I shouldn't fuss about fiber friends not posting if I am not posting myself. I haven't done any dying or knitting lately, but I have been spinning my little heart out and loving it. I am trying to get as caught up as I can so I won't have any more excuses to put off dying the fiber I got at SAFF back in October. I see by reading Sandys' blog that she will be going to SAFF next year, Good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise. I plan to be there myself so maybe we can hook up somewhere. I would love to go without Paul. I love him dearly and he is a Sweetie for driving me there and back, but he hates to shop and doesn't know that much about fiber and stuff so I always feel cheated about the time limit. I know I would come home with more goodies if he would let me alone.
Speaking of goodies, I finally got Mason/Dixon Knitting for Christmas. I know that Sandy and Caroline
really like the book but I was so disappointed in it. I already knew that Peaches and Creme was best for "warshrags" and I have NEVER been tempted to make potholders with those nylon loops on that little metal loom. Sigh..............what a letdown for me. But I also got a book on lace and 8 pairs (or sets) of Knit Pics new needles. Not the kind that the tips screw on, but the smaller ones made all in one piece. Never have trusted those screw-on things. I was also supposed to get a Wooly Winder or a skein winder, but I changed my mind. I have saved that money to get ; TA DAA!!!! A new computer. All of my very own without anyone else ever having owned it. So. In the very near future I will own one with a media center and get a photo-quality printer and I will be in business with the baby pics.
Speaking of babies ( y'all KNEW I would), the quads are 6 mos. old now. Reagan has two teeth and the rest are chewing on anything they can get in their mouths. They also laugh out loud and giggle and try out vowel sounds and screeching noises.
Carey is in the hospital awaiting Tyler. He isn't due until Feb. but her water broke so there it is. The Dr. said she was a better incubator than any the hosp. has so she is just lying there waiting. They won't let her come home in case of infection.
I have digressed enough. I gotta get back to fiber. So I will. Later.

News from Julia

Hi everyone! Julia has been having trouble getting on to the site. And no wonder - I just tried too, and Blogger is doing upgrades which may have gunked everything up.

Anyhow, here is her message.

what have I been up to? Err trying to finish so many UFOs that I feel really swamped, I am always eager to learn something new and then never finish the project! I have travelled to Spain a lot this year and just returned from a week end in Germany where I went to a Christmas market. Only got one kid left at home now so starting to plan for the future

We Got Yellow!

This is merino. I don't know what brand of dye, but was told by the seller to soak the wool in vinegar water and then add dye that was dissolved in hot water. The spun yarn looks like it is fading or something. In the dye pot it was bright yellow. The yarn looks more like the middle of a deviled egg. Any suggestions?

circular needles

This post is for Razberry who commented that she is looking for instructions on knitting socks with 2 circular needles. The technique was published by Cat Bordhi in her book Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles. Here is a link to amazon so you can see and buy her book. She is self published and has other titles too. I'm all for supporting the work of knitting authors . Happy Knitting.

Thanksgiving

Hello all. Looks like no one is doing any posting any more. Well here I am again.
Went to SAFF and had a great time in spite of the rain. Saw Caroline and her hubby and Mary Anne who put up a booth. Didn't get to talk to Mary Anne as she was busy. I picked up a pair of hand carders, a yarn meter, and several kinds of roving.
I was looking around and Paul, who is a good sport usually, said, "Tkhis is the third time we have been around. Haven't you seen it all yet?" Of course I hadn't, but I took pity on him and we didn't stay much longer.
I am doing a lot of spinning lately, but I do feel a "dye day" coming on.
The babies are all thriving and growing. Zachary weighs 16 pounds now and Thomas weighs 12. They are five nomths old now and laugh out loud and giggle and coo. Being a Granny is the best!
Y'all get you fingers limbered up and post again. I miss ya.
Have a great and wonderful Thanksgiving. See ya.
Pam

Hey Pam

I finally answered you! Hope SAFF was wonderful!

Goin' to SAFF

Hi everyone. Yes I am still alive and doing well. Although, Angi, I am still waiting to hear about Nell.
I am really excited tonight, even tho I have to get up at 5 in the morning (Yak moan groan gripe) I am going to SAFF again for the second year in a row. Last year I didn't
t know what to expect as it was my first experience at a fiber "do". Ah, but this year is different. I know what I want and I know what is there. (Maybe). If I could get everything I would like to have (we're talking alpacas and angoras here) I would have to move to a farm. OH well, I will settle for some equipment and fiber. Shucks. (giggle) I hope to be seeing Caroline and Bill there and of course Babs will have a booth. Maybe Blaine will be there this year. Any way, I will take pics and try to post more often. Later and Love, Pam

Finally Home!

