Catching up

Well, I've been so busy with trying to get everything ready for the move, I haven't had time to blog. I'll update the blog about the move today, check it out.

My spinning is sitting here waiting for me to have time and energy to work on it, so is my knitting. I pulled Mystic Meadows back out, to see if I can make some progress on it. I had to frog MS4, as I dropped the very first stitch of the row and didn't realize it, until it had run back about 4 rows and I had knit two more rows. I couldn't figure out how to fix it :(

I was tagged by GoldenTracks.

Now to share 7 random/weird facts about myself...
1. I HATE moving, but am looking forward to the one we are in the process of.
2. I enjoy spending time with my goats.
3. I just added two new dogs to my group of working dogs (more on Weedeater Farm Happening)
4. I have a new friend who lives here in town. :)
5. I got a 50cc scooter, so I can run around town to do all the errands needed for the move.
6. I love knitting lace, even though I'm more of a tomboy than a girly girl.
7. I'm on three lace KALs, even though I don't have much time to knit.

Now to tag seven people...Shelly, Marion, Lisa, Grandma Sally, The Mouse That Knits, Opal, and Bumpy Doink.

Spinning

I decided since I couldn't knit, I would pull out some fiber and spin to help me to relax. I am spindle spinning some and spinning some on my Babe Pinkie.

I was given 4 ounces of a kid mohair/merino blend called "King Neptune" by Gypsy Girl Creations. It has blues, purples, greens and white in it and is spinning up really fine on my Wagon Wheel Spindle by Mommabear7.

The second fiber that I'm working on is some chocolate Shetland/Corrie blend from MikelsWool. I'm spinning this up on the Pinkie wheel, trying to get a fine lace weight yarn for the Mystic Earth KAL by Anna Dalvi of Knit & Knag.

I have other spindles and need to work on spinning up a couple of batts that I did of Shetland/mohair. I will use this for the thumbs of a pair of mittens I started last winter for my dh.

Packing

Well, with all the work I have to do to move. I decided that I don't have time or the ability to work on my lace right now, so packed up all my projects and will pull them out after we get moved. I have about 30 days to finish packing and getting ready for it. That includes running all over town, making phone calls...all the normal stuff that has to be done because we are our own general contractors. I have to make sure that permits are gotten, the work is done on time and passes inspection, that the physical address is assigned after the utilities are in. Then have to get that information over to the manufactured home dealership, so that they know where the house is going. I still have to get a map drawn of how to get to the property for them.

New Project

MMario posted a new pattern for us to test knit on Friday, 8/8/08. It is the Benden WeyrHold Shawl, designed for fingering to sport weight yarn. Since I didn't have any yarn of that weight with enough yardage to knit the shawl in, I plied up some 2/19 into 6/19 yarn (that is three strands of the original yarn plied together), that gave me a light fingering weight yarn for it. I cast on this morning and am already up to row 8 in just a short time. I'll be taking this one with me for some short trips.

I have about 150 rows left on Mystic Waters and still slowly working my way through Mystic Meadows. They are both getting knitting time, just not as much as I would like with organizing my craft stuff and packing away anything that isn't needed for what I have on the needles or planned to go on the needles in the next month.

As for KAL's, I'm signed up for two and waiting on the start date of the next one in the Mystic Element series. Tomorrow, 8/15/08, the Secret of the Stole III starts. I am going to use some 2/28 NM 100% silk with some silver-lined alabaster beads for it. Mystery Stole 4 starts on 9/5/08 and I will be using some 2/28 NM 70% merino/20% silk/10% cashmere yarn with the silver-lined alabaster beads for it.

Updates on my Christmas Knitting

Well, with the heat I had to put Vkandis away for a bit. He was just getting to big and heavy to have in my lap in 90+ temps. Will pull him out when it starts to cool down again. I'm on Chart 9 out of the 14, so have made some progress since my last post about him.

