while on the pirate ship

During the trip on the pirate boat, I worked on a sweater I was making.  It meant I got to look at scenery going by instead if I had been reading and I would not have experienced anything.  There was some ripping out that happened.  Mistakes were fixed but in the end, I have a sweater.

I designed from an Eileen Fisher sweater I liked.  A bit cropped.  Oversized but not too oversized.  The grey yarn is a yak silk blend that I spun.  The bit of white accent is a cashmere yarn that I also spun.  I needed to spin the cashmere on a drop spindle so I took that bit of spinning with me when I was traveling.  It is an interesting fiber life to lead when you are making all the yarn you are using in your making.  But it is my current life right now and I like it a lot.  

I am still sleeping a lot so it has been a very quiet crafting, cooking, baking week.  I get tired or over heated and I feel horrible.  But I had ten minutes today when I felt very good.  I am hoping for more minutes tomorrow.  I will just have to take it easy.

possibly a new stitch pattern for a forever shawl?

I have been spinning an alpaca silk blend on one of my smaller spindles.  The spindle is what I had on the mountain and when we got back, I have wool for a sweater I am planning on my spinning wheel.  That is the simple version, because the sweater may have multiple colors which means multiple bobbins and the little drop spindle is much more portable for wandering around the house of watching a video.  I will say not having Koda Bear's help right now with the spinning is quite nice. 

This fiber and yarn are so soft, I decided to try to make a forever shawl in shell pattern.  I am not sure about the pattern yet and I might take the next ball of yarn and start working a single stitch forever shawl pattern to see what I think.  I am also currently really liking grey and grey tones.  This silver would be very cool as a soft pull over to go over my sheath dresses that I made of superfine cashmere.  The single stitch will let me know if that is a possibility as well.

There are always too many ideas and not enough fiber to become yarn for the ideas.  I do not know if that is a blessing or a curse!

a sucker for tools

I miss sleeping in a tent, even if it is in the garage loft.  I do have to say I did not help to fell one tree this time.  Or stack a log.  I am the champion log stacker.  No gravel moving or building a driveway by hand.  Yes, that is me.  No building building.  I was a slug.  I sat in my new rocking chair in the loft and spun.  Baked a couple loafs of bread.  Watched Koda Bear play in the dirt and swim in the lake.  Slug.

I spun on my new Turkish drop spindles.  There are actually two styles there.  The old and the new.  All handmade by Joel Grinstead.  The new style spins forever.  It is a joy.  Now, if I can just not feel the urge to buy more spindles!

Or fiber:  alpaca blended with silk and cashmere.  All so soft.  I am thinking about trying to make a forever shawl with a a shell pattern instead of single crochet.  I will just have to see what I think.  But I am tempted to make a sweater based on a store bought one I have.  I will just have to see because I cannot decide.

Tropical Storm Bill

Tropical Storm Bill has been blowing through today.  It has been a dark, dreary day with rain but not bad.  My work decided to close the office so I have been home all day.  I am such a good hermit.

It has been a blessing to be home.  My stomach has been off since Sunday night so it was nice to be able to lay down when I wished.  I read a book this afternoon. 

I also have been doing a lot for myself.  I am working on a new sweater, similar to the last I made.  I am making it a bit shorter and I will shorten the sleeves.  The colors are different so I am spinning more yarn.

Today I spent some time spinning and preparing fiber to spin.  It is nice to be able to walk away when I need a break.  I have a few days worth of spinning waiting for me now.  But I also have more fiber to clean and card waiting for me as well.  I was teased by a friend that my fiber habit was similar to his wife's bead habit but it kept both of us sane.  His conclusion was that it was all good.

More spinning with and audio book will go on tonight.  Work is supposed to be open tomorrow so back to normal tomorrow.

testing

I am very excited about my gallivanting.  And I am still creating but I have been sucked into a sweater that I really want to wear while I am traveling.  I may actually need to make more yarn for it and find buttons on my travels but I should be wear it otherwise.  I finished a sleeve tonight and got well on the way with the last.  The extra yarn is for the collar.

I tested out my tent today.  I never again wish to put a tent up for the first time by myself at 3:00 am without a light.  I did that at a Pensacola camp site.  Never again.  I am really glad I tested this setup here because the lighting is unique.  At 3:00 am, I would have thought it was broken.  But now.  I have a tent that glows.

My ripped up hands are making everything a bit slower today.  I had hoped to write about hot cross buns but my nails are so short that typing hurts.  I hope my hands are farther along the healing process tomorrow.  I might even make another batch for the road!