State Fair Results

I picked up my five entries from the Oregon State Fair this afternoon. I had entered in my Lilia Hyrna Shawl from handspun yarn, the Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts, the Bobbie Blue Falling Water Scarf and the Sunflower Tam. Those were all my knit items. I also had the Recycle Bunny.

They all won a ribbon! The Fair doesn't give 'premiums' for the Textiles category, so no money, but that's okay.

First Place - Lilia Hyrna Shawl and the Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts

Second Place - Bobbie Blue Falling Water Scarf and Recycled Bunny

Third Place - Sunflower Tam

Definitely going to enter things again next year!

Flowers, Mitts and Yarn in progress

Pretty flowers have been sharing their beauty in my yard, so I thought I'd share it with you!

Iris growing in our pond - total hydroponics!

Bearded Iris - one of a whole bunch that will be blooming this week.

Daylily, don't know the name. We got it last year at the Tualatin Valley Gardener's Spring Sale

Juanita's Daylillies with Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts. The day lillies may have another name, but they originally started in Brandon's grandmother's house. They took them to the retirement home when they moved. When Juanita had her stroke and went to live with Judy (B's mom), she had them in planters on her patio. Then she divided them up between herself and B and M. We've enjoy them each summer and with her passing we'll think of her.

As seen above, I finished the Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts for Abstract Fiber. Yarns are Burnside Bridge and Little Black Dress. I just need to get them to Susan so she can start using them in displays.

I mentioned that I was planning to cable ply the Coopworth. I put the bulky head on the Lendrum and finished 2-plying and then added on the previous part adding more twist. 

Then I used the ball winder so I could ply from both ends. Still using the bulky head, I ended up with this:

I have Leeloo's hair clipped so that she's looking more like a Yorkie. The boys think her face trim looks pretty good.Some of the hairs on her nose are still being difficult and dropping into her eyes, they need to grow a bit more.  I was able to catch her outside this morning holding still. 

Check her out playing with her Flying Squirrel ChuckIt! It's 9x9 inches according to their web site. I tried to measure her and got 7-3/4 inches tall. ;-)

Some fibery stuff

As mentioned in previous posts I have tried to get some knitting done. I have a few pictures to show what's been done.  The progress of the Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts:

How I knit them

From the right side

The coopworth that I was spinning on the Traveler and plied on the Lendrum. I still need to finish plying up the little bit and then I'm thinking of re-plying for a 4-ply.

I still need to finish up a couple of other projects and really shouldn't have started another one, but the plan was to finish at least one of them while on vacation so I could start the new one with a clean conscious. I didn't finish either of the WIPs, but I still went ahead and started Ishbel with my handspun. I'm resisting the call to pick it up again and make more progress until the WIPs are done. Here's how far I got though:

While playing outside with Leeloo I was looking at my lavender starting to bloom. I had the thought of making some wands out them as something to sell at future events. I thought I might be able to get some done before the one upcoming the weekend of July 4th, but apparently the ribbon weaving needs to be tightened up as they dry out. I am also thinking about some batches of mustards - wine and beer varieties. Not sure that they would be done for next weekend either. At least I'm coming up with these ideas for money-making, just have to get them implemented.

Leeloo Videos and a few photos

We have this soccer ball toy that Norbert never really got into, so it languished in the toy bin. I washed all the toys a few weeks ago and remembered the ball. I needed something to distract Leeloo from attacking my feet, so pulled out the soccer ball and was kicking it around the back yard. I think its funny how she runs to and usually flips over the ball to get it. It took her a few times to figure out how to grab the ball and bring it to me. Its good for laughs and since she's making me laugh, that's great. She's much better about bringing the ball back than Norbert. Doesn't do it all the time, but that's fine. We both get exercise going around the yard that way. Leeloo and her soccer ball:


I mentioned on Facebook that Leeloo's little 'roo-roo-roo' bark always brings a smile to my face. I also usually laugh and roo-roo back at her. Tonight she was playing with Brandon on the couch, lighting is a little low, sorry about that. It's also a little long at over three minutes, so I'm going to include a link to it. That way if you don't want to, you don't have to watch it.

While I was in class on Saturday, Brandon was in charge of Leeloo. He took the camera out with his tripod and took some photos of Leeloo at her level. These were the best of the lot.

I worked on the Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts in the morning MAX rides to class. Both afternoons the trains were full/busy, so difficult to do stranded knitting. I'll get more work done on them tomorrow, either at spinning or at Whole Foods. I'm at the thumb increases, so the flow is rolling along. I'd like to get these done so I can pass them on to Susan.

