Spinning the Olympics

This year to accompany Olympics viewing I decided to spin up some yarn for some new projects for Fall and Winter 2018. The goal was to spin two pounds of fiber during the two weeks of sporting events. I had already started one 4 oz. roving before the Opening ceremony, and the last one was plied the day after the closing ceremony.

While the goal was accomplished, I would not undertake this type of marathon spinning again, because my forearms and hands were stressed at the end. I am treating them to daily rest and alternating heat and ice.

Here are the lovely hanks that resulted:

From left to right, here is the fiber information:

1. Rambouillet wool in colorway "Bluebonnets" by CreatedbyElsieB.etsy.com

2. Rambouillet wool in colorway "Unicorns" by CreatedbyElsieB.com

3. Corriedale wool of my own dye experiment - greens and blues, Jacquard dyes

4. Falkland Merino wool in colorway "Mint Kiss" by CreatedbyElsieB.com

5. BFL/Merino/Silk in teals, navy, turquoise by Woolgatherings

6. Corriedale Cross in colorway Crater Lake by Red Dog Fibers

7. Merino wool "Nube" in colorway "Pocian" by Malabrigo Yarns

8. Targhee top in colorway "Northern Lights" by Mountain Colors

Today's Perfect Necklace

Productive Time On Jury Duty

Last summer while on jury duty, I started this scarf. Recently finished, soaked, shaped and dried, it is being listed in the shop today.

For you handcrafters out there, this is stitch sometimes called crocheted seed stitch or crocheted moss stitch. To make the scarf symmetrical, I started at the center, working lengthwise, and crocheted out to the sides with a DK weight yarn and a size G crochet hook.

The fun thing about this stitch is that in this gauge is really has the feel, hand, and drape of weaving.

It's shown below on a woman's dress model, but it is a unisex style, and it is of a size that works well for men to be able to tuck inside a winter coat.

Today's Perfect Necklace

In honor of the Women's March, I offer this perfect necklace by Etsy seller AnnieLorraine, who has some great assemblage necklaces in her shop:

Snowed in: Instagram

For years I've been meaning to do it and finally yesterday signed up for Instagram! Yes, totally late to the game. If you would like to follow, you can find me at https://www.instagram.com/knotchacha/

I'll still be posting here, but you might find different posts there.

There are some items arriving in the shop, because these snow days have provided some time for photography. The jewelry items are already listed, but the scarf is still drying and will be listed this weekend.

Purple and teal pave bangles

Periwinkle and Grey Convertible Necklace

The scarf combines a double strand of heather purple worsted weight yarn with some yarn that I hand spun. It's only three inches wide, but it's 88 inches long and very thick. This scarf is very, very warm.

Winter Storm Jupiter in Portland

This is the back yard this morning.

No getting to the office today.

No using the back deck either.

Twelve inches of snow on the deck railing.

A view from an upstairs window of beautiful pines.

No tire tracks nor deer tracks nor coyote tracks in our driveway this morning.

There's a road in front of the house. Guessing the postman won't use it today.

Yarn Balls Ring in the New Year

These wonderful specialty fibers showed up from my Secret Santa:

Are not they adorable? I cannot wait to ply all these specialty ribbons and novelty yarns into some art yarn! The girls in my spinning group are going to be jealous when they see these sweet bundles!

Now, you do not have to be a spinner to use these 2-yard lengths of fiber magic. You could use them to put fringe on a scarf, you could use them to decorate your gift boxes, or you could tie one in your hair.

Are you like me and find yourself drooling over such fiber goodness? Want some for yourself? Head over to FishBayElements and check out the great selections there.

Out of Yesterday's Bead Workspace

Here's the finished bangle from yesterday's post:

As soon as I'm done playing Santa, I'll get this listed in my Etsy shop. It's so pretty!

Today's Bead Workspace

I'm getting in the mood for New Year's Eve by making some flashy jewelry. Here's today's project:

A rose-gold sparkly bangle is in the works.

A Gift for the Senses: Hagroot

A little bit of the Druid forest showed up at my door in a small box. It came from my Secret Santa on one of my Etsy teams:

In it are some samples of magical fragrances that I’ve been coveting for a while. Since the packing box, full of fragrant leaves, already had me dreaming that I was about to dance a reel with Jamie Fraser, I sampled the one called “Druid Forest” immediately. Oh yes, surely my name now is Claire.

This fragrance was magic! I can imagine the scenarios that accompany each of the other three fragrances in the box:

I am going to pretend that I am a goddess while wearing “Circe.” “Bone Queen” is going to get me ready for some meditation, and “Snake Oil” will have me shedding my skin for some mysterious travel between the realms.

The box came with the perfume-maker’s card. Hagroot is her name, and you much be prepared for the magic of these potions if you try them.