Okay, so I know the non-spinners are skimming.  Sorry ’bout that, but those of you who stick with this post will get some interesting insight into the Knight, because he asked me to ply this yarn in three different ways, just to satisfy his fiber curiosity.

The yarn on the left is Whimsy Pinzy’s Falkland.   The right is some Corridale I got from Stony Mountain Fiber.   Both spun up like dreams.  I intended to ply them together, so that the dark green would tone down what I’m calling L-3 – Lemon, Lime and Lavender, so it would look less like toxic witch’s brew on a string.

I had a LOT of the variegated left when the regular two-ply was complete.  That’s where the Knight’s challenge came in.

I plied the bulk of the variegated with itself in a two-ply, and then I took a wee bit and navajo (three-ply) plied it, so my curious Knight could see how THOSE two differed.

Can you see the difference?  In the first wad o’ yarn, there is what I call the twine look, where two different colors are generally plied together.  In the second little slip of string, the colors fall together more uniformly.

See the differences?   I’m glad the Knight asked for this little experiment.

No, I can’t tell you how much yarn’s there.  The two-ply skeins run light fingering to DK, and there’s a lot of it.  The three-ply bit is pretty evenly sport weight.

The biggest problem I had with this yarn was washing it.  I washed, and washed and washed again.  The water was green the first time, purple the second, and just muddy-murky after that.  Finally, I remembered white vinegar supposedly sets colors, so one water and vinegar bath followed by one last Eucalan rinse, and finally, the water was clear.

With a little luck, I’ll be able to blog at work on Tuesday.  I still have an FO report, a shopping report and a sock club kit to share.   I hope your Monday wasn’t as bumpy as mine, but the good news is that Chick-fil-A’s peppermint chip shake is back already!

My work computer has issues.  Several Blogger blogs won’t load, I have to use HTML to upload photos here, but can then edit them in the “visual” setting once they’re “here” and today, most of my flickr uploads have those annoying little red “x”s where the photos should be.

So, come back later.  Much later, because I have a full afternoon and evening ahead of me, but I wanted to share my latest handspun with you and some of my finds at Mistletoe Market…

(logo property of the JLC)

I have a rather full plate the next few days, but if you’re local, please stop by the Omni on Sunday, 10-7 and do some holiday shopping at the Mistletoe Market. 

2009 Mistletoe Market Vendors

• Abbey & Ferris/Paper & Ink Designs
• Alison Anderson Art (Charlottesville, VA) UVA themed artwork and gifts.
• Beauti Control, Inc.
• Bees Knees Studio (Richmond, VA) Irresistable paintings and prints by Erica Vess.
• Belt It (Winchester, VA) Gorgeous belts with interchangeable buckles. 
• CH Originals (Bedford, VA) Handmade, one of a kind, reversible and machine washable purses.
• Devon Rawson (Williamsburg, VA) Handbound books, boxes and frames.
• Discovery Toys
• Ellen Allen Annapolis (Annapolis, MD) Chic handbags and accessories inspired by architecture, nature, adventure and passion.
• Erin McDermott Jewelry (Charlottesville, VA) Using a unique mix of semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, sterling silver, 14K-gold, 14-K gold filled, sea glass and other materials, Erin creates jewelry that is funky and different but also classic and unique.
• Glo (Charlottesville, VA). 
• Good Press (Charlottesville, VA) Offering custom printed wedding invitations, baby announcements, stationery and party invitations, as well as goods that you just can’t live without. 
• Hallie Richmond Designs- Heirloom Children’s clothes, baby day gowns, christening gowns, and baby layette.
• Heart Scent Candles (Staunton, VA) Hand-poured apothecary jar and pillar candles, along with flameless candles and votives.
• Heartfull Designs (Virginia Beach, VA) Entralling and captivating jewelry pieces by artisan, Pam Kossman.
• Ivan & Mary (Charlottesville, VA) Handmade designer totes, belts, headbands, dog collars and leashes.
• Jayne Cox, Children’s book author.
• Joey Notes (Staunton, VA) Stationery, greeting and notecards.
• Kayzie Designs (Forest, VA) Handmade jewelry made from the finest materials.
• Kazuri Unlimited VA- Handmade ceramic bead jewelry from Kenya.
• Kfehr Designs (Waynesboro, VA) Handmade pure silver, sterling and bronze necklaces and earrings.
• LuLu & Merie (Alexandria, VA) Fabulous stationary gifts, memo sets, playing card sets, notepads, winetags, and much more.
• Maggie’s Pottery (North Garden, VA) Handmade pottery.
• Magical Monograms (Alexandria, VA) Embroidered and monogrammed products.
• Marguerite C (Charlottesville, VA) Handmade frames and linoleum prints.
• Mary Kay – Skin care, color cosmetics.
• Ornaments 4 U (Cary, NC) Christmas ornaments.
• Pampered Chef
• Pixie Perfect Creations (Charlottesville, VA)
• Point Well Made (Montpelier, VA) Hand turned fine writing instruments, bottle stoppers, pepper and salt mills, desk and personal accessories.
• Primitive Earth Soap Co. (Charlottesville, VA) All-natural vegetable soaps using ingredients that are close to the earth.
• Puppywillow (Charlottesville, VA) Handcrafted dog clothes, leashes, collars, toys, bedding, and other accessories.
• ReGreen LLC (Charlottesville, VA) Landscape photography.
• Rivah Breeze Gifts (Richmond, VA)
• Robert Redd (Charlottesville, VA) Fine gentlemen’s and ladies’ apparel.
• Rodan & Fields Dermatologists Skincare products.
• Sabika – Austrian crystal jewelry.
• Silpada Designs - Jewelry.
• Smathers & Branson (Bethesda, MD) Needlepoint belts, collegiate products, cummerbunds, dog collars, key fobs, women’s belts, headbands, coin purses, wallets & flasks.
• Smockin’ Hoo (Charlottesville, VA) Children’s Smocked Clothing.
• Southern Living at Home Home accessories.
• Stella & Dot Jewelry.
• Tastefully Simple- Gourmet food products.
• The Optical at Primary Eyecare (Charlottesville, VA) Designer sunglasses and eyewear.
• Usborne Books – Children’s books.
• Whitley Designs Handcrafted necklaces, rings, and earrings, showcasing Southeast Asian pendants, vintage pieces and semi-precious stones merging the old with the new to make a classically edgy statement.
• XOvivo Jewelry (McLean, VA) Jewelry using vibrant colors, recycled metal & silver, handcrafted in DC Metro.