Gail's Socks

I'd told Gail that if she found yarn and pattern I'd be happy to knit her up a pair of socks. Gail got some of Susan's Picasso line of yarn in 100% baby alpaca in the colorway Lady MacBeth. She found Mountain Colors Fascine Braid as the pattern and then it was all up to me.

Nice easy to memorize pattern and lovely soft yarn to work with. Just a little difficult in low light because of the black and dark grey colors. Gorgeous red!

Gail in turned paid me in yarn. Some really soft and cushy Cascade Eco Duo:

I started a project for Susan that she's been lusting after since I made a pair as a gift. Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts -Deux have been started and this pair will be totally Abstract Fiber sock yarn. She does a pretty black called appropriately, Little Black Dress.

I also started a pair of socks for my sister Tanya out of the Breast Cancer colorway from Lorna's Laces, there's a small error, but I'm going with it. Pattern is Celebrate Spring. Blurry picture:

Tomorrow is all about getting ready for the beach trip. Sharing the beach house with Duffy, Sara, Shelia,  and Tammy. Friends + Fiber = Fun weekend!

New Yarn

I had been looking at my queue and the Orion socks that I'd like to start soon had Malabrigo sock planned for them. I have the Malabrigo sock yarn, but looking at other projects I just wasn't feeling it with the yarns I had picked. So looked at the Shibuiknits sock yarns and decided on the cool named Roppongi and their new sock yarn Staccato - 65% superwash merino, 30% silk and 5% nylon in a pretty yellow aptly named 'Butter'. 

If I don't finish Gail's second sock tonight, it will be done tomorrow. I then have another pair of the Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts to make for Susan to use in her booth. These will be totally out of her Abstract Fiber since she sent me a skein of 'Little Black Dress' an all black skein. So kind of three different contract knitting projects to get done all before February 12th. I'm also working on another pair of socks for holiday gift giving for sister Tanya.

Why such a hard deadline? I've committed myself to two teams for Ravelympics - Team BMFA and Team Spin-Knit. I may get wild and do a third event. I have Sock Hockey with BMFA and a pair of socks for my sister Jennifer. For Team Spin-Knit I planned the Short Track Shawl but may also add in Flying Camel Spin. I don't think I'll have any problems getting the cast ons done during the opening event. It's also getting in the spinning time. I think if I did an hour each day that it might work.  After all if you're doing an event you're not doing it every day of the Olympics usually, right?

My sister Tanya will be coming down from Snohomish on the 15th, along with mom flying in from Reno. We're finally going to get Grandma Dona settled in with Grandpa Howard up at Willamette National Cemetery.

After back to back colds and a cold sore thrown in along for the fun, I'm starting to be healthy. Next weekend there's a Spin-In down in Newport. I have permission to use the beach house so some of use will be driving down Friday night and spending the weekend down there. It should be fun!

ETA: Changed post title and took out a sample info and pics, hope this isn't too confusing......

Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts

Pattern: Winter Twilight Mitts
Yarns: Abstract Fiber Supersock, Burnside; Knit Picks Essentials, Black
Needles: US 1 & 0

Of course the first one feels snugger to me than the second one and I knit them the same way - inside out both times. I must have been more relaxed and comfortable for the second one. It's not a HUGE difference, just noticeable to me.

Here they are:




I have enough of the Burnside leftover that I'm pretty sure I can get at least one sample of the pattern made as a store sample for Susan. But she'll have to wait a bit before I start it, I want to work on something else for a bit! ;-)

New fiber and a finished project

I picked up Wednesday night my Yak-Merino from Susan. I have some white yak-merino that I'm debating blending with the new stuff. I have four ounces of each for a total of eight ounces. Something to think about and get some votes.

Tiggywinkleknits shared a 'Mystery Batt' that Barbara had brought up and given her at Oregon Flock and Fiber this last fall. I'm tempted to blend it with the Stitchjones red-orange wensleydale roving I got last week.



I had hoped to finish the Dundee Babydoll dress for Susan Wednesday night while at Haggen's but trying to do the lace pattern with Brandon talking to me and then trying to have conversations at Haggen's I was foiled in that effort. I spent some time frogging back those rows and then re-doing them. Much easier in a quiet environment! I then took some of the leftovers and crocheted around the neck and sleeves. With the sleeves it helps keep them from rolling:



On the Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts front I have been working on them and have a good portion of the mitt knitted and halfway through the thumb gusset increases. If I weren't working on Friday, they would get done then. Instead it will have to wait until Saturday for finishing.

Things in progress.....

