The latest Amazing Lace challenge is The Poetry Challenge. Trellis, having very little to do these days, set out to write a poem about her feelings on life in general.

I sit here
wound into a ball
hope in my soul
yet no needle in sight

I sit here
soft and fine
cashmere and light
a dream come true

I sit here
a piece of the puzzle
waiting for use
waiting for love

I’m sensing some depression and lonliness. I haven’t forgotten about my pretty Trellis, but I have to finish the Noni bag before I can give her the attention she deserves. The carpet bag is about half done (I’ve used 4 of the 8 balls of Cascade) and I have a nice long weekend ahead. I want to work on Butterfly and spinning as much as possible, but I’m meeting a friend for some knitting tomorrow and the carpet bag will come along. Trellis may be seeing some love before too long.

A few weeks ago (or maybe a month ago now) my mom decided she wanted to try another knitting project and she really liked the felted bag my mother-in-law made. I asked you all for your input, and Yahaira thoughtfully recommended the Noni bags. Well, as soon as I looked at the patterns, I knew I was going to have to knit one too - yeah, I’m weak like that, but come on - they’re sooo cute. I ordered the felted carpet bags and the sculpture garden patterns. My mom decided she wanted to knit the small carpet bag and I decided on the large (a great work bag, don’t you think?). And then I ordered some Cascade 220 from Purl (they had by far the best color selection and really quick shipping!). My mom ended up with a really fun coral color (the small size only uses 2 hanks) and I got a walnut color (Purl seems to be out of that color now) and red for the flower (because really, I think the flower makes the bag) . My mom is already finished with her bag and is ready to felt, but me? Not so much. My excuse is that I finished Hourglass and the Oak Ribbed Socks before I started, plus they aren’t kidding when they call this the “Rather Huge Carpet Bag.”

Here’s what I have so far.

See the ruler? I know it isn’t felted yet, but I’m not sure I’m going to be able to carry this once I get it full. I tend to put a lot of stuff in my work bag - knitting, work stuff, purse stuff, random stuff - you know, everything but the kitchen sink. It’s just boring stockinette stitch in the round and I’m only a little more than a quarter of the way up the sides (row 30 out of 80), but once I get it felted then I get to figure out some handles and some lining, which could be fun. Oh, and I think knitting the flower will be fun - mostly because of the shaping and I can’t imagine knitting a flower for a sweater, so this will be something new. I can’t imagine you all will want to see more pictures of this until it’s felted because, let’s face it, it makes for pretty boring photos.

In sewing news: The Enabler and I have joined Sew Retro (yeah, I know, like I don’t have enough to do) and we’re going to sew this supposedly super simple dress. Now I just need to find some fabric that isn’t ungodly expensive because the pattern calls for almost 5 yards!

Last night was karate and I have the bruises on my arms and legs to prove it, but that means no knitting. On Saturday I plyed the corriedale singles from last weekend with the merino I spun at Estes and it turned out ok. The merino wasn’t as even as I remembered, but the good news is that the corriedale was quite even. So, I guess that shows progress. After I plyed those singles, I spun 2 ounces of wool blend roving from Spunky Eclectic and I am really happy with how it turned out.

I used a long draw on most of this, but played around with the results using different drafting methods, but I settled on a woolen yarn and I think it works. I only have 2 ounces of each color, but I’m going to spin the other samples I have in the red/pink color range and try a 3-ply next weekend. I hope the result is a subtle, tweedy kind of yarn. I won’t have a lot, but at this point it’s all about the learning and trying.

Butterfly saw a little action over the weekend, but progress is incredibly slow. Fun, but slow.

And Riley is just amazed that anyone cares about all this fiber stuff

Have a great day.

The University of Wyoming Cowboys Socks are finished.

Project Details:

Pattern: Oak Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks

Yarn: WY Cowboy from Sunshine Yarns - 80% superwash wool, 20% nylon.

Needles: US #1 (2.5mm) Addi Natura 6″ dpns

Thoughts: I really like the simple rib pattern. It worked well with the self-striping yarn and I think ribbing makes for a better fitting sock (especially when you’re knitting for someone else). I’m quite pleased that the stripes matched - exactly!

And they fit!

The only modification I made was to change the sl1, k1, psso decrease in the gusset to a ssk, and I only did that because I like the ssk decrease better. This is the first pattern I’ve done with a round toe, and I really like how it looks and fits. I’ll definitely use it again.

I’m still working on Butterfly and I’ve started a Noni bag (my first felting project). I’ll have pictures for you tomorrow.

Who knew? I guess all that stuff people tell you about practice is true. I really think I’ve gotten a lot better at the whole spindle thing. As you may recall, my first attempt didn’t go so well. And the second attempt, well it was better, but not by much. But, this latest attempt … it’s going so much better!

I’m getting fairly even, well twisted yarn and I’m spinning from combed top! I am really enjoying the mid-whorl spindle. This thing spins like a dream (even though I’ve dropped it a few times! They don’t call it a drop spindle for nothing.) I find that it’s a lot easier to spin for 15 minutes on the spindle than to sit down at the wheel, which I suppose is the point of having one - instant gratification. This week has gotten away from me and I haven’t sat down at my wheel since Sunday, but I am planning on plying those singles tonight. We’ll see how it goes.

And, I think my tension on my fair isle is improving a bit with practice.

If you look above that checked garter stitch border hell, you’ll see some kind of crappy tension, but when it moves into the green and orangey colors things are evening out a bit (the green and orange stuff is what I’ve done this week - not a lot, but…). I’m trying to remember to spread the stitches out and my right hand is maybe starting to get the hang of things. I hope I just continue to get better as this project progresses.

Tonight is the photo shoot for the Oak Ribbed Socks, so I’ll have pictures for you in the next day or two. Have a great weekend.