I will pretend that I am wrapping up my knitting and spinning year by starting this post with a FO. (Ubiquitous but mind-cleansing list will follow later.) The Chasing Rainbows socks that threatened to run out of yarn, didn't. I modified the Knitting Pure and Simple basic sock pattern to 48 stitches, instead of 40. Simple heel flap (sl 1, k or p across), kitchener toe, #3 dpn:
The blues and greens make me happy. I exchanged my cotton exercise socks for the photo shoot this morning. No good reason has reared up to suggest that I should take them off, so I haven't. My feet are warm. There is a dusting of snow on the ground from yesterday, and the socks just make life seem right.
Jenny Bakridges' class helped blast me from the complacency of spinning just because. Purposeful spinning means planning grist, sampling, and swatching. I picked out some merino/tencel from the fiberstash (Cloverleaf Farm, MS&W 2006). Spinning it shows it to be a slippery little sucker, so I stopped after a few hundred feet. I plyed up a 2-ply sample, a 3-ply sample, and swatched on three different needle sizes:
The winner for squoosh was the 3-ply sample (near left), but the fabric was too thick. The 2-ply (far left) on a #2 needle was perfect for socks, but lacked thickness. The next iteration will be thinner grist, so I can produce 3-ply that is not boot sock weight yarn. This is FUN. I have the sense of forward progress in my spinning life, which lends me purpose and focus. It's like flowing aerated water over my gills.
The Coopworth fleece from Cummington is going through similar pre-sweater boot camp. I Navajo-plyed a sample of just me spinning what I spin to see what came out. It's 5 st/inch on a #6, and somewhat dense. I'll go up a needle size, check out Ann Budd's book on generic sweater patterns, and find some ornamentation for the front and sleeves that will please Mr. Etherknitter. His comment on the swatch? "Hmmmmm. This feels like a fabric I won't have to be careful with, like the alpaca." I told him the sweater would probably outlive both of us.
I received a gift recently, a small thing that gives me a remarkable amount of pleasure for what it is.
It's a glow-in-the-dark sheep. Who knew?
Today is my second blogiversary. Our community has brought so much to my knitting and spinning and fiber life. There is no way to put into words how much you have given me through this difficult year. Mr. E and I offer a heartfelt thanks, with our hope that you have a wonderful New Year's celebration, and a warm, safe, happy New Year.
Happy Blogiversary Laurie! So glad to know you and call you friend! Happy New Year to you filled with much knitting, spinning fiber fun!
Posted by: Manise | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Oh, I forgot...the socks turned out wonderfully. Love the color!
Posted by: Manise | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 10:34 AM
What better way to start out a new year than with a glow-in-the-dark sheep.
Posted by: claudia | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Excellent start to some thoughtful spinning, I have yet to plan like that with mine.
A very Happy New Year to you and Mr. E as well!
Posted by: PumpkinMama | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 10:42 AM
I love the new socks. Happy Blogiversary and Happy New Year!
Posted by: SpindleRose | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Happy New Year and happy blogiversary. Are you sure it's only been two years? Strange, it seems like I've known you longer than that...
Posted by: Norma | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 11:11 AM
Happy New Year, Happy Blogiversary, and every possible wish for better treatment from 2007 than 2006 gave both you and Mr. E. (Except for the part where I got to meet you for real. I wouldn't trade that for the world)
Posted by: Rachel H | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Happy New Year! Happy Blogiversary! I, for one, am so glad you're here.
(And that we got out of this one alive.... Never was I so happy to see a year end!)
Posted by: Cara | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 11:26 AM
I just love reading about the changes to your planning/swatching around your spinning -- it was a class that continue to inspire positive changes. Happy Blogiversary -- it's been a wonderful ride - more to come in 2007!
Posted by: Kathy | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Happy New Year, Laurie! Happy Blogiversary too. Good for you for swatching. It's always enlightening as a spinner. Swatching as a mere knitter, not so much.
Posted by: julia fc | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 11:27 AM
I love the glow in the dark sheep! And forward progress with spinning must be a great feeling. I'm not there yet, though.
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Carole | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Happy Blogiversary and Happy New Year, E! I'm glad to know ya. Nice sheep. :D
Posted by: Marcy | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 11:58 AM
Happy New Year. I like the spin to a purpose idea. That gray is lovely.
Posted by: LaurieM | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 12:02 PM
happy new year and happy blogversary.
i for one am thankful that in 2006 i got to meet you.
Posted by: maryse | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 12:07 PM
Happy Blogiversary! It's been wonderful getting to know you :-)!
Posted by: Kim | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 12:31 PM
Happy Blogaversary!!! We share the same day!
