Ch-Ch Changin’

Yup. Things are changing. I changed my ravelry id to iFish, and thought I’d change it here too. Fiberjewel sounded like a moron. I’m not sure if I’ll change the site address. Probably too much work. So no.

I’ve got a couple of things in the works right now:

1) almost done with my friend’s christmas present of a hat and mittens (hat and one mitten done)
2) big plans for the new backyard
3) decided I was too cheap to buy a boat so I’m going to build one

Been a while

It’s been a while, huh.  Well I’ve been dealing with annoying people in my life and though there has been some knitting, there has been more thinking about knitting than actual knitting.  This mind knitting is great for work breaks, commercial breaks, standing in like at the bank breaks. 

For example: I’ve decided to knit myself the Central Park Hoodie.  I know.  I said I never would since I’m a big kid.  But I found a steal on the yarn (Valley Yarns Northampton) and have seen others make it in this yarn on Ravelry.  I’m going to buy the color card and a skein to play with.  I think it’s pretty comparable to Patons Classic Merino which I love.    

I bought a new vanity table.  It’s so white and clean.  Very nice.  Oh, and mom made matching curtains and recovered my vanity seat in camo.  It’s like sleeping in a blind. *   

I bought a new cell phone.  Sony Ericson Walkman.  I love it.  it’s so pretty.  Even made it it’s own sock!  *  

My fun purchase of a ball winder has made my life so easy.*    

Sista Slimdown is starting next weekend.  We’ll take starting weights, and measurements.  I’m going to keep track at how long I bike for and at what speed to figure out the miles, and my new phone keeps track of steps so I’ll record that.  Every week we’ll weigh and measure again.  And I get to use my cute new tape measure that looks like a dinosaur*  

*: Pictures to follow.

Totally on track (to Crazytown)

I spun some more weds night.  I filled two bobbins and still have a bit left over.  I ended up plying them last night.  But ended up with some left on one bobbin.  I think what I’ll do is spin up the remaining fiber and then ply that with the remaining on the bobbin.  I’ll totally have plenty to do something with.  I’m thinking maybe a hat.  (of course I’m thinking a hat – I love hats).  I have come to the conclusion that I’m not a big fan of mohair.  I think it’s the halo.  It just looks messy.   I also finished kitchenering both ½ done mittens.  I’m getting better at this whole kitchener thing.  I also did the thumb on the pink mitten.  I’m so happy with my progress so far, I have a few lofty goals for this weekend: 

• Finish at least one more mitten
• Drop 6 stitches on Karen’s Clapotis
• Buy a yarn ball winder
• Spin and ply remaining blue fiber
• Make one santa hat
• Set twist on all blue hanks
• Go to Iron Horse Farm and show off to Debbie

 I also have a couple of other (non-knitting related) goals: 

• Go to bank
• Go to post office
• Make cookies (I’m thinking spritz)
• Clean and vacuum room
• Cut and polish nails

 So all in all not bad.  I totally think it’s doable.  Tonight (Friday) I’ll swing by BSK and see if they have a ball winder for sale, I’ll finish the thumb on the pink camo mitten, and start and finish up to the opening on the second pink/purple mitten, and spin and ply the remaining fiber and put into hanks.  I’ll set the twist tonight and then Saturday I’ll get up early and go to the bank and the post office, maybe pick up some of the crockpot classic soups and come home to hang with nana (the fam is in NY on a shopping trip all day).  While with nana, I’ll finish the mitten and drop 3-4 stitches on the clapotis.  In the afternoon I’ll take a run to the farm and show off to Debbie.  Depending on the cost of the ball winder, I’ll purchase 1-2 balls of fiber.  When I come back we’ll eat the soup that has been cooking all day, and I’ll make a santa hat.  I’ll finish the second pink/purple mitten and start the second pink camo mitten.  Sunday (game day) I’ll finish the second pink camo mitten, drop the remaining stitches on the clapotis and possibly cast on for the blue snowfake mitten.   Totally doable.  (I may be crazy)  In Non-Knitting Related News, I got a call from my uncle.  His boss is sending the guys home for Christmas, and since Chris wasn’t going, he offered to fly his girlfriend Trishie up for the holiday.  Right.  Where in the hell are they going to sleep?  Cause he’s been sleeping on an air mattress in my old room (read: tiny ass room).  Chris seemed so excited and said, “you will love her, you are like peas in a pod”.  So, what? You are dating someone exactly like your niece – well, that’s not uncomfortable at all.  So we’ll see how things go.  He said she might not go for it since she’s originally from California and it’s freezing up here. 

I’m so tired of people saying it’s freezing up here.  I think it’s wonderful.  I love the cold.  I love knitting warm things, and afghans on your lap and hot chocolate and turkey and meatloaf and Christmas and snow and everything.  I think it’s wonderful.  I’m trying really hard not to let those people who hate cold get me down.  If you don’t like that it’s cold – MOVE.  Cripes, I’m so annoyed.  It’s December in New England people, it’s cold every year.  I get it.  It’s cold.  It’s supposed to be.  And guess what – it’s going to be like this for 3 more months.  So you better suck it up and put on a sweater and some warmer shoes – cause vnecks and chucks aren’t going to keep you warm.  /rant. 

Ashford, here I come!

I did it.  I took the plunge.  I’m going to learn how to spin.  I’m even renting an Ashford Traditional till I can get my own.  I’m so excited.  The woman is really nice and I’m psyched to learn.  I think within a couple of months I’ll have figured out what I need.  And what it should look like.  Then I’ll have Chris take a look and we’ll figure out a way to make it on our own.  There are starter plans for sale at the Woolery.  The reason I’m starting spinning now, instead of after Christmas, is because I paid off my brakes.  I had to put them on my cc.  But I paid that 500 off and decided I needed a present.  Plus now I’ll be able to make yarn to give to nana and to Aunten and to Lisa and Abby for Christmas.  I’m making Karen a Clapotis from knitty.com, and I’m not sure about mom.  I’ll think of something. Later tonight/tomorrow I’ll be posting some pictures of the latest yarn I spun using my spindle.  It’s actually still on there.  I really need to wind it off and soak the skeins I’ve made to set the twist.  Ah, always something to do around here. So far the holiday knit list looks like this:

•·         1 pink/purple handspun mitten

•·         1 pink/brown patons wool mitten

•·         1/4 of a clapotis

•·         3 shimmery croched snowflakes

 I am not off to a good start.  Especially since most of these projects were started to cause “the yarn is so pretty” not with a specific recipient in mind.

I’ll do the Thanksgiving post later.  Too sleepy from all that eating.  Lots when on.  Lots to tell.