95 at Starbucks ~

"95 at Starbucks" is a text I sent tonight. In case you need to know the code translation of this text, it means that I have 95 stitches on my needles for my Trillian shawl. I need to have 191 stitches before I can start the edging, so I do have some knitting to power through before that time. No competition, but Jitteryknitter is also knitting the Trillian, and we are keeping each other posted on our progress ~ no competition, just a friendly Knit-A-Long. The good news is that I've started my second skein of this lovely Zinnia Shibui, and this yarn is such a twisty delight of plying...As you can see the extra bump of yarn at the top of my knitting buddy, that is the 30 yards I've separated for the edging...very exciting!!!!

Navajo polwarth ~

As my spinning homework for this month, I needed to spin more singles so that I could practice my Navajo plying that Sam taught me this week. I spun one of my little 1 ounce samples of polwarth (beautiful fiber) so I could try to remember all the bits and pieces that Sam taught me.So far, so good, as it seemed to be working through the chain and keeping the chain going with the "live" loop and "live" single moving through it. Still have lots more practicing to do, as I still stop and then pedal the wheel, then pull more single through the loop and then stop...and then pedal the wheel. Almost like spindle spinning again! I am very happy I was able to practice so soon after the class, as I hope some of the good teaching will stick in my brain and finger/hand memory. I have another one ounce sample of the polwarth to practice with...Hurrah!

Yarnia done ~

Thankfully, I have cast off the socks made from Yarnia's yarn. I am happy that I stuck with these socks, but the many threads that make up Yarnia "yarn" is not my favorite, as my true love is a twist like my beloved Jitterbug or Koigu.... splitty yarn drives me a bit bonkers...So, Yarnia is cast off, and I will be donating the rest of this yarn to a good cause, so that other knitters can try this interesting blend and style of yarn. For now, I'm happy to be done with these, and to give them to my oldest. She likes them well enough, and I've let her know that she can now choose some sock yarn from my stash for her next socks... Excited about a new cast on!

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!!