Mystic Waters is coming along, realized that there are 9 charts not the 7 I originally thought there were. I have finished three of them and just started the fourth. I had a minor problem, not knowing what the finished shawl looked like, I had to stop and ask for help on row 185, but found out that it was correct and was able to continue.

Mystic Meadows is coming along slowly. I'm on row 67 out of 425. I finally got some pics of the yarn and the first part of it.



I'm going to use the merino/silk/cashmere yarn that I got for my b-day for the MS4 KAL. I have some silver-lined alabaster beads in size 8/0 that will work for it.

Birthday Presents!!

My hubby let let me order some yarn from ColourmartUK two weeks ago that was supposed to be my b-day present from him. :)The yarn is 2/28 NM 70% merino/20% silk/10% cashmere in the topaz colorway. Don't know what I'm going to make out of it yet.

Then I got a call from him at the beginning of the week, his mother was sending me money for my b-day, lots of money, at least to me. So I got to order WHAT I wanted for my b-day present from her. What I ordered was a Strauch Finest drum carder with all the tools and a Kromski Symphony spinning wheel with all the whorls, an extra bobbin (for a total of 4), the lazy kate and everything else that comes with it in mahogany, it came with a pound of corridale and I ordered an extra pound of it to practice with. :) I'll post pics when I get everything.

New projects and updates on old projects

The new project is Mystic Meadows by Anna Dalvi. I'm using MaineBearSOX1 from Furryarns, in a custom colorway she made just for me. It is all the colors of a meadow in bloom, pinks, purples, blues, yellows, oranges, and green. I love the way it is working up.

Vkandis is now on the 8th chart and Mystic Waters is on the 3rd chart, both are coming along nicely. I do split my time between them, otherwise I won't get both done in time to block for Christmas presents.

I was doing some math today to see how much I had to do on each one, everyday to get them done in time for Christmas. At four rounds per day, Vkandis will be ready for me to decide if I want to do the knitted on border in 39 days and Mystic Waters will be done in 58 days. I need to do 6 rows per day on Mystic Meadows to have it done in 68 days.

Pictures!!!

I finally got a chance to take pictures.

First there is Mystic Waters:
This is at the end of Chart A, there are a total of 8 charts for it.

Then there is Vkandis Sunlord:
This is just a small section of Vkandis, as he is to big to spread out on my needles anymore. I'm working on chart 7 out of 14, plus there is an optional knitted on border which I'm planning on doing.

Then Mystic Light:
I finished this one, but it isn't blocked yet, due to not having blocking wires. It is out of Berroco Comfort Sock a 50% acrylic/50% nylon yarn. I love the way it worked up and feels. I will have to steam block it when I get the blocking wires.

Then my scarf:
This is out of Paton's SWS, that I got while out with my dh. He bought me two skeins of it and I'll have to get a third to finish the scarf. This section is 20" long using one skein. I want to make the scarf 60" long. I'll get a solid color and put that in between the two skeins I have of the stripes.

New things and updates on ongoing projects

I started a new project today and joined a new KAL. The KAL is "Seasons of Lace." This is a KAL where you choose the pattern(s) that you want to knit with the yarn(s) you want to use. There will be prizes given out for different things, during the KAL. It runs from June 21 to September 21, 2008 for the Summer season, then there will be a winter season. Next year they are hoping to do all four seasons.

The new project is "Mystic Waters" a triangular shawl by Anna Dalvi. I'm using some 6/2 weaver's cotton in Ultramarine blue on size 4US needles for it. This will be either a b-day or Christmas present for my oldest dd. She loves the pattern and choose the yarn for it.

The scarf out of the Paton's SWS is on hold until I can get the extra skein of yarn for it. I am getting about 20" out of a skein of yarn and want it about 60" long. With the length I'm getting out of one skein, I know that I'll need a total of three and I only bought two. I got two of the stripes, so will pick up a solid to match and use that for the middle of the scarf, with the stripes at the ends.

Vkandis is up to row 134. I did one row today...took me most of the day to do that, as I was having problems concentrating on it. I'll do the plain row tomorrow and try to get pics of one section to show how it is turning out with the beads.

