Noolie Knits: Where has the week gone?

Aug 30, 2007

Where has the week gone?

Can it really be Thursday already? The last several days have just flown by! I've meant to post; really, I have, but there just aren't enough hours in the day. I'm also incredibly behind on my blog reading and e-mails. I thought that with two weeks off work I'd be able to keep up with things. Wrong!

So, what have I been doing with all my free time? Well, the weather has been absolutely perfect for several days now so I'm sure you can all guess where I've spent a good amount of my time. Yep, the pool. It's been great, very relaxing. I've spent a couple of hours each afternoon just floating and reading a very good book.

I've also completed some projects and started some new ones.

I crocheted a couple of granny squares for Colleen; she's putting blankets together for her local children's hospital.

I started a new sweater for Clover on Tuesday; I was just feeling a very strong need to make her a sweater NOW. So while at Chicks with Sticks, I picked up some yarn in a really pretty mint green color with flecks of pink to make the Baby Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting. I took a picture of my progress so far, but it is a really crappy picture so I don't think I'll post it here. This is such a quick knit, I should be able to show you the finished picture real soon (unless I've just jinxed myself by saying that!)

Speaking of Chicks with Sticks, Mel and The Sheep were unable to attend and both were really missed :-( We did have a special, first time visitor this week, though. Mel's partner, David, joined us; it was great to finally meet him and hopefully he'll join us again.

Yesterday, I finally finished the test knit I've been working on; it's currently drying on the blocking board. It'll be a couple of weeks before I can show you pictures, but believe me when I say, it'll be worth the wait. I am very happy with this FO.

This one's for you Patti; also finished yesterday:

School Socks

(this is a strange picture; guess I won't stand the socks up to take pictures again)

Yarn: Soctoberfest by Scout
Needles: Crystal Palace size 1 1/2 dpn
Pattern: Plain ole stockinette on 64 stitches

These are my August socks for SAM4; finished just in time. The first sock only took 2 days of classroom knitting to complete; the second sock took almost a month!

That brings us to today. I got a new hairdo this morning (no pictures until after the cold sore from hell is gone). Spent a couple of hours in the pool this afternoon and then spent some time with Alice on the deck. After my lesson with Cheryl and Manise on Saturday, I put Alice away until the test knit was complete. Now that I've finished that, I can spend some time getting to know her better. I sat on the deck spinning for about 1 1/2 hours; I must have looked pretty funny sitting there in my bathing suit spinning away. Good thing I have a nice private back yard. Here's what I accomplished:

(Apparently, I'm a lousy photographer; the colors are actually more purple than this photo shows.)
The fiber is some BFL I got from Amy in a "Learn to Spin" spindle kit that I bought back in the fall. This is about one ounce; there's a total of 4 to spin. I think I'm doing pretty well, although there are some overspun and underspun bits. I think I'm getting the hang of it though.

That brings us up to date; I'm hoping to spend some time tomorrow and over the weekend catching up on some blog reading and e-mails.

I'll try to be better about posting, too. No promises though :-)

Aug 30, 2007 7:42:22 PM | Charity, Chicks with Sticks, crochet, FO's, pool, Socks, Spare Square, spinning, WIP's

15 Comments

I was so ticked off that I had to stay home and study on Tuesday, you can't even imagine it. I wanted to knit!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The spinning is looking great! It's nice to be able to have the time to just play with the wool and get the feel for how it goes together. Once you get it, it's all smooth sailing. Well...until you decide to work with a raw fleece and then it starts to get a bit ugly for a bit. But you get past that, too! ;)

Posted by: Sheepish Annie | Aug 30, 2007 at 08:24 PM

Julie, you've been busy! and I happen to count those hours floating in the pool reading good books as part of it...:^). Great FOs, looking forward to seeing the Clover Kimono and the new hair-do!
Good luck with the 'catching up' I still haven't.. does one ever actually get caught up?
XOX

Posted by: marianne | Aug 30, 2007 at 09:20 PM

No wonder you haven't written a blog post until now ... you're mad crazy busy!

The socks look great and are a perfect colorway for the fall. Your spinning looks pretty darn great to me and I'm so so jealous!

Posted by: ~Kristie | Aug 30, 2007 at 09:26 PM

Wow, nice spinning job! I am so impressed -- very even and thin. Bravo! Can't wait to see the Kimono, too.

Posted by: Heather | Aug 30, 2007 at 10:06 PM

You've been busy, no need to apologize. Your spinning looks fabulous. I'd say you and Alice are getting to know each other quite well and I'm so glad.

Posted by: Carole | Aug 30, 2007 at 10:12 PM

Lovely spinning there! Nice socks! I'll be knitting mine up for October. The yarn for Clover's kimono is cute! Have a good weekend!

Posted by: Zonda | Aug 30, 2007 at 11:53 PM

Despite not spinning at all, ever, I guess I read too many blogs/listen to too many podcasts? Because when I saw BFL I automatically thought, blue-faced Leicester.

Posted by: AuntieAnn | Aug 31, 2007 at 12:46 AM

Can't wait to see the sweater for clover.

Your spinning looks beautiful! Very even, and I like how you can see the color changes.

Posted by: Amanda | Aug 31, 2007 at 05:24 AM

Your spinning looks awesome, I'm so jealous :)

Posted by: Bea | Aug 31, 2007 at 09:33 AM

The spinning looks great. Now that my kids are back in school I can't wait to get my wheel back out. For me spinning and noise just don't work together. My fingers are just itching for that wool!

Posted by: Lisa | Aug 31, 2007 at 11:08 AM

Wow, look at those singles! fantastic!

Posted by: Cheryl | Aug 31, 2007 at 11:14 AM