Spinning around like a top . . .

or make that a spindle ;) I’ve managed to get the internet portion of our systems up and running again . . . just don’t try to connect our VOIP phone and we’re fine. They are sending us new equipment for the phone, should have it early next week.

Interestingly, we seem to have had a rush on Fiber Trends patterns at IY while I was offline. I’m working through the list on a first-come, first served basis and will be ordering additional copies of several patterns on Monday to fill the remaining orders. I’m also looking through their list for other patterns to add . . . should be able to tack on a bunch more.

I’m also working on a major renovation over at IY. Actually took the site down and am replacing it with a whole new look. I’m still working my way through it so not all the pages are active as yet, but hopefully in the next few days I’ll get it all back up and running again.

One of the things I really want to do, which will be a bit of work, is to take actual photos of each batch of yarn, each colorway in each yarn that is, rather than relying on one colorway photo for a yarn like I’ve been doing. That means I’ll be putting that page back together rather slowly as I managed to get all the pictures taken and edited. I do think the results will be worth it though.

On a personal fiber front I’ve been bouncing around from one thing to the next again with no real direction. I had finished the gloves (no photo yet, he keeps leaving them in the car) and so that means all 5 of my UFOs for this month are done and I’ve finished 7 things so far. I have 2 things on the needles in the work basket but I haven’t worked on them for a few days. DH’s cable scarf and the handspun shawl.

I have been doing a bit of spinning, on the Joy wheel since its in the house and I’ve got a bobbin full of colorful blendy stuff. I’m getting bored with it though so I’m going to ply it up and be done with it. I’ve got a bit of the fiber left; its really just some odds and ends that I blended when I had M’s drum carder for a while. Guess I’ll put it aside for a while.

I’ve also started spinning some of the white Romney stash fiber. I’m planning to try making it into a true 3-ply yarn to see how that turns out. One of my goals has been to get good at 3-ply and to start using that, hopefully at around DK weight, as my main handspun yarn for things. . . yeah, so that is a long term goal ;)

Yesterday was spent packaging things to be mailed, including sending out a beautiful Merino fleece and some fun corrie & romney to be processed at Zeilingers. The merino is only being washed as I hope to work on my combing technique; at least that was what I bought it for. The Corrie & Romney are going in one batch for roving. I also dug out 2 pretty grey fleeces that I’m washing myself to preserve all the pretty shading in them. I’ve got them sorted by color and I washed about 1/3 of the darker one yesterday. Once that is dry (and therefore my drying space is free) I’ll go ahead and work on the next batch of it.

I had started playing with the idea of spinning up some of it but I’m going to attempt to exercise some self restraint (attempt) and hold off until I’ve finished trying the 3-ply. Besides, I’m not sure yet if I want to card this wool or spin from the locks and I might want to use the big wheel rather than the Joy . . .

So it looks like the next couple of things are going to be the baby sweater for a friend who is having a little girl next month. I’ve washed the yarn and need to wind it and pick a stitch pattern so I can get started. And earlier today I got a note from Afghans for Afghans that they are doing a special hat drive for an educational circus. They are looking for hats knit from a single primary color and out of wool. I know I’ve got some red leftover from a sweater and I think I’ve got some other brights out in the barn so I think perhaps the next thing I cast on will be a hat or two to send in. Afterall, it isn’t like I don’t have plenty of fiber and I’ve finished lots of things off my list so far; it feels like time to do something helpful for just a little bit.

And on that note, I’m off to the barn to dig out that yarn if I can find it.

PS. Becky please send me your email address. I couldn’t get your info through the profile for some reason!