Tour de Fleece Wrapup

I didn't post for the last days of the TdF.  Whoops. 

I did post to the Into the Whirled thread for finished items.  Didn't win.  *sniffle*  Though there were 51 entries.  So the odds weren't strong.

I posted to the Akerworks one.  That closes today.  But there are A LOT of members in that group.  I just posted & am 104!  And even with 15 prizes...  You never know but not betting on it.

I am so sad!  I missed the prize deadline for the Schacht group.  *sigh*  I didn't read closely.  They opened a prize thread at the end of the tour.  Ah well.

Mind you, I am not in it for the prizes.  But it gives me something to work towards. 

Here's all my progress together.

I am pretty happy with what I did. 

8 oz of Into The Whirled Polwarth Silk Blended Top in 221B Colorway

~434 yds of 2 ply

4 oz Into The Whirled Polwarth Falkland Wool Carded Batt in Cattywumpus Colorway

~180 yds of 2 ply

2 oz of The First Draft Polwarth Silk in the Thomas Waith Is in Love Colorway

still on the bobbin as I didn't finish the other 2 oz. yet

Wish I had gotten more yardage out of the 221B.  I was spinning singles to 28 WPI.  So I really thought I would get a fingering weight. But it plumped up a lot.

It is funny.  EVERYTHING I spun had Polwarth!  I think it has more crimp than I first thought.  So I think that was part of the poof of the 221B even with the silk. 

I knew the batt would poof a lot as I tried to keep it woolen spun.  I really didn't figure I would get a lot of yardage with a batt woolen spun.  So I was thrilled with the 180 yards.  I anticipate making a long cowl out of it similar to the one I made from a Loop Bullseye Bump.  

It was the Icordion Cowl.  

http://ravel.me/akasha/ic 

But looking at my projects, I think I was actually thinking of the Honey Cowl which I knit out of another ITW batt!  

http://ravel.me/akasha/hc

The First Draft Polwarth/Silk in the Thomas Waith Is in Love colorway seems to be spinning up super fine.  But I am not taking any bets on yardage after 221B!  It is the same fiber makeup.  And I really thought the 221B was going to get me 600-700 yards.... Ah well.

Happy with my spinning for the TdF.  As always, it is good to have something driving me to spin every day.

I did miss on day.  My bus took 3 hours to get home.  And I just couldn't deal with anything at all.  But other than that, I spun daily.  So I am a happy camper.

I will try to post pics I took of the The First Draft Polwarth/Silk that I took during the TdF.  But I want to get this posted.  Then hopefully out for lunch & ice cream!

Look What Happens When You Ask Your Daughter to Get Some Fiber for You...

SHOCKER!  IT'S PINK!!

*laugh*

My fiber stash is in my bedroom which is upstairs.  I was being lazy and couldn't decide on what to put on the wheel next.  So I decided to ask my daughter to grab something from my fiber stash to start spinning.  There was a box of fiber with lots of stuff I got at MD S&W.  And the various fiber I was considering for the TdF was on top of the fiber bins.  All colorways I loved...

Yah.

She pulled this from one of my fiber bins.  Which means she went digging!  *laugh*

I love The First Draft fibers. And one of the ones on the top was the SSK 2016 fiber colorway.  But pink....?!  Really?!!

But the fiber is beautiful.  No....not my colors.  But so Elder Munchkin!

So very pink...

A reminder for me to set parameters!  *laugh* Or to not be so indecisive & lazy.  *grin*

It is spinning very fine.  I am hoping to get some decent yardage from it.  But I haven't been lucky this TdF with any major yardage!  So only time will tell...

I don't think as thin as this is that I will complete it by the end of the TdF on Sunday  But we shall see!

 

I think I may have messed up some of the numbering on the photos...

TdF Days 12-15

I confess, I didn't spin a thing on Day 12...  Due to bus issues, it took me over three hours to get home.  And I was sore after being cramped for that long on the bus.  So I did nada.

Days 13-15, I finished plying the Into The Whirled Polwarth Falkland Wool Carded Batt in Cattywumpus colorway.  I really like the way it looks.  Since I was spinning it woolen to keep the air in it, I suspect it will plump even more after its bath.  I need to skein & soak it!

I have to admit, I am kinda disappointed in the yardage after the bath for the ITW Polwarth/Silk Blended Top in 221b colorway.  I really hoped to get at least 600 yards or possibly more out of 8 oz..  No such luck.  I only got about 435 yards!  Out of EIGHT OUNCES!  *sigh*

I really thought I would get more.  Not sure why.  I know it puffed up some.  But I checked while spinning the singles. Most of the time, it was about 28 WPI.  Really figured I would get a fingering weight with a 2 ply.  Alas, not the case.

Tour de Fleece 2018 Day 11 - Into The Whirled Polwarth Falkland Wool Carded Batt in Cattywumpus Colorway Plying Started

I know yesterday was a Challenge Day, but alas, it was a challenge enough to get any spinning done.  So I am happy with that.

I got home late yesterday due to rain.  So much fun...  But I did get some done.  I decided to start plying.  Looking good.

Tour de Fleece 2018 Day 10 - Into The Whirled Polwarth Falkland Wool Carded Batt in Cattywumpus Colorway 2nd Single Started & Completed!

Yesterday was a whole lot more productive than I thought it would be!  I completed the second singles of the Into the Whirled Polwarth Falkland wool carded batt in Cattywumpus colorway.  It went surprisingly quickly.  Think it looks good.  Hoping it plies well with the first singles.  *fingers crossed*

I decide to watch a Babylon 5 episode with lunch.  I went with "Grey 17 Is Missing."  I have been going through the Marcus episodes in chronological order.  Next was actually the two parter War Without End. I didn't have time for two episodes. And I feel like I was getting stalled on those episodes.  I recall they were the Shadow Wars and not my favs.  So I decided to move ahead.

