Annie's Blog

Spun some more of DMIL’s red/black blend, and while I really like this fiber, I’m having some trouble with the take-in on my Jensen Tina II. I’m thinking that the very first thing I need to do is pull things apart and give it a thorough cleaning. I’m sure the shaft and other parts are gunked up… and it’s been a while since I’ve conditioned it with any lemon oil. Bad Annie!

Maybe that would be a good activity for the evening we hold the SBSTT at my *new* house in November. Wheel-Cleaning ala Alden’s bible. I’ve got most of the stuff we’d need, and the right type of space to do it in….

So I’m itching to spin and knit, especially since folks on the ST list were so great and posted their interpretations of that Lion Brand Yarns pattern I was having such trouble with. I think I can figure it out now.

I am _so_ ready for this holiday weekend to start!!!

–Annie (off to finish editing this PITA document so I can bag it for the weekend)

Today is my brother’s birthday. Happy birthday, brother!

I’ve actually been getting some spinning done in the mornings and evenings lately (before the kids wake up and after they go to bed). What I’m spinning right now is some of my mother-in-law’s blends–it’s a 60-40 wool/mohair blend dyed in shades of tomato, maroon/brick, and black. So far it’s really gorgeous stuff, and I’m spinning it up at around 16 WPI. I plan to sample, but the current thinking is to ply it with some rose colored silk that I have–if for no other reason than to “bind” some of the mohair and keep it from shedding.

I haven’t yet decided what to do for my next project. Theoretically it should be for _me_, but more likely it will be a sweater for Luke, who has yet to receive one of Mommy’s handmade garments.

Ideas? I really like the idea of doing a soft, warm, fuzzy shawl, but it needs to be easy and repetitious, since I don’t get any uninterrupted knitting time. Something with less than seven or so repeats would be ideal…

–Annie (off to scour the web for free patterns)

Not bad. Least I made it back to the blog in less than a full month (today’s the nineth, right?)

Anyway, I’ve got some great news to report: I finished Ladyfinger’s scramble fiber project _and_ put it in the mail. I still have to check the USPS website for the delivery confirmation, but I’m guessing that it will have gotten there today. I’m fairly well pleased with the way it turned out, and I think the size should be appropriate. And putting the fringe all the way around was far less tedious than I thought it would be. No pictures–I’ll let Debbie decide if she wants to post a pic of herself and the results.

Also finished and mailed two bags for the Sheepthrills small bag exchange (Barbie’s backpack and a small drawstring purse).

Finished the brother’s socks, although I haven’t mailed them yet–bad Annie. But this means I can bring the camera home tonight and take pictures.

Our house is sold, and we are waiting to hear a closing date for the house we’re buying–a monster at more than 2900 square feet. It’s a split-level brick ranch built in 1965, and I love it. And I especially love the three bathrooms and _six_ bedrooms, and all the fiber rooms… No, we’re not planning on having more children to fill up the house. We’ll have Hannah’s room, Luke’s room, the master bedroom, the mohair room, the wool room, the angora room….

So we’ll be moving sometime before the end of this month. From Jola Gayle’s stories of moving, I’m betting we’re in for some fairly major stress in our lives during that time. Actually, the biggest thing I’m concerned about is how Hannah and Luke will adapt to having a new house. It’s so big…