Knitting · Spinning · totally awesome sister

I Survived the Aporkalypse (probably).

Jen4 Comments

I say probably because at no time was I tested for the H1N1 virus. That said, I did come down with influenza. Well, I assume that was the one which got me, and my doctor (with whom I spoke on the phone) agreed. Although it could have been the other, seasonal, flu which is also going around. I can tell you this, though. Having the flu sucks, but as far as flus go, this particular flu wasn’t all that horrific. I felt like I was hit by a truck, yes, but only for a day and a half or so. The rest of the week I felt like I was recovering–slowly getting better. So what did I do? I rested.

Check it out. I made another dishrag for my TAS:

I started a dishrag for myself:

And I finished my first handspun:

So, fear not the Hamthrax (or seasonal flu)! Most people who get it, like me, do not die.

holiday cheer

Happy Mother’s Day

Jen1 Comment

This made the rounds last year, and I probably posted it then, too. But it’s funny as hell and well worth watching again.

Happy Mother’s Day, Y’all!

Knitting

Sweater Killer

Jen6 Comments

Remember this sweater? I finished it back in January. I loved this sweater.

Apparently, wool will felt just to spite you if the water you use for washing is too cold.

Lesson learned: lukewarm water for hand knits. Not cold.

life

It was a very early morning

Jen3 Comments

One of the added advantages of co-sleeping with your kids is that you get a ring-side seat to early morning attacks of the stomach flu. Yay attachment parenting.

random

Weird Facebook Status Juxtapositions

Jen2 Comments

I have a strange assortment of friends on Facebook, apparently.

links · random

Meanwhile, on the dark side…

Jen4 Comments

I was going to do a long post today about how addicted I am to spinning and how it’s cutting into my knitting/housecleaning/facebooking time. But I’m too tired. I was up too late spinning. Instead, some geeky fun. Apparently today is Star Wars Day.

May the 4th be with you!

Spinning · yarn

Oh, look…

Jen8 Comments

…some singles.

Spun on my Turkish style drop spindle. Technically, this is not my first handspun. My first attempt was with some merino/silk top I’d gotten a couple of years ago at the CTS&W festival. Apparantly merino/silk is not the best choice for a beginning spinner. I was having the darndedst time making it work and nearly gave up on spinning altogether. Luckily, I didn’t and instead picked up this BFL at the NYS&W festival this past October. As you can tell, it’s going much more smoothly. Now, about my plying options… Suggestions welcome.

Knitting · Spinning · TAS

O Hai!

Jen8 Comments

Hey there! I know I haven’t posted since Saturday and that Wednesday is usually for Whiskers on Wednesday. I just can’t bring myself to post another picture of the cats today. (I know heard some of you cheer. Cut that out.) Frankly, the cats have not been all that interesting lately. They’re officially buddies now, so they spend all night running off their kitty krazies by playing tag and wrestling and discussing the finer points of Quantum mechanics and then they spend all day sleeping. Doozer, being three times (literally!) Lolly’s size, is surprisingly gentle with her and she is surprisingly loud when she feels like she’s not getting the better of him. So, it all works out in the end.

So, here’s some random stuff  that’s happened since Saturday:

I finished a pair of socks, just in time for the freakish 90° weather of a Connecticut spring.

[ravelry]

I finished another dishrag for my TAS. I figure I’ll add a pretty soap dispenser or something to go with it. Voila! Housewarming gift completed.

[ravelry]

A friend of mine has learned to spin and this has inspired me to also get my first spinning project out. Well, that and the fact that I picked up a fleece at the CT Sheep & Wool festival. But that particular project is going to require me to fix/renovate/restore my Great Wheel. And then learn how to spin on it.

And now there’s BFL in my coffee.

sheep show · Spinning

Another Sheep Show Gone By

Jen5 Comments

I love the Connecticut Sheep and Wool Festival, but I am a bad bad blogger. I neglected to take any pictures. I am happy and tired, though, and a good time was had by all. I met up with some Ravelers and had a wonderful chat with the the guy from the Merlin Tree about my antique great wheel. Isaac discovered needle felting and I purchased my first fleece.

Luckily, I snagged a few copies of Spin Off from a woman on Ravelry who was destashing them a couple of weeks ago.

I also brought home a sunburn.

Knitting · sheep show

Bad News, Good News

Jen2 Comments

Bad News: There’s now way in hell I’m going to be able to finish the No-Purl Monkey socks (or the Harumi Cardigan for that matter) in time for the CT Sheep & Wool festival tomorrow.

Good News (I guess): It’s going to be entirely too hot for socks (and/or sweaters).