Sunday, July 19, 2009

Spinning Frenzy and Surprises (What you can and cannot do when you have the flu)



















It's flu season. How do I know this? I know because I have had the snotting, coughing, wheezing, loss of voice and fatigue associated with the current flu bug for weeks. Did you know you can still spin a fair single while you have the flu? Did you also know you knit lace at your peril if you are doped up to the gills on drugs? I also want to mention that shopping for spindles on the internet is not a problem for me even when I'm sick. I'm better now, thank the Lord, though there is a stubborn cough that just won't go away. Here are a few pictures of what's been going on.

The first two pictures are of a "Surprise" project I'm knitting. The yarn is 100% Baby Alpaca lace weight yarn from "A Verb For Keeping Warm" in "Vermillion" (4.0 ounces, 1,000 yards). The next picture is of the actual project. You won't see clear pictures of this baby until it's all done and blocked, hence the surprise factor. I'm about 2/3 of the way through and the pattern is 313 rows long. I'm using Addi Lace needles in US 0. Fleegle might have a good guess as to which pattern it is and there are a few folks at Verb who also know. This is proof that I'm still knitting lace though you wouldn't think it looking at the rest of these pictures. As my concentration improves, I will go back to Goldregen but at US 000 needles, I just couldn't hack knitting on it while I've felt so under the weather.

The next pictures are of singles spun from my Verb fiber club shipment of alpaca fiber in “Bleeding Heart” colorway. It was heaven to spin. I have the bobbin on top of some pigeonroofstudio rovings that I was considering to ply with it. I eventually choose the green roving which is a combination alpaca and merino and I'm still working on that project.

It's no surprise that I got more spindles. I didn't mean to but it's boring being sick.

Butterfly Girl Designs : Hemalyke stone whorl .8 ounce

Golding "Acorns" made of a Danecraft Sterling Silver Inset with a Walnut shaft .89 ounces.

Spindle Bowls from "The Wheel Thing" for me and my sister in Bubinga and Cherry (We took a support spindle class at Verb and I sucked major at it)

Tabacheck Tibetan Spindles from "The Wheel Thing" 2 in walnut, a cherry and one in Honduras Mahogany.

Tom Forrester Russian Spindesl from "The Bellweather"

4 spindles from Kevin Rhoads ( Yew, Red Palm, Monkey Puzzle and Laburnum)


I also bought fiber from Corgi Hill Farm as well and finished spinning and plying my other Verb fiber club shipment "Intergalactic Space Travel" in Cashmere and silk plied with Indigo dyed merino/silk also from Verb.

That's all for now I'm afraid. I hope to be able to post blocked lace next time but the rows for the Surprise project are getting ever longer as the shawl grows. I've finished one ball of yarn and I'm onto the second one. Hope I actually have enough of it!

16 comments:

fleegle said...

Well, my guess is a Niebling, because I can see lots of corners, implying a circular design. Beyong that, it looks like a coral reef (Daphne says Hi!)

Your spinning is gorgeous!! And of course, your spindle collection is the envy of everyone on the planet. Are there any you don't have yet?

My Goldings should be here next week. Harry is anxious to see what Tom made for him. As am I, of course :)

Get well already! Stop being sick or there won't be any more spindles for the rest of us.

LittleBerry said...

As for someone who doesn't do pink, I love the colour of the lace yarn and I'm not going to guess what you're knitting as I like surprises!!

Love the spinning too and your spindle collection I suspect is greatly enhanced by your illness, I do like the golding though...

Hope you're feeling better soon

larascreations said...

Wow - I do hope the rest of your recovery comes quickly. The flu is just the pits but you sure did a lot! Gorgeous yarns, gorgeous spindles.

Looking forward to the surprise....

Lacefreak said...

Dear fleegle,

Thanks! I still don't have any Bosworth spindles yet :-) I want to stop spinning so much Not as much time for knitting lace! Maybe as you spin more I will spin less LOL!

Lacefreak said...

Dear littleberry,

I can understand not doing pink but for some strange reason I have a lot of pink over here. I don't wear pink as a rule so I have no idea what gets into me when I buy yarn. I'm getting better so I hope that I will knit more and shop for spindles less :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear larascreations,

I hate catching the yearly flu but I just can't avoid it. I'm knitting on the project almost daily but those rows get longer and longer. I hope to get the surprise done soon though and post pictures :-)

Opal said...

i'm so sorry to hear you were sick. i do love coming around to see the delicious eye candy you have though and that golding spindle is no exception. it's gorgeous!

Kristine said...

Oh no! Sickness - I am glad to hear that you are starting to feel better. The surprise looks amazing - even all scrunched up. Your spinning also looks amazing - I am so happy to hear that you are going to ply bleeding heart with proof - can't wait to see how it turns out. I'm a big fan of experimentation.

Laritza said...

Those acorns are adorable!

Lacefreak said...

Dear Opal,

I hate it when I get sick but it's almost like the flu bugs have it out for me! I love that Golding spindle too. I'm a sucker for acorns :-)

Lacefreak said...

Dear Kristine,

The surprise is really coming along nicely though it takes forever to get around one row. The second skein starts at a good point in the shawl so I think the color variations found in hand dyed yarn works as an advantage in this case :-) I will post a picture of the plied bleeding heart.I did not use the chocolate alpaca in this one but I saved it for a different project!

Lacefreak said...

Dear Lartiza,

I have to agree :-) I'm sort of torn when I consider the fact that they took a vintage pin to make the spindle, but it really is a beauty and spins really well!

Lisa said...

Your spindle collection is awesome, as is your lace! It makes me want to jump up from the computer and go spin some frog hair!

Suzanne Wilsey said...

Just got back from a class at AVFKW and admired your gorgeous lace! Inspirational, really :-) Thanks.

Lacefreak said...

Dear Lisa,

Thanks! Now that I can actually us a spindle I've gone overboard with the spindles :-) I still prefer to use a wheel to spin lace weight though. Have fun with your spinning!

Lacefreak said...

Dear SDW,

I'm glad you enjoyed the lace :-) If they were not hung up there they would just be folded up in a box somewhere. If it helps to inspire you to knit lace then that's terrific!