Too Much

So I decided to participate in the Tour de Fleece this year.  I was trucking along at a pretty good pace.  But then FAIL!

I completed a 4 oz braid of Into the Whirled fiber.  Done.  Good.  Though a bit overplied. 

Worked on the Loop Double Bump Madness again this year. 

THOUGH WHY DID I THINK I COULD DO IT WITH SSK CHOPPING FIVE DAYS OFF TdF??!

*sigh*

I actually have completed the singles for the two Bumps.  Some madness in my head said I could get them plied in time for SSK.  *blink*  Clearly, the heat fried my brain.  *sigh*

I started plying Saturday night. Did about an hour and a half.  Did 4-5 hours worth of plying Sunday.  And it looks like I have completed about a 1/4th of the plying.  *sigh*

I have a ton to get done before SSK.  I have to finish making stitch markers.  I have to wind yarn.  I just learned late Sunday that I have homework for a class I am taking on Thursday.  Yes.  I can get it done on the plane.  But I don't want to wait until the last minute as I need to get decent gauge.  So I either need to bring multiple sets of needles or just cast it on before I leave.

Not to mention I have to work today & tomorrow.  And I leave at dawn on Weds..  *sigh*

Yes.  It was silly to try to do both.  I think I have partially admitted in my mind that the Bump ain't gonna get plied for this year's TdF.  But there is also a delusional part of me thinking I can somehow.  *shakes head*  Hopefully I will come to my senses.\

Mind you, it is one of those weird times when having vacation *didn't* help with the TdF.  I think the last time I went to the Adirondacks during the TdF was pre-kids.  And this year, we went up earlier in the summer because my Eldest got to go to a sleepaway camp.  It was a great experience.  But it also meant my youngest was solo for the first time ever up there.

So my husband & I tried to do things to keep him entertained.  Which was good.  But it means I didn't spin as much as I would have on if my Eldest had been there.  I still may have spun more than I would have with a week of work.  But with travel, I am not sure I wouldn't have spun more on a weekend at home.

I am happy I tried.  And I am still going to see what I can get done.  For one, I could really use the bobbins for SSK!  *laugh*

Tour de Fleece Days 5 through 10 - July 6th to 11th - Loop Bullseye Bump in Beautiful Nightmare & Plying Into The Whirled 50/50 Tibetan Yak Merino

I haven't had a chance to post.  Things have been busy. 

Day 5 - Weds. the 6th

Had to do a lot of work.  Think I only spun about a half hour or so. 

 

Day 6 - Thurs. the 7th

Spent some time spinning.  Can't recall exactly how much. 

 

Day 7 - Friday the 8th

Didn't get a ton of spinning done.  Spun about a half hour in the morning.  Had a ton of work to do before taking vacation.  So I didn't get done until about 9:30.  So spent about a half hour to 45 minutes on spinning.

Weighted the fiber.  Thought it was close.  But still had 1 1/4 oz left!  But getting there.

 

I actually may have some more pics from this day.  But the net connection is a bit iffy where I am staying.  So I suspect I will post additional pics in a later post.  Otherwise, I won't get this posted!

Day 8 - Sat. the 9th

Nada. 

Spent 4+ hours in the car.  Drove to the Adirondacks to drop my daughter off at an overnight camp for a five nights. Spent the day with hubby and my little guy.  And then spent the night at a hotel. 

Day 9 - Sun. the 10th

Got a good chunk of spinning time after arriving at our final destination in the Adirondacks.  Finished spinning my singles of the Beautiful Nightmare Loop Bump.  Love it.

My thought was that I would start on the next Bump.  But I didn't have an empty high speed bobbin!  Oops.  So I figured I could ply the Into the Whirled Into The Whirled 50/50 Tibetan Yak Merino to get it off the bobbin.

Note to self...  Don't ply in the dark when you want to keep the colors district.  *laugh*  I didn't do a great job with that...

Day 10 - Mon. the 11th

Finished plying the Into The Whirled 50/50 Tibetan Yak Merino in the Vampires of Venice colorway.  Did somewhat better with the plying.  But the purple and brown are close enough that with a shady cabin, I didn't do great.  But I still think it will look pretty cool.  *fingers crossed*

I want to let it rest a bit before skeining it.  But digging in my bag, I found the Hobbidedhoy Battlings that I had started before the TdF.  So I can skein that and free up the bobbin!  *laugh*

Other Bits -

I packed a bunch of different Into The Whirled fiber on the just in case theory.  I really don't think I am going to get that far...but who knows.  I did take the 8 oz. of 221b that I have.  But unless I get the other Bump done in a day or two, there is no way I will have enough time to complete it.  I brought a bag of Bits that I bought as well as 4 oz in the Rhinebeck colorway.  We shall see.  I suspect I was overly optomistic about getting more spun!  *laugh*

Since I will be away Days 19-23, anything not completed by day 18 is unlikely to get completed.  I can try some wheels at SSK.  But I am not bringing my wheel.  I am transferring flights & fear it getting lost.  Should I ever get the opportunity to go again, I would drive if I want to bring my wheel.  *smile*

Tour de Fleece Days 3 & 4 - July 4th & 5th - Loop Bullseye Bump in Beautiful Nightmare

I finished my Into the Whirled singles on Day 2.  I want to let them rest before Navajo plying them.  So I decided to start on the lovely Loop Bullseye Bump in Beautiful Nightmare.

