tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45307302449879349352024-03-13T14:06:59.244-04:00Woolen Diversions<b>Where Procrastination and Fiber Fascination Meet</b>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.comBlogger306125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-36073697661017526122013-08-21T23:57:00.001-04:002013-08-21T23:57:07.593-04:00Goodbye and Hello!Hello, friends. This post is to say an official goodbye to Blogger and introduce you to my new web home at woolendiversions.com.
If you follow me here, won't you consider following me there, too? You can also follow my blog on Bloglovin'. Hope to see you in the new space!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-13631244384266040692013-08-16T02:06:00.004-04:002013-08-16T02:06:58.588-04:00Chugging AlongI'm still here, folks, still alive! I've been steadily working behind-the-scenes to develop my new blog at Wordpress. It's coming along quite nicely but these things tend to take much longer than I anticipate. I'm hoping I can finish the crossover by next week. Yay! It's always a strange feeling when I sit down at 9pm and the next time I glance up, I find that it's nearly 2am. Woops. According toAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-9627883199162304082013-08-10T13:52:00.002-04:002013-08-10T13:52:41.810-04:00IS #34: Trying New ThingsHappy Saturday, all! I've returned from a lovely trip to Cape Cod. I had gone with a large group of my friends from college to celebrate 10 years of knowing each other (and yes, that number still freaks me out). It was a great time: fireside smores, lounging by the lake, lots of baby snuggles, group spinning (yes!), and even some whale watching. Pictures of all the good times will follow but Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-32112411781323599742013-08-03T09:00:00.000-04:002013-08-03T09:00:05.652-04:00IS #33: Knitting AlongYou know what I think I love most about Ravelry? Knit-alongs. Knit-alongs (KALs) are essentially when a bunch of people choose to knit the same pattern/project/theme/yarn and chat about it. Yes, KALs can occur in real life too, which might even be more fun (I wouldn't know), but they are perfectly enjoyable in the online forum. I think this is because 1) more people are involved, 2) you can checkAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-79341984198142912102013-08-02T19:39:00.002-04:002013-08-02T19:39:27.040-04:00My Feelings ExactlyEver wonder what cats do when you're at work all day? I had a chance to see firsthand as I spent the first of a few upcoming vacation days cleaning house and waiting for my friends to show up. Here's what the cats did:
Calypso, more-or-less conked out.
Darwin, in his favorite belly-to-the-wall lounging position
I think they had the right idea. I was a fairly busy bee most of the day but IAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-79251219990449649902013-07-29T22:40:00.001-04:002013-07-29T22:40:27.979-04:00Relaxation: SucceededFinally (finally!) the Fiasco and I had a weekend where we were both off from work and had nothing else pressing that needed doing. For what felt like the first time this summer, we got to spend time together and just relax. So yes, camping was glorious. I took exactly one picture because other than to sporadically check the weather, all technology was blissfully turned off.
But at least I Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-36870682367261991262013-07-27T07:00:00.000-04:002013-07-29T22:27:33.486-04:00IS #32: Into The WoodsHappy Saturday, all! This week's inspiration is nature/the outdoors/the woods because as you're reading this, I've happily unplugged from my computer and have gone off camping for a few days. I love camping and once a year just isn't enough, but I cherish what I can manage to squeeze in. Cross your fingers that the weather holds out! Here are a few fun woods-related knits I found on Ravelry.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-5142136767947648902013-07-23T23:01:00.001-04:002013-07-23T23:01:26.867-04:00Dappled ShadeThis colorway is so aptly named, it makes me happy inside.
This lovely braid of top from Miss Babs was a complete impulse buy since Miss Babs was one of the sponsors for Tour-de-Sock and there was a discount. It was a 'babbette' colorway meaning it was a one-off, not regularly produced, which are easy to fall in love with...like the Apple Blossom colorway or the Don't Stop one. So subtle and Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-85141528105335985262013-07-22T08:35:00.000-04:002013-07-22T08:35:16.837-04:00I'm Counting ItAt 12:23 am I finished plying this beautiful blue gem of a skein:
This is the second skein of Bluefaced Leicester wool from the June Pryce Fiber Arts gradient-dyed kit I've been spinning for Tour de Fleece. It worked up to a DK-ish weight 3-ply with 270 yards, which is exactly the same as the first skein! So that worked out nicely.
