You bet. This is the hassock in front of my chair. It’s where I spend the evening, mostly.
But it is 3 pm and way too nice outdoors to sit down now and pick up any of the projects that I’ve got there. Maybe if I hurry, I can fit in a walk.
You never know, it could always snow tomorow.
I searched through my stash looking for something wonderful to spin on my new Jenkins spindle. Silk seemed the perfect start. I found one braided hank of a luscious orangy dark red that I bought at a small booth at Rhinebeck a couple seasons ago. It even went with the wood…. oh my. Everything was perfect, the spindle was a pleasure, the fiber, it worked into the Saturday spin-in and Wanda’s new The Weekend Whirls blog. LOVELY. I spun, I plied. I could have spun a lot more on the spindle but I was anxious to see it plied and washed. The first 2 ply skein yielded 58 yds. But when I put it into the warm water…
I changed the water a dozen times and still it ran. Finally, in disgust, I rinsed it in icy cold water, as only water from a 400 ft. well in winter can produce. Then, it held… barely. I’m not fooled into thinking it’s all over, but it is controllable. I won’t buy anymore silk from that vendor. I have another couple colors in the bag, I’ll check it before I start.
Wanda mentioned that she liked a heavier spindle for silk. I’d heard from many people that they work with a light weight, so I wanted to see for myself. I liked it. The tag said this one is 2.1 ounces. Just right. Even though the color hadn’t changed as badly as I’d feared, it soured me on that silk. I changed tack and found something else in my stash, a wonderful 60% cormo 40% alpaca. Completely different and I’m loving it just the same.
Your Cormo Alpaca looks beautiful and soft.
That silk is a lovely colour, too bad it bleeds so much. Did you try setting it like you set your dyed colours? It seems to work on all the stuff I’ve had bleed on me.
Sorry to see your skein bled to death in your sink. I can see how you’d feel “bleh” about the fiber after that experience. Nice Cormo/alpaca blend- like how it looks on the spindle. Note to self- buy a Turkish spindle in the near future.
I thought you were posting a picture of dyeing you were doing and then I read that it bled and bled and bled. How frustrating!
Red! Why does red always bleed! Ugh. It’s very pretty, regardless.
….better in the sink than on your hands…
I recently had that experience with some silk that came from Rhinebeck too…i wonder?
cormo/alpaca…yummy!
Popped in from Wanda’s Weekend Whorls blog to say Hi and read more about your ‘bleeding’ yarn !!. Lucky you in winning the spindle I so want one of these and I also entered 🙁 I had been thinking about buying one but was hesitant in case I wouldn’t be able to use it but it sounds as if the guide explains all, so that will be on my ‘want’ list now. Your spinning looks fab using it . Look forward to getting to know you 🙂
i’ve had that same experience with silk from interlacements and it was SO disappointing; the final color after bleeding did not resemble the original at all, but was a pale shadow of the intense color it had once been. sometimes fiber bleeds but does not change the yarn color that much (as if the dye was just excess). but when it changes a lot, it’s a bummer.
Ugh! Too bad about the crappy dye job – how disappointing! (Would you mind emailing me privately and telling me who it is?)
I’ve had bad experiences like that before. Once, I complained to a fiber seller about how her product turned my hands green and bled a lot, even in cold water, and her reply essentially was, “Yeah, I couldn’t get the green to exhaust, so I just had it made into roving.” WTF?!
Me too. Please email me the vendor. I’m all into the silk these recent days, and don’t want to bleed at home as well as watch the bleeding at work.
ooh, I have some cormo/alpaca somewhere. I should spin that.
Sorry the bleeding soured you on it – the YARN is lovely. But I know that feeling – the magic has been exhausted. Unlike the dye.
Wednesday was one of those BAD days. We all have them. B.A.D. It was one of those days that made me want to work for someone else, let them have the responsibilities, the problems, complaints, employees… whew! The day more or less ended with my little finger of my knitting hand, the right one, slammed in the car door. Ugly looking, and man did it hurt. Maybe it didn’t end there. I didn’t get my walk posted. It was another walk through the very snowy woods. Everyone is probably a little bit tired of seeing snow by now. It was still as beautiful as ever.. more that most ever… and probably the last really great snow for the year. Lets get onto Thursday.
I was a little gun shy about answering the phone after Wednesday, so when it rang in the office at 8:15 and I was still on my first pot of coffee, I picked it up with reservation. The day had taken a turn! Elton John was performing in the evening and could we bring BIG plants for his dressing room, the usual arrangements… and comp tickets. Great comp tickets! Sure thing!