Since I wasn't able to get to Spinnerati on Saturday due to the staff meeting going later than I thought it would, I did some spinning at home. I pulled out the Abstract Fiber samples of the merino-silk and merino-yak, both 50/50 blends. I didn't weigh them before spinning and didn't loose any so 3 grams and 5 grams respectively. Finished total yardage is 39 - 19.5 and 18.5 yards each:




I started another store sample for Susan and a test knit for me of a babydoll dress for a little girl. I'm planning one for Jenna who turns 2 in May. The test knit, Dundee Babydoll, is the 3 month old size in progress modeled by my teddy bear that I think is of appropriate size representation. I hope/should have enough after completing the skirt to I think crochet a border along the sleeves and neckline. The sleeves need it to stop the rolling they want to do. Here it is in progress, more work on it later tonight at Moonstruck:


I have been working in fits and spurts on the second Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts and currently about half way through the thumb gusset. No photos of that because I work on it inside out and while the floats are pretty, don't really show the true pattern.

The camel was also washed today. So yummy! It's 779 yards of lace weight, if not mentioned in the previous post. I'm looking forward to making it into a shawl, possibly with some beads, sometime in the future.



Wednesday spinning I think I'll try out the apricot baby huacayas alpaca, Opal was her name, from Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. I have my fingers crossed that I can finish the mitt and start on a hat and I think another pair of socks. I should be doing more hats this month but I'm not sure who I plan to give them to and they are fast knits so not a huge worry later in the year.

And its not over!

This working thing is keeping me hopping. I had a very busy few hours where it would have been nice to have two people working! I have also been good and haven't bought anything this week - bonus! We have a staff meeting bright and early at 8:30 am (there was no mention of actually being functional - just there). Then on to the Portland Central Library for Portland Spinnerati for a few hours. spinning - yea! This means I will most likely miss the temptations that Susan will be posting tomorrow, most likely a good thing for my pocketbook! ;^)

I am happy to report that I have finally finished spinning my camel. I love it. Its soft, its squishy feeling and by the looks of the bobbin, I have a LOT of it. How much? I don't know, its still 'resting' on the bobbin. I'll probably try taking it off tomorrow and will find out then. Here is what it looks like currently:



The other project I finished is a sample for Susan at Abstract Fibers to use as an idea of what her sock yarn looks knitted up. I did a little cardigan in a 12 month size called Boheme, so here is 'Dundee Boheme':



I'm trading it with Susan for some of her yummy 50/50 Yak/Merino roving (my little sample of it):

I'm going to try to get a preemie hat made up of the last of the Dundee. Then it will be back to work on the Burnside Winter Twilight Mitts. I want to finish them before starting other projects. I'm 'trying' to be good and not have a lot of partial projects on the needles.

I need to remember to make the deviled eggs and I think Brandon is making his beans to take down to my cousins for the Bridges Family Easter Potluck on Sunday. Can I have a few more hours this weekend please?

Fiber Delight

I'm down to the last half an ounce of camel to be spun up. I could probably finish it tonight and then post it tomorrow, but I didn't want to wait, it's been long enough without a post. Tomorrow its my goal to get that finished up!

In my mail have come the following items, Corriedale-Finn-Rambouillet roving from Spinner's Hill via Dizzy sheep (I also have a couple of the Jewel silk caps coming to me - thanks Maxfun!) A 4 ounce braid. Then they only had 1 oz left of the grey of the same mix:


I got the drum carder from Duffy Wednesday night and so Thursday night I ran my washed OFFF alpaca through it and loved how it came out. Then ran the flea infested creamy-white stuff that I had picked the bodies out of. Still a few in there and it will just be a play yarn. Here's the batts that came out:
Top left is the tog and all that I have from the Icelandic fleece (just tooo scurffy for the carder - terribly sad because the thel is really soft); bottom left is the OFFF alpaca. The white is the flea-alpaca and the purple is the Jacob roving I got in the yarn crawl at Dublin Bay. It had been carded but was in the knotty bundle and really a mess. Looking forward to working with it now!

In the mail today - the 13 skeins of Berroco Love It! from Susan's destash sale. Two in a row, I really shouldn't look tomorrow!!! It's a pretty raspberry-ish color and looked really pink on her site and had me a bit concerned about getting it but figured worse case that I could have it over-dyed. Looking forward to making an adult sweater out of this!

Then at work I got to put my hands on some Malabrigo Sock and it's Violeta Africana and the pic doesn't really show the richness of the purple to its true color. Maybe a new pic with good daylight tomorrow may happen. I was able to justify it coming home with me because it was a small delivery of the sock yarn and there were only three purples and it just really should come home with me (the employee discount really helped with the justification too):


I have some Abstract Fiber Supersock in Dundee that I'm trying out a baby cardigan out of: Hope to finish this weekend along with the Simplicity sock and would like to get the Burnside Winter Twilight mitt done too. All are fun projects but ready to move on!

One more day to leave a comment and win the yarn!