Nuclear Knits: Where knitting is the bomb!

Dreamy, delicious, double pointed needle knits. Socks that call from the sticks to my toes. Mountain Color Yarn on size twos. Socks, oh socks, how I love you!

Methow is our middle child. One eyed and a bit mean when she feels the pressures of the world. She is also a chemical freak; bleach, gas, cleaning products and in particular the mint soap I use to hand wash fibers. Yesterday I washed the hand spun brown double plied yarn I've been working on. I stretched it and put it out to dry. You can see that Methow made a nest out of it. As of today it still hasn't dried (I believe because she was napping on it all day yesterday). Her fur does now smell minty delicious. I guess that is one benefit.

I just paid for a new spinning wheel. I'm pretty excited for it to get here. A box of books showed up last night and yarn from Impulse of Delight. I know there are a lot of photos in this post - but with new goods .... photos are always good! The real question is how many skeins of sock yarn can one knitter have - answer - never enough!

I decided on my neck project and have been working through my current socks. I plan to try and finish these socks up this weekend and make "some" progress on the top (a black dog design called Beaded Cami). I decided to do the top in the round - which the pattern says you can do (but the pattern needs some modifications for the round). Casting on 242 stitches is just a lot for me. I really don't enjoy the process ....

I've double plied the wool that I've been spinning. It will be a nice weight I think. I'll have to see how the rest of it plies up and the I can decide what to make with it. Avivah came over today and we dyed up a bit more sock yarn. We were testing out some new colors and techniques. I think we both prefer the previous dye - and I'm betting she ends up getting more of that. The orange and brown are suppose to be the color of cat fur. I think they came out pretty well. Bend of course really enjoys wool and spinning and everything that the whole process has to offer.

I've heard of people spinning cat fur into their yarns - but I believe that Bend would like to have his own jacket of fresh wool! While finishing up the brown yarn (I got from Anne) Bend decided to help out (putting his fur all over stuff).

I finished my first top from French Girl Knits. It was a very strange knit (as in the yarn was tough to work with and the pattern was a bit funky different). But, the final product is as promised. Now I just need a party or something to wear it to! I believe that Courtney likes her new top. It fits her pretty well and isn't too boob-tastic :) I was happy that she still likes the color and fit.

Lately I have fallen' into my knitting projects. Just whatever else is nearest in the yarn cabinet or something as a gift (that I think of way too late and end up knitting quickly). Patterns to be designed that crop up too fast and the pressure just keeps building. I've decided to take this weekend and sort out my Ravelry Queue and Stash. I'm going to pair things I've bought yarn for, yarn that would work well for projects, and projects I know I want to make now. The hope is that with a bit more organization I'll know what my next few projects are and I wont have to worry about the pressure of finishing something up quickly (that is the hope ... not sure if it will help though).

That is right. After a busy couple of days - I finished her birthday top. It is now blocking (hopefully it will dry by tomorrow). I feel a large wave of relief with how it came out. Fits me okay - and I'm sure it will fit her better. Once Courtney tries it on I'll take photos of her in it! Top took 3 skeins of SWTC bamboo. The pattern is from 2 years ago Interweave (Becca had done it a while back and Court really liked it).

In a knitting frenzy the last thing you want is the least friendly cat in the house to be all over you - but when she is ... what do you do? Snuggle and put the knitting down. I wish I could knit one handed sometimes!

I've been working very hard to finish a top for a birthday present - which should be done today ... but there is NO way. And I'm at the length back of just st. st. It kills me to just keep going back and forth - back and forth. I need to get into a zen spot and enjoy it ... but it is hard! Last week we were up in Idaho and I went to a cute little yarn store. They had a fun variety of yarns and it is always nice to see what other people in other places are working on and carrying.

This past weekend we went to the race track and I got some stellar knitting done. The French Girl Top is now 99% done (I only have to do the edge) and the birthday top I'm doing is 40% done (still on the repeats at the bottom - but making good progress). I did, however, pull and Anne. Yep. While taking out the waste yarn on the French Girl Top (which is made with a kid silk light yarn), I snipped the actually knitted yarn and made a hole. My fingers have never shock so bad as I tried to stitch the yarn back together. It was a nerve racking 15 minutes (but the yarn was fixed and I'm sure no one will ever notice). I tried to take a photo - but for some reason our camera to computer link isn't working right now. I'll post one later. One you finish the 20 inches of body the rest of the item is super fast. Sorry for complaining about it so much! I'm about to get on a flight and have the Lotus top I'm working on. Let's hope TSA doesn't take my needle...