Sunday, March 16, 2008

Well, Color Me Surprised!

I've been feeling a little scattered lately.  Like I'm all over the map.  I suppose I haven't really gotten back into the swing of a full work schedule and the whole Daylight Savings Time thing was bound to take its toll.  I kept thinking I was running ten minutes behind where I should be.  Next thing I knew I was writing lots of blog posts that included distractions like snowplows, kitty treats and the good old zombies.  Misdirections were needed.

But, I think I may have maybe miscalculated just how much I could get done.  Or at least how much I had going that was close to the finish line.

Cathy's Shetland/silk blend finally stopped toying with me and agreed to dry.  I swear to you that that stuff hung around in the bathroom taunting me for ten years.  Or a day and a half.  Which is sort of like ten years when you are waiting for your yarn to finish drying after it's post-plying bath.

But it is finally ready for its Internet debut!

Now, I don't pretend that this is my finest work.  I pretty much just put it on the wheel and let 'er rip.  Overspun areas?  Whatever, that's fine.  Parts that barely twisted before being sucked up into the orifice?  That's nice.  Do what makes you happy, Mr. Wool.  Clumps that made for bulky singles living right next to cobweb fine spinning?  Hey, we'll just call that "texture" and say we did it on purpose.  Anything and everything was fine.

The whole idea behind spinning this was to try and lose some of the over-controlling tendencies I've developed after months of working towards fingering and laceweight yarn.  Frankly, it was almost harder to resist taking a firm hand and forcing the fiber to bend to my will.  I fought to relax...which is contradictory to say the least.  But it was a good transitional spin before starting the next batch of Shetland (actually a blend of Shetland and Finn also from the generous Cathy) and, while its not ever going to make The Spinner's Hall Of Fame, it has its own charm.  It's but a small skein thanks to my not exactly dividing the fiber evenly and there being an odd amount left on the second bobbin, but I think I can find a use for it.

And, as if one skein wasn't enough for a weekend's work, I have that next batch of which I spoke earlier dripping merrily away in my shower as of this very second.  Given the drying times here at The Sheepish House Of Humidity, I figure I shall have a picture for you sometime around next month.  We'll hope for a dry spell or something...

And, for the knitters out there who are looking for something in a compact project, I give you:

The Trek-king Socks!

The picture does not really do these justice, I'm afraid.  The colors are much richer when before real eyeballs.  This yarn came to me from the Trek collection.  Truth be told, it's not one I would have purchased had I seen it on a shelf.  But, Trek has good taste in the yarns so I trusted.  And I was rewarded for that trust, although not right away.  This yarn has been through a great deal of stupidity.  Lost needles, failed projects, endless rewinding that resulted in my completely losing track of the color sequences...all of it was experienced. 

 Finally, I settled on a nice, plain sock, let go of the idea of matchy-matchy stripes and that was the ticket.  Never before have I had so many people stop me to comment on a yarn.  I was rewarded with compliments a-plenty as I wandered about knitting away in the world.  It was a hit from the knitting group to the doctor's waiting room and every space in between.  I have been wearing the socks since I finished up with the knitting this afternoon, but should probably take them off as I really want to wear them to work tomorrow.  We do not want to sully the sock's debut with the stink waves.

There was also a little bit of dyeing this weekend but, much like the yarn, it is slow in the drying.  And how much more of the FOing could you be expected to take, really?  I'll save that for another day.  I shall also save the new yarn that is forming on the wheel.  I may need material later on this week.

You can't always count on surprise bursts of Finishing.  Dry spells lurk around every corner.  You need to be prepared, have a little something in the bank upon which to fall back.

Although a good dry spell might just help with all that soggy fiber living in my shower...

SA

17 comments:

Teri S. said...

Oh my...what a productive Sheepie you've been! The handspun is lovely. I was totally surprised that you finished the socks. Don't you just love that colorway? I've got one skein of color 100 left and am trying to resist making a second pair of Jaywalkers out of it.

mehitabel said...

Very nice productions there! Pretty yarn, cozy socks--and even more stuff drying in the shower. Makes for a nice feeling of accomplishment, I would think! (I have laundry drying in the shower. I can't leave it in the garage, where it would normally dry, since that is now territory for the Work Guys during the week. They tend to knock clean laundry on the floor, meaning it has to be washed again.)

Donna Lee said...

Lovely socks. I have some handwashed handknit socks drying in my bedroom. I want to wear one pair tomorrow but I think it's too chilly to go out in slightly damp socks. I usually wash them on Sat morning so they are dry by Monday but I was a slacker and only went grocery shopping on Sat. I was moving so slow, it took all day just to shop and then put away the food. And now I am staring Monday in the face. Ugh.

Emma said...

You've been very busy! Love the handspun--such a pretty color.

Geraldine said...

Your socks are tres beautiful Sheep, I'm seeing gorgeous colors and great knitting from here. So much knitting in so little time, I'm impressed!!!

Huggs to you and Headbonks to dear Fluffy Kitty!

Kath said...

I like "fought to relax"! But I'm really impressed by your ability to let go of the matchy-matchy stripes, that's a problem for me. (And I admit I have a problem = step 1)

But I'm still waiting to find a more humid house than mine - are ya windows sweatin'? :)

Anonymous said...

I love your socks! They're really pretty and the colors are great. Your yarn is also beautiful. I like the "texture" of it.

Rabbitch said...

I am very fond of your socks. And your handspun.

And your talking cat.

Anonymous said...

Could you send some of those finishing vibes my way? I'm so close to finishing the neverending sweater I can taste it, but did I pick it up last night? Nooooo, another early to bed night!

Love the socks and the yarn looks yummy to me. Is it as soft as it looks?

Anonymous said...

Those socks are real beauties!

sheep#100 said...

The socks remind me of a sunset! And I really should follow your example and whirl some wool. I am sort of wondering why I purchased a wheel if I am not whirling it lately.

It does make a great conversation piece in the living room, though.

Cathy said...

What gorgeous socks! I love Trek colors!

Yarnhog said...

The spinning is beautiful. I've been quite lazy about it myself, lately, and only just realized that it's the result of trying to spin up two pounds of plain cream colored merino into three-ply worsted weight. After the first half pound, it starts to lose its charm.

I love those socks! The colors are great--I'd love to see them in person.

Alwen said...

I'm loving the socks and the handspun. Yum.

The other day our son asked me how I knew what the dogs were saying. Heh.

April said...

What beautiful sockies! And beautiful yarnage! You are so talented, Sheepie. Will you marry me?

Lynne said...

I'm not surpised the socks gathered comments - they're lovely.

And we call it 'art yarn' in our house [we have a beginner spinner here]; a local store charges a fortune for something similar and calls it 'thick and thin" - how prosaic!

catsmum said...

and what do you have in mind for this lot of handspun? Is it going to take up permanent residence near the sofa, to be petted and cooed to, and called cute little names or is it going to become something else?