My hope is to create singles from this & The Devil Made Me Do It.  Then I will ply them together.  Though with my lovely Ladybug Lady Rue, I have a habit of spinning pretty thin with the Bumps.  So I suspect if last year is any indication, I may get mega yardage out of these babies!  *grin*

Day 3

I spent a fair bit of time spinning on the 4th of July.  Though I did spend time with the family & working on some SSK stitch markers for exchanging.  *smile* 

I really thought I got about a third to half of the Bump spun, but after doing some spinning last night, I think it was closer to a quarter to third.  Of course, I *could* have just weighted it to know for certain. *laugh*

And here is why you don't leave the wheel alone in a room with curious 5 & 6 year olds...

Doh.

I was able to fix it.  But I did lose some fiber that was wrapped around the area with oil.  But honestly, not nearly as much as I feared!  So that's good.

I love that the Littles are curious about it & want to try.  But less thrilled when they do that...  Ah well.  The joys of parenthood.  If that is the worst trouble they get into, I am a lucky mom.  *grin*

Day 4 

I didn't do a ton last night.  But I did some...

I am struggling a lot with trying to take pics.  None of the colors are really right.  I try to work on them.  But either they are too dark & muddy or washed out and mis-colored with the flash.  Ah well.

I suspect I won't get a lot done until I am settled in for vacation.  I don't think I am going to get any spinning done on Saturday with travel.  But we shall see!

Tour de Fleece 2016 - Preamble

So I have decided to participate again this year in the Tour de Fleece.  I really love it.  And it motivates me to spin.

The dates are Saturday July 2 to Sunday July 24th, 2016.  So you may see more posts here.  Who knows.  *laugh* 

I won't get to participate in the tail end of it as I will be away at SSK.  Given I am flying, I decided it was best to leave the wheel home.  So I am borrowing one for classes.  But I am will not have one with me.  However, I am taking a week of vacation during the time of the TdF.  So that allows for a whole lot of spinning time!  So that should be great.

Here's what I hope to spin.

 

Time will tell if I get all that done...

I am participating in the same groups as last year with two exceptions. 

I am sorry not to see Team Browncoats this year.  *pout*  But things happen.  *smile*  It was a small & chatty group which was nice.  I really enjoyed having an excuse to watch Firefly again too.  *smile* 

Also Team Babe is not running this year either.  It is a great team of people.  I will miss them.  But I also felt kinda guilty last year as I didn't use sweet Door at all.  With my new-to-me Ladybug, the Lady Rue, joining me a little over a year ago, it was all about spinning on her.  And I confess, other than possibly plying with Door, I suspect this year will be the same. 

I keep wondering if I can find a smaller group to participate in as I really like them.  And the groups I am in currently are all pretty large...  Odd thing is I just looked!  There is no Doctor Who or other tv stuff.  There is a Team Jane which is for Jane Austen fan.  Not a big enough fan to participate in that one.  Huh...  Kinda sad...

Teams I Joined:

Schacht

Spin Your Stash

Loop

Into the Whirled

Loop & Into the Whirled are fiber specific groups. 

I am aiming high with Loop this year & going for a Double Bump again.  I don't know if I will succeed. But I have two beautiful Bumps that I think will look awesome together.  I got one as a prize last year from Loop.  And I kinda knew that it needed to pair with one I already had!  It is Beautiful Nightmare & The Devil Made Me Do It. 

Kinda washed them out a big with the light.  Think the group pic is actually a bit better.

For Into the Whirled, I have a lot of their lovely fiber.  It was hard to get it down to just one choice.  So I have two.  I think I am going to start with the 4 oz of the Vampires of Venice colorway in 50/50 Tibetan Yak & Merino.  I bought this at MD S&W this year.  It is gorgeous. 

The funny part is I bought this and didn't take it out of the package.  When I did... WOW!

I think it needs to be Navajo plied to keep the luscious colors intact. 

My plan is to spin this first. 

Then the Loop Double Bumps.

And if I have time, I want to spin the two 4 oz packages of 221B.  It is beautiful stuff.  Greys & purple.  Mmm...  I already knit socks from the colorway in their Kettle Dyed Sock Yarn & love the colors.  The fiber is 85/15 Polwarth/Silk Blended Top.  So the silk takes the color differently.  It is lighter.  But oh so lovely as well.

But I figure if I don't think I can get that done in time, I may just go stash diving!  I have a massive fiber stash.  *smile*

Hope this year rocks!