Posted by: Chris | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Just think...in a few days we can have a New Years hug! Having you for a friend is one of the best things to come from blogging. Congrats on 2 years! May 2007 be a grand year for you and Mr. E!
Posted by: margene | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 02:36 PM
Congrats and happy new year!
Re spinning for purpose - did you see http://www.abbysyarns.com/wordpress/?p=19 ?
Posted by: June | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 02:56 PM
Happy New Year and 2nd Blogoversary! I have to agree with Claudia -- glow in the dark sheep make an excellent start for the new year!
Posted by: Theresa | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 03:09 PM
Happy New Year, and Happy Blogiversary! And glow in the dark sheep, that is very cool.
Posted by: Lorette | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 03:18 PM
Happy New Year AND Bloggyversary! May 2007 be filled with not one single broken bone. (for your family members that is)
Posted by: scout | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 05:25 PM
I love blues and greens too!! Happy new year!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jen | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 05:28 PM
The socks are gorgeous -- I wouldn't take them off, either. Best wishes for the new year. Keep all those bones and attached parts in one piece, 'kay?
Posted by: kmkat | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 06:36 PM
Happy New Year and Happy Blogiversary!!!
Posted by: Madame Purl | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 07:01 PM
Happy happy blogiversary!
Posted by: mamacate | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 09:33 PM
Happy Blogiversary! and a Happy New Year to you. It's been quite a run, so glad we're in it together.
Posted by: Judy | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 10:50 PM
Happy Blogiversary! :o)
Pretty socks - and v cool sheep :o)
Posted by: JessaLu | Monday, January 01, 2007 at 11:01 PM
Happy New Year, Happy Blogiversary, and may there be many glow-in-the-dark sheep in your year ahead!
Posted by: Theresa | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 08:34 AM
Wait, did you say that they DIDN'T run out of yarn?! You modified the pattern and DIDN'T run out of yarn. Crazy knitting world.
Posted by: Bookish Wendy | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 10:09 AM
nice socks! very nice indeed ! and you had enough yarn?! applause.
You're spinning and swatching from it?. Now I am totally impressed. wow. more applause.
May 2007 be filled with joy for you and your family.
Posted by: Teyani | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Happy New Year, Laurie! You are a truly remarkable human being who has enriched my life tremendously with your wit, your humor, and your unique perspective on the world.
Can I have those socks?
Posted by: Lucia | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 12:07 PM
Yes, yes, knitting and spinning is all well and good, but:
Glow-in-the-dark sheep! Yay!
Posted by: Cordelia | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Happy New Year, Laurie! Hoping that you and Mr. E have a better year this year.
Posted by: Martha | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 01:13 PM
I have to echo Norma here: ONLY two years?! Can't be! I've known you way longer than that! Hugs to you both and my wishes for a healthy, happy, accident-free new year filled with much wool.
Posted by: Marcia | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 02:49 PM
Happy Blogiversary Laurie! I do so enjoy the community we share, and count you among my friends :)
As for purpose filled spinning---not sure I'm ready for that quite yet. There's just so much more to learn before I try to control it all. Keep us posted on how it's working for you.
Posted by: lisa Co. Springs | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 04:43 PM
Happy Blogiversary lady. I'm glad you're here.
Posted by: Stephanie | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 07:24 PM
This little world of ours is a wonderful place, isn't it? All the better with you in it, ya know.
Happy blogiversary dear.
Posted by: Kellee | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 11:14 PM
Happy Blogiversary and New Years. Love the socks and the sheep is too cute!
Posted by: Barbp | Tuesday, January 02, 2007 at 11:21 PM
Huzzah for swatching and sampling! I definitely find that actually doing the swatches is the only way to know how the fabric will drape and feel, and I'm always glad to have done it; in fact, I always make sure, when it's a big project, that I have plenty of extra fiber exactly for that purpose.
Thank you for your comment on my blog -- that was an especially fun project, because it's yarn for someone else to knit. If I had really been going the distance, I realized later, I'd have sent her the samples, and had her swatch. But I was too eager to get her the yarn itself, in time for her to start her holiday knitting. ;-)
Posted by: Abby Franquemont | Wednesday, January 03, 2007 at 01:59 PM
Happy blogiversary! Blogging's a great hobby, ain't it? I'm glad you're part of it.
And that swatching? I love watching an analytical mind glom on to the joys that come from sampling and planning. I look forward to your results.
Posted by: Chris | Wednesday, January 03, 2007 at 08:23 PM
Happy blogiversary!! Gorgeous oceany socks. And I LOVE the glow in the dark sheep!
Posted by: Chris | Wednesday, January 03, 2007 at 10:30 PM