Weaving and Such

I would just like to say that I am averaging 2.6 pound per week so far. Now don't get me wrong. I understand that as I get closer to my goal the weight loss will slow down and get a little harder. I'm savoring this for now. I'm not cheating so please don't offer me any donuts. I paid for this program and I am going to do it.

I don't have any new pictures of my weaving but there was an accident. I didn't look hard enough at the pattern when I started weaving. The pattern started a partial repeat about 2/3 down the page. I was just weaving along and I had done maybe 5 repeats of the pattern as printed. While I was weaving I kept saying to myself, "Self, does something look a little off to you?" I never answered so I kept on going. On Monday when I went into the shop I laid on the floor under the loom and looked at what I had done - about 20 inches I think. I looked at the weaving and then at the pattern. Weaving then pattern. Weaving then pattern.
C -R - A - P
So I started weaving the pattern correctly. It looks beautiful - except for those first many inches. Betty came in (the weaving teacher). She overheard me talking to another student about it and said just keep going with the mistake. Too late, says I.
I figure I'll wear the mistake part on my left shoulder and swing the correct part over the left shoulder - problem hidden. Chalk it up to a learning experience.
I'm maybe halfway done now. Hope to have it finished in another week so I started planning the next project. A huck lace shawl out of silk. I found my silk tonight and I may order it tomorrow.
Knitting wise I'm about 10 rows down on the Forest Path Stole. I think the yarn is going to work after all. I swatched with something thicker but didn't love it.
And my last Secret Pal 9 package went out this morning. I hope she likes it. My pal was Kimberly. She was very fun to send stuff to. I think I'm going to sit out the next secret pal. I feel like I was always late because I'm currently other directed.
Anyhoo, I don't have any pictures today and I really need to get some knitting and newsletter writing done.

Plenty of Projects

Weight loss - so far so good. I was hoping to get to 10 pounds by this morning's weigh in but the good news is there was no eating of Fritos last night. I called my sister for moral support.

Me: I really want to eat Fritos

Tammy: No amount of Fritos is going to make you feel better.

Me: But they are really crunchy and yummy.

Tammy: Crunchy now, Flabby later.

Me: Fine.

I had not even one Frito. I knew that one always tastes like another.

I got my Handspun Sock Yarn from my pal like a week ago. I have been neglecting to post it because of a bad case of lazy.

Here it is. The pink one is the handspun. It is from Rebecca and I love it. She apologized for it and said she is new. I think it is great. She also sent some yarn that she dyed herself. Also, LOVE.

Here's a closer picture. I can't wait to knit with this stuff.

Remember this from here?

And it turned into this. Easter egg dyes.

I was spinning over the last two days and I got this.

I know. It's a bit uneven but I was experimenting with inchworm method as opposed to long draw as opposed to a kind of modified long draw.

I think I like to do a modified long draw myself.

I feel like I get a more uniform thread.

Here's a beauty shot. I love the colors in it. When I pulled it out of the pot I really was not that happy but the way it came together I love it.

It's a superwash merino so I'll probably keep it for socks.

I have gotten about 18 inches done on my weaving. I warped for a six foot shawl. I'm really getting the hang of it though and the weaving is going faster.

In addition to all of this I started my Forest Path Stole. Faina has a lace knitting group that meets about 30 minutes from here on the first Monday of every month. I've been invited to join and since I've been eyeing this pattern for several years I thought I'd start it now when i can get advice straight from the designer. I'm using that yarn that has only Japanese writing on the label and I can never remember what it's called. Anyway, it's Angora and Cashmere so the shawl should be delightful to wear.

Also, I have a question about decreases and I've been meaning to do some swatch knitting to find out the answer but I'll ask here. If anyone would know, you guys would.

On a SSK decrease, does it work the same to do a knit two together through the back loops?

Just wondering.

I have to go weigh in again tomorrow but this is my progress as of Tuesday. Pretty good since I started this on January 6th...or was it the 4th?
Regardless, I've done very well, I think. It's been good so far and my sister and I were just discussing tonight abut our mutual surprise to find out that lettuce has its very own flavor. It does not, in all actuality, taste like ranch dressing. And also, brussel sprouts are delicious - even without butter.
I can't believe how much better I feel already and I think it has something to do with vegetables and fruits. The fact of checking in with someone three times a week makes a huge difference, too. Not so much cheating ( well, really, no cheating ) like was happening with my Weight Watchers tries.
I still have some things to say about my handspun sock yarn swap partner but I think I'm just going to bask in the success of my shrinking for now.