After much pain and heartache, my son and his family have been reunited! For those of you who have been so kind to me regarding all of the trouble my daughter in law's parents have caused, I thank you. My daughter in law testified and all of the court stuff is over!

The kids have asked me not to put their picture on my regular blog. They believe her parents have more pictures of their daughter than they are entitled to. But I wanted to share them here, since the parent's don't have the address.

I Need to Know Before I Mess Something UP

Hi all! I am about to get in a dyeing mood again. Actually, a skein of yarn I dyed is currently being displayed in a knitting display at our town library. I am sort of in shock, but also honored. Anyhow, to get to the meat of this post. Has anyone tried dyeing Optim? I got a small bit while on vacation and would love to turn its creamy whiteness into something spectacular. Does it felt worse or less than regular merino? Would you think you would not heat it as long? I surely need opinions ladies, so please weigh in on this or give it your best guess.

Fall Fiber Festival at Montpelier, VA

Hello all! I'm heading down to the wool festival at Montpelier, VA this week-end. Is anyone else beside Mary Ann going to be there? She is a vendor and I'm looking forward to seeing her gorgeous stuff.

I'm also entering the arts competition with one of my rugs, a lace shawl,and a couple of skeins of homespun. I'm not expecting any kudos, but just want to add to the variety of items on display.

Last week while I was in Fairbanks, AK, I was really bad and bought raw quviut. Of course that's a lot better than buying the yarn. I have not had a chance to spin it yet, but can't wait for a day to really get into it. It is luscious!!! (Of course, this means I won't be spending much $$ at the Fiber Festival.)

Jerry

Tyler Jacob, my next grandson

This is a bad day for me. Clay and Carrie, my oldest son and his wife, are expecting my next grandson in February. Nothing like getting all my grandchildren within a year and a half. Unfortunately, Tyler has some inflamation in his intestines and the doctors are concerned about cystic fibrosis. Clay and Carrie both carry an abnormal and normal gene for CF. Tyler has a 25% chance of being born with it. It won't make a bit of difference in the way I feel about Tyler, it will just be a little more challenging if he does indeed have it. He could be tested in utero but the results wouldn't change anything and Clay and Carrie have opted not to have the test until birth. Those are the facts. The reality is that I am sad, depressed and scared. Like any other Granny, I want my Grands to be in good health. I will love Tyler ayway, I just don['t want him to be ill and suffer. It's not a pretty disease but Clay said it could be a lot worse. A good attitude. Please put Tyler on your prayer list. I thank you.

It's not fiber......

Since none of you have posted in a while, I feel honor-bound to write something. I got myself into a new hobby. I didn't mean to and I didn't really want to but there it is.
It started like this: baby pictures and the need to put them into somethning I could carry around and force people to look at. I'm a Granny, it's my job. So I got myself a book (archival quality) and some glue and some cutesy baby stickers and voila! I now scrapbook. (digging toe into sand, head hanging down) See, my problem is that when I start something new ( and most all of you saw me start to spin) I go hog-wild and pig-crazy. How'd ya llike that Tennessee talk? So. I now feel obligated to buy everything I will need to be a successful scrapbooker. Even if I don't know what it is I need. I am such a sad case. Or, my bad, whichever fits. I could be spending my money (such as it is) on fiber goodies, but they are my Quad Squad and I love to look at their pics. I'm a Granny, it's my job. And speaking of the Squad, they are doing great. Reagan has slept all night 3 times. They are all growing and now they are 3 months old. Zachary and Reagan still cry a lot and no one seems to know why. Maybe when they are a month older and start to get a little solid foood it will help . So now that I have told y'all what I have been doing, it's time for someone else to do so.
Is anyone going to SAFF along with Caroline and Bill and Paul and I? Lets do it!

I'm Back!!!

Hi everyone! I am back from a most perfect trip. In fact, so perfect, Pam wants me to pass along my itinerary. I have never hit so many yarn and fiber places in one trip as I did on this trip. I am journalling my adventures on my regular blog, if you care to see. (There is also a link to a picture of one of our own group having a good time at another retreat - not me, by the way).

Twisted Friends

Vacations always count. I love the quilt. I also love the typo. It fits really well in my world. Still slogging through the shawl. I will "git 'er dun"! Send me your blog addy again. Since I lost my addy book on AOL (ya gotta love them) I don't have a single addy left that I can find. Well, duh, I guess you would like to know it's Kandy I am talking to about the blog(blob)addy.

