(mis)adventures of spindlerose

Rhinebeck Swap

The crowd I went to Rhinebeck with did a small item (less than 500 yards of yarn) swap this year. In a strange twist, I both made and received a small Springtime Bandit. I made Gwen's from Handmaiden Casbah; Ann made mine from some lovely navy blue sock yarn—Fiberphile Yarns & Hand-Dyed Fibers Alchemy 2-ply Squooshy Sock Yarn. (Rav link to Ann's project page)

Gwen's Bandit
Pattern: Springtime Bandit by Kate Gagnon Osborn
Yarn: Handmaiden Casbah Sock.I bought the yarn at Churchmouse on Bainbridge Island on the way home from Sock Camp in March.
Notions: 4 mm circular
Time: October 6 to 10, 2009
Comments: I added on repeat of the main leaf pattern so that I would use up as much of this fabulous yarn as I could.

Secret Stash Swap update

A few weeks ago, I pulled out the drum carder and went stash diving. I needed to create special blend for my Secret Stash Swap pal. I recreated a blend I made in a workshop I did at Countrywool a few years ago. I blended 2/3 merino-mohair top with 1/3 merino-tencel top and passed it through the carder twice. I ended up making 4 1.5 ounce batts for my pal. I added some tiny tins of tea and sent the package off before I left for California.

Since we are not traveling for Thanksgiving, or cooking much for dinner at home on Thursday, I will be be pulling out the dyes and dye pots next week to make my next blend for my pal extra special.

In other news, Toni remembers me and spent some time sitting on Mr. Greenjeans, but Eliza runs away every time I get close to her. Usually, Eliza demands snuggles as soon as David or I get home from work. Tonight, she acted like she wanted to snuggle, but she sidled away every time I reached out to her. I'm finally going to be home for most of a month; perhaps seeing me every day will remind her that I am one of her humans.

Spoiled

Last month I received two fabulous packages—one from Secret Sewer in the K1T2 swap and one from Mizzen in the Secret Stash Swap.

The K1T2 prizes included Trekking and Zen String sock yarn, a lovely small pink tea pot, and a fabulous quilted DPN and accessory case. Secret Sewer also sent me a huge tin of one of my favorite teas—Fortnum and Mason's Royal Blend. The other teas are F&M Cranberry, a Marionberry black tea, and lavender lemongrass tea. There is also a some fun tea cup shaped notepad, a honey dipper, some chocolates, and scone mix. Thanks again!

Right after my October trip to California I came home to a fluffy envelope in my mailbox. I opened it to find this amazing natural-dyed batt from Mizzem. I haven't spun it yet, but I keep visiting it in the the stash to pet it. I think I'm going to take a spinning wheel to Wisconsin with me in December. And this batt will be part of the stash that goes on that trip.

Secret Stash Swap

Better late than never, here is my Secret Stash Swap questionnaire. I missed the part of the instructions that included the questions in the chaos that was August around here.

1. When is you birthday? May 10
2. How long have you been spinning? 7 or 8 years
3. How long have you been blending your fibers? Not long at all. I'm using this swap as an excuse to get me off my duff to start playing around with the tools I have and to be creative with my stash.
4. What types of blends do you like to make and spin? I have no idea what kinds of blends I like to make, but I'm looking forward to finding out. I enjoy spinning just about everything in small quantities. I love spinning my own sock yarn and then knitting it.
5. What types of fibers do you NOT like? Are you allergic to any kinds of fiber? I'm not a fan of really short fibers. I have no allergies.
6. What are your favorite colors? Green, red, and pink. But never all together. I also love natural sheepy colors.
7. What are you least favorite colors? Orange, yellow, and any muddy blends.
8. What type of yarns do you like to spin? (singles, plied, novelty, fingering, bulky, etc.) I usually 2 or 3 ply, from tiny up to aran weight. This fall I'm challenging myself to spin fatter lofty yarns.
9. What type of blending equipment do you use? I have used a drum carder and hand cards. I own combs, but I have not yet been brave enough to try them out. I plan to comb one blend for the swap.
10. What type of wheel or spindle do you spin on? Wheels: single treadle Schact Matchless and Ashford Joy. Spindles: whatever top whorl feels right for the fiber at hand.
11. What do you do with your handspun yarn? Usually, I admire it and pet it. Sometimes I knit with it.
12. What are your interests outside of spinning? Knitting, cooking, watching sports (while knitting or spinning) with my DH, and traveling.
13. What types of music do you like? Just about everything. Lately, I'm listening to a lot of show tunes, folk, and classical.
14. What types of movies do you like? Classics, musicals, and romantic comedies. Nothing scary.
15. Do you collect anything? Yarn and fiber. ;-) And Disney character tea pots.
16. What types of candy and snacks do you like and dislike? I like just about everything. I prefer my chocolate dark--the darker the better. I think that Scharfenberger 99% is tasty stuff.
17. Do you have any food allergies to common "goodies"? (ie: chocolate, nuts, etc.) Peppermint. Wintergreen and spearmint are OK, though.

If I manage to get home during daylight tomorrow, I will have an actual finished pair of socks to show off. And two more odd socks added to my collection.

Swapping!

Suddenly, I have become a blogging swap participant. I've signed up for two swaps in the past couple of weeks even though the crazy work travel does not look like it will slow down anytime in the next couple of months. After I spotted Jasmine's post about the Knit 1 Tea 2 Color Swap, I could not resist a chance to meet a few other knitting tea lovers. I also responded to the lure of digging out my dye stuffs and interesting bits of fiber and spending a couple of weekends reacquainting myself with my drum carder for the Secret Stash Exchange. I think I will still stay away from swaps that require me to knit something to fit someone else and meet a deadline. I am pretty good about shopping and getting things into the mail, but really bad about finishing anything in a fixed time frame.

Since I'