Betty's Shawl

The Next Shawl

2011-04-05T12:30:00.001-07:00

I am currently spinning the yarn for my next shawl project - that is a shawl worthy of competition. I am spinning two plies of colored cormo top from Karen and one ply of a 50/50 alpaca silk blend. I am currently planning to make the Feather and Fan Shawl from A Gathering of Lace. At least that is the plan right now. In between, many projects are being worked, including the Lace KAL from Ravelry. I finished a sweater for myself, and it turned out very well. I have enough yarn spun for another sweater, but I am still thinking about that. I have a few too many projects going right now, and life keeps taking time too. We did get DSL last week and I love it! I am even getting better about putting pictures up. It is still a chore for me, but not so bad now that they load in seconds instead of lots of minutes! More to follow as my yarn progresses. I am aiming at a 2012 completion for this next shawl.

Best Of Show!

2010-08-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Michigan Fiber Festival is over and I won Best of Show in the adult division for my shawl entry. I am so glad it is over and I am so glad that I won! It was a lot of work and when doing something for a competition there is an intensity that I do not have with other projects.

The prize is $50, so that makes the effort somewhat worth it. I spent too much at the festival - glad it is only once a year. Then to top it off, I am picking up a new wheel on September 6 - the Majacraft Aura. Life is good.

The Project Done

2010-08-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

It is the week of the Michigan Fiber Festival and now I am starting to feel the jitters of competition. I think that is why I really don't like to compete in this kind of thing. My stomach feels upset, and then I stop and think - what does it really matter? It will be worse on Friday when I drop it off at the competition. I must put it in my head that IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.

It has been fun to chronicle the process of this shawl, and I did enjoy making it. There is always a real rush with the completion of any of my knitting projects. Last night I finished a beaded stocking hat, made from a gorgeous purple 100% alpaca yarn (commercial). It went well and I stayed up until almost midnight to finish it. But I got to the point where I just wanted to get it done.

This morning I pulled out a scarf that I had started a bit ago, and I knitted on that. I am awaiting the next clue in the Ravelry Lace KAL. Maggie showed me her progress and it looks so nice. She is using a lace-weight yarn on fairly large needles; I am using a fingering-weight yarn on smaller needles. Mine will be a tighter knit finished item, hers will be light and airy. It is fun to compare the different results of the same project.

I am continuing with the work on my Allegan Cardigan from Clara Parkes book. I have my fingers crossed that I have enough yarn to finish it. I have more of Kar Kar's fleece to spin, but I am worried that the yarn won't turn out exactly the same. That always worries me with hand-spun yarn.

I am also continuing to spin the multi-sheep top that Steve and I had made last year. I am really interested to see what kind of a yarn it will produce. I have several bobbins full and ready to ply; I am still trying to decide whether it will be two- or three-ply.

My next post will be after the judging of my shawl is done. Fingers and toes crossed. Oh how I hate to compete...

Project Complete!

2010-07-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

Again, I cannot believe the speed at which time passes. It is almost two months since my last post, and it feels like it could have been yesterday.

The shawl is done! I blocked it yesterday, and I am very pleased with how it turned out. I guess I will send in a late registration for the show next month. Now I am already contemplating my next shawl, as I continue work on my Allegan Cardigan. And I am caught up and waiting for the next clue on the Lace KAL in Ravelry.

Life continues. On Father's Day, Rick brought Taylor for his summer visit with us. We spent two weeks basically in the house because of the mosquitoes and rain. Taylor did manage to help with the chipmunk control and got 21 of the rascals. He had fun shooting them with my gun and birdshot. Then for the July 4th weekend, the rest of his family arrived. Brian also came on Sunday. We had a very pleasant weekend, and then Taylor and Alli stayed for another week. We went to see Toy Story 3, played some cards and the marble game, and just hung out. The time flew by and the house seemed terribly empty when their folks picked them up.

But after they left, I buckled down and finished the weaving in of ends on the shawl. I have been doing more spinning lately, and it seems good.

And today, Jim and I hiked our trail for the first time in a couple months. The mosquitoes were horrendous, but at least there was no standing water on the trail like last month. He then went back and mowed it, so now it will be even better.