I love the internet and technology…  I snipped that list from our website, and the links still work!  If you do happen to shop online with any of these vendors, PLEASE let them know you heard about them through the Mistletoe Market.   (I also love our web designer and the MM Committee who made it possible for me to just cut and paste and still have active links.  Do note though, that yours truly is NOT the Pampered Chef representative for this event, because my cup runneth over.)

I’m also sorry to share that one of MJ’s siblings (she’s one of 13, I think it is?) died yesterday, as did a the son of a family friend.   The good news is that the Knight and I have settled on a beach trip, so it won’t be as long as it has been.

So, what’s on your weekend agenda? 

Way back in September, Anita came to visit.   We seem to have a tradition of her sending me a CD of her photos after she goes home, so I thought we’d stomp back through some of them together.

Anita, September 2009

This is the photo I have on my cell phone for Anita.   It pretty much tells the whole story.   I’ve accepted that she comes to visit the girls, and then figures while she’s here, she may as well hit some fiber spots with me.   She’s “Auntie ‘Nita” to the girls, and Sissy knows that name and knows the smell when packages arrive from ‘Nita!

I actually took this photo with Anita’s camera.  See Sis’s reflection in the dirty door?   I don’t know whether Sis could see her reflection too or whether she was just willing the door to open for her, but what an intense expression!

Anita took this one.  She couldn’t get over the way Sissy raced around and played in her tutu!

Gretchen wasn’t forgotten throughout this whole mess.  She’s just more demure in a skirt and thus didn’t attract quite as much attention as her wild sister.

I could go on and on, but that gives you an idea of what Anita’s visit was like at our place!  Have a happy little friday.

Oh – I haven’t forgotten the prizes, but I am just feeling pert enough to bop around town and pick up some supplies, so hopefully, they’ll get in the mail tomorrow or Monday.

This is the third post I’ve started for today.  The first one never saw a single keystroke, because the insurance auditor showed up (rather unexpectedly) about the time I’d collected my thoughts.  The second attempt actually got a bit of text and a photo before I ran out of steam.

October 2008

I’ve figured out what my problem is.  We’ve only been to the beach once – ONCE!! – in the past year.  We went in September of 2008 and that trip spilled into October, and again in February of this year, but that’s a mere fraction of the time I’m accustomed to spending at the shore, resting and restoring.

Gretchen, February 2009

My baby girl has never even walked the shoreline.  She hasn’t been sprayed by the surf, nor has she tasted the salt water.  I think I’m going to go order her a life jacket and write a beach trip on the calendar in red ink.