Vkandis Sunlord, Mystic Light and other things

I finished Mystic Light last week!! Now all I have to do is wash and block it after I get home. I'll take pictures then, since I forgot the camera. :(

I'm up to the second half of chart 6 where I'll have three diamonds across each section. I'm loving the way it looks. I'll have to buy more beads to complete it, but my dh doesn't mind that.

While we were sitting in Sheyboygan, WI, we went to a Micheal's and there I saw the Paton's SWS for the first time. I loved the look, feel and colors of it, so got two skeins. I didn't realize at the time that it was aran weight, as I didn't really pay attention to the gauge of it. :( I have since found that out and decided that it would make me a nice scarf. I'll have to get one more skein of it to have enough, but that is ok.

Vkandis and Mystic Light Updates

I finished chart 1 for Vkandis this morning and ran a lifeline, don't want to rip it completely again. I'm planning on spending today working on him. Hoping to get charts 2&3 done, but will get a far as possible.

I finished clue 2 on Mystic Light this morning as well, then ran a lifeline. Hoping to get pictures later, as it is cloudy today. I love the way it is turning out!

New Update

I ended up frogging Vkandis Sunlord, as I couldn't fix the dropped stitches. I decided since I was having to start over on him, I would go down two needle sizes. I like the way he is looking now better than on the size 6 needles I was using. I'm already almost done with the first chart again.

Since I will be using yarn of the same weight for the Mystic Waters and Slow-Bee Mystery shawls, I will have to wait until I finish Vkandis to cast either of them on. The yarn is on order, so I will have it when I am ready to cast one of them on. Which one depends on how long it takes to get Vkandis done.

Updates

I'll start with Vkandis Sunlord. I'm on row 96 out of 318, plus an optional knitted on border that is done over about 1300 stitches. I'm adding beads to the fourth set of rays for the sunburst, as it needed something to make it sparkle a bit. The beads are about the same shade as the yarn, but are pearlized. After I finish this set of rays, there is a band of firecats, then the border, to do.

Next is the Mystic Light KAL, this is a triangular shawl designed by Anna, aka KnitandKnag. I'm using Berroco Comfort Sock in the colorway "Hari Hari," and it is turning out beautiful. I ordered the pattern for the first shawl of the series, Mystic Waters and waiting on yarn to knit it in.

The Secret of the Stole II is still waiting for me to get back to it. I'll be starting the Slow-bee Mystery KAL, as soon as I get the yarn for it. I'm ordering some 6/2 weaver's cotton in Ultramarine from WEBS, to use for it and the Mystic Waters shawl.

Well...we got denied for that manufactured home, they wanted more down than we could afford. So we are trying to get another one. Things have been slow on getting the survey and site work done due to two deaths in the family of the contractor :( He is finally able to get back to work on things for us.

Now on to knitting! I frogged the Dracula's Bride shawl, it just wasn't that nice and was a very hard pattern to do. Maybe someday when I have LOTS of free time and quiet, I'll try it again. Until then, I'll put the pattern away. I finished Hint 3 of the Secret of the Stole II :) I have a new shawl pattern on the needles, it is Vkandis Sunlord. I'm beta test knitting it for the designer Mmario, it will be available on his Yahoo Group, MmarioKknits tonight. I'm using the bright orange cotton yarn on size 6 needles and it is going to be HUGE. I'm only on row 60 and it is already one and a half feet across UNBLOCKED, he is figuring 300 rows. :) Jenny has claimed this one, but told me I could knit me one out of the same yarn. I might but bead it. :) So that they are slightly different from each other.

I got Hint 2 of the Secret of the Stole II done! Now to get to work on Hint 3. I'm so far behind on it, but life seems to like to interfere with my lace knitting. Dracula's Bride is sitting here waiting for me to put it back on the needles, as I had to rip back to the lifeline at the end of clue 1. Thankfully I always run a lifeline at the end of a section of chart, that has been my lifesaver so many times.