I guess I better get back to my knitting!

Where did the time go?

2010-05-25T18:16:00.000-07:00

Here it is - already approaching the end of May. Where did the time go?

We spent a week in Livonia over spring break this year. It was fun and relaxing. We didn't really do much. I had fun setting up my new computer more, using their high speed. The kids were great. The weather was stinky, but we just basically hung around.

Then a week later, my cast came off. My hand really hurt ( it still does), the bone was not quite healed, but what a relief to have the cast gone. I can knit and spin again! Hurray!

Then we were back in Livonia for Alli's birthday party. We had a post-party for adults and made some new friends. That went on until 3 a.m. - too late for us old folks. But it was fun and I acquired a new favorite alcoholic drink - After Shock. It is a cinnamon liqueur and goes down very smooth.

Anyway, as far as my knitting goes, I restarted the Ravelry Lace KAL with some merino/silk yarn from Knitpicks. I just finished the May clue, so I am now all caught up with the group.

I also managed to fit in a baby blanket to replace the one that I gave to Stephanie - her baby girl is due in June.

Now I can get back to my shawl for the Festival. The knitting is all done, ends need weaving in, then it needs to be blocked. I also bought Clara Parkes book, A Knitters Guide to Wool, and there is a pattern in there, the Allegan Cardigan, can you believe named after a town in Michigan! My Allegan! So the cormo yarn for the aran sweater that I ripped out is now going to be the Allegan Cardigan. I can hardly wait to get started on it. Maybe yet this week. So much to do, so little time.

We spent last weekend at Rod and Beth's house. We had a really nice time. We cooked out on Saturday, sat on the deck and painted our nails (Beth and I did, that is), then played Sequence until the wee hours. After a short night, I made French toast for breakfast. Then Beth taught me how to make beads out of paper - what fun! Then Rod grilled hamburgers for lunch and we headed home. It was a very relaxing and fun weekend.

Today we went to the cemetery to put flowers in the urns there. The weather has turned beastly hot - over 90 every day so far this week. Summer has arrived.

March - Revisited

2010-03-31T13:46:00.000-07:00

March 15 - the Ides of March. Et tu, Brute. Aunt Ede's birthday - she would have been 87 this year. The day I slipped on the stump outside the back door and chipped a bone in my hand.

So now I am typing one handed (well, maybe cheating a little and using my left hand a bit).

The morning started out with a trip to the bank to get my retirement papers notarized and sent in. Also got more nickels for playing cards. Then to McFarlands to return Paula's book (Knit Two - it was good). The to the furniture store right in Allegan to buy a new chair and side table. We got the chair home and were moving my old chair out when I stepped, empty handed, on the wet stump, and WOW! My feet went out from under and I put down my hand to catch myself. I didn't really think it was that bad. So I came in and changed my clothes that had gotten messed up in my fall, and then off we went to Kalamazoo to Best Buy where I bought a new computer (which I am using right now!).

By Tuesday morning (March 16), my hand was swollen and painful, so at the advice of my friend Suzie, off we went to the doctor's office, then to have x-rays, and then the cast.

I am now over two weeks in the cast - no knitting, very little spinning, not doing much of anything. I have read a couple books and have been hiking the trail a fair amount. And we did go down to Char's to see her new sheep when she was taking fiber samples from them.

But the past two weeks have not been all smiles and laughter. I had a few minor meltdowns (Jim threatened to call 911 at one point because I was being irrational). Partly due to problems getting the computer set up and running. I don't know what I would have done without Maria - my personal computer wizard. I count my blessings that she was willing to step right in and help me. That is one of those pay it forward things - she helps me, and in turn, I am called upon by others to help with their computers. I have learned so much from Maria.

Anyway, Jim has been a super-sport in helping me. I can't even get dressed without help. And he is in charge of all household chores. The problem is that I don't feel bad - I just can't do anything.

So my shawl sits waiting. I will be glad to get my cast off. It will be good to get back to normal - whatever that is. I am looking forward to playing cards and dominoes with my grandchildren next week during their spring break. And then the countdown to getting this cast off!