Sissy, fleeing from the surf September 2008

Clearly, Sis isn’t going to get close enough to the waves for it to matter what she’s wearing.  Still, like me, she loves BEING at the beach, even if she doesn’t want to be in the water.

Letting sleeping dogs rest at the beach, February 2009

Soon girls, soon.

No, I wasn’t home with the flu yesterday, but I know many of you have been battling it.  Dae shared this little bit of humor, so I thought I’d pass it along.

At least Piglet is smiling.  The others seem too gripped by their flu fears, except for perhaps Eeyore, but maybe he’s just wondering why one size fits all rarely does?

Project:  DW Cloth #1, aka: Plum Tired

Pattern:  The Infamous DW – aka: Darrell Waltrip – Cloth.  I did cast on 46 stitches for a larger cloth, because that’s what the Knight likes.   He’s proclaimed the cloth Barbara sent him as the best washcloth EVER, so I figured he should have a spare…

Yarn:  Patons Pure Organic Cotton in the Aqua Plum colorway.  (See?!  Isn’t it more fun, a nicer read, and just generally better to have a name, however basic and uninspired, for a colorway?)

I wanted to love this yarn.  It’s soft as can be, despite its rather Bernat Cottontots construction with the fluffy core and a thin, strong second strand.   However, when I pulled it apart while I was trying to pull the end out to use it as a center pull ball, I wondered….  There were no more incidents, but I was able to easily break the yarn when I was done knitting, so I don’t have high hopes for this cloth wearing well, which is a shame, because it sure is pretty.

Needles:  US #7, my go-to cloth needles

Verdict:  Move over ballband, mama’s got a new rag – favorite pattern, that is!

The sweetest faces in the world!

Now, to vote on my way home to my fur-girls and Bellus.  I do love my wheel.  Maybe I’ll have to tell you more about him one of these days. 

Know what?  The first day of the work week is still rough, even if you do spend an extra day at home.  But the Phillies won last night (even though I couldn’t stay awake for it all), and tonight’s NCIS night, so it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Let’s talk about spinning for a minute.  When I first took my lessons, it was simply because I’m a curious, life-long-learner.  (Hush Jessi.  You can only say I told you so but so many times.)  I wanted to learn more about fibers.  For instance, I learned that while nothing slides through my fingers like alpaca, I won’t be wearing much of it myself until my thermostat resets itself in a couple of years.  (Oh please, sooner rather than later!)   Several of you tried to warn me that the whirl of the whorl would cast its spell, sucking me in, making me a spinner.

A Bellus Wheel by Heavenly Handspinning

It did.  I feared when I bought a wheel that it would take time from my precious knitting opportunities.  It does.  I’d honestly rather spin than knit right now.   (And can’t do either at the moment because I have my feet tucked up under me, and there’s this most precious brown and white lump wadded up in my lap… it’s all I can do to type without bumping her wee noggin’.)

So, Friday night I did indeed navajo ply.  Honestly?  I spin so I can ply.   From the first moment I plied to strands of handspun together, I knew I’d have to do that again, and again, and…

I need a nice formula for handspun reports, but in the meantime, this was a wad of sample fibers, mostly sheep as far as I know.  As I mentioned, it’s my first navajo ply, and there’s roughly 70 yards of it.  It’s mostly a DK weight, but there are some sections that are as thick as Aran weight. 

If you look right at the bottom edge of the penny and you watched the navajo video in the previous post (or know how to navajo ply), you’ll see the little bump where I transitioned from one “loop” to another.  For those of you who don’t know, a navajo ply is a three-ply, so I’m rather proud of that comparatively skinny yarn!   I’m eager to knit this yarn up, so if you have any great suggestions, let me know.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go take a nap with my pups.  Gretchen is already snoring the sweetest little tune.  (Yes, I’m home today.)

So, how was your weekend?

It’s finally Friday!  It’s been a long week around here.   I do have a finished cloth I need to photograph and review for you, but in the meantime, I wanted to share the clever little towel set-up my sister made.  In an effort to promote full disclosure, she did see a similar design at a craft show, and then went home and created her own.

That’s two dish towels, sewn with right sides out, attached to a hot pad in a coordinating color.  I actually have two different colors/towels, so I can keep one in use at all times.  I believe the center loop was already on the pad and she just added a button.   I love the TWO towels, and thought some of the sewing readers might need/want a cute/quick gift idea.

So, the weekend.  Obviously, I won’t be bothering with the pet Howl-o-ween parade downtown this evening.  It’s a cool, misty day here, and I have spaghetti sauce simmering in the crockpot for lunch.  Tonight, I plan to teach myself to Navajo ply.

