Pansies

The Pansy Socks are done!

Those were a pretty quick knit.  I took the time to weave in some reinforcing yarn in the heel flaps.  I used some Mountain Colors Bearfoot (from these socks) that I had around – its wool/mohair content makes it a good felter, and felting is good for heel reinforcement.  Kris and I darned socks at our Knit Night last week, and I darned not one but two holey socks made from Socks That Rock, so I’m being extra cautious about sending these into the world.  I really love the Blue Moon dying sensibility, but this 100% superwash merino sock yarn base is one that I will not be buying any more of.  (Perhaps you knew that?)So now I’ll get back to those grey Jacob Cauchy socks I started before I got distracted by the pansies.

In other news, I’m over halfway done spinning the purple merino/silk blend.  Here is the first bobbin all finished: Yum yum yum!

Purplicious

I’ve read the children’s book Pinkalicious.  I understand that Purplicious is its sequel; I haven’t read it yet. But purple seems to be my color lately!

The first Pansy Sock is done, and I’m almost ready to begin the heel on #2.  Here’s #1:Then I reached into my basket of spinning fiber and came up with this:  I knew this was top by the way it was arranged, but it didn’t have a label on it.  I got this earlier this spring when I placed an order with The Spinning Loft.  I had a gift certificate to use with them and wanted to get a smaller whorl for my Ladybug (as part of my quest to spin a good 3-ply sock yarn).  I’m sure I knew what it was when I ordered it, but I’d forgotten.  I managed to find my receipt online and have decided that this is a merino silk blend.  I have 4.75 oz and I’m spinning is rather fine to make a 2-ply.

The receipt says “Louet merino silk McKensie,” but I can’t find a colorway called McKensie on the Louet website.  Ashland Bay makes a 70/30 merino silk blend called Mckenzie, so this might be it.  The colors online look more gray than purple, but that could just be the photography.  Then again, I think my fiber really looks like the Ashland Bay blend called Purple.  So, whatever…

At any rate, it’s pretty and I like it.  And spinning on the wheel is sooooooooo much faster than spinning on the spindle!

In other fun news, I won a contest on the Novamade blog and got this fabulous BFL dyed by Cloverleaf Farms.  The colorway is “Golden Oaks” – isn’t it gorgeous?This was waiting in the mail when I returned from NC – what a treat.  (Ironically, Cloverleaf Farms is located in Hendersonville, NC, one of the towns we spent a bit of time in during our trip.)  I thought about spinning it next, but I decided to wait until I feel that first chill in the air since it’s so autumnal.  The chill is decidedly NOT here now – we’ve been having highs in the mid-upper 90s every day. 

If you aren’t already familiar with Nova’s blog, I encourage you to visit – she takes fabulous photos and always has beautiful things to show (fiber-y things as well as her adorable children)!

Socks in progress

I’m not sure what I call this sock yet.  The stitch pattern (from the Vogue Stitchionary volume 1) is called “rib and welt pattern,” which doesn’t exactly have a nice ring to it.  The yarn is Socks That Rock Lightweight in colorway “love-in-idleness” (an old name for a wild pansy).  So maybe these will be my pansy socks.  There is some pooling, but it’s not annoying me tooooooooo much at this point.  It looks more painterly than pooly:

The Jacob Cauchys are still on the needles but haven’t seen much action since you last saw them:See what I mean about the decrease area?  I wish I’d put the decrease stitches in the purl area rather than the knit part of the rib.  Next time.

I also warmed up the spinning wheel yesterday and got busy.  I decided not to spend much time pondering which fiber to spin.  Instead, I just grabbed what was on the top of the pile.  I got the 3 oz Jacob/alpaca batt that I got at MDSW this spring.  I separated it into 2 equal sections (the digital scale is so handy for this) and spun the singles.  I plan to ply them today (you’re supposed to let the singles rest overnight).  Hopefully you’ll see some new yarn here soon!

That’s all for today – off to ply now.