So I was upstairs trying to find some decent light to photograph the latest semi-bloggable design project when I see a blur out the window. At first I think it's our dog, Aejaz then realize no, he's in the fenced back yard. And continue on, only to swear I keep seeing some blur going back and forth in the front lawn. I stand up and look out the window trying to see through the trees thinking I'm imagining things only seeing a few kids playing.

Then I remembered we just had the new stone bench we got put in the back yard and think, hey that could work as a new backdrop. I pick up the knitting, camera and head out back expecting Aejaz to come running up but he doesn't. That's when it dawns on me maybe the door was left open after bringing in the seat. Yep, sure enough the door is wide open and no Aejaz. I run out the front and there he is playing with the neighborhood kids who are standing at the front door and turn to ask "Oh is this your dog?". I knew I had seen a furry looking blur, ha. Naughty boy couldn't resist running out to play.

Therefore, his punishment was posing with the new seat- we're such disciplinarians. :)

Posted by Jen at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

I love thrifting and I especially love vintage. You can't beat a great one-of-a-kind piece for a bargain; it just makes all the empty-handed trips worth it. It gives me an extra kick when I can save something, re-purpose or mend it. On my latest find those darning skills proved helpful.

Cute 70's era sweater

But what's this?

Nothing a little bit of also thrifted similar yarn can't fix
\

Ta-da!

Posted by Jen at 09:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

I had been good. I've been on a strict deadline knitting diet for the last 3 months. But I finally caved and had a fast and furious donut binge of a knitting project. It had been sitting there on my Ravelry que, taunting me- "Molly's Headband" by Pam Allen from IK Summer 2006.

I had yet to actually knit anything from my first spinning attempts. I mean come on, how could I resist for much longer? This was worked in the handspun single I mentioned here. It's all self-striping and stuff, wee!
When I started spinning I was all excited about spinning the yarn and totally did not realize how entertaining knitting with the actual stuff is! Spinning is still a bit of a mystery to me, knitting I know however. It's like getting a little bit of the mystery revealed when knitting it up and truly seeing how the yarn behaves and how all these variables fit together.

I've been working seemingly endless stretches of stockinette lately so a little taste of lace was very satisfying. The only mods I did were for the ties. I wasn't digging the 24" of I-cord so I just added a YO at each end and strung 3 stands through it and did a simple braid. This saved yardage too with the headband coming in at 7g, so I should have enough of this skein left to make some other little thing as well.

Posted by Jen at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)

Weee finally some spinning! This is the first handspun I'm really excited to knit with. (Probably doesn't hurt that it's in my fav. greens) I managed to eyeball it and end up with two bobbins to ply that were only 1 gram off from each other. It's those little things that make me so easily pleased. After looking enviously at the awesome handspun out there it's exciting to start getting closer to producing something I want.

Speaking of excited- I got in on a late opening and now I'm going to Yarn School at the end of the month! I had been yearning to go and was so disappointed when they announced it was full. Now I may need to go check I'll still be able to fit clothing in the suitcase after the wheel, spindle, fiber, and knitting goodies...

Posted by Jen at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Well the latest Interweave design is finished and shipped off without any last minute finishing, huzzah! In an attempt to at least have some actual knitting on this knitting blog- here's a peek.

Also, on a whim I entered my Circum Nav Cardigan in the State Fair of Texas in the knit cardigan category and I actually placed with an honorable mention. There were stacks of impressive sweaters when I dropped mine off so I'm looking forward to seeing the other ribbons. Although now I realized I won't actually get to wear it until after the fair ends at the end of October, but I'll get another dorky picture with a ribbon, heh.

Posted by Jen at 04:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)