March?

2010-03-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

Where did February go?

I can hardly believe that the whole month of February and a good portion of March has gone by since my last post. But February has been exceptionally busy for us, so that must be why it has gone by so fast.

I completed my two pairs of socks for the Ravelympics. It was okay, but not really fun. I couldn't go from one project to a different one while the socks were looming over me with a date to finish. I did finish with several days to spare, but it was not really fun. Just something different to do. Elizabeth finished her sweater - she brought it to Steve's shearing - and she did a very nice job on it. I am still saying, "Wow!"

I have completed the February pattern for the Lace KAL that I am doing. Interesting to do a project that bunches of other people are also doing. I have enjoyed it so far and I am looking forward to getting the March pattern when it comes out on March 14. I was going to do the whole thing again in a different yarn, but now I am reconsidering. I think my time would be better spent working on getting more yarn spun.

I went to three sheep shearings in February. I got Diana's fleece from Char, then I bought 3 Polypay fleeces from Shady Side Farm north of Holland, and last but not least, I bought 5 fleeces from Steve. All but the Polypay are washed and ready to card. The Polypay is going to go out to be processed. I am anxious to get started on the cormo from Char and Steve. Those fleeces washed up better than I had done on cormo before.

As for my shawl - it is off the needles and into the finishing part of the project. I have lots of ends to weave in and then it needs to be blocked. I am already missing the knitting part of it and it makes me want to get started on my 2011 shawl project. But I will finish this one first. It turned out good, but not take-your-breath-away. I will have to decide after it is blocked as to whether it is good enough to enter at the Festival this summer.

A Wintery January Day

2010-01-28T15:14:00.000-08:00

The snow is blowing, temperatures are hovering around 10 degrees and it truly feels like winter today.

The shawl is progressing better than I could have hoped for. I am on the bottom lace edge and getting closer and closer to a completed project. I love how it has turned out so far, but I am not sure if I will enter it in the fiber festival. I will continue to think about it.

I am getting ready for the Ravelympics - I have signed on to knit two pairs of socks - one for me and one for Jim. I have sorted out the yarn and I have the pattern ready to go. Only Elizabeth and I have signed up to knit anything for TeamBackRow. She is going to knit a sweater - wow!

I have joined a lace KAL on Ravelry and I have completed the January pattern. I am using store-bought yarn, so it really won't be anything that special. I went as cheap as I could, but still getting decent yarn. If it goes good, I may spin yarn to repeat the pattern at some future date.

I am also starting another lace scarf pattern. I think I will use some of the leftover yarn from my shawl for this, so it will be a lovely ivory cormo in 2-ply yarn.

I am going to get spinning on the yarn for my next feather and fan shawl - it will be from the multi-sheep top from 2009 that Steve and I had done. I have rainbow dyed it with sapphire blue and vermilion, and it is ready to spin. I am planning on a nice random 2-ply yarn.

I am immersed in an upheaval that I am just getting my head around. A disturbing turn of events. Do I feel bad about it? Yes, I do. Will I get over it? Maybe eventually. Sometimes things happen for a reason.

I finished Breaking Dawn today - the last in the four books in the Twilight series. I think I enjoyed this last one the most.

I think now I will go knit for a while.

Knitting Begins

2009-12-26T13:31:00.001-08:00

The yarn is all spun, the colors set and now the knitting has begun.

It is all 2-ply cormo is mostly natural colors. The softness is wonderful. Thanks to Char for putting me in touch with cormo. Most of the fiber came from Char, so she gets partial credit for this project.

I actually started knitting on Christmas Eve, but I am now on the horns of a dilemma. I am considering taking out the 13 rows that I have done to start all over again.

I am going to think about it while I dye fiber for my next big project. I am dyeing the top that Steve and I shared - the blend of junk cormo, Shetland and BFL - that turned out the most wonderful gray, and so soft. That is planned for my 2011 project - the feather and fan shawl.

