unfinished and ready to start

To attempt to cure my "finishitis", I have been working on one project at a time (even though I still have three projects on the needles - I am trying to focus). The project I am currently trying to finish - and will do so tonight - is the Whisper Cardigan by Hannah Fettig. It's being knit out of Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine {colour 1284}. The fabric knitted is slightly denser than the laceweight that the pattern calls. What I like about this yarn is (1) the sleeves were so much easier to knit, (2) the drape is still perfect, and (3) the finished object will be slightly warmer (key for me). I made the cardi with short sleeves instead of 3/4 length.

With my new resolution in the back of my mind, I decided to go to Chapters yesterday to buy Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin. I have had my eye on this book since it was published and finally just broke down yesterday and bought it. I am keen to finish the Whisper as this is what my travelling-to-Toronto knitting will entail:

Yes - the Sideways Grande Hat. So excited. I have been spinning - although not a lot. Mostly it's been a matter of no time. But slowly and surely, I have been working through the Chronicles of Narnia roving to create this:

This pretty handspun is destined to be another Springtime Bandit (at this point ~ destiny may change) by Kate Gagnon. I loved knitting it the first time and wanted to knit one in purple as I stood watching the first one block.

So, here's to will power to finish my unfinished! Cheers.

a smattering of colour ...

Recently I celebrated my birthday, which meant I was "allowed" to go out into the online world of Etsy and purchase from roving. I ordered some handpainted merino roving from FreckleFaceFibers, which I am stoked to say arrived today:

The above is colourway Safari, the below is colourway Frankincense.

I came face-to-face with the realization on Monday that I am not a true spinner yet. I have been looking for a certain colour of purple for the past month or so. The number of different "colourways" of "purple" is astounding. Let me just say, I am glad it is not my job to decide whether a ball of yarn is mauve vs. lavender vs. grape vs. the list goes on and on . . . Actually, I would love to be that person, but the point is: I was having a lot of difficulty finding the right colour of purple for a particular project that has been festering in the back of my mind for a while. On Monday, I was in the LYS and bumped into a friend from Knitting Group. I told her what I was looking for and she said "Why don't you spin the colour you want?" Duh.

The LYS that I tend to frequent has recently started selling roving. They happened to have the above bag sitting quite nicely on the shelf. It's Shades of Narnia from out in Chilliwack, BC, in the colourway Purple. So simple. So perfect. It's the colour I had been dreaming about!

Happy Spinning!

the minstrel

I ordered an unfinished Kromski Minstrel after Fibres West back in March. It arrived through Canada Post in early April -- it has taken me over two months to put it together and get it working. Part of the reason for the major delay was waiting for stain to dry - I chose an oak stain which is my favourite wood. Although there isn't a lot of grain in the wood, the stain is still beautiful. The oak is more interesting than the clear stain (my original choice) as it has a beautiful golden finish.

M. and I put it together tonight - which was interesting as I have only spun on wheels completely assembled, M. has no understanding of spinning wheels, and I don't really understand the tensioning systems (yet). Needless to say - the wheel doesn't have the Scotch tension set up yet.

However, once I got the hang of playing with the tensioning screw, the wheel started spinning like a dream. Gorgeous. Except now I need to go buy some roving ...

I think patience paid off with this one. I am one happy knitter-turned-spinner!

natural fibres

Officially, my new spinning wheel is in the mail!

I have recently discovered that there are many knitting techniques I have yet to try and would like to learn. When I realised Dad's birthday was fast approaching, I decided to find a way of learning some new things without the addition of a ton of knitting. I stumbled on brooklyntweed's Alberta. The only problem was it was published in Wild Fibers Magazine's 5th Anniversary Issue. How in the tarnation was I to get my hands on that?  Enter ingenuity on the part of a close friend: Call the LYS! Thankfully, with one last copy to spare, I was able to procure the magazine. Not only will I be getting a subscription to the magazine for my birthday from my loving husband, M. - but I have finally found a wonderful read to satisfy my constant need to a.) read about other parts of the world, and b.) consistently be surrounded by what I love most in this world: fibre. 

Right. So...

On the bus this morning, reading my magazine (which Dad had already returned along with the yarn saying, "I guess I give this back to you."), that I am falling one-word-at-a-time in love with, I stumble on an article about 'mustering' and 'sheep' and 'New Zealand.' Here is the newscast from a Kiwi-perspective (If you don't get a big kick out of this, then there's something wrong with you. It completely tickled me pink.):

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/back-pen-sheep-escapees-2438888/video

I thought goats in a tree was odd, but flying sheep? Wonderful!

Onto Alpaca. My friend L. bought a few hanks of the most beautiful alpaca in the world at Fibres West. I had the honour - it really was an honour - to wind the yarn for her:

When we had first walked into the festival, I had beelined it straight for this yarn but I made a promise to M. that I would not buy any more yarn until I worked through my stash (especially since I was planning on purchasing a wheel, which means roving). I am very jealous L. bought this yarn but I know she is going to do absolutely beautiful things with it - I've seen the pattern. It'll be amazing. I wanted to share the fibre though as it is so wonderful - the brown and blue just compliments like nothing else!

addition

I was able to take the day off on Friday to travel out to Fibres West. I had emailed Amber (the new owner) at Wild Rose Fibres to get some information about Kromski. She was wonderful and brought a bunch of wheels to the festival - thank you! 

Some know that I have been looking at wheels for a while, humming and hawing about what would be best: spend more, buy second hand, spend less (maybe replace later) ... what to do, what to do. I think talking to a fair number of people - following their advice - and finally just taking the plunge was the thing to do. I set a budget. Tried as many as I could. And compromised on little. So, coming from Alberta, will be my new Kromski Minstrel. 

I have already named him - yes, I know but if you know me, you understand (my car was named before I bought him too and I set out on a journey to find a car to fit the name not the other way around ... I know I know). I have a few reasons for choosing the Kromski in the end - and a few reasons for the Minstrel (now to be known as Domhnall - Gaelic, English translation would be Donald, meaning "ruler of the world" - I don't know, because I like it!). 

I want to keep this short because I have no photos to share this post but I loved that I could purchase quality and precision with the Kromski. I enjoyed them everytime I sat down at one. They are affordable. The Minstrel fit me. The Sonata was a close second as it is a travel wheel and you can also change out the flyer for a jumbo or fast flyer but the cost difference and comfort of the Minstrel sold me in the end. It is due to arrive in the mail in less than a month - hopefully much, much sooner!