Angi, puppies are just MEANT to ruin whatever is near and dear to your heart. They are precious, but oh the aggravation. You do beautiful work and whoever gets it will surely love it no matter what it is or when you started it. How do you get into these exchanges anyhow?

Hey Pam......

I was on vacation too, does that count? I've been neglecting this and my other blob (haha- decided not to fix the typo, 'cause it fits!) lately. Heck, I haven't even been readin' blogs (i MUST be sick/have fever). Spent last week with my Mom, and made a quilt! See:

Have been spinn'n, weav'n and doin some knitt'n, but have no photos yet. Sorry dudes.... hehehe

My Dog Ate My Homework

I don't care how many times I set out to be early with something, I always end up late.

I was knitting a pillow for the One Skein Exchange final gift. It wasn't going to get to my exchange partner early. But with Priority Mail it would have gotten there today or tomorrow.

I found it upstairs. It had been turned into Designer Puppy Lace. She even chewed my bamboo needles.

I started a this scarf for her last night. I'll have it finished quickly. The yarn is an amazing cabled blend of angora, merino, and polimide, left from a cardigan I knit a few years ago. I hope she likes it.

OK y'all

I have been waiting and watching for someone-anyone- to put a new post on TF. what's up? I don't really have any new fiber news except that @#^%&*!! shawl which is still kinda eatin' my lunch for me. I have about a fourth of it done now. You know, knit 10 rows, frog 3 or 4, knit some more etc. The only failure is giving up and I AIN'T SKEERT!! Just dogged determination keeps me working on it. Babies are all home and doing what babies are supposed to do. I haven't seen them in three weeks or so. That has to change. I have been spinning up some fiber I got from Lynne at Red Rooster. Nothing really in mind for it, just wanted to spin. Hey Elayne, Kandy, Blaine, Jerry, Lynne, Sandy Caroline(who is on vacation right now, lulcky thing) Rosemary, Jennifer, Angi, what's up? Write darn it! I know you are all doing way more exciting things than I am at present.

Fiber frustration and the reason why

I am so sorry that I haven't posted lately. Most of you know that I have recently become the grandmother of quadruplets. These precious babies have taken up most of my summer. Thankfully I was able to attend the Red Rooster Retreat and absolutely wallowed in fiber and friendship. Loving every minute of it of course. This is just a prelude for our new fiber friends that may be joining us soon. Of course we welcome all new fiber friends. I have not been able to finish one single knitting project this summer. I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN ABLE TO SPIN!!!!!! I am Jonesing of course. But I have the only excuse I can give. I have been trying to help my son and daughter-in-law take care of the "QUAD SQUAD". I am sending a pic of the only things I have even tried. I would love to do the shawl that Jerry sent me the inst. for. I don't have enough brain power left to follow the inst. The Diamond Pattern shawl that the pics show don't even come close to showing the 8 or 10 times I have frogged back to the beginning and started all over again. My OCD and good sense are fighting. And I am glad to tell you that I am still alive to tell you that there is NO exhaustion like trying to feed, change, burp, rock, etc. ad infinituum three babies at once. Thomas was not home yet and three were more than enough for me. I am working on my third day of 11 in a row at work just coming off of a three day weekend of staying up from 8 in the morning until 4:30 in the morning. If I sound less than intelligent that is why. I am sorry that this is not all about fiber but I am too tired to post on spinnin skinny. I love y'all please forgive me.

We Need a Gallery!

I have been corresponding with Lynne, who has just finished another dyeing/spinning/knitting intensive in New Hampshire. Apparently, they are as enthusiastic as all of us are about fiber arts. So, we are planning to invite our newly adopted Twisted Friends to join in on the fun. But, ladies!! We need some of you to post some pictures of your work so our new friends can see what we have come up with. It doesn't have to be something you completed recently - anything you have done since our first workshop would be great. Lynne and I were discussing my scarf, so I will go first. Please follow suit and jump on in! Or, if you want to email me a picture, I will post it for you.

Haven't the Foggiest Idea

Well, I used the picot cast on for the ribbing of this sock. Umm, I think I did anyway. The jury is still out on this one and my thinking is about as blurry as the picture. I had fun, though.
Also, here is some random spinning for a colorwork project (yet to be determined) and a scarf I wove from the yarn Sandy dyed.

I received these beautiful skeins of Rowan Cashsoft as a gift from my One Skein Secret Pal. They are DK weight 142yds each. I want to knit something beautiful with them for my 4 month old Granddaughter. I was thinking of a little shawl/blanket. Do any of you talented ladies know of a pattern that 710 yards would be enough for? Or perhaps a pattern where I could use this yarn for a center, and buy something complimentary for a border? I usually have to spin when I want luxury fibers, so knitting this will be such a treat!

