What a perfectly marvelous weekend so far! I am still at Elayne's, so I cannot upload the pictures yet. Last night, Kathy arrived and brought E. some mini carders for her birthday. Elayne was,understandably, delighted with such a thoughtful gift! Kathy had also brought along her newly assembled Ashford wheel, for which I gave a maintenance check, and pretty soon Kathy was spinning merrily away.

This morning it was very cold, especially in the shade with the wind blowing off the bay. They had us set up in the marketplace, and between the shadiness and the wind, it was truly frigid! Elayne finally had the idea to set up outside the market shelter, in the sun. We found a lovely place behind some bushes and were nicely shielded from the wind.

The Pedro Menendez Day Celebration is truly a spectacle to behold. They had a parade, which while being small, was very different and fascinating. It was truly a delight for the senses. Ladies dressed in brocades, huge papier mache figurines which were wheeled along and prancing horses. We were fed Empanadas for lunch -hearty and hot - much better than what I expected for a free lunch.

A fascinating lady named Peggy spun beside me all day long. She was dressed in all purple - purple skirt, cloak, scarf and a purple felted hat. When we got warmer, and she removed her hat, she even had her hair tinted purple! She had an early 1800's wheel with a remarkable history. It seems that her great, great grandmother had received this wheel as a wedding gift. As a young bride, she promptly remarked that they had enough money to have "store bought" cloth, and she never even used it. It was passed along through the family, and did not find a spinner owner until Peggy got it! So she virtually has an antique wheel that was never used.

We stopped by Chili's on the way home, for an early dinner, and are now safely "tucked in" Elayne's house, both tired, but very contented.

Yes! The car is loaded with spinning wheel, lazy kate, fiber, knitting supplies, old timey clothes, drum carder and the good old camera and I-Pod batteries are charging. I am ready to make my fiber pilgrimage in the morning! And yes, I plan to take plenty of pictures to share.

One more day to work this week, then off to Florida for a stunning weekend of fiber fun. I will be spending the day Friday with Elayne, and will take along the drum carder for us to fiddle around with. A friend of Elayne's and new spinner, Kathy, whom I have never met, is also coming. Saturday, we will all go to St. Augustine for the Spin In. I have never done anything like this before, and I really looking forward to spinning with a huge group of people. I think they said that last year about 40 spinners showed up. I am hoping for a moderate day, not too cool, but not too warm, as I get the feeling my long black skirt, long sleeved blouse and shawl will tend to get a little bit warm.

Not much knitting news to report tonight. I did finish the other "Halfspun" sock, and they really did turn out quite cute. The picture doesn't really show off the colors or style to the best advantage. They look nice on an actual foot. Also, when I wear clogs, the large grey band does not show at all. I am thinking that at some point, I may try to dye some fiber to coordinate and redo the lower foot, but at least this lets me enjoy the socks now instead of later.

This is my work week to be out of town for a couple of nights, so I will be out of touch for a few days. I am so looking forward to Friday, when I drive down to Elayne's for a fabulous fiber day and then Saturday, when we will both be going to the Spin In. I hope I can remember to take my camera, since I am planning on taking a lot of pictures.

Here's a Halfspun sock to go with the vest. Too bad I did not have enough yarn to make a pair completely out of the handspun, but this will work.

I had a little down time for about 24 hours, as son, Phillip, came home for an eye checkup and ended up spending the night (what a delight for mom and dad!)

The answer to the word puzzle is:

WOWOLFOL

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing!

This is good to know, especially since these are also my favorite type of knitting needles. Thanks for the quiz, Bess


You are interchangeable.
Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every
eventuality covered and every opportunity just
has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and
every day is a new beginning. You are good at
so many things, it's amazing, but you can
easily lose your place and forget to show up.
They have row counters for people like you!


What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Post Vest Let Down

All of a sudden, I find myself waffling about trying to decide what project to tackle next. Even the spinning is not coming easily. I had thought I wanted to start spinning the pink Wensleydale, but after spinning a few yards, I found myself wondering: 1) What am I ever going to make with this, 2) Will it be soft enough for a "next to skin" item and 3) Will I be able to bring out the halo in this fiber? Of course, I could have just been tired ... spinning just did not seem to be my cup of tea tonight.

