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March 26, 2007
I'm going batty!
I've finished up the batches of merino for my crazy socks. what started out as 8 ounces of fiber is probably now closer to 11 or so, with the bits of firestar, faux cashmere, and tussah silk. I really need a scale so I can weigh the batts. That'll help in the pricing once I blend some up for selling. I love playing with the drum carder. Throw in this and that and out pops something so soft and cuddly. I'm positive that tussah silk is the secret key to EVERYTHING.
My baby blue and sea foam green look a lot alike in this picture. partially because all the shine make my camera do funny things.
The whole Etsy thing is going well. Wednesday, I sold a set of my silk hankies, and today I sold the other 3 sets! I have more silk hankies on order and a few skeins of KnitPicks Bare Merino on the way. Hopefully I'll get a few more items up in the next few weeks. Then I'm going to stock up on undyed fiber at Greencastle so I can start selling spinning batts.
Posted by Holly at 11:05 PM | Comments (2)
March 24, 2007
I've kept myself busy...
I've spent the week spinning and knitting and blending (batting?). Those damn socks are nearly done. I was sooo close, until suddenly I realized the stitches hadn't been distributed properly once I started the toe pattern. Naturally, that had to be frogged, so in frustration today, I took a break from knitting to ply up the yarn I'd been working on. I ended up with a 3-ply, 4 ounce, 225 yard skien of sock yarn. I think these will end up being ankle socks, unless I can think of another project for it. I have to say though I'm VERY pleased with the results.
Here it is, laid out, off the bobbin.
I've also started spinning up my silk/merino blend for a pair of socks. No pictures of that yet, but soon, I promise. I've made two absolutely luscious batts today. Both are from the dyed merino I'd previously posted. Again, I combined faux cashmere, firestar and tussah silk to it for extra strength, shine and sparkle. The one on top is more purple than it really appears in the picture, but I'm in love with the green. I have six more batts to make and then I'll make a really crazy pair of socks.
Posted by Holly at 11:28 PM | Comments (2)
March 20, 2007
Dying a little more every day...
I've been digging through my stash, looking for more fiber to dye up. I found my 50/50 merino/silk blend, and I plan on making a nice 3 ply sock yarn out of it. One ply is a nice dark charcoal color (true black is so hard to achieve), another is a jewel toned purple/teal/bordeaux, and the last is a pale version of the same colors. I think it's going to make a gorgeous yarn.
I've also been spinning from my stash. I've been working on a 3 ply from some lovely painted merino I've had for a few months. It's pretty obvious that I like jewel tones looking at all my yarn and fiber, isn't it?
I'm sill plugging away at the Nordic light socks. Hopefully they'll be done by next week. More pictures soon!
Posted by Holly at 08:54 AM | Comments (1)
March 13, 2007
Woohoo!
I set up my etsy shop on Sunday! You can visit it at DriveByKnitting.Etsy.Com. I'm going to add more eventually, but it'll take time. But I already sold my first item: a set of stitch markers! I'm so excited.
Sonya and Tabitha, I'll be there tonight, just late, like last week.
Posted by Holly at 09:10 AM | Comments (2)
March 10, 2007
Yeah, I know, it's about time...
It's time for an over due update. A nearly threatening email from Sonya proved it. ;-) I have been working on projects, so it's not like I completely neglected everything. I'm hoping tomorrow to get my stitch markers and silk hankies up on etsy. I could do it, if I'd just sit down and make myself. I finished my first Nordic lights sock and it looks great. I've also dyed the merino that I won on the retreat, and now I'm dying some other fibers for blending. Hopefully they'll get carded soon. On the indulgent side, I bought sock yarn from Grinny Possum today that we all know I don't need. Lorna's Laces in Mother Lode. I'd admired the color for some time, and finally had to buy it. The other is Panda Wool. 46% bamboo, 43% wool, 11% nylon. 100% wonderful!
It's less than 2 months until the Maryland wool festival and I put down my deposit. I can hardly wait! Ann says I'll think I've died and gone to heaven.
Now, since my belly's feeling a little icky, I'll post some pictures with a promise of a better post later!
Posted by Holly at 10:37 PM | Comments (3)