I didn't make that much progress on the vest today. I was spinning for about 5 hours. I had the Joy a'smokin.... The festival is this upcoming weekend, and so I've got some things to finish at the last minute. But I did another section, so I'm hoping that by this weekend I'll be ready to start the steeks for the underarm and neck! We'll see, you never know what's going to happen around here! 

Ok, one more full shot of the body of the slipover. I've decided to name it Orien. It reminds me of some eastern rug or pattern design. What do you think? 

On Sunday, I decided to go ahead and start another fair isle with the remaing "natural" colors of yarn I had spun up that were left from the first sweater. There is probably enough to make a nice slipover, so that's what I'm going to do. This is the pattern from Sheila McGregors Fair Isle knitting book. She has a couple of hundred patterns in that book that I love! So I got all of the schematics and sat down and sketched this baby out! And got busy! The ribbing along took 2 days. It usually does. Of course, I didn't work on it constantly, but I was doing some spinning in between. I have the festival coming up next weekend, so I'm really pressed for spinning time right now. Gotta get it done. So this is 3 days worth of knitting so far, I'm liking it! Alot! Later.... 

And here is my Sasha girl, saying Hi to the camera. She was really excited because DH was getting ready to go "bye bye" and she LOVES to go in the car, anywhere, just as long as she gets to go! 

And the closeup of the foot! 

And the finished "energized" sock. Aren't the stripes nice?  

The sock heel... 

Yeah it's done! Blocking. I think it came out great. Notice the body. I did a variation of color combinations in those fair isle bands to give it some different character with the natural colors. I kept the sleeves the same, and the buttonbands are the same also. The neck I took off 2 rounds of ribbing, (I don't really like high necks!) After it dries, I'll put on the buttons, my tag, and it will be ready for the winter! Have a great weekend all..... :) 

WHAT? AN OLD WIP, THE NATURAL HANDSPUN FAIR ISLE!

I know you all can't believe it! I did though! I pulled it out to finish it. I was looking at it the other day thinking to myself, "Self, you really should finish that pretty, hard-earned, handspun fair isle sweater that you started a couple of months ago!" So, I went to the library and got the 5th season of CSI, Memoirs of a Geisha, and pulled out my Alice Starmore VHS tape of fair isle knitting for inspiration, and got busy! And I'm almost done! Just picked up the second buttonband, (yes the one for the buttons) and started it, and am halfway through. Should be finishing the neckband tonight, and then ready to block this bad boy by morning! YEEEEHAAAA! What next, I don't know yet, but I can tell you one thing, I don't think that I'm going to be handspinning anymore yarn for another adventurous fair isle for a while yet~ It really was more work that I thought it would be. But fun nonetheless. And I do think that all of these wonderful natural wools made a beautiful fair isle.
Who knows, maybe I'll make a neat vest from all the yarn I have left huh? Later..... 

And this morning I picked up the buttonband, and started knitting it and putting in the buttonbands. Hopefully will finishe each one and the neck tonight, and then I can FINALLY be done with this sweater!  

I know you can't believe it, but yes, It's the other sleeve, I finished it yesterday while watching the 5th season of CSI. I know you can't believe it! But, it's true :) 

This merino I am spinning in a very sport to lace weight so that I can make a shawl. Natural colored. The last hank is a medium worsted weight from the same stufff, I just wanted to see how it would come out in that weight. Looks pretty good in either weight though. I think I'll spin the rest in the worsted for the festival though. :) Later... 

I was inspired by this past Spin Off mag to knit some "energized" socks. So I spun this fiber (which is merino) from Outback Fibers, and cast on right off the bobbin as suggested, and started knitting this sock. Turning out very pretty too. Nice striping pattern going on there.... 

And here it is on the wheel. Spinning up very nicely, and I love the blue green color variation, and the hint of yellow. I did use Golden Yellow color, but it was mostly absorbed by the blue. Great effect it gave it though.... 

This beautiful fiber is the outcome of my dyeing days last week. This is just one sample of some of the merino I dyed. I enjoyed doing it. Took about 1/2 day to dye and dry this wool. I've been spinning it up already of course, especially since my fav color is green... 

I blocked the shawl last night, and here is the finished product. This is the best shot I could get considering how early it is. I will have a nice model shot for you later. But I'm totally thrilled with it. And I didn't really spin the fiber in the exact random striped way, or maybe I did and didn't realize it. But whatever, it came out great! Next..... :) 

It's soaking! Post pics of the finished blocked shawl manana! :) 

Finished!!!!! AHHa.... ready to be soaked and blocked.... Look at those colors, what is going on with that?.... I love it! 

Knitting the shawl in progress. It's going very well. I'm knitting the Flower Basket Shawl from Interweave Knits mag of Fall/Winter 2004. Couldn't resist... Been wanting to knit this for a while, nows the time... 

I knit this hat in between spinning for the shawl, and getting the pattern ready to go... it's another chulo, on the pattern is from a Anatolian Knitting Designs (Turkish sock pattern) book. You can find it at Schoolhouse Press. 

All spun up and ready to be knit into a wonderful shawl! 

Here it is on the wheel. It's wonderful to spin, and it has blues and greens.... :) sigh..... 

I had a spin-in here at my house last Wednesday, and it went well. There was Charlotte, Janet King, and Birgit. I traded Birgit some of my already spun handspun for this beautiful green stuff. I don't know what it is, but it has a wonderful sheen and a very long staple. So, I'm spinning it lace weight. I know the perfect shawl to make with it too... 

I've finished spinning the remainder of the wool I dyed last week. Here it is on the Joy. I 'm spinning this in a singles to see how it comes out. I love these blues and pinks/purples.