So...Here's What Happens When You Go Away on a Knitting Retreat with Plying on the Wheel...

*sigh*

So I was trying to finish plying my Double Loop Bump singles for Tour de Fleece.  Didn't happen.  So I had to leave my wheel while I was away at SSK, a four day knitting retreat.

This is what I found upon my return.

Bad enough that there is an Adventure Person stuck in the orifice.  (I thought it was a LUke Skywalker figure.)

But worse, there was yarn twisted around the clogs of the Woolee Winder! 

Luckily, no yarn was harmed.  There isn't oil at that end.  So it was unscathed. 

Welcome home!

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!