In the course of a couple hours, I have turned my very first handspun yarn into a hat.

I decided to call it my Sloppy Hat because it's knitted a bit loose.  I used size 11 needles to knit it up since my wraps per inch tests came out to about ten.  I could have easily knitted this more consistently with a size 9 or 10 needle.

I don't mind.

For the most part it fits and it didn't come apart while knitting it up.

I used the Big Bulky Bucket Hat pattern for this, but instead of crocheting an edge I did a few rows of seed stitch.  I don't have a crochet hook big enough for this yarn.  I had a little bit left of my estimated 80 yards of yarn.

In other news, Jake and I went to the local quilt shop for the first time.  They were having a Fat Quarter Frenzy sale for President's Day.  25 fat quarters for $25 and any more were just a dollar each.  Jake, ever the enabler, helped me pick some out.  I also got a little kit for a future gift.

I ordered a book of fat quarter patterns using the Amazon gift certificate that my uncles gave me for my birthday.  Yay!

Surprise!  We now live in Southern California; the Santa Clarita Valley to be exact.  I love it here so far, except that there are NO knitting shops anywhere.  They've all shut down over the past few years.  The closest one is about half an hour south

Then again, we're not dealing with the snow like Illinois and my home state of Maryland is.  A small price to pay depending on who you ask.

While I'm waiting to be accepted at CSUN, I've been using the free time to catch up on projects and getting re-acquainted with my wheel.  The really neat thing about living in our new place is, I get my own crafting table and space!  I'm working on getting an entire bedroom to myself, but for now the extra space is awesome.  I can leave my sewing machine out...yes I got a sewing machine.

I now own a Bernina Activa 220 and I've already made a small quilt with it.

I pieced it together and sent it away to be quilted.  This turned into a Christmas gift for my parents.

 

The Paintbox Hat way back in August was frogged because it was too big for Jake.  Instead, he got this.

I call it the Sunset hat, which is really the Pismo Hat.  Jake dyed this yarn back at the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Festival.  He's not into socks, so I decided on this instead.  It's obviously a bit big for me, but it's a nice skullcap for Jake that doesn't keep him too warm.  We're in California now after all.  It's February and sixty degrees out as I write.

The decreases for the top make the hat a bit pointy, but it smooshes out when Jake wears it.

This is for a friend.

It is 50% complete, has cables, and is made with superwash.   That is all I will say about this...for now.

I also spun up some yarn that didn't fall apart...for the first time!

It's about 80 yards of 3-ply.  The white singles are wool and the green is alpaca.  I don't know how many stitches per inch I can get with it, but I'm determined to turn this into something.

I hope it holds up

Lastly, I've started my own Noro striped sock.  Jake picked out the colors.

This is a fun knit to watch because the colors gradually change.  I'll keep the cuff, heel, and toe as one yarn.  It's a little itchy to work with, but I'm certain it'll soften up a bit in the wash.

For those of you out in all of the snow, stay safe!

I'm knitting a hat for Jake, but I wanted to try it on for myself.

It looks like a painting, so Paintbox Hat is an appropriate name.  I'll take this and my sock to Lake of Egypt this weekend.  I'll probably be too busy to work on either, but one should never leave home without any knitting.

SOCK LOVE

When there is downtime at work (and there has been a lot of that over the summer), I am allowed to knit at my desk.  I've been working on my Promise socks mostly and the new lab assistant really liked it. She told me that she does know how to knit, but she just hasn't been interested in socks.

Now she's knitting socks with her daughter.

She told me that she was impressed with my socks and it would be a great project for her daughter to do for an upcoming 4-H competition.  In order to help her daughter, she is working on the same sock pattern ahead of her so she can offer help.

How awesome is that?  Mom and daughter knitting socks and spending time together.  I told her that I would be happy to help with anything they needed.  It makes me feel warm and fuzzy when people tell me that my knitting inspires them to do something creative.  Another good reason to knit in public.

SPINNING

In other news, I'm trying to spin again.  I own an Ashford Traveller and have for about five years.  After several falase starts, I think I'm starting to get it.

This is undyed Romney.  I'm told it's a great beginner fiber.  My single is starting to look more even. When I started, it was much more thick and thin than this.  Maybe after more practice, I'll try out some dyed top I have.

MORE HATS?

Of course!  Jake is sort of a hat fiend.  It makes up for his fear of wearing socks.  I haven't made him one yet this year and I always knit at least one so he has something new to wear to MAGFest.  Here is the latest creation in progress.

We agreed that a plain stockinette hat would be best and would allow the colors to stand out.  I may put some icord on top.  He gets a kick out of that.

Enjoy Nugget...

He loves you!

I honestly really enjoy going to college and actively learning, but it really keeps me busy.  If I'm not balancing equations, I'm juggling logarithms in my head.  I dream about it.  Unfortunately, this does not leave much time for knitting.

Now that I've become adjusted to college again, I can make better use of my time.  I have short days on Tuesday and Thursdays, so I make myself take an hour or two to knit or play video game.

Oh yeah...Star Ocean?  That'll be the death of my A average if I let it.

In fact it would be great if I could update this every Tuesday and Thursday.  Lets see if I can stick with that.

So way back in February, Jake said that he would take me on a road trip to a nearby city of my choice for my birthday. Visiting a big city is fun, but going to a fiber festival would be even better.  So we'll be at the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair.  This year they are going to have an alpaca pavilion (which totally sold Jake) and the dyer of Creatively Dyed Yarn will have a booth.  Is anyone else going?

So, here is what I've been working on.

I am still plugging away at the Rogue pullover.  I'm just now finishing up the front shoulders and the cable design on the front.

This is something I finished late last year and never got a chance to talk any photos of it.  This is a Turn A Square Hat in Cascade 220 and Noro Silk Garden.  I've since forgotten the colorways, but Jake picked them out.

This is his 2008 MAGFest Hat.  I knit him one every year.

This is the Tamarind Cowl made with the Worsted Deluxe LP yarn Addie and Ariel got me for my birthday.

I got to use it the day after I finished it and I loved it. It kept my neck warm without feeling too bulky.

Also....Sekrit Project.