I don’t know what else the weekend will hold.  We’re due for a rather quiet weekend at home.  How ’bout you?

Happy Dogs on Thursday!   Are you and your pack gearing up for Howl-o-ween?  We had our dry run yesterday, and I’m glad we did.  Sissy had a message for me… but pictures are worth a thousand words.

It's okay Sissy. Mommy doesn't like cows either.

First of all, DIVA needs a XXL or bigger in this particular line of dogwear.  However, an ill-fitting costume was only part of the problem.

I'll "stand", but you can't make me smile.

I’ve said before that while Gretchen LOVES clothes, Sissy doesn’t.  (Hats, yes.  Clothes, no.)  

The cuteness that could have been...

The dog I affectionately call “My Mooo” just broke my heart as she slunk around the deck, pouting and sulking, and doing all she could to make it clear she doesn’t like CLOTHES.

Beauty and the bats

In contrast, she LOVES “hats.”  One would think that a small headband would hurt her head, that those wobbly bats would make her shake her head, but no.

I think she's sticking her tongue out at me!

She proudly posed with her “crown.”

She knows what works and works it

Okay Sis.  I get it.  Crowns yes, gowns no.

Bzzzzzzz...

Meanwhile, my little honey was happy to be a bee.

Kinda' wearing the head part...

Her tiny ears didn’t work with the head part, but she’s still cute anyway, right?

Sad cow and a happy bee

Actually, that’s probably all the Halloweening we’ll do this year.   We don’t have trick or treaters down in the Woods, and while Gretchen would be happy to dress up for a few hours, clearly, Sissy would not.  She’s more of a pose for the camera and get back to life gal, it seems.

Happy little friday!

I was sitting here, trying to ignore the Knight and Neighbor Guy who are in the office today, when I realized I still owed you a finished object report.  Not bad… the object isn’t a week off the needles yet, right?

I'm beautiful and so is my new sweater

Project:  Gretchen’s Everyday Turtleneck

How I love this intense, beautiful girl!

Pattern:  The Everyday Turtleneck (duh?) from Knitting for Dogs.   I did several modifications, so I’m going to list them, rather than sticking with a paragraph, where they’ll all run together.

• This was my first project with steeks.  I was DELIGHTED to start small, with the leg holes being the steeks.  They were far too big though, so once I got my model to quit flying around the house in her new frock, I single crocheted THREE rounds to get a size that’s good for my girl.  There’s no way I could have picked up and knitted sleeves according to the directions; I would have had to pick up about a third more stitches and then decrease, and the sleeves would have been too big at the shoulder and sloppy.  Not good for a little, active girl.
• As several other Ravelers noted, I saw no reason to knit this flat and then seam, right up the chest.  So, I knitted it in the round.
• Again, read those notes other Ravelers write!  Likewise, I knew my bouncy dog wouldn’t want a “flowy” sweater.  I didn’t like the look of the ribbed edge on the back, so I opted for an i-cord bind-off.  It was tedious, but it snugs the bottom edge right up to her belly, which is just what we wanted.
• NOTE:  I did a regular bind-off and then tried the crab stitch.  It wasn’t “strong” enough to keep the miles of stockinette from rolling, just so you know.
• I knitted a size small and then knitted to 10 inches before I bound off, because as a little girl-dog, Gretchen needs warmth, not a bare belly.

I orginally rated this pattern with two stars, because of all the changes I had to make, but Gretchen REALLY loves this sweater and is quite comfortable in it, so evidently, the basic recipe was a great start.

Do note that the girl is guarding *HER* project!

Yarn: Plymouth Encore Colorspun, colorway #7733.  (I know.  Isn’t THAT helpful!?)  I also wasn’t crazy about the yarn, but see above.  Gretchen loves the sweater, loves wearing it, the yarn is easy-care, so it’s a great fit for this project.  That it doesn’t feel like buttah sliding through my fingers while I knit isn’t important here.

Note the button hole at her neck so I can use it when she goes to work, with the leash

Needles:  #8 Bryspun dpns.  After this project, I gave in and bought #8, 16 inch circs. 

Hook:  Boye G.

Verdict:   As much as she likes it, I suppose if ever it wears out, I’ll have to make another.   I still want to make her a stranded sweater, so I’ll be looking for patterns with colorwork AND a turleneck.

So… can anyone tell me if dogs really are colorblind?  I’m wondering, because Gretchen seems to “see” PANK and assumes (generally, correctly) that anything I’m knitting with PANK yarn must be hers.   She did it with her dress, and again (as you can see in the yarn photo) with this project, long before I  tried it on her the first time.