the Akamai Knitter

Just when I thought the knitting mojo had made a return, it made an abrupt departure once again. However, it did make a brief reappearance on Saturday when Veronica and I went out for dim sum and Starbucks. We had a fantastic time and I was able to get the first Nanner sock done.

I usually start the second sock right away and that was the plan. So I sat down to watch 30 Days Of Night and was all settled in with my needles. Instead, my hands sat idle as I was mesmerized by this movie. If you like vampire/horror movies, you might want to check it out. I thought it was very well done.

Now it’s Monday morning and the sum total of my knitting accomplishments for the weekend is this.

That’s because I finally taught myself to Navajo ply on Sunday. I used this video as my major resource. Let me just say, Rexenne is a goddess. Someone had shown me how to do it before this, but it continued to mystify me. The slow motion excerpts in this tutorial are genius.

Still, I’d been resistant to actually sitting down and trying this technique mainly out of fear of something new. After going to MDSW, that fear was squashed down pretty quick. Compared to going to the East Coast, which stretched my comfort zone to all kinds of amazing levels, what was a new spinning technique?

Once I got started, I realized that, just like my fear of hopping on a plane to places unknown, my fear of a new method was unfounded. I was soon zipping away and having a ball. I think being left-handed might have helped as well, since I form the loops with my left-hand.

The results of my first efforts.

So the knitting mojo comes and goes, but I’m okay with that. I’m taking Jane‘s advice to just “go with the flow.” After all, these are my hobbies and they aren’t meant to be work.

Happy Monday! Don’t let the week drag you down, it’s a short one. :)

Hush-Hush Handspun Hootenanny Questionnaire

1. How long have you been spinning? What skill level do you consider yourself?

Even though I’ve been spinning for about 9-8 years, I would only consider myself to be a beginner intermediate spinner. Mainly because I don’t know many different techniques. I pretty much stick to what I know, which is the basics. The fanciest thing I do is a 3-ply yarn. :-P

2. What kinds of yarn do you create (singles/2-ply/3-ply/art yarn)?

I like to spin 2-ply laceweight yarn and 3-ply fingering weight sock yarns.

3. What do you spin with (spindle/wheel/both)?

I love to spindle and use the wheel.

4. What are your favorite fibers to spin with? Anything you don’t like?

So far the only fiber I don’t like is Mohair. It’s just too hot here for me to use. Although I don’t mind it in small percentages within a blend.

5. Who are your favorite crack dealers fiber sources (etsy or otherwise)?

Yarn Wench, All Spun Up, Enchanted Knoll Farm, Crown Mountain Farm, the list goes on but I would be here all day…

6. What kind of fiber do you want to try?

Merino/Tencel blend and Merino/Bamboo blend.

7. Is there any techniques you would like to learn?

Navajo Plying and boucle

8. Do you dye fiber? If not, would you like to learn?

Sometimes I do if I get the proper motivation. This does not happen often.

9. Do you have fiber prep tools (and like to use them) or would you prefer ready to spin fiber?

I prefer ready to spin fiber. Fiber prep is not my thing. :)

10. What do you do with your handspun? What projects have you completed?

I knit with my handspun. I have half a shawl completed and two pairs of socks. I might sell my handspun in the future though.

11. Are you in need of any spinning gadgets (WPI Gauge, threading hook, etc)?

I could use another threading hook.

12. What colors “fall into your shopping basket”? Any colors you just can’t stand?

I can’t stand orange and pastels. Though I do like pink and brown or pink and black.

13. What is on your wheel/spindle right now?

I have some  Merino on the wheel, silk on a Bosworth spindle, and some crappy pencil roving on my Golding spindle.

14. What other crafts/hobbies do you have?

I also knit, bead, and do counted cross-stitch. I want to get into art journaling too. That is when I can tear myself away from the spinning. :)

15. Other than crafts, what are you passionate about?

Reading and writing.

16. Do you have an online wishlist?

No, I don’t.

17. Is there anything that you collect?

Spindles and Hello Kitty things.

18. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What magazine subscriptions do you have?

I would love more Wollmeise sock yarn and a Japanese stitch pattern book. Right now the only subscription I have is for Interweave Knits, but I plan on getting one for Spin Off too.

19. When is your birthday?

October 21

20. What book or movie character do you most resemble in personality?

I really have no idea.

21. What is the climate like where you live around this time (need to know for careful shipments of anything meltable)?

hot and humid

ETA: So far chocolate hasn’t melted in the mail though.

22. Tell us one weird fact about yourself!

I have to stir my coffee with a red chopstick when I’m home. I get very obsessive about this. Don’t even ask me why.