It looks like the move will happen this spring! We are going to start the paperwork to buy the new mobile home this week. On Tuesday we will be talking to the person we are getting the land from and having them start the process of getting it surveyed, the site map drawn up and permits applied for. So, things are starting to come together for us.

I am almost done with Hint 2 of the SOTSII!!! I sat and knitted on it most of yesterday, and got up to row 103 of the 120 rows. :) I will work on it some more later today, should be able to finish up those 18 rows and get started on Hint 3.

I will get back to work on Dracula's Bride sometime, want to get both of them off the needles so that I don't have to worry about moving them to the new house.

Tagged! Shelly tagged me with a Meme.

Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

Here goes...

1. I love to spin, especially natural animal fibers. If they are dyed, they need to be in rich, jewel tones to really make me happy.

2. I raise my own fiber animals. Navajo Angoras and Nigoras, both rare breeds of goats, that produce great fiber.

3. I love to knit lace. This is a new thing for me as I have always knitted practical items, like socks, hats, scarves and sweaters. Last summer I tried a lace stole with encouragement from my friends and did it. :) So, I got hooked.

4. I like designing things, from knitting patterns to graphics for websites and even websites themselves. I can't draw very well, but I do work on trying to improve my drawing.

5. I'm pretty much a loner, but do have a few good friends.

Now to think who I can tag....
1. Shelly, since she got me into this.
2. Dorothy, she does such good work and is a great person.
3. Marion, she doesn't have much confidence in her work, but it is beautiful.
4. Lisa, she has such great patterns.
5. Jenny, she needs to learn to relax and post to her blog.

Had to rip back to the lifeline at the end of Hint 1 on the Secret of the Stole :( I will get it back on the needles and work on it again. I'm NOT going to give up on it.

I'm playing around with some worsted weight yarn, trying to get a 3/4 circle shawl design that is in my head to work out. I won't say anything more about it until I get it done and the pattern written, proofed and test knitted.

I am still working on Dracula's Bride, haven't had much time to work on it this past month. I was busy taking care of my dh, as he was home sick. Since he left, I have been working on the Secret of the Stole. I have the first clue done and I am half way through the second clue. It is turning out really nice. I am taking my time, as I love working with the yarn. I am hoping to get more of it later for other projects.

Well, I decided to frog the Secret of Chrysopolis. It just wasn't working out. I will use the yarn for a different project and will get something else for the Secret of Chrysopolis. I pulled "Dracula's Bride" out and started working on it again.

I also have a pair of socks on the needles, for me. I'm using the "Arrow" pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks, using B&L Durasport in the Denim colorway.

I finally got some pics of Bob's mittens. They are turning out great, except for one problem. I ran out of the yarn I was using before I got the thumbs done. Since I can't get more of the fiber I spun for that yarn, I'm going to use some of my mohair for them.

I am finally on the fingers on Billy's second glove. I'm hoping to have them done by the end of the week, so I can go back to the two lace projects that I have on the needles.

Seeing this post on a friend's blog Ask The Bellwether: Meme: Spinning Resolutions 2008.Got me to thinking about New Year resolutions and what I would like to accomplish this year in my spinning and knitting.

On the spinning front, I would like to get back to carrying a spindle and fiber with me and using it, as I haven't been doing that as much as I would like. I also want to try to spin down the mohair stash, I have 2 shearings worth of fleece to spin, with another one coming up in April. I have about 6 pounds of shetland (one fleece), 10 pounds of llama (one fleece), 15 pounds of mohair (two years worth from 5 angora goats) and assorted mystery wools.

On the knitting front, I would like to get all the sock yarn I have knitted up for everyone in the family, finish both lace projects I have on the needles and do some other lace knitting. I also would love to be able to design a true lace shawl pattern, something that is totally original and different.

Ok, Yahoo didn't like the amount of hits I was getting on my site, so they shut it down :( I put the pattern files here. I hope you enjoy them.