But now back to the present. I was having a bit of post-holiday sadness. Our festivities were all done a week ago, so it has been a denouement for the past week. I did have a fun time putting on a high tea for Steve and Suzie this past Tuesday. Spur of the moment and just a fun time. It reminded me of my Aunt Edie (my father's sister, since I actually grew up with three Aunt Ede's) and her high teas. We have been doing a movie marathon this week, watching Jim's Christmas gift movies. I Always enjoy this time of year when we get a batch of new movies to see. And looking forward to a movie day out in early January to see Avatar in 3-D with Steve and Char. What fun that should be! I hope that Jim doesn't fall asleep this time...

Real Progress

2009-11-20T12:36:00.000-08:00

I am finally feeling a real sense of progress!

First, I had an awesome weekend just past - Rick, Taylor and Allison were here to visit and we had a great time. Played a lot of cards and just basically hung out. Then, Jim and I went to the spin and grin at Stephen's on Sunday and had another great time. I got my money from Char for the things of mine (mostly felted flowers) that she sold at the Ann Arbor fiber thing in October. It was really a great weekend.

Jim and I did the major-house-cleaning-during-deer-season that we do every year. We got done in record time and started right in on putting up the Christmas decorations. The only glitch with that is a malfunction on our tree which is still covered under warranty. I am waiting for the resolution of that, so the tree is the only thing remaining to complete the decorating of the house. I hope it is done by the time our first party of the year takes place in early December.

Then yesterday I did some carding of cormo for the shawl.

I am blending colors to come up with the needed eight different colors, and I am very pleased with the outcome so far. Did I tell you that I love my new drum carder?

I have the white, beige, and light gray yarn completed and ready to wash. I have the gray-beige and dark brown ready to spin. I still need to card the medium gray, dark gray and black. I am going to anticipate that I will have the yarn for the needles before Christmas - woot! I am really getting excited about the project now.

In between working on this yarn, I am also spinning more novelty yarn. Mindless and fun. It is so neat to see how it turns out. I am using some Shetland roving that I dyed, plying it with chenille. I bought a new, larger roaster to dye in, and it is working superbly.

And in between everything, I am starting to think Christmas gifts and shopping, Christmas letter and cards, and life in general. I am having to make lists so that nothing falls through the cracks. I can hardly believe that it is almost Thanksgiving already.

Maybe by my next post, the needles will be clicking!

Washing Cormo

2009-11-02T14:22:00.000-08:00

Today, after a discussion with cormo guru, Char, I dug out some of my cormo stash from Char's shearing and I have just finished washing it again. I had washed it right after the shearing, but I knew that it wasn't completely clean and by now, these months later, it was rather sticky. So today was laundry day anyway, so I did an extra load and washed part of the lovely cocoa brown of Diana and the dark chocolate of Dixie. Now I am wishing it was dry so that I could card it and start spinning it.

I have changed the pattern that I am planning to use. It calls for eight different colors/shades of yarn. I am going to make do with five. I have the white top, Diana, Dixie, the black from Alice that Char and I bought at the festival (and Char washed for me, bless her!!), and then some light gray that I bought a year ago from Char. Now I am again fired up with getting the fiber ready to spin. I think that I might have enough of the white ready to ply, so now I will be dealing only with the colors - which are fun to spin anyway.

I am getting anxious to start knitting!

It seems good to be done with the mittens for now. None of them sold at the Ann Arbor show, which was disappointing. However most of the felted flowers did sell, so I am happy about that. When I get tired of spinning or knitting, I will work at creating more flowers.

On Wednesday, the trees were still covered in leaves, now, these few days later, they are basically bare. The yard is a foot deep in oak leaves. I raked area in the back yard around the fire pit last Friday, and you cannot even tell that I did it. I enjoy raking them - great cardio exercise and a real sense of accomplishment.

Taylor's football team, the Falcons, have won every game this year including the playoffs yesterday. They will be playing at EMU on Saturday for the championship. He called to tell me about it. I am so happy for him! Go Falcons!