Favorites:

Candy: Japanese Gummy Candy from Marukai

Food: Thai Food

Drink: Cranberry Mike’s Hard Lemonade

Movie(s): both Bridget Jones’ Diary movies; Kung Fu Hustle; House Of Flying Daggers; Serenity

TV Show(s): Grey’s Anatomy; Battlestart Galatica (even though I’m behind 2 seasons); The Tudors; Friday Night Lights

Book(s) (current favorite authors): Philippa Gregory; Laurell K. Hamilton; Janet Evanovich; Colleen McCollough

Guilty Pleasure(s): American idol, potato chips, and Hello Kitty things.

Since I finished those Burgundy Ditto socks, you know I had to start another portable sock project. Since I had some lovely Shibui Sock yarn on hand, you know I had to use it. Since I’ve become an obsessive Plurker, you know I had to use a pattern specifically designed for us.

So on Tuesday while I was out running errands and doing some $hopping, I started the Jonquil Nanner socks.

*love*

I’m usually a top down sock kinda gal, but as you can see this particular pattern is toe up. Lemme tell you, I’m lovin’ it. From the Turkish cast on to the nifty heel flap, it’s all love.

One of the reasons I’ve been so resistant to the toe up method is the short row heels. With this shiny new to me method I get a heel flap and gussets.

Seriously. What’s not to love?

I haz knitting mojo.

Now if I could just get the spinning mojo to cohabitate with the knitting mojo, I’d be a happy girl.  Why they can’t exist together as a couple is a complete mystery to me.

This weekend the postman brought many delightful goodies to my doorstep. First up is a surprise gift from someone I met while I was in Pennsylvania. Her name is Kathleen and not only does she have a lovely Etsy store called Friend of a Friend, she also makes the best English Muffins from scratch.

Kathleen sent me the cutest little stitch marker holder and the sweetest bookmark. I’m going to make a lot of use out of both of these things!

This is the rest of my weekend haul.

Wendy of WendyKnits graciously gifted me with the book Eclectic Sole once she learned of how much I coveted the book and of how hard it is to find it on Amazon. I am so happy to get my hands on a copy as there are so many socks in this book that I want to make. Thank you Wendy!

The yarn I got for myself. It’s Shibui Sock in Jonquil and I plan on knitting the Nanner Socks that Wendy has designed for her Plurk buddies. I’m really looking forward to this project as you all know how much I love Shibui.

I feel completely justified in starting a new project as I also have an FO to report. I give you the finished Burgundy Ditto Socks.

Pattern: my own 64 stitch, 2×2 rib pattern

Yarn: Universal Ditto, Color No. 4807

Needles: Size 1US/2.25mm

Started: May 21, 2008

Finished: June 23, 2008

I am so glad these socks are finished. Initially they were a very relaxing knit, but they soon became rather boring. There’s only so much 2×2 rib a girl can take!

I say that now, but I know I’ll return to it like a moth to a flame in a heartbeat. There’s something about 2×2 rib that always makes me go running back.

At least  I’ll be knitting with the Summer Of Socks gang now! Well.. except for the pair of Mingus socks that are still on the needles. But we won’t talk about those.

Instead, we’ll indulge in yet another cat picture. This time it’s Scheyer all curled up like a pretzel.

Happy Monday you all! After all, it’s almost over. :)

I surprised myself this week when I realized that I now have three new skeins of handspun yarn to show off. It seems that once I admitted to having a problem with the plurking, I was able to step away from the keyboard long enough to get some spinning done. Not only that, but living 6 hours behind the East Coast means I go to bed much later then most folks. So when my plurky friends are in dreamland I often find the time to get even more done.

The first skein is Blue Faced Leicester that was a gift from my generous friend Naomi.  The tag on the braid only had fiber content. I have no idea who dyed it.

The second skein is a Merino from The Yarn Wench in the colorway Hearth.

The final skein is some mystery wool that was also a gift from Naomi.

All of these are 3-ply yarns and are most likely going to be knit up into socks.

Speaking of socks, Summer of Socks begins tomorrow and I’m such a doofus. I still have two pairs of socks on the needles. There’s no way I can kick off the KAL with a new pair. Well, I could start a third pair but that would be bad. My aim is to finish projects this summer. Not create more UFO’s.

Only my knitting mojo seems to have left me. Not helpful. Not at all helpful. If you see it, please tell it to return home.

The spinning mojo is another story. I have been diligently spindling for at least ten minutes each day thanks to the support of my good friend loribird. We take spinning breaks from plurk together just to spin.

I’ve also been practicing spinning on a wheel and plurking at the same time. I figure if Wendy can knit and plurk, I should be able to spin and plurk.

Those who plurk together, spin/knit together. Good times.

Happy Friday you all! Have a good weekend!