Break Time is Over

So I finally finished spinning the sock yarn for the swap. I was supposed to send it out 2 Fridays ago. I'm late. I have spun 2 other 4 ounce skeins for this swap. I wasn't happy with them.

I have the jumbo flyer for my Ashford Traveller Wheel. It's easy to switch back and forth. You just remove the center of the plastic on the maiden and it's big enough for the jumbo orifice.



I love the flyer for plying. I have not used it for
bulky yarn so can't comment on that but I have a tendancy to overfill my bobbins when spinning so this comes in very handy for plying.


This is my yarn plyed on the jumbo bobbin and what I had left on one bobbin after plying.


This is the finished skein. It weights 5.7 ounces. Plenty for a pair of socks. Or something else that maybe doesn't need to be so durable.
The problem is this. I have done this 3 times now because of the same problem. I can't seem to get enough twist in the yarn to make it strong enough for socks. I think I'm getting enough twist and then I even try to get extra twist in the plying. Then I wash it and it blooms. It's beautiful but I'm not sure about the sock thing.

By the way the wool I'm using is Shetland.

I can't do this anymore. My pal is getting this skein and an apology.
I did get my yarn from my partner but I don't have any pictures so that'll have to be tomorrow.


Another swap I was in was the Knit Mitt Kit swap. My pal was Sarah. She was overly generous. The bag alone would have been enough. I guess since it was a mitten kit swap she was obligated to at least send the pattern and yarn.

The BAG! Made from an old sweater. I'll be using this bag A LOT!



I don't have pictures of everything she included but look at this card holder!


Hand Made Stitch Markers - made by her!

Also include were some knitting girl mints, a sample of Soak, pony pearl needles and a lovely letter.

Thank you Sarah!



Now back to talking about myself some more.
We started a new project in my weaving class.
The point of the class was to make a color gamp so that we could see how the overlap of different colors play on each other.
Since I am taking the class for free (it is my store for crying out loud) I didn't argue when the ladies all wanted to use mercerized cotton. I wanted wool.
I was pretty quiet as they chose, as a group, the colors we would be using.
Then it was time for us to plan our projects.


I got out my Learning to weave book and paged through it. Looking for project ideas. How many threads of each color would I use? How to decide. I steer away from cotton in my knitting because it hurts my wrists. There is no stretch. How would this work on the loom?

I decided to make a shawl for spring and summer. Toward the back of the book I came across a technique known as overshot. That was the thing!
As you can see, I am weaving with only the flax color. The point of the group project is going to be mute for me but I will have a fabulous handwoven shawl that my mother will be begging me for.
There's always Christmas, right?

Fixation

Time is going by so fast. Not enough hours in the day to do the things I want to do let alone dishes and cleaning toilets.
There has been spinning and some knitting and I've got the loom warped for my next weaving project but, alas, no pictures. I'll take some on Saturday - which will be my next time in the shop.
Also on Saturday is my first workshop. I've got Barb Kemp coming to teach an introduction to Punch Needle Embroidery class. Not a lot of people signed up but I think that's because I don't have any store samples of finished projects. I tried but I think I'm stinkin' it up with this.
All of this and I've been preoccupied with my husband lately.
Yes, he's out of town this week but we've been keeping in close touch by phone and email.
I don't have a whole lot to talk about and no pictures (due to my latest obsession with my honey) but I didn't want to continue to neglect the blog as I have been doing with the rest of my life.
I promise a new update on Sunday night - can't promise anything before that. Lou is coming home Friday.

Taking Stock

So far so good on the weightloss plan. Today was one week exactly. Now I am certainly not expecting to continue at this pace but I'm not sad about the progress so far. It's definitely not easy but there are a variety of foods that I can eat and I'm never hungry and I'm actually not eating all I'm supposed to. Next weigh in / counseling is on Saturday morning.

This is what I do for fun at the shop. I've been braiding roving since I bought the shop. I'm in the home stretch now. I did get this pile all done in one day. The chair is there for scale and that pile is the multicolor merino/silk blend.

This is merino only but you can see the point. The ball of roving in front is merino and mohair but that is how most of the wool looked except it was all in plastic bags. I have issues with plastic. One of the issues is that it isn't pretty. So...I started braiding.
Here's my progress for the handspun sock yarn swap. It's supposed to be mailed tomorrow. I've already written an email to my pal and asked her to please be patient. I'll hopefully be able to finish it over the weekend and I'll send it priority on Monday. Of course it won't be washed but what can I do? I'll get some pictures when I'm plying so you can see my jumbo flier. (Flyer?)