A little office work, yada, yada, and the mail lady left me a package. Wanda and Ed, of Fiberjoy & Jenkins Woodworking had a drawing last week for a number of beautifully crafted fiber tools that Ed makes. I won one of his Osage Orange Turkish spindles. If you don’t remember how much I love these spindles you can refer back to this previous post. This one is a beauty. I don’t think I’d ever seen this wood before. I grew up with the trees, the knobby fruits scattered on the ground, but not knowing that the wood held an inner flame. Gorgeous color!
It spins like a dream. Also, Wanda had enclosed her book on spindling with a Turkish style spindle. This book would be a perfect start for any novice using any spindle. She covers all the points, with pictures.
After dinner, C and I went into town for the concert. At 60 (this weekend), Elton is still rockin’. Terrific, the man never stops..no breaks. Really, after almost 2 1/2 hours straight, he left the stage to go back to NY and prepare for the Big one this weekend, says he.
and Sammy.. my boy???
well… it’s all good!
Don’t you just love it when things go from bad to fab over night!?
I’m sorry that Wed was bad but it sounds like Thursday more than made up for it!
Oh, not your knitting hand! 🙁
You’re so lucky to have seen Elton, though. Comp tickets, wow!
oooouwie…hope the little digit is feeling better..I didn’t get my walk posted this week either …and I remember an Elton concert long ago, where they threw yellow bricks (foam) at the audience…
Congrats on winning the spindle! Its beautiful!
What a nice turnaround! But slamming a finger in a car door….ouch!
Auw !! Sorry to hear about your finger, hope the spindle and concert made up for it 🙂
Glad to hear the week turned around for you. That spindle is fantastic! I was just asking around for spinning book recommendations, so maybe I’ll try Wanda’s, too.
Things are looking up! What a great evening. So sorry about the pinky though — isn’t it crazy how much we use those little things?!
Elton John…..I just love that man! What a nice change of events for you and C!!
Ouch, poor finger! That really hurts.
Elton John though, that’s energy and fun.
Beautiful spindle and roving. Love the colour.
I’m so glad things turned around for you! That spindle is so beautiful!
HI Judy, Sorry Wednesday was so bad but sure glad Thursday was so much better. Thanks for your help the other day. Ouch poor finger.
Oh, your poor finger! Hope it heals super fast!
We saw Elton John about 5 years ago. Can he play that piano! And SING!
🙂
Thanks for the pics!!! How wonderful to see Elton………
I really dislike those BAD days..and they do happen-thanks for sharing…and Sammy just wishes once to be on the other side of the glass!!!
I’m so sorry about your finger. OUCH.
Comp tix are great. I manage a couple of Red Sox games per year. Same ting.
Yeowch, sorry about your finger :o( Totally cool about Elton John, though ;o)
I completely understand about the bad day. Really and truly.
Love the spindle – I drooled over it at her blog and laughed when I recognized your name. I have osage orange branches on hand for hangings – friends from MO mailed a bunch to me – some male, some female (some with and some without thorns). I love the color.
Hope your finger is better by now!
Did you still want some llama fiber? If so, toss me an email and we’ll work out the particulars. dank_miasma AT yahoo DOT com
Wow, a day that went from bad to great! I envy you! I love EJ! Looks like the birdies are waiting for spring too.
wow wow wow! loks like lady luck is finally shining on you! gorgeous spindle 🙂
What a fantastic 24 hours that was! Woo hoo! New beautiful spindle AND a concert. Can’t beat that. Glad things picked up for you. 🙂
10 responses to “Scattered??”
Those socks are SUCH a glorious color! 🙂
And don’t say “snow”. Aigh!…
Wander off, I often find that helps with the scatters. Of course, that sometimes makes you look more scattered, but if the cobwebs don’t get shaken out of the mind once in a while, they start clogging up the works.
Yes, it’s going to snow tomorrow (here). Take advantage of the nice day!
Such a pretty color on thos socks! Enjoy the day…it’s gorgeous here too!
Snow tomorrow! Oh shush!
S-n-o-w ? Ahem…at this point in the season that is a 4 letter word around here. Perish the thought! No need to give Mother Nature any ideas. I DO love the socks and spinning however.
…that cormo/alpaca blend looks like a cloud….(not going to acknowledge that I see the “s” word)
Yah – but scattered in a good way. 🙂 What fun projects.
Snow called for here tonight into tomorrow. Maybe a coupla feet in the mountains. WOOT!
Pretty socks. What’s the pattern?
Are those socks awesome, or what! I knit them (well, sort of, my own version after, you know, not thinking it through) and it is a great pattern for that kind of yarn, not stripey, but subtle. Yours look great!