Still sparking joy

While searching for some holey socks that could be repurposed, I found myself digging through a tub of handknits and handwovens that I never wear. They are mostly scarves and shawls; there are even a couple of sweaters. (I tried on one of the sweaters and nearly could not get it off!) I considered adding these to the bin of fiber I've been offering up for free - there were a couple of Kidsilk Haze shawls that someone glommed onto the first month of giveaway - but discovered I am not ready to part with any of them.

Knitting: I finished the swatch I was knitting to felt (but not in time to make it into the weekly wash). It took me so long because that Habitation throw is addicting! Each row takes longer, so progress is slower.
Spinning: Red tunis, of course. Now that the end is in sight, I am more diligent about spinning everyday.
Weaving: Still inkling letters.

The inkle loom has been clamped to the diningroom table for ages, and quite frankly, I was tired of seeing it there. For the inkle workshop at the end of September, my laptop will need to be tethered to my modem, which is in the den. So I moved the inkle to the TV coffee table. The lid of the coffee table is hinged so that it can be raised vertically while remaining horizontal. Add a folding chair and it's a perfect place for inkling.

Drawing a blank

I truly cannot think of anything fiber-ish to write about this week other than the usual progress report. I guess I'm a little discombobulated after being diagnosed with "borderline" diabetes. I've been reading Diabetes for Dummies, which has been illuminating. For example, I did not realize that the propensity for diabetes is inherited; it is triggers like being overweight (especially visceral fat around the waist) that cause it to rear its ugly head. I'm okay, taking medication, watching what I eat, getting exercise, etc. Just thrown for a loop.

Knitting: Making progress on the Habitation throw. The color combinations are "interesting".
Spinning: I finished enough for a second ply, and decided to go for a third ply, of the red Tunis.
Weaving: Inkling letters is challenging but fun.

Even though I am fully vaccinated, I have started wearing a mask again when out and about. The last thing I need pre-surgery is to come down with a case of the Delta variant. What I consider the "countdown" starts next week when I will have one month to go until my shoulder gets fixed. Unlike hip replacements, shoulder replacements are a one-off - should last the rest of my lifetime. Stay safe!

Sock it to me

Like most sock knitters, I have a LOT of leftover fingering weight yarn. Some people use it to make "crazy socks" which is definitely one idea. I've also seen larger projects like blankets incorporating LO sock yarn, which is what I am interested in. One fiber friend that I follow on IG (amyhesting on IG, Amycakes on Ravelry) posted about a throw she was knitting from her LO sock yarn. So that is what I am doing now.

This pattern is surprisingly fun because of the (sometimes unexpected) color changes. It's fairly quick because of the US6 needles. And it is light and airy, which I appreciate in a summer project, as does Beau.

Knitting: See above. I also started a swatch of the yarn I tried to crochet last time, to see how well it felts.
Spinning: Yes, more red Tunis.
Weaving: I decided to give up on the last practice warp; there were too many loose warps, plus I was nearing the end anyway. I warped anew, to practice lettering.

The spinning guild met inside and in person this past week. Unfortunately, the building at Salomon Farm where we usually meet had been booked, so we met in the Big Barn... which has no air conditioning... and we were asked to mask... and there were fans running. It was hot and we couldn't hear each other. Show and tell was skipped, but I did manage to get rid of more fiber and yarn and a couple of handmade frame looms.

Fairly done

I picked up my county fair entries last Sunday. The judge's comments were generous and positive, but the process could use a few tweaks. The protocols for drop-off and pick-up are well organized, and comment sheets were attached to the items. In the display area, each item had a little card identifying the entrant, but nothing else. It would be helpful if the cards included information like the category (there's some overlap) and some detail about the item, i.e. title, content, technique, etc. Or maybe I am spoiled by art museums.

Spinning: Still plugging away on the red Tunis.
Weaving: Managed to get some inkling done this past week. The trick is to stop *before* my shoulders start to hurt.

I have some yarn I tinked from a sweater project that never got finished. In an effort to bust it, I started to crochet an afghan with it. After almost finishing one square, I've come to the conclusion that, one, the pattern is a bit too difficult (and some of the instructions are missing and/or could use better punctuation, and two, the color runs in the variegated yarn are too short for crochet. I'll have to come up with another idea.