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 no good songs about moms that aren't about milfs

IMG_8071ps, originally uploaded by pirateygoodness.

Who has two thumbs and just finished blocking their first lace shawl? Me. The first Ishbel is blocked, and totally, totally gorgeous. It expanded a lot on blocking, and is now absolutely massive – measured on the blocking board, it was 150cm at the base of the triangle and 58cm tall, which is actually closer to the “large” size dimensions than the small. Going up a needle size obviously made quite a difference, but I sort of love the fabric I’ve got and wouldn’t have done it differently.

This one is not actually for myself, it’s a birthday present for my mother (who is a lovely woman but has not figured out the internet yet, so I can talk about this all I want), and I am ridiculously excited to give this to her. I do not know if I can hang onto this for the month until then.

Song of the Entry: Sorry, none today