBarre
Yarn--Cascade 220, colorway #9572

I started this sweater about a week ago and the cowl is taking forever.  It's miles of garter stitch in the round, which isn't difficult but it eats up the yarn and my time.  I'm so ready to get to the body of the sweater.  It has a lace detail in the front and the back. 

A KAL (knit-a-long) with The Knitting Den podcast and the Apple Blossom and Ewe podcast prompted me to give this sweater a try.  It's beautiful and pushed me to learn to do welts (the rolled edge looking things in the middle of the photo).

Plain vanilla socks
I also cast on a sock this morning.  It's for my daughter who gave me sock yarn for Christmas.  She didn't request anything for herself but I want to make her socks anyway.  She has small feet, so hopefully a quick project.

_________________________________________

About this time last year, I discovered knitting podcasts.  There are a ton of them and they are fun, inspiring, and great company while I'm knitting or running.  There are both video and audio podcasts available.  I'm planning to write a little about one or two favorites in each blog post.

Prairie Girls Knit and Spin

This podcast is hosted by Susie (of Zigzagular Socks fame) and Danie.  They do an audio-only podcast from Nebraska.  Episodes include their finished projects, current projects and future plans.  Projects gone awry are included in a segments called "Son of a Stitch", which always makes me giggle. 

They also chat about other knitting related topics like Knits on Screen where they point out knitting from television or movies, Stash Enhancement which is an audio version of show-and-tell about yarny purchases, and Truth in which Susie and Danie reveal a little about themselves such as how often (or not) the wash their handknits.  The Prairie Girls have inspired me to try lots of new projects, knowing that even my failures will lead to some pretty funny stories.

Do you have any favorite podcasts or blogs?  I'd love to hear about them.

Spinning Sock Yarn

One of my goals in spinning and knitting is to spin my own yarn for socks. At SAFF (the Southeast Animal Fiber Fair) in October, I bought some ready-to-spin superwash fiber. Superwash fiber has been specially treated so that it can be washed in a washing machine without felting. I've been working on spinning it for socks.

Sock yarn needs to be firm, so it holds up well. I also want it to be fairly fine, as in not bulky yarn. All that meant it took FOREVER to spin the four ounces of fiber I bought.

I finally finished spinning the singles. Then I was faced with the decision of how to ply it-- 2-ply? 4x4 cable? Chain/Navajo ply? As usual, I had not managed to fill two bobbins evenly, and since I didn't want to waste any of the fiber, a 2-ply was out. A 4x4 cable had pretty much the same issue, even if I plied from center pull balls. Also, I like the idea of preserving the color runs (chain plying does this beautifully!), so chain plying was the winner.

Here's the result--a picture of the singles still on the bobbin, and the chain-plied yarn on the wheel:

I Made Socks!

Okay, they're just tube socks, but I made them from yarn I spun myself. I started them weeks ago, maybe even a couple of months ago and then set them aside. Once I really got going, they were fast. I finished the first one this morning and the second one after supper tonight.

The pattern is a knit two, purl two rib, done on size 5 double pointed needles. To decrease for the toe, I knit two together, knit one until there were only six stitches left (two on each needle). I transferred them to two needles (three on each).

At that point, I found instructions on the internet for a Kitchener stitch done with knitting needles rather than a yarn needle. I'm not sure I did it right, but the toes are closed and I'm happy with them!

I'm one of those people who need plenty of practice when learning a new skill. And I have to take baby steps along the way* . I see making tube socks as a baby step to making "real socks". You know, the ones with heel flaps and gussets? Double pointed needles, you don't scare me anymore!


*Am I the only one who sees Bill Murray's face (from What About Bob?) when I hear the phrase "baby steps"?