Did Somebody Say Cherry Tree Hill?

Cause I have it! The colors are lovely. Of course this came in plastic bags, too. I braided it.

Cherry Tree Hill Merino Laceweight. BEAUTIFUL.

Cherry Tree Hill Silk Laceweight and also Alpaca Laceweight.

If that weren't enough Interlacements came this week in several new colors. Softer colors for Interlacements. I want to spin it all. How can I do that when I can't even get 4 ounces spun in a reasonable amount of time?

My darlin' is coming home tomorrow night. He left on the 2nd. I'm glad he's coming. I miss him in all of the ways you can miss somebody. He's helpful. He plays with the kids. He loves me. I miss him.

Getting Lighter Every Day

Weighed in today. I lost MORE! Almost 5 pounds in less than a week. I know not to expect it to continue this fast but it is very encouraging. Especially since there's a lot of food eating going on. I'm not hungry at all. I mean, who can eat 8 ounces of chicken or three eggs at one time?

I got a lot done today but I forgot to take pictures. I'm working on a little lace scarf for a shop model but I didn't spin at all. I think I'll take my wheel to work tomorrow so I can get that sock yarn done. I know what you're thinking. "Why would she take her spinning wheel to a shop that sells spinning wheels?" I'm thinking because I already started the yarn on my Traveller and all spinning wheels have their own little personalities, I'd better continue with the wheel I started with. I've almost got one full bobbin and I need to fill one more. Hopefully that will be enough. I'll just fill them well and then put on my jumbo flier to ply.

I got some new roving in today from Interlacements. They have some softer colors now and since I have several of the original deeper colors I thought I'd fill in the collection.

Maybe some pictures of those tomorrow too.

Anyway, gotta knit.

The Rest of the Story

I've got several things. I'll tell you everything that's going on right now. Even the sad stuff.

1. I joined LA Weightloss on Thursday morning. I have about 50 pounds that I want to lose. I probably could stand to lose more but 50 is the goal. I'm going to have this little ticker so that you can track my progress too. I'm going to need some encouragement. I've done Weight Watchers several times before but always seem to fizzle after I lose 10 to 15 pounds. This is more one on one with someone checking your food diary 3 times per week. My sister lost about 40 pounds on LA Weightloss and she's now wearing size 4 jeans. I'd be happy in a 10 and ecstatic in an 8. I'm going for it.

2. Lou's dad has cancer in his throat. He was diagnosed early last year - January I think - and he had a couple of surgeries to remove the tumor and then months of chemo and radiation. It didn't work. Lately he's had a terrible earache and has been losing ridiculous amounts of weight so he went back to the doctor and they found out that the tumor is growing and if something isn't done he will suffocate. Lou went there on Thursday. His parents live in Delaware, just over the border from Pennsylvania. He was in Colorado when we found out that his dad needed more surgeries. On Thursday there was a tracheotomy and on Tuesday the 9th he will have a procedure but I don't know what it is called. Basically they will remove the tumor along with his voice box. He has been a smoker all of his life and finally quit last December when he couldn't breathe anymore due to Emphysema. He had the Emphysema for years but still smoked through it. Moral of the story - don't smoke.

3. Brittney left today. Back to Utah. The problem with taking her to the airport is that I start crying about halfway there and almost all the way home. It's an hour drive in case you were curious. If someone else drives her I can pretend she's just going out for a while. If I'm the driver there's no pretending anything.. This is her third year of school and I think it gets harder every time she leaves.
The first time we dropped her off at school I got slightly misty. She was 18 and a know-it-all. She is now coming into her own and I could see her being one of my friends. I miss her happiness and singing and silliness in the house. I miss her interactions with the little kids. I miss our political discussions / debates.
She'll be back on April 26th for the summer. I'm looking forward to it.

4. I got bit by my dog today. She's just shy of 13 months old. She's been to Puppy and Intermediate obedience training. She has food issues that we are trying to work through. On Friday due to some escalations we went to have a private lesson with the trainer so that I could see how to better handle the food issues. One of the things she recommended was some dominance work and she showed me how and I did it.
This afternoon, Penny, the dog, was licking a place in the carpet where something must have been spilled. Maggie walked by and Penny growled so I grabbed her and tried to turn her up side down. My thumb got in the way of her teeth. There was blood but I didn't back off.
I have another appointment with the trainer on Tuesday morning. Until then it is out to eat and go outside and then back in the crate.
We'll see what happens. I hope this is just a phase.

