Nuclear Knits: Where knitting is the bomb!

Well I did it again. No I didn't cut my finger with the rotary blade - but I might as well have. In an attempt to get my big spinning wheel working I was testing out some fiber - when all of a sudden the whole flyer and bobbin came off and slammed into my big toes. I'm pretty sure it is broken or really badly bruised. I've been icing it and it hurts to walk. Again the hubby wonders why hobbies are so violent! Ps - I know I have ugly toes...get over it, they are feet!

Here is what the original roving looked like. It was dyed in long segments. I know - I actually finished a spinning project. I decided to spin the second 2oz on my travel wheel and ply it there. Which meant it actually went fast. Details: I did no prep - just pulled it out of the bag and spun. 330 yards of worsted weight Superwash Merino called The Kitchen House. Hand-dyed by Twiggi . I've decided I don't really like Superwash Merino for spinning. It poofs up too much afterwards (which I think a lot of people like). It feels incredibly soft and spins up easy though.

Well I had a play date this week with a dear friend who reminded me exactly how much I do love spinning. I've been fighting with my large wheel (since the fire they broke some pieces and it just doesn't work correctly). But, my traveling wheel works perfect. Hence ... a little to show this week. 2 oz singles of a wool/nylon blend that I plan to design a pair of sock for. 2 oz singles of a Twiggi roving that I have no plan for yet. Hopefully I finish these up and can show some yarn soon.

Project Details: I did this as part of the Ravelry group on using up stash sport and sock yarn. They pick the patterns and you just work on the ones you want. I've been meaning to do one but haven't done it until now. I started on May 2nd and finished today May 24th. I could have done these in a day if I had nothing else on the needles. They knit up really really fast! I used Wayward's sport yarn from the Sherlock Holmes club. I probably used around 150 yards. I could make another pair out of the yarn I still have. The only change I made to the pattern was to do fewer repeats on the thumb (because I have short thumbs). Otherwise it is exactly as written.

Want to know what happened with my fix hexagon? Well I found this skirt I made 10 years ago. It still fits and I always wanted it to have some flair!

Time piece / knitter device / TOTALLY WANT ONE!

I decided to do a few mini quilts to practice techniques. I suck at machine quilting. I can do quilting in the ditch and straight lines but anything else and I'm crap. For this quilt I decided to let my mind go wild. I had fun and learned a ton. Next - perfect binding!

Well I've finished the mystery 220 project from May (have I said how much I love this group?) Project Details: Started on May 1st and finished on May 15th (quick knit). It took 220 yards of fingering weight yarn and is done with drop stitches. There is even a little ruffle at the bottom. I think it is officially called a shawlette. The pattern is Storm Cloud Shawlette and is free on ravelry. Great use of left over fingering weight. I used Bristol Yarn Gallery Buckingham baby alpaca yarn (so it is really really soft).

Well I finished the mystery 220 project. A full report on it once we get home!

Well let's just say that knitting in the round non-stop is actually really boring! I'm about .5 inches from being able to start the rib at the bottom. But damn knit knit knit nearly kills me!

I was going to start cutting out a bunch of hexagons from this jelly roll. But it turns out the template I have is too large for the fabric. Guess I'll have to wait till I'm home to print out a smaller template. Hexagon on hold!

Secret test knit - nearly half way finished!

This is the mystery 220 project. I think there is only one more clue. The last ten rows seemed to take forever. And I still have no idea what it is!!

I broke down. I told my self I would wait to start any new quilt projects until I finished a few. But I just couldn't help myself. My first hexagon flower!

These are the Fallberry Mitts from Anne Hanson. I'm in a Ravelry group trying to work through sock/sport yarn. So, this was one of the options for May. I'm making okay progress. This is a secret test knit. I hope to have more to share on it next month.

It had to happen sooner or later. A crafting accident. I put a new blade onto my rotary cutter and the cut the side of my finger off. No stitches - but it did bleed for a full day. It is finally healing up. Quilting - blood - who knew?

In my UFO Domination plan for 2011 I HAVE TO FINISH THIS QUILT. I know. Say it loud and it is sure to happen. But, that is what I'm hoping for. I have all the pieces cut out and am 1/2 through piecing the first bit of the leafs together. Once each half is finished then I will put them together and add stems. Then I can put the whole quilt together. Sounds like a lot I know - but shouldn't be too bad. My goal for this project is to piece the blocks little by little during the week. I hope to have the whole thing pieced in the next two weeks. It will be a queen size quilt once it is finished.

Here is the Simply Stupid Triangle Shawl. I'm not sure how long to make it, so I might only do a handful more repeats. I've finally made it to the part where I connect the top. I haven't tried it on - but I'm pretty sure it will fit. I know the yarn might look familiar. I needed 220 yards of fingering weight so I used some from the Triangle shawl above. This is clue one for May. My goals. To make progress on each of them this week and weekend!

I've been working on the Cleopatra Shawl and woke up this morning to find that Methow had carried the shawl into the kitchen and also drug yarn throughout the house. Feeling uninspired to work on it once this has happened.

In my attempt to finish up UFOs this year I have finished up the top of this quilt. Since it is larger than a king I can't quilt it - so I'll be taking it to someone to quilt up. You can see in the photos what the backing fabric will look like and also the size (since I had Mike get in one of the photos). I think this might be our fall quilt. Once it is finished that is.