Navajo plying ~

OMG. I have to start with that, as I had a most awesome spinning class on Sunday. I had looked at some of the Navajo plying tutorials on YouTube and couldn't make heads or tails what the ladies were doing with their hands or their fingers.. I needed a close up webcam of their fingers so I could see what they were doing with the single ply with each step... Thank heavens I have the best EVER spinning teacher, as she was ever-so patient with me, showing me and re-showing me how each hand works, and then pedaling the spinning wheel, and then the loops of the single and then holding the chain and pulling the "live" strand from my single as I put it into the loop that I'm keeping open... I asked her if she would do a YouTube with close-ups of her hands, as it made so much sense once I could see what she was doing. I still can't do it very well, as I could really use a few more fingers and hands and brain cells to get every piece and part to work together. Although some of my yarn looked like a horrible beginner, I LOVE IT as the twist in some places looks like my beloved Jitterbug and Koigu. My homework is to practice more more more! Hurrah!

Trillian and Tea ~

Now that the holidays are over, I sadly leave the eggnog lattes until the next season... and I'm back to Earl Grey tea...still knitting with my knitting buddy (made by my sweetie, with his roller blade wheel as the moving gizmo) on the Trillian shawl, up to 89 stitches on my needles.
As I recall from the Jitteryknitter, I need 190ish stitches before working through the edging (don't worry, I'll check the pattern before the next step...All I know is I need to keep knitting :) )

Yarnia heels ~

I wouldn't recommend this Yarnia "yarn" for socks, as it is not plyed so it is very splitty while knitting. It is actually approximately 10 strands of assorted fibers wound into a skein... (If you've not checked out Yarnia in Portland Ore, I'd recommend a visit, as it is rather amazing) However...the sparkle and glimmer of the strands within the group of threads is such fun that I'm still enjoying this knitting project.I've turned the heels and now ready to begin a cuff pattern.I think I'll use my "favorite at the moment" cuff pattern from More Sensational Socks since it only has 4 rows and a fun mock cable look to it. I can't wait to be done with these socks! I hope the fiber wears well, too!

Spinning last year ~

I realized that I forgot to post my last spinning of last year. Holidays were too busy to keep track of all the activities, and although I took pictures....they were never posted.....My homework assignment to have complete for my January spinning class is to have spun a colorful one ply so that I can learn to Navajo ply. I picked out a little bump of BFL/Tussah and started to spin. It turned out lovely and full of bright colors. I may check out some YouTube tutorials on Navajo plying, just to see what I'm in for at my spinning class this weekend! I'm so excited!!

Trillian Progress ~

The Trillian shawl is looking good. The yarn has a lovely twist, almost like my beloved Jitterbug, and that twist makes this Shibui a delight to knit with. The colors...ahhhh, the colors are so vibrant and warm.... When my daughter asked me to drive her to practice on this pouring rain evening, I thought I would take this sunshine "zinnia" brightness to the coffee shop and brighten up my raining evening.It worked. Although the rain kept pouring down and the wind kept blowing, my zinnia garden kept growing more lovely each row!

New Year's Heels ~

I am slogging through these Yarnia socks, as I want to get them off my needles and on to my "done project" list already! The sparkles in the individual pieces of the fiber make me think of New Years' Eve fireworks, so that is keeping me going strong!Not the greatest picture...
*sigh* Starbucks is out of eggnog until the next holiday season

Auld Lang Syne

As 2012 begins, and 2011 is in our rear view mirror, I'm happy to remember all the knitterly blessings I have enjoyed in 2011. The best knitting friends, ever, as they are creative, fun and the best friends one can hope for ~ I am very blessed!I picked up the Yarnia socks, for Auld Lang Syne, so I can get them finished. Seems like the sparkles would be a good New Year's project, right? Another blessing was being able to knit and finish 25 projects in 2011. Several of them were shawls, and I'm very happy about that! What new knitting projects await us in the new year!! What knitting resolutions should we be making!?