I love love love the blues in this skein and the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-71717004387419120882013-07-20T23:19:00.000-04:002013-07-20T23:19:28.900-04:00IS #31: Rather UninspiredI'm sneaking in under the wire with a rather uninspiring Inspiration Saturday post. I have a couple of friends visiting from out of town this weekend and failed to plan ahead with a post! I've had another plan-ahead-failure, too:
So close yet so far...
After requesting leftovers from fellow Rockin' Sock Club members of one of last year's club colorways (Budding Twig) for my Budding Lintilla Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-43383105061330203012013-07-15T08:23:00.001-04:002013-07-15T08:23:49.214-04:00Plying Is MagicEvery time I spin, I am delighted by the magic of plying. You take this weird, lumpy, wiry little single of spun fiber and transform it into beautiful, fluffy, real and usable yarn.
This is the BFL fiber I've been working on for Tour de Fleece. I spun the gradient-dyed braid worsted style and chain-plied it to preserve the color changes. It's about 270 yards of DK-ish weight (I always forget Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-58749900993768561522013-07-13T17:25:00.000-04:002013-07-13T17:25:42.294-04:00IS #30: Hot Guys in SweatersBrooklyn Tweed (a company which has inspired me before) has just put out a series of patterns specifically for men. Rugged texture, twining cables, beards of hotness and glasses and ribbing galore. Need I say more?
Copyright Jared Flood/Brooklyn Tweed
How about Jared Flood's Timberline cardigan? Yes, please. Yes. I'm a crazy sucker for a guy in a cardigan, which is kind of weird because the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-70083790697040399242013-07-10T09:00:00.000-04:002013-07-10T12:05:03.131-04:00WIPWed #29: Treadling Along I am happy to announce that while my spinning and knitting lately have not been very speedy, they have been fairly steady. I made a good bit of progress on my Tour de Fleece spinning, 4 oz of the BFL gradient kit I'm working up have been spun into singles and I'm ready to start the second half of the kit later tonight.
Ah, I love a full bobbin!
With all my home time taken up with spinning, Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-44161561351865562982013-07-08T07:44:00.001-04:002013-07-08T07:44:31.515-04:00Progress and Surprise
I hope you all had a great holiday weekend! Mine was very busy and full of sun, waves, and family (as it should be). It also involved a wonderful surprise as I found this little beauty waiting for me in the mail:
That's a handwoven wool shawl that I had entered a raffle ticket to win way back in March when I went to Woolapalooza at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, Massachusetts. To say that I was Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-14620997499024144092013-07-06T08:59:00.001-04:002013-07-08T07:11:59.531-04:00IS #29: Fiber Factor Challenge 2Hi folks! This is a quickie, drive-by kind of Inspiration Saturday post since my parents are visiting and it's been a busy week. That said, have you checked out the results for the second challenge of The Fiber Factor? The second challenge was to knit a boxy sweater and involve colorwork somehow. I'm amazed by all the different styles that resulted! I also thought it was funny how there were Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-30998328469807149972013-07-01T22:22:00.000-04:002013-07-01T22:22:20.472-04:00Tour-de-FailI'll admit: I knew this would happen. Signing up for both Tour-de-Sock and Tour de Fleece which co-occur over June & July... there was no way I'd keep up with both plus regular life. No way, especially since it's summer when I limit my inside-sitting-down-time. My 3rd TdS sock is about where it was on Friday, with some more of the foot done. I've decided not to even cast on the 4th TdS Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-7396096052422766902013-06-29T08:30:00.000-04:002013-06-29T08:30:01.472-04:00IS #28: Fall Already?Don't worry, folks, the summer is still just getting into a groove, but that doesn't stop Knitty from putting out its First Fall issue! It might seem a bit early but summer is actually a really good time to start planning ahead for those cooler nights and shorter days. Let's see what we can find to inspire us, yes?