Changed my Personal Blog Address

Here's a link to the new, improved Yarn's the Word.

Sorry to bounce around like this, but the old host was making me sick with all the pop under ads.

Look What We Finally Got

(Sorry, it doesn't involve fiber.)

Twisted Friends

Hi everyone. Where did you all go? No new postings lately. I am posting an update on my spinnin skinny blog. I am too tired to do it twice so please visit snugsblog.blogspot.com.

I am trying to show y'all what I have ben doing lately. None of you can top this I'll bet!
Jonathan is the one with his eyes open. Reagan is in the middle, and Zachary is asleep on the other side. Too bad he doesn't sleep at nap time or night.

Okay, So Tell Us What YOU Are Up To

I have had a full plate fiberwise lately: Spinning the lovely Merino/Tencel blend that Lynne dyed, learning how to weave (?!), dyeing yarn and teaching a lovely little (fast study) 10 year old girl how to knit socks. She is a delight to be around - she is very patient and attentive to her work. Today, she learned to do the long tail cast on, purl (all she knew was how to do a knitted cast on and a knit stitch prior to today), to do 1x1 ribbing and to work with Double Pointed Needles. The girl is a knitting prodigy! I also have a full plate of knitting classes coming up to teach at my LYS.

So, but what I really want to know is, what are the rest of you up to? It seems like Kandy and I have taken over. We really would like to see some of your beautiful things.

Weaving

Too. Much. Fun.1st project

Started Thursday night late - finished Friday afternoon (worked on during conference call).
Needs finishing, fulling and blocking.

# 2 - Plaid
Using the yarn made with the roving of Sandy's I split up and carded,
plus two skeins from my stash.

I might have ordered the three other reeds, a book, some shuttles and the tote bag.
Just saying.

Pictures

Elayne managed to turn our the end of our group picture into a night time scene. She should be in the special effects business! And playing the part, I look like a deer caught in the headlights.


Here we are doing a recap of what we have learned so far.



Rosemary shows off her awesome intarsia. And, a closer view of her gorgeous stuff:

A Couple of Projects

This is the lace scarf I am knitting from the Shetland/silk combo. I did not dye this yarn, but spun it. It is the finest laceweight I have done to date. You just have to love Shetland! I forgot to add in a coin or something for perspective, but those are size 2 needles the work is sitting on.




Here is the picture of the BFL/Alpaca I dyed, spun and plied. Can't wait until I produce enough of it to actually knit with!

The Loom, The Loom

Knitter's Loom - No photos, haven't warped it yet, but it did arrive this afternoon and I skimmed through the instruction booklet.

Just finished plying another 4 oz. of fingering weight (this skein has taken me about a month to spin).

I've uploaded photos to my computer - so here is what I worked on last week

This is Sandy's roving I purchased at Red Rooster. I used the picot cast on for the sock, though I'm not sure I ended up with the right side facing out. I'm knitting this on a size l needle - yippee!

This is 4 oz. from my stash that I spun and plyed last week at Mom's. I'm finally happy with the end result of my spinning, and I have to thank our time together at the retreat with getting me there.

Gotta li'l problem

I tried all day long yesterday to start a shawl with the silk y'all saw at the retreat. I want a soft, drapey, flowy kinda shawl. Well....single silk didn't work. It was like knitting cobwebs or cotton candy, and I put a lot of twist in it. I tried plying it with sewing thread. Didn't like the results. I plied it back on itself and it knitted up really well, but wasn't very soft and flowy. I am now trying to put my hair back on my head after pulling it all out. Apparently I need some help. Y'all got any suggestions?

Lovin' the Party!!

Hi everyone! I was away in Atlanta over the weekend (to see the newlyweds, what else?) and did not get to do much fiber stuff. I did start a laceweight scarf out of some Shetland and silk I had spun and plied. Pictures must come later, since I am away for the night on business and have no way to get pictures on this computer. I also am plying some alpaca/BFL 50-50 blend that I had dyed myself. The alpaca/BFL takes dye beautifully and spins like a dream. I highly recommend it!

I was so pleased to see how everyone is getting in on the posting. This is going to be so much fun. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone is up to.

For the newbies who have never blogged... Come on in, the water's fine!

My Knitter's Loom is still en route, so I have no progress to report there.

Ta for now.

The Winnah!

The winner (or should I just say the owner?) of the fess up photo is none other than Jennifer! Thanks, all, for the quick replies.

fess up!