Columbus Day

2009-10-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

I got on the scale today and it wasn't as bad as I thought. But it also wasn't that good either. So I have jumped back on the SparkPeople band wagon and will aim at between 1200 and 1400 calories a day plus at least 30 minutes of walking three times a week (or more). It has been a fun 10 months of not watching what I eat and not pushing to walk every day. But I knew that I would have to keep at it to maintain the weight loss. Now I need to lose 20 pounds. Oh well.

I did have an amazing hike this afternoon before we ate. The trail is just beautiful this time of year. There were two spots that had a carpet of bright yellow sassafras leaves that had fallen - the lightness was striking. It was as though someone had switched on a subterranean light. It made me feel good to be walking again.

The mitten project is winding down. I am on the ninth pair right now. And Sunday is just a few days away. I still hope to have ten pairs ready. And then I haven't counted how many felted flowers I have ready. When I make them, I feel artistic.

I hope to start spinning for the shawl again this weekend. Totally mindless, yet totally mindful of the final product. Oh how I love to spin...

Taylor's football team won again yesterday - they are undefeated this season with just two more games to go before the playoffs. Go, Falcons!

Almost October

2009-09-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a trip to the cemetery and to Lake Michigan at Pier Cove. The wind was howling and the waves were crashing. It was marvelous. The beach was virtually gone because the water is so high. My hair is a mess - it will take some time to de-tangle.

I have been knitting mittens mittens mittens! My goal is to have 10 pairs for Char to take to Ann Arbor in October. I am halfway there. I love the feel of the angora. I love working with it.

The carder was successfully moved to the front porch last week. Now I must keep a work space clear to operate the machine. I have been blending Shetland and alpaca - I am trying to spin up enough to ply a skein of it. I would like to have it done by Sunday. So far, it looks wonderful. And I still love the carder!

I found a spinning diary that I had started back in 1989 - what a hoot! Only a couple entries in it. I think I will continue it as if I just left off. Maybe another 20 years will go by so quick...

My shawl is at a standstill. I will start in on it again for a break during the mitten project, as soon as the Shetland/alpaca skein is done.

Then also fit in visiting with friends and hunting. Life is good, but also busy.

The Week of the New Carder

2009-09-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

My new carder came this week, so the shawl is really on the back burner. And it could be there for some time.

First, I have been using the new carder - it is totally awesome! And it needs a good test - or so I am telling myself. I unearthed all my available angora - purchases over the past several years - and have made really good progress to having it all carded. The carding should be done today, and all the white should be spun today also. I am really pleased with this purchase.

Then, I am working at making room for the carder on the front porch. What a job! I am sorting all my card-making stuff and planning to sell most of it on eBay. Since fiber is my main focus now, I just don't have time or inclination to work on my cards. I will save some of the stuff, but I have way too much of it and it must go. I can finally get to the table again - it was behind bags and bags of fiber which is now sorted and moved out to the garage and the barn. Then all the rubber stamp sets must be sorted as to be gone or to keep. I hope to keep my will power up so that most of them will go.

Maggie bought my old carder and she called the other day to tell me how happy she is with it and how great it is working for her. That made me so happy! I hope it will give her as many good years as it did for me. I think that if you spend the bucks initially for good quality, it will pay off in the end in satisfaction and service.

The Back Row Spinners spin and grin was last Sunday and we had an excellent turnout. I personally had a really good time, but I think I usually do. I wore a dress - the third time I have worn a dress since 1996! Steve painted my toenails for me - bless his heart! He did a good job too. I can hardly wait until next month.

Anyway, my shawl is really on hold for now. I must have the porch work done before November. Between carding, spinning, and oh yes - knitting mittens for Charlotte to take to try to sell for me in October - I will not have much time to work on my shawl. Maybe it is good to take a bit of a break. And of course, small game hunting season opened this week, so we will be doing some of that too.

How did I ever have time to have a real job?

Into September

2009-09-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it just took me over 30 minutes to get into my blog to make another post. I couldn't remember which account I was using or what my password was. It just sucks to get old. I have it written down now, so hopefully, my next post won't waste my time before I even start.