I only have enough of the vest yarn left to perhaps do sock cuffs, and I have some grey sock yarn to do the heels, but I am going to have to think of some other yarn for the feet. The 2-ply of this fiber is making a totally different pattern than the 3 ply did, but it is very pleasing. I really wish I had enough to do the whole pair in this yarn. Unfortunately, I cannot obtain any more of the fiber in that particular colorway. I guess I could always go back to the dyepot.

Did anyone else see this word puzzle a couple of weeks back in the USA Weekend Supplement? (I will post the answer in a day or so - I could not figure it out on my own, but kicked myself when I found out the answer)

WOWOLFOL

Eeek!, pictures of me in vest... but you asked for it. The side view was much too scary to post.

I just came in from my overnight trip (business) and found that my vest is still wet. It has been rainy in these parts the last few days, except for a short glorious time on Sunday afternoon, when I was able to get a nice walk in, as it was also fairly warm, in the 60's. Anyhow, when the vest dries, I will get someone to take a picture of me. Be warned, the camera is NOT friendly to me.

I took Lisa's quiz on what Peanuts character I am, and ended up being "Rerun." What a drag!

Yes indeedy! The vest is finished and blocking this very moment!

Thanks to all you lovelies who left such gracious comments about my vest. I admire the work all of you do, and your compliments really touch and encourage me. I am always so happy to see everyone's pictures of their projects. I love the fellowship of meeting with other knitters, seeing their work, feeling it, oohing and aahing over it, etc. - well you get the general idea. I only get to do this about once a month, so it is so great to see all of my cyberfriends' stuff. Now, back to knitting, spinning, knitting, spinning. I am only trying to ply enough yarn to finish the vest, as hopefully, if I 2-ply the rest of it, I will be able to make a pair of matching socks. I tried the "steam setting" of the yarn, as is being discussed today on the KR Forum. I am here to tell you - it works, too! It was a wonderful hint at this stage of my vest. I didn't have to wait for the yarn to dry.

Hurrah ! New pictures at last!

The spinning lesson went great yesterday! My student now knows how to handle a wheel and how to ply yarn. She had a bit more trouble when we proceeded to regular spinning, since she has never done any work on a drop spindle. I sent her home with one and a bunch of fiber to play with. She is very enthusiastic and wants to keep at it.

Borders done on my Sakiori Vest. Now all I lack are the little side panels (for which I must spin some more yarn) and the braided tie in the front, and of course, weaving in all those pesky yarn bits. I have taken some pics and will upload soon (I hope).

Here is a test a friend sent me via e-mail. I made a 20. It's so refreshing to find out I'm a young filly Older Than Dirt. It's a good thing I went to Lisa's page and found out my Inner Child is only 10 years old. I guess that should soothe the wound some. Anyway, here's the quiz:

This is a History Exam for those who don't mind seeing how much they really remember about what went on in their life. Get paper and pencil and number from 1 to 20. Write the letter of each answer and score at the end. Then, best of all, before you pass this test on, put your score in the subject line!

1. In the 1940s, where were automobile headlight dimmer switches located?
a. On the floor shift knob
b. On the floor board, to the left of the clutch
c. Next to the horn

2. The bottle top of a Royal Crown Cola bottle had holes in it. For what was it used?
a. Capture lightning bugs
b. To sprinkle clothes before ironing
c. Large salt shaker

3. Why was having milk delivered a problem in northern winters?
a. Cows got cold and wouldn't produce milk
b. Ice on highways forced delivery by dog sled
c. Milkmen left deliveries outside of front doors and milk would freeze, expanding and pushing up the cardboard bottle top.

4. What was the popular chewing gum named for a game of chance?
a. Blackjack
b. Gin
c. Craps!

5. What method did women use to look as if they were wearing stockings when none were available due to rationing during W.W.II?
a. Suntan
b. Leg painting
c. Wearing slacks

6. What postwar car turned automotive design on its ear when you couldn't tell whether it was coming or going?
a. Studebaker
b. Nash Metro
c. Tucker

7. Which was a popular candy when you were a kid?
a. Strips of dried peanut butter
b. Chocolate licorice bars
c. Wax coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside

8. How was Butch wax used?
a. To stiffen a flat-top haircut so it stood up
b. To make floors shiny and prevent scuffing
c. On the wheels of roller skates to prevent rust

9. Before inline skates, how did you keep your roller skates attached to your shoes?
a. With clamps, tightened by a skate key
b. Woven straps that crossed the foot
c. Long pieces of twine