It was a good episode.  It was fun to see Robert Englund not playing Freddie.  *smile*  And Garibaldi had some wonderful bits in the episode.  After Marcus & Ivanovna, he is next in my top B5 characters.

Marcus has to fight to delay a Minbari from the warrior cast who disagrees with Delenn becoming the head of the Rangers since she is the religious cast.  And as always, Marcus wins out though takes a severe beating to make that happen.  A very good episode.

I spun some more in the evening while my hubby & I watched Wynonna Earp.  I am so thrilled that I got the second singles spun in a day.  Hooray for that.

Since it is only 4 oz., I will stick with the smaller bobbins.  After attempting to ply on the bulky flyer, I am thinking more and more that I don't care for it much. 

All in all, I am thrilled.

Today is a challenge day.  But the real challenge will be spinning at all.  I commute 2 hours each way to the city.  And working 8 hours.  So it is a lot of time away from home.  So honestly, my goal is to spin 15 minutes.  That will be a challenge.  Especially because that means starting on some plying or starting on new fiber.  And I have no idea what is going on the wheel next!

I may do a separate post with the pics of the ItW Polwarth/Silk that I plied.   I skeined it yesterday & gave it a bath.  But I may wait until I have finished pics & all the details (like total yardage, WPI, etc.)

Tour de Fleece Days 7 to 9 - Into The Whirled Polwarth Falkland Wool Carded Batt in Cattywumpus Colorway Creating First Single

On happy news, my brandy new Akerworks bobbin arrived on Saturday.  Isn't she lovely?!

 

I had company on Saturday & Sunday.  So I didn't get anywhere near the amount of spinning done as last weekend.  But I enjoyed having company. 

I split the Into The Whirled Polwarth Falkland Wool Carded Batt in half to make a 2 ply.  I am mostly spinning it woolen as it is a batt.  Trying to keep the loft in it.  Though I don't know how successful I am.  I guess I will see when it plied & gets it bath.

Found the Missing Fiber! AKA Decisions Decisions

I found the missing box of fiber!  Hooray!

Only about 1/3rd to 1/2 of the goodies in the box...

So the silk may be going on the back burner.  Not sure yet.  But I definitely want to spin the Into the Whirled batt.

And there are some Hobbledehoy I got at MS S&W...   (Though wish I could find the Library battlets...)

And the lovely braid I got at SSK 2016 from The First Draft...or some rollags that I also got for TFD.  And then there is the lovely fiber sampler I got from Sweet Georgia fibers to go with the Craftsy class...  So many awesome choices!

I am aiming to do the Into the Whirled 221B fiber spun.  It is 8 oz total.  And then I want to do their batt.   

 

 

 And after that, if I have time, I will see what calls to me!  

Decisions, decisions!!

Has It Really Been a Year?!

 

Wow.  I am stunned.  It has been a year since I posted here. 

I moved from Jersey City to a town called Ringwood, NJ at the end of July last year.  So it has been busy.

I love the lake community where I live now. There is a local group on Mondays.  It is called the Hookers since there are lots of crocheters.  But there are also some knitters.  It is an awesome group. 

I have been knitting.  I feel like I haven't been as active.  But I looked at Ravelry.  I have completed nine projects.  Though two are preemie hats & another is a hat for my DS.  But there are also two 2-skein shawls, a pair of socks & a baby blanket,  So I am not a complete slouch!  *grin*

I am planning on participating in the Tour de Fleece again this year. I was sad not to do it last summer.  But with the move, it wasn't sane.  Hoping to have a good showing this year.  I need to go through fiber & figure out what I am going to spin. 

I have signed up for a few groups - Schacht & Into the Whirled again.  I also joined the Babylon 5 group as it has been too long since I have watched B5. Think spinning while watching it will be good.  I also joined the Akerworks group as I got a lovely Akerworks bobbin.  I so want more!  The one I have is terrific.

And gotta love a team that posts this!
https://youtu.be/04Qb2mvThhk

I may join some more.  I am still debating.  But given it starts tomorrow, I had better decide today! 

A bit later in the day...

Fiber has been chosen!

The Into the Whirled Fiber:

Silk:

I am going to try to get the ItW 221B fiber spun.  It is 8 oz total. And as I was looking at my old posts, I realize I had this on the agenda for the TdF 2016!  But I didn't get to it since I did a 4 oz braid of ItW and also started a DOUBLE LOOP BUMP project!  And was at SSK!  I was crazy!  *laugh*

I was looking for my ItW batt I got at MD S&W in 2016.  But I CAN'T FIND IT!!  *sniffle*  I am wondering if it ended up in a box as I had fiber overflow when we moved.  So I think some of my fiber got put into boxes... 

And yes...I am embarrassed to admit that I have boxes that aren't unpacked.  We moved a year ago on the 26th of July.  The movers brought everything on the 27th!  So in 21 days it will be a full year.  And we have boxes...*sigh*  Mind you, part of the problem is that we need

I also have a bunch of silk.  One is a kit with different kinds.  There are also some silk hankies.  And to add to the silk, a braid of silk by Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks that I bought at Rhinebeck in 2008!!

I have been meaning to spin some of my pure silk for a while!  So I really should give it a try. 

This was the long way of saying the blog posts should pick up!  *laugh*  Looking forward to participating in the TdF this year.  If only I can finish plying the fiber on my lovely Ladybug!!