One of you all dyed and spun this loveliness last year at Shakerag. But who?

Howdy

Dang Pam - you've been busy! I'm just finishing up packing and getting ready to leave my Mom's house to go home. Dreading the drive and bracing for the reality of going back to work.

I've been a busy spinning bee this week - I've spun up two 4 oz. skeins and most of 3rd. I've started socks with the first skein. I'll try to post photos later (camera's already packed).

I learned so much last week - my plying has gotten so much better. I had a great time and met three cool new friends - thanks everyone.

hello

just a quick note! haven't done much knitting and no spinning since leaving Lynne's on July 5, to visit my sis in Knoxville. going back home to Oregon tomorrow and will post photos and more words from there! cheers....

I am honored to have been invited here. I'm so inspired by the things I've seen so far.

Because of Pam's encouragement, I plan to learn Intarsia. I need to finish the One Skein Secret Pal Exchange gift I'm knitting first though. If I started something new and fun, I might not pick the exchange project back up!

I'm finally in.

Being new to blogging, I've been trying to figure this out and hope I've found the right place. The posted pictures are great and when I figure that part out I will show everyone what I've done this week.

Carolyn's Stuff

Okay, not as beautiful as Pam's, but here they are.

Fiinished my homework

I got my knitting done today. It isn't blocked square enough, and yes, I do see the mistakes in the yarn pick-ups, but here it is anyway. My mother is so in love with it that she is going to frame it. That's my mom for you. She thinks I am a genious. If she knitted, she wouldn't think that but who am I to burst her bubble?
The babies (three of them) went home today. Jim and Allison aren't answering their phones. I don't blame them. Everyone in the world wants to see those babies. Me most of all, but I will get my chance soon. I will respect their wishes for privacy. After all, this is their first experience as a family and it is far from normal.

Another day another pretty picture or 2 or 3 or 4.I know I sent all of the kTwisted Friends a way to post on this blog. Due to certain circumstances we are going to change that. Lynne is helpingme because I am not so computer literate. Will send info later.

The beautiful intarsia and harlequin designs are Lynnes'. The beautiful babies are mine. I finally got enough "quiet time" to do my entrelac. My OCD kicked in and I am surrounding it with intarsia which will be followed (hopefully) by mosaic. I will post the results when finished.

A new place to meet-free.

Well I am all rested up and ready to try to learn what I should have already learned. I can knit any time but seeing old friends (and three GREAT new ones) is more precious than stitches.
I will do my best to keep current with this blog, but if my OCD wanes all of you will have to pitch in and lend some typing fingers.
We all had a wonderful time at the Red Rooster Retreat in Crane Hill, Alabama. My friend/teacher/mentor Lynne gave us instructions in mosaic, entrelac, intarsia, and most valuable to me (and it turns out the rest of the group too) were the instructions for picot cast-on.
My friend/teacher/mentor Sandy was a joy to be with and her fiber was delicious as always. There are no real words to describe the joy I felt being with all of the wonderful friends I made at Shakerag last year. Rosemary and Jennifer, it's a wonder I didn't cry all the way home. Kandy your enthusiasm and laughter will be with me for a long time. Hopefully until we next meet. SAFF anyone? Blaine, your stories cracked me up and we simply could not have done what we did without you. Caroline,.................................aw, you know. Rosemarysitting quietly just kept on turning out beautiful knitting. Mistakes CAN be better than the thing you are trying to do.
Our new Twisted Friends, Jerri, Mary Ann, and Elayne were (and are) a welcome sight. Elayne did me the supreme favor of taking Mossy Oak and turning it into something beautiful for herself. Mary Ann is a wonderful and interesting lady. She is a multi-talented whiz. I am going to sample some of her natural goat cheese and soap sometime soon. Jerri was intensely soaking up every morsel of info that was passed around. Lurking around the edges though was a great sense of humor and gladness to be with us. We like you too. Me? The only thing I accomplished was picot cast-on and knitting the tail of my piece instead of ther working yarn. But I did knit it back across the row and wove it in at the same time. Saved by the bell.
Some of us brought our dyed rovings and swapped them with each other. I hope everyone thinks she got the best end of the deal. I know I do.
I hope we can do it again next year, but the only time available at Red Rooster is a weekend in August. Can I have some feed-back on that please?
What can anyone say about Red Rooster and Jim and Jennifer? Beautiful, quiet, serene,welcoming, ad infinitum. The food is in a catagory by itself. MMMMMMMM, yummy sounds! I still haven't figured out how to put the captions under the pics instead of in the post, but I hope you enjoy them anyway.