new things

Oh man, I forgot how sometimes, even though I’m not in school, time off can be spent doing lots of things that tire me out. I’ve started lots of new things, including some new spinning.

This is a new kind of fiber for me, sweetgeorgia panda. It’s merino-bamboo-nylon, and I figured that since the merino content is still 60%, it wouldn’t be that different to spin from 100% merino. I have since learned my lesson. It’s for sure a more challenging fiber blend for me – it spins finer, and it’s so so so so so shiny, but I tend to break my singles and drop my spindle and make frustrated noises a bit more often.

I’ve also started a new knitting project.

This is Arabella, and my first time working at serious-business, all over lace. It’s not a technically challenging knit, but it definitely isn’t mindless, either – the blue threads are lifelines, which I decided I needed after hopelessly screwing up the first two repeats and having to frog the entire shawl.

What new things have you guys been up to?

there are so many boxes, the cat doesn’t know which one to hide in first.

I’m moving this week – while school is still in session. This seemed like a really good idea when I planned it (in March), but in fact it was a terrible idea and I’m very sorry and I’ll never, ever do it again. I do have new knitting, but the odds of me getting it photographed to show you guys are pretty slim (which is a shame, because my new pink socks are looking awesome).

I do have some photos that I realize I’ve yet to blog, though, so I thought I’d share that with you all.

Socks!

I knit these with leftovers from Dad’s Christmas socks, and my glitter socks, both in Dream in Color sock yarns. The put-up for these yarns is truly excellent, and amount of each skein that I had left over after knitting a pair of socks was truly impressive – so impressive that I managed to knit myself a whole pair of socks from them. (Even if they are a little shorter than I like my socks)

See you all from my new apartment, kids.

I was going to say ‘Sharpay Evans’ instead of ‘Barbie,’ and then I realized nobody would get it.

I went to the Frolic this weekend! With Laura, which was both awesome and a little intimidating, because she knows like everybody. But I bought a ton of yarn, and other yarn-related paraphernalia, and overall it was a pretty rad time!

From left to right: cat, Tanis Fiber Arts MCN, Madelinetosh Tosh Sock, new spindle (!!!), some really fluffy Shetland roving from Waterloo Wools, and St. Denis Nordique. I am very, very pleased with my big bag of yarn. My cat is obviously more into the bag, but that’s okay. She can’t knit.

And then, omgomg. So, I saw Kim of indigodragonfly at knit night, weeks ago. And I know she dyes yarn, so I was all, “Hey, you know what colour you should dye? Pink. Pink sock yarn. It’s my favourite.” And then I didn’t think anything of it – at least not until she emailed me this week to let me know that she had dyed some yarn that was really, really, really, pink, and would I like some.

Obviously, hell yes I would like some.

Guys, this yarn is bright. So bright, in fact, that my camera got confused and won’t photograph it properly – but I want you guys to imagine what would happen if Barbie ever took up knitting. It’s pretty much that. I am in love. It’s electric, electric pink, but also subtly variegated somehow, and it makes me grin every time I look at it.

I’ve already wound one of the skeins. These are going to be the best effing socks, you guys don’t even know.