5. I am a big baby.
When Lou and I got married, Brittney and Chelsea were 9 and 8. I had been a single mom for seven years. I was pretty independent. Lou had a job where he travelled almost every week from Monday to Friday. I worked for my mom at her Bed and Breakfast part time. Frankly I loved it. He was home on the weekends and during the week I could do whatever I wanted.
After about 4 years of marriage we moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan. He was still travelling A LOT for the first two years. Then the travel kind of calmed down. He got a new job where the main office is in Connecticut and so he has a home office. When he's not travelling he is totally at home. He leaves his office to have lunch with us. His schedule is very flexible. I love it. When he has to travel I HATE it.
On Tuesday, January 2nd, he left for Colorado. I expected him home on Friday. Instead he had to go to Delaware. The earliest he'll be home is this coming Friday - the 12th.
I miss him.
I want someone to hug who's arms aren't only a foot long. Someone who doesn't pee in his pants or on the floor. Someone who doesn't normally whine or have a high pitched voice. Or say "I don't like you" while he's hugging you.

6. I signed up for the Forest Path Stole KAL . I have been wanting to knit it for a long time but I've been a little nervous. The great thing is that Faina (the designer) has a lace knitting group that meets near here once a month and I've been invited to join. I think I may be able to do it with her personal help.

7. I'm in the Hand Spun Sock Yarn Swap. I'm supposed to be mailing it this Friday. I only have one bobbin spun. Guess what I'm working on this week. I have some dyed shetland that I'm spinning. They'll be warm socks anyway.

Sorry about no pictures. I have been trying to upload pictures to photobucket for days to no avail. It's probably me.
I'll be back tomorrow to update my weight loss. I've got an appointment at 10AM. After that is my usually busy Monday with spinning class from 12:30 to 2 and then weaving class from 2:30 to 4:30. I usually have a headache by the end of the day. Maybe not now that I have an eating plan because I suspect that my headaches usually come from lack of food on Mondays but I have a plan.

There's stuff. I don't know what to say about it.
Maybe later.

The End and the Beginning

A lot happened last night and today. Well, kind of. It was mostly relaxing but I have a lot of pictures to show and so here we go. There was a rousing game of Checkers between Maggie and Dana. Maggie is pretty good at it and gave Dana a run for her money. I can't remember who actually won. Maggie won against her dad tonight.
We ate these huge shrimp - or prawns. Whatever. They were delicious. Grilled by Jerome. Husband of Dana.

Also this great pasta with plenty of garlic and cheese and shrimp and olive oil. Also a Jerome creation.
Then there was the washing up. Or scrubba dubbing as Ryan calls it.

The midnight pizza. Jerome again. Home made crust, feta cheese? or something else delicious. Also included were tomatoes, fresh basil and shrimp.
Midnight Hot Chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. This is the new hot chocolate I got from Kelle for Christmas but I can't remember what kind it was since we used it all up. I need to ask her because I have to get some more. I don't usually share my hot chocolate very easily but it was new year's eve.

See, I even let Maggie have some. She did stay up until midnight because Dana had some poppers and Maggie was very curious about them.
And here is the proof that I accomplished my goal. This is my car clock on the way home.

I got to sleep until 9AM. Then my accountant called. Trying to finish up the last stuff of 2006. He gave me some assignments which I was dreading but it only took me about an hour. So then I tried out some crock pot dyeing.

I used superwash merino. First it soaked in water and vinegar for about a half hour. Then, after I squeezed out all the excess water, I started to layer it in the pot. I took Easter egg dye tablets and crushed them and sprinkled the powder over portions of the wool.

After all of the layers were sprinkled I filled the pot with more water and vinegar. For 4 ounces of wool I used 7 dye tablets. I turned the pot on low and let it work for 3 hours. The internet instructions I had said to let the pot sit for 3 hours until it was at room temperature. I was too impatient for that so I submerged the crock pot liner in cold water and let it sit for about 20 minute. After that the sink water was still a little cold so I dumped the contents of the crack pot right into it.

I drained the water and did a little squeezing and then hung the wool on a hanger to dry. I'm not sure I love it but it was my first attempt. After it's dry I'll spin it and see if I like it any better.

Today i sat down and made a few lists for goals for the coming year. I'll be saving that for tomorrow or Wednesday. It could get a little long and I'm very tired. After all, I did stay up about 5 hours past my bedtime last night.