Livin' La Needle Loca

...after the flurry of vacation, getting back to work, and the company party on Saturday, crafting has been low on my list. Our company parties usually have a theme. This year's was Play with Food/Food Play. The intent was that people bring a dish based on something that inspires them. I took my inspiration from Game of Thrones. Dragon Scales Madeleines: Ice... and Fire cupcakes. A co-worker was inspired by the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings she visited in Chicago. This is FLW Stain Glass Shortbread: It was a good party! WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Cozy Red Hat 2 (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 7/20 started and knit about 1.5 inches of ribbing Saratoga Calypso Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 7/23 Cast-on In the Queue Renaissance Mermaid (cross stitch) Works In Progress, Did Not Work On This Week: Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Shimmering Points Wrap (weaving) [ Ravelry ] Silver Chalice h...

...and apologies for going off-planet for a while. Blogging fell by the wayside during vacation-prep, vacation, and vacation-recovery. First, let's go through the things I finished and then the actual recap. Tour de Fleece 7/15 - 7/24: These were vacation days. I used my spindle to spin Silver Chalice whenever I got the opportunity. I started and finished a hat during the times I could not spin (like in the car). This is Cozy Red Hat [ Ravelry ], a hat for the Cozy Caps Campaign. Specs: Started 7/18/19 Finished 7/20/19 Pattern: Bankhead by Susie Gourlay Yarn: Caron Simple Soft in Harvest Red Since there was plenty of yarn left in the skein, I started another hat - this one in a basic ribbed pattern. Tour de Fleece 7/25: Finished Mulberry Wine [ Ravelry ] that I started before vacation. and the close-up: Specs: Started 7/12/19 Finished 7/25/29 Merino-silk (4.1 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 183.3 yds chain-ply; 11 WPI Tour de Fleece 7/26: No spinni...

...and the weekend report. Tour de Fleece Day 7, 7/12: I decided to start a new handspun instead of working on yet-another Phat Fiber sampler.  I started spinning the singles for Mulberry Wine [ Ravelry ]. I spun about half of the 3.9 ounce bump. Tour de Fleece Day 8, 7/13: I finished spinning all of the singles for Mulberry Wine [ Ravelry ]. I also did laundry and spent a little time straightening things out in the studio. It's still pretty messy, but at least some things got put away. Tour de Fleece Day 9, 7/14: I started chain-plying Mulberry Wine [ Ravelry ]. I knew I wouldn't finish it because I had some major housework to do (vacuuming, mopping...). We're prepping for vacation, so spinning will take a backseat for a while. Can't leave a messy house for the house-sitter! .

...and a Tour de Fleece update. First the eye candy. This injured swallowtail butterfly visited our front yard a couple of weeks ago. He;s missing a tail, but it didn't keep him from fluttering around. Our dahlias have completely opened. This is a tangerine ball dahlia: We have sunflowers blooming: And melon blossoms: Tour de Fleece Day 5, 7/10: I spun more of the Purple Haze Phat Fiber Sampler [ Ravelry ] fiber. I only spun for about an hour and didn't finish them all. Tour de Fleece Day 6, 7/11: I finished spinning all of the fiber in the Purple Haze Phat Fiber Sampler [ Ravelry ]: Specs: Started 7/6/19 Finished 7/11/19 Purple Haze Phat Fiber Box, April 2018 Yardage and weights not measured Up this weekend: More spinning!

...and WIP-it Wednesday. Tour de Fleece Day 3, 7/8: Now that I'm back to work spinning time is limited. I spun for about an hour and finished the singles for the Claude Handspun [ Ravelry ]. Next is plying! Tour de Fleece Day 4, 7/9: I plied the two bobbins of Claude [ Ravelry ] with GGH Illusion yarn in color 006. I'll add photos of the finished yarn when I get a chance. It was too dark for photos last night. Specs: Started 7/7/19 Finished 7/9/19 Falkland (3.9 oz) from The Yarn Wench GGH Illusion yarn in color 006 110.4 yds, super-bulky I'm not sure what tonight's spinning with be yet, I might just finish the Purple Haze Phat Fiber Sampler [ Ravelry ] that I have in progress so I can declare it done. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Purple Haze Phat Fiber Sampler [ Ravelry ] Spun 1/3 of the samples Shimmering Points Wrap (weaving) [ Ravelry ] Wove another 2 inches In the Queue Renaissance Mermaid (cross stitch) Works In Progress, Did...

...plus a Tour de Fleece report. Thursday 7/4: I spent the day bouncing from one project to another. I finished spinning Mission District [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 6/9/19 Finished 7/4/19 Sparkle - Superwash Merino-Stellina (4.0 oz) from Dragonfly Fibers 270.8 yds chain-ply; 15 WPI I started spinning the Mermaids and Fishtails Phat Fiber sampler [ Ravelry ] from May 2018. I worked a little on my weaving and a little on my knitting. Friday 7/5: I went through my stash looking for blue fibers to put aside for a weaving project. I ended up tidying up the storage containers for my handspun. I finished spinning the Mermaids and Fishtails Phat Fiber sampler [ Ravelry ]: Specs: Started 7/4/19 Finished 7/5/19 Yardage and WPI are all over the map. I just wanted to get it spun! Tour de Fleece Day 1, 7/6: Started the tour by spinning an art yarn. This is Copenhagen: and the close-up: Specs: Started and finished 7/6/19 Falkland...

...and looking forward to the 4-day weekend! Over the weekend, I did a stash dive and found some appropriate yard for the Avocado Cozy I was commissioned to make. I found some Knit Picks Palette yarn that was the right color, but the wrong weight. The pattern called for worsted weight and Palette is fingering. I decided to knit it using 2 strands of the yarn. I decided to make a prototype to see how the pattern worked and how the yarn behaved. I knew that I didn’t want to make a chain stitch tie, so I tried an i-cord tie with one strand. I got about an inch in and knew it would work, but it was not going to be sturdy. I made some twisted cord instead adding a strand of darker green for some interest. That looks great! I’ll give this one to my daughter as a gag gift for her Christmas stocking. I started the second cozy for my friend. After that one, I may make another to try my hand at helical stripes. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Avocado Cozy (knitting) [ Ravelry ] ...

....lots of reading, again! Finished: 6/8 Hot Lips Handspun [ Ravelry ] Camel-Silk (4 oz.) from Greenwood Fiberworks 162 yds. chain-plied, 15 WPI 6/8 Cockles Handspun [ Ravelry ] Alpaca (4 oz.) from Sakina Needles 162 yds. chain-plied, 15 WPI Books Chameleon Uncovered, BR Kingsolver Chameleon’s Challenge, BR Kingsolver Chameleon’s Death Dance, BR Kingsolver Diamonds and Blood, BR Kingsolver Rebel Born, Amy Bartol How to Wake an Undead City, Hailey Edwards Daddy’s Girl, Lisa Scottoline Royal Blood, Debra Dunbar Hot Bloods, Bella Forrest Lady Killer, Lisa Scottoline The Rebellious Sister, Sarah Noffke The Uncooperative Warrior, Sarah Noffke The Defiant Magician, Sarah Noffke The Triumphant Daughter, Sarah Noffke The Loyal Friend, Sarah Noffke Started: 6/9 Mission District Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ]  6/22 Mint Green Tea (spinning) [ Ravelry ]  6/29 Avocado Cozies (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Queued Renaissance Mermaid (cross stitch) Works I...