10. As a kid, what was considered the best way to reach a decision?
a. Consider all the facts
b. Ask Mom
c. Eeny-meeny-miney-mo

11. What was the most dreaded disease in the 1940's?
a. Smallpox
b. AIDS
c. Polio

12. "I'll be down to get you in a ________, Honey"
a. SUV
b. Taxi
c. Streetcar

13. What was the name of Caroline Kennedy's pet pony?
a. Old Blue
b. Paint
c. Macaroni

14. What was a Duck-and-Cover Drill?
a. Part of the game of hide and seek
b. What you did when your Mom called you in to do chores
c. Hiding under your desk, and covering your head with your arms in an A-bomb drill.

15. What was the name of the Indian Princess on the Howdy Dowdy show?
a. Princess Summerfallwinterspring
b. Princess Sacajewea
c. Princess Moonshadow

16. What did all ! the really savvy students do when mimeographed tests were handed out in school?
a. Immediately sniffed the purple ink, as this was believed to get you high
b. Made paper airplanes to see who could sail theirs out the window
c. Wrote another pupil's name on the top, to avoid their failure

17. Why did your Mom shop in stores that gave Green Stamps with purchases?
a. To keep you out of mischief by licking the backs, which tasted like bubble gum
b. They could be put in special books and redeemed for various household items
c. They were given to the kids to be used as stick-on tattoos

18. Praise the Lord, and pass the _________?
a. Meatballs
b. Dames
c. Ammunition

19. What was the name of the singing group that made the song "Cabdriver" a hit?
a. The Ink Spots
b. The Supremes
c. The Esquires

20. Who left his heart in San Francisco?
a. Tony Bennett
b. Xavier Cugat
c. George Gershwin

------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWERS

1. b) On the floor, to the left of the clutch. Hand controls, popular in Europe, took till the late '60s to catch on.

2. b) To sprinkle clothes before ironing. Who had a steam iron?

3. c) Cold weather caused the milk to freeze and expand, popping the bottle top.

4. a) Blackjack Gum.

5. b) Special makeup was applied, followed by drawing a seam down the back of the leg with eyebrow pencil.

6. a) 1946 Studebaker.

7. c) Wax coke bottles containing super-sweet colored water.

8. a) Wax for your flat top (butch) haircut.

9. a) With clamps, tightened by a skate key, which you wore on a shoestring around your neck.

10. c) Eeny-meeny-miney-mo.

11. c) Polio. In beginning of August, swimming pools were closed, movies and other public gathering places were closed to try to prevent spread of the disease.

12.. b) Taxi. Better be ready by half-past eight!

13. c) Macaroni.

14. c) Hiding under your desk, and covering your head with your arms in an A-bomb drill.

15. a) Princess Summerfallwinterspring. She was another puppet.

16. a) Immediately sniffed the purple ink to get a high.

17. b) Put in a special stamp book, they could be traded for household items at the Green Stamp store.

18. c) Ammunition, and we'll all be free.

19. a) The widely famous 50's group: The Inkspots.

20. a) Tony Bennett, and he sounds just as good today.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SCORING

17- 20 correct: You are older than dirt, and obviously gifted with mental abilities. Now if you could only find your glasses. Definitely someone who should share their wisdom!

12 -16 correct: Not quite dirt yet, but your mind is getting keen.

0 -11 correct: You are not old enough to share the wisdom of your experiences.

My new spinning student is coming tomorrow at 3 pm for a lesson. I am excited, but a little bit nervous, also. I hope I will be able to be a good teacher. Yes, I did teach my friend Elayne, somewhat, but she already knew how to use a drop spindle, and she is extra exceptional in every area, so I felt like I was more of just a guide for her. I am very glad to be finished working until Monday (Big sigh of relief!)

Here is a front view of my Sakiori Vest in progress:



It still looks kind of rough - stitch holder yarns all over the place, the front center seed stitch and neck seed stitch has not been done yet - so if it looks unfinished, that is why!

I am just finishing up my second slipper sock. Here are before and after felting pictures:






Actually, they are more like footies than slipper socks. I did not have size 11 needles, so I used size 10.5. I should have added a few more rows around the ankles. But they are soft, and I like them. They work up quickly and would make great gifts. I definitely would like to make some more of them. I will buy some size 11 needles, though, before doing any more of them.

Last, but not least, I couldn't pass up this quiz that Marge put on her blog.