I had a wonderful birthday last week. Hunting doves in Indiana, as I have on most past birthdays for several years now. Staying at the Tortuga Inn was great again, and seeing all of our hunting buddies really made my week. Settling back into the home routine also didn't seem as daunting this year, for some reason. I even managed to hike my trail yesterday.

Labor Day was a fun day for me - Jim and I met Steve R. and Bill S. for lunch and shopping. What a fun time it was! I bought a few things (too many actually) - mostly clothes. Jim bought a hat. Then we made our way back to Steve's for a chicken dinner and ice cream sundaes. It was a fun time with good friends.

I have some kind of crud from the week in Indiana - my arms have itchy welts. I don't know if it was caused by something in the sunflower fields or what. I am hoping that it goes away and I don't have to go to the doctor with it.

After a full week away from spinning, I started up again yesterday. It is proceeding slowly but surely. I have pretty much decided to do another feather and fan shawl, this time with two-ply cormo. I am spinning a rather fine single which I will then ply.

And I am still waiting on my new Supercard. I found out it wasn't shipping out until today, so it will not get here this week. I had hoped to have it by the next spin, but that will not be. We are spinning this Sunday - first regular spin since July because of no spin in August due to the Festival. I am really looking forward to getting together with the gang.

Back to spinning.

End of the First Week

2009-08-28T05:14:00.000-07:00

Having been inspired by a new friend, I have decided to expand this blog to include what's going on in general in my life instead of dealing solely with The Shawl.

Packing is continuing today to get ready to head to Indiana on Monday. It is the time that we plan for and anticipate throughout the year. I am taking my newest shotgun this year - it is over a year old now, and Jim says I might just as well use it since we never know how many more years we will be able to do this. It is the roughest hunting that we do - mostly because the temperatures are so beastly hot. But as soon as we are done, we are already planning for the next year.

I made a new fiber friend yesterday, which to me is always a good thing. I think she will fit in well with our spinning group. I always enjoy our monthly gatherings and I feel as though we are as close as family. Their troubles are my troubles, their joys are my joys. Since my worry bank is pretty empty now (after Rick's surgery), I have room for other's troubles. But in general, life is good.

Next week is my birthday. I already got my present from Rick, Pam, Taylor and Allison. The new carder is from Jim for the next bunch of birthdays and Christmases, but that is all right. I still look forward to my birthday. I suppose at this age, I shouldn't, but I do.

Back to spinning - my spinning is going well, but rather slowly. I have been trying to finish up a few other projects, so I have only been spinning about an hour a day. And since I am spinning so fine, the bobbin is not filling up very fast. But it is looking good.

And I spent part of the day Wednesday at Amy's mill, doing a re-card of my cormo lamb roving to try to remove some vegetable matter. It took us four hours, but the results look very good. And it was a learning experience for me. Our power was off at home due to a tree on the line down on the Pullman Road - back on by the time we got home (hurray!) - so it was a good day to be away.

Now I will have a week without getting any spinning done at all, so no progress will be made. I will be taking a couple lace knitting books to see if I can finally decide what pattern I will use. That would be progress itself.

Changes Already

2009-08-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

Only three days in, I have already made a significant change to my plan.

I have decided to use a two-ply yarn instead of my normal three-ply. It will be a lighter weight and I think I will use larger needles to emphasize the lace pattern more. I am well into the spinning of the yarn and I will check my first plying to see if that will be what I am after.

Tomorrow I am sending out the check for my new carder - I am very excited about that. A very great tool for me to use. My original carder has already been sold to a friend. Progress there!

I am still not positive about the pattern for my shawl. I may just go with the fan and feather pattern. There is one other that I am thinking about, but I have some time.

Progress continues.

The Beginning

2009-08-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning. I have decided to try to spin and knit a shawl to enter into the Michigan Fiber Festival (MFF) Fiber Arts contest in 2010.

I have chosen the fiber that I will be using - white cormo top from my friend, Char. I am spinning a three-ply yarn. I have one skein done. It is the skein that I entered in the skein contest at the 2009 MFF.

I am still trying to decide what shawl pattern I will use. Part of me wants to to the fan and feather circular shawl again and another part wants to do a different lace pattern shawl.

Now the work begins in earnest.