Copyright Jamie Besel
I was immediately drawn to Lewis designed by Jamie BeselAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-21912100356235410732013-06-28T07:43:00.001-04:002013-06-28T07:43:39.887-04:00FO Friday #20: Sock Foot SlogI finished these wee little socks for my new nephew:
BMFA Socks That Rock Mediumweight, colorway On Blueberry Hill
The feet on these things look comically large, but they're only about 4" and apparently 3.5-5" is the recommended size for newborn sock feet. That seems pretty big to me but we'll see! I'm heading down to Long Island later today to meet him, which I'm very excited about.
I've Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-37269248622570561582013-06-24T08:00:00.000-04:002013-06-24T08:00:18.662-04:00Summer Lovin'This, folks, is what summer is all about.
Under-a-tree sitting, stitch dictionary browsing, design ideas brewing, sock knitting, audiobook listening (preferably anything written by Orson Scott Card and read by Stefan Rudnicki), and ice cream indulging. I call that a perfect afternoon. Yesterday was a very rare Sunday where I had no pressing deadlines, no prior plans, and no Fiasco around to Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-60086584723879733182013-06-22T14:56:00.002-04:002013-06-22T14:58:16.459-04:00IS #27: Colorful FeetThis Inspiration Saturday post is brought to you late in the day due to being up all night walking in Relay for Life for my company team. (If you feel inclined to donate, you can still do so here!) It was a total last minute decision but it was a great event for a good cause and I'm very glad I went. Since I'm enjoying working on my colorwork sock using Skinny Bugga yarn so much, I thought I'd Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-10361490048765338462013-06-21T08:34:00.001-04:002013-06-21T08:34:12.552-04:00FO Friday #19: Partially FinishedI've got a few partially-finished projects to show today! Since it's been uber super busy around here lately, you're getting the short-and-sweet version.
Remember the simple drop-stitch scarf I was knitting for my physical therapist?
I finished the knitting in almost no time at all and am just waiting for the chance to block it. I improvised the design and actually ripped back from the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-55436050921033837532013-06-17T21:07:00.002-04:002013-06-17T21:07:49.532-04:00Happy, Happy Monday!Three things that made me happy this Monday:
1) Discovering that people still liked me! All last week I thought I had received zero comments on any of my blog posts because I stopped receiving emails and because blogger said '0 comments', which made me sad. Not like I expect a ton of responses but I usually have a few on each post (and what blogger doesn't love comments?). But I was happy to Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-54114412505383082452013-06-15T10:10:00.001-04:002013-06-15T10:10:41.212-04:00IS #26: Summer ScarvesA while back I had started some mitts to thank my physical therapist for all of the magic she's worked on me. Then I put them down for a while, totally forgot about them, and lost the paper I had been using to keep track of what I was doing. Our last session is coming up soon and mitts in the middle of the summer seem kinda strange, but I felt like a light airy scarf would do nicely so I changed Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-70803399884767017782013-06-14T17:52:00.000-04:002013-06-14T17:52:53.095-04:00Keepin' It LooseHappy Friday, everyone! I have nothing finished this week because my knitting time was practically nonexistent, but I do have a little progress to show!
BMFA Socks That Rock Lightweight, colorway Melusine and some Bugga in Blue Lobster for contrast.
That is the beginning of the second Tour-de-Sock pattern, Chicane Socks by Debbie O'Neill. I debated earlier in the week whether to knit the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4530730244987934935.post-35624683295719794462013-06-11T09:11:00.002-04:002013-06-11T09:11:41.931-04:00Finished! Sort Of.While there were gads of people who finished their first Tour-de-Sock pair of socks within a few days of beginning, I'm pretty dang proud of finishing just this one sock within 9 days:
BMFA Socks That Rock Lightweight, colorway Bleck
Not bad for a week and a half of interspersed knitting! The pattern is The Secret Fan by Adrienne Fong. It has just a little bit of beading but most of it is Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13084243860497287716noreply@blogger.com0