FO Friday: Hat Trick!

So, three weeks of no blogging also resulted in a pile up of finished objects. Additionally a New Year/Winter Break left me with a bit more crafty time than normal.

Hawaii Socks:

I cast on waiting to board the plane. You can see the pattern in there, Monkey, by Cookie A.

I got pretty far on the leg during the first  plane ride. And there was a 3 1/2 hour layover before the second.

It was a real challenge to stay motivated by the end of the second plane ride.Damn that heel flap was boring, and the in flight movie was beyond lame.

But I did arrive, and I got lei'ed. I was so busy that I didn't get a chance to take more sock photos for a whole week. My room was pretty sweet though. Check out this chair!

How did they know they would be hosting a knitter, that would be totally geeked over a knit wicker chair.

I managed to finish the first sock in the first week, and I started on the second. There was much knitting time because there was much driving around.

The second week was in Maui, and I kept on having insomnia. Since I was on the sunrise side, these were the sort of views I was catching, sitting on the lanai, knitting my sock.

This was across the street.

See! Look! My lovely view, and happy sock, and pink coffee cup.

 I finished the sock, walking down the tunnel to board the plane.

They have really long legs, because I wanted them to be.

Eye of Partridge heel, I used the purls, the yarn is a yummy MCN I picked up at Vogue Knitting Live. I find it appropriate that I knit the June Wedding during my honeymoon. I liked the pattern so much I cast on for a second pair. All in all, a nice project.

Rabidly Rose-Hulman:

I got home, bringing 2 WIPs with me, and came home to 3 more waiting for me. Something had to go. I actually managed to knock out 2. The hat was the clear one, it was close to being done, and it was really freaking cold when we got back. Actually this was also out of yarn I bought at Vogue Knitting Live too.

I nearly ran out of yarn. I used up all of the original black, so I went to the LYS and got some Cascade 220. But I had to ration the white and red, since that was all I had. Since the red was my own dye job, there was no back up plan. The inside is a mess of intarsia and three color colorwork. The DSLO was impressed with the ridiculousness. I was so proud. When I gave it to him he verified the washing directions. This hat will be hand washed by me. I am pretty sure the red and white would felt in the washer.

Mountain Colors Targhee Top:

So I predrafted this fiber instead of packing the night before we left for Hawaii. We were chatting with  a friend, and that was an easy way to hang out instead of knitting or packing haha.

I am assuming I must have posted this before, because I already shrunk the photo.

I managed to rip the top into 16 pieces, and I really worked the predraft to get everything soft and fluffy. It made it very easy to spin.

It was really easy to tell which sections I did a good job, and which once I did an ok job. I could feel a really big difference. Which is good news, because I can feel it.

I hope that I will continue to learn and understand. The DSLO was asking how far this whole spinning thing was going to go. I am borrowing a spindle, and it is sorta expensive to practice since I am spinning weights I don't normally use. And, getting a wheel is a very expensive ending step. I might take a break soon. I explained that spinning is a problem I don't know how to solve yet. It bothers me that I don't understand how yet, so I want to figure it out.

Singles!

Center pull ball for plying

Here is a macro shot of the singles on the spindle. You can see the thick and thin, a join, perhaps how overspun it is, maybe.

 I would not feel comfy using this as just singles. There is just something magic about plying. It is so freaking awesome to go from crazypants to normal.

What what! Bulky yarn.

 

I got 48 yards, ish. I made 24 wraps on my 2 yard niddy noddy. When I tied it up, there was only a half twist in the skein. It was very balanced.

Here it is all washed and thwacked. I am not sure what I am going to make with it. I was thinking while I was spinning that a hat would be neat. Who knows! I am learning and growing, and yet I still do not understand.

SO, that ends my FO Friday update,  go comment on the other posts! It is fun to see what other people have done.

That's all for now, take care guys!

Molly : )