(mis)adventures of spindlerose

Dyeing

Overdye, originally uploaded by SpindleRose.

This afternoon, I taught a dye workshop at Fibre Space. Six students and I spent about 3 hours this afternoon talking about color and putting it onto yarn. I think everyone had fun and is happy with their new and improved yarn.

One of the exercises I do in class (inspired by something Tina did at Sock Camp) is over dyeing. I ask students to bring a skein or two of yarn they don't love and we try to turn it into something they do. Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of dye to completely change a skein. Other times, it is a challenge. We mix discuss what to do, mix up some dye, test a corner, stand back and think about it, and then repeat the process. Eventually, "ugly" yarn is transformed into something better.

The skein above is my overdye exercise from today. Before class, my friend handed me this yarn and said "Make it more red, please." I did. I hope she likes it.

Home again

Grouchy Eliza, originally uploaded by SpindleRose.

Eliza was not interested in posing for a picture or in welcoming me home tonight. She always protests when the suitcase comes out indicating that D or I will be leaving and then displays typical cat bad temper for a few hours after we return home.

While I truly enjoyed this week's trip to Texas, I am happy to be home, and am looking forward to a night of good sleep in my own bed.

Dinner companion

Dinner companion, originally uploaded by SpindleRose.

This guy looked over my shoulder at dinner. I'm glad I didn't see him until I was mostly finished.

The short version of my day: Long drive from Austin to Fort Worth. Steakhouse dinner meeting surrounded by taxidermy. Food coma.

Mariachi and Finding Art Everyday

Mariaci, originally uploaded by SpindleRose.

I'm trying to do two things this month: take a picture or two every day with the iPhone camera, and post that picture with a little something here. The NaBloPoMo theme for September is Art—since I make things and try to see art in the world around me, I find the theme inspiring. Since the work travel is low key this month (knock wood), posting daily should be easy.

Tonight's art was the Mariachi trio at the restaurant where I had dinner with the colleagues I'm traveling with this week. They were pretty good and made dinner a bit more enjoyable.

Back on the road

Back on the road, originally uploaded by SpindleRose.

Yes, that is another sock in progress. Lizzy makes for excellent travel knitting once the little lace cuff is finished. I'll be trekking across Texas this week (Houston to Austin to Dallas) with hours in the passenger seat of a car.

A good day that ended badly

 

Afternoon at Fibre Space, originally uploaded by SpindleRose.

I had to go into the office this morning. Since the garage was closed, I carpooled downtown with D and took the Metro home. On the way home, I stopped at Fibre Space to hang out and spin. To my surprise, Wendy was there with the KnitGirllls. I settled into the classroom to spin and chat.

My birdseye maple Turnstyles spindle (purchased at my first MDS&W) with Mama E (sadly no longer dyeing) BFL took a break on the classroom table with Wendy's Wispy Cardi, a bowl of fish (Wendy's Goldfish Wanda and Leslie's to be named goldfish), and assorted knitting bags.

As I was packing up to leave, I dropped the spindle. It looks like I get to practice my hook tweaking skills this weekend.

Bad day, originally uploaded by SpindleRose.

Sweater for a foot?

Sweater for a foot?, originally uploaded by SpindleRose.

Worsted weight socks—even heavily cabled ones at 6.5 stitches per inch—are quick to knit. I started this sock on Thursday, knit some other stuff, and am already halfway through the foot of sock one. I expect to finish this sock tonight while D and I play another game of British Rails.

The pattern is Aran Sandal Socks (Ravelry Link) from Socks, Socks, Socks.

Quiet evening

Cutie, originally uploaded by SpindleRose.

Toni, D, and I enjoyed a quiet evening at home. We watched some college football and played a round of British Rails. I lost the game but finished the gusset of one of the 4 socks in progress. More on that tomorrow.

I love Friday

This week's produce delivery, originally uploaded by SpindleRose.

Last spring, I lamented how much I wanted to join a CSA, but that my travel schedule makes doing so impractical. A friend recommended Washington's Green Grocer produce delivery as an alternative. They source locally as much as they can and have an on demand (instead of weekly or bi-weekly) delivery option—which is perfect for my zany schedule. The price is reasonable and the quality is outstanding.

Last week's new red potatoes and green beans turned into a tasty salad for dinner last night. I enjoy having a variety of fruit for breakfast and afternoon snacks. And I love the challenge of figuring out what to do with the stuff I don't normally buy.

This week's box yielded potatoes and kale (I may turn those into soup next weekend), lettuce, pears, apples, bananas, plums, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and that pesky eggplant. Neither David or I like eggplant. Please, recommend something tasty I can do with it.

Challenging myself

If you know me, you know that I am a sock knitting traditionalist—one sock at a time on short DPNs. I will very rarely knit a sock on 2 circular needles, but I do not enjoy the process very much. I just cast on a mystery sock pattern; the designer publishes 4 clues during a month, and I try to keep up. In the past, I have knit mystery socks in tandem on DPNs with limited success (I think I've finished 2 pairs of mystery socks in the past two years of attempts). Since most of my size 1 DPNs are already in socks, and the circs were free, I decided to challenge myself and knit this mystery 2 at a time on 2 circs. Check back next week to see if I have strangled myself with a size 1 Addi Turbo.