spinning in circles: August 2007

doesn't count

I just now realized, like two minutes ago, today is my 1st blogiversary. I didn't even know it was coming up and I don't know what made me feel like I needed to go check. In my defense, I've been busy today. Got up early to go babysit, then coming home to try and make a sick guinea pig get better, pretty full day. So, let's just say that this blogiversary doesn't count and then, my first can be next year because right now, I have all of 18 posts. Oh, wait, this makes 19. That's all I've done in a year. A YEAR!!! Not good. I really feel like I've done more than that. Oh, well. Here's to hoping my blog has more posts when I actually celebrate my 1st year blogiversary.

FiberFest!!

OK, so I did go to the Fiberfest with Elizabeth and it was loads of fun. We probably walked through all the barns 2 or 3 times just looking at stuff. When we walked passed the concession stand, I heard someone say,"See, there are other girls your age here." It was awesome to talk about stuff like color pooling, spinning, and dpn sock needles with someone my own age and not be looked at like I'm absolutely insane. I did buy some stuff.

First, I got 2 pounds of roving from Little Barn (pics to come as soon as I get a good one). When we were looking tents outside the barns, the Little Barn tent had a really long line so we had to go see what that was about. I've been wanting to make a sweater out of handspun, only I didn't want it out of just any handspun. I've been looking for something with colors combed together. And when I saw this, I liked it but, I didn't buy it right away because of two things, 1. I didn't want to buy anything until we had looked everywhere, just incase I saw something later and 2, I wasn't sure how soft it would be since it was all packaged up into 8oz bags. There was a hole in one of the bags big enough for a finger but you can't really tell how something feels with just one finger.
I came back later and finally decided to take a chance and buy it. When I got in line, I only had a pound and a half (I reasoned that I would make a sweater with 3/4 sleeves). But standing there, I was thinking out loud, maybe I should go get another one. I mean, what if I run out? Elizabeth asked if I wanted her to go get another bag. I said no but after a few minutes, I was like, if I get another bag, even if I don't use it for a sweater it won't really go to waste right. The chick in front of me over heard and she said something to the tune of, you'll find something to use it for. So I finally caved and went back to grab a 4th bag and when I came back to the line, the girl infront of me goes, content now?

Later on, I bought a braid from The Yarn Hollow. It's an 80/20 merino/silk blend, 5.6oz. I don't know what to do with it yet. It's just so pretty and soft, I had to have it.

back from vacation!

I'm back! We got back early Monday morning after a really long drive. I didn't get a lot of knitting done except for on the Soleil tank. If I really work on it, it could be finished and ready to block in a few days. Realistically speaking, though, that's not going to happen. I didn't get much else done because I mostly slept. In the day, I slept with a pillow on the window, at night, I slept leaning on my older brother, the entire time hoping he wouldn't fart (thank god he didn't!). My neck and back still hurts from being bent every which way to lay down. I did acquire a new skein of sock yarn but, I'm too lazy to go take a picture now.

The Michigan Fiber Fest is on Saturday and if all goes well, I'll go with my new(ish) friend, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is probably one of the coolest people my age that I know. She's a newish friend because I've only gotten to hang out with her twice, the knit nights in july and august at the Barnes and Noble in Battle Creek. Mom saw her on Ravelry (on which I am now 4,786 people away from being invited) and invited her to join us at knit night.

Vacation!!

Almost every year, we go on vacation to North Carolina for a week. It's always fun to go to the beach and swim in the ocean. But here's the thing, we always drive down. We live in Michigan. That means that starting tomorrow, I'll be stuck in a car for about a day and a half. I'm about to have a lot of time on my hands. I'm pretty sure that, for the majority of the time, I'll be stuck between Graham and Alex. That's going to be fun. And really, right now I should be packing or something. Today is always hectic because no one packs before today.

But, anyway, I figured I should post some WIP pictures because who knows what will be finish when I get back.

This is my Soleil. I started it on Tuesday (maybe?). I'm knitting it out of a mercerized cotton yarn called Sinfonia. I'm actually much farther than in that picture but the only other picture I have is this (slightly embarrassing) one that Mom snapped when I was trying it on to make sure it was going to fit.

And here is the foot of my second Entrelac Sock.

I have to admit, with these socks, I've definitely had SSS. Maybe it's because they're knee socks or because I had to frog a good part of the first one and figure out how to make it fit me better. The only reason I've gotten this far on the second one is because I've been knitting it while listening to Eldest on audiobook.

This is another project that I neglected to mention before. It's the Under the Hoodie from Stitch N Bitch in Lion Brand Cotton-ease. I've been working on it for a while and I already have the back and sleeves done but no pics.

Incase you saw Mom's post yesterday...

On the right, is Abi's roving. Very pink. On the left is Kai's. Yesterday, he told me over and over that I had to put a picture of it on my blog.

dying to dye

All summer long, I've been walking around the house saying "I want to dye!!" Earlier today, I finallly got my chance.

I used all the colors we had ready and made it up as I went along. At one point towards the end of it, I was like, "Everything needs more Fuschia." I didn't weargloves even though we had them, and my hands ended up blue.