You are Mohair.
You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with
others, doing your share without being too
weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely
refuse to change your position once it is set,
but that's okay since you are good at covering
up your mistakes.


What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla


I can live with that.

I'm pleased to report that the Sakiori Vest is coming along splendidly.
Back and shoulder seams have been done, and I am currently working on the side borders. I used a new method for improving my seaming (which I totally hate to do). First, I took a contrasting yarn and made a running stitch up the "seam line" on each piece of the garment. Then, I did a basting stitch back and forth (rather than trying to pin the thing together). Yes, it took a long time (over an hour, at least, for just that one seam), but it was easy to see where to seam, and I was very pleased with the outcome. Pictures to follow.

I had hoped to be able to share photos of my first felted slipper sock. However, my photo host does not seem to be working well tonight. I took a pre-felting and post-felting picture. Hopefully, I will be able to get them up in the near future. I have only made one of them, so far, as I wanted to see how much it would shrink before doing the second one. I have now found out that pure merino felts very well and very fast!

I am so excited, I can hardly stand it! I went shopping this morning and found the perfect skirt and blouse for the St. Augustine Spin In. The skirt is long, black and pleated (sort of broomstick style) and the blouse is white with a scoop neck, ruffled collar and cuffs. With the addition of the Faroese shawl, I think I should pass for Spanish Colonial. The best part is, I only paid $6.77 for the blouse and skirt together. The shawl cost me $10.00 (I used the yarn I got at the guild swap meet) and my time. Now, all I have to do is figure out what sort of shoes to wear.

Drum roll............. Here is my finished Faroese Shawl.


This is the front of the shawl.




And this is the back of it. The sun was not out very much this morning so the picture is somewhat dark. However, I wanted to go ahead and share it.

Now I will be able to start on my felted slipper socks.

I certainly enjoyed Sharon's take on online quizzes. I really got a good laugh from her comments. Check it out, if you haven't already.

I came across Deborah's blog, which has a great write up about the Destin Spin In. Also, be sure to scroll down and check out the "Knitting Bra."

I am surely glad the weekend is here. I hope everyone has a nice one.

Aha, maybe by this weekend, at least, I will be able to post a picture of the Faroese Shawl. I only lack about 4 more rows and the edging, and I will have a FO to show off. When I finish, I plan to start my felted slipper socks. The pattern is from Knit One, Felt Too. ( A picture of the felted socks is on the cover. ) This project should go quickly - it takes worsted weight yarn and size 11 needles, and since it is only an anklet pattern, I should have some toasty feet in no time.

From the looks of this blog, it must seem I am going through a non-fiber period. Not so - it is just that my WIPs are not in a good stage to be photographed at this point. My Faroese Shawl is quicky becoming reality, but on the circular needles, it just looks like a big bunch of knitting and not much else at this point.
My Sakiori Vest is again on hold waiting for the next batch of handspun to dry. I washed and washed that yarn - I surely hope I got the majority of the fugitive dye removed from it. This is by far the messiest spinning project I have undertaken.

I am still debating about participating in the Spin In at the St. Augustine Menendez Birthday Festival. I think it will be great fun, but I have to wear period clothing for the event. (Think 16C. Spanish Colonial!)

By the way, does anyone know why our Weather Pixie is taking a vacation?

Thanks to our favorite Hobbitknitter, Sarah Elizabeth for the adorable blog button and banner she has made for me. Feel free to use and link to my site.

Aggravating, but worth the effort..... I hope. I am spinning my 2nd 8 ounces of wool needed for the Sakiori Vest I am working on. Each bag of fiber was 8 oz. The first bag spun up fine, no problems. The second bag is spinning up okay, but dye is coming off on my hands like crazy! Apparently the people who dyed the fiber did not wash it enough or used too much dye in the first place. This is the first time I have ever had dye come off on my hands. I have never even had that problem when I dyed my own. So, I spin awhile, then go wash tons of burgundy goo off my hands. Maybe I should throw some undyed fiber in the sink as I am washing my hands..... giggle!

In knitting news, I have joined Sarah's Handspun Soxalong I am going to do a pair of handspun felted slipper socks. The yarn is in a green and yellow colorway.

I was playing around last night, and made myself a blog button. It is in the sidebar with the blogroll. It's not perfect, but at least I have the general idea how to do it now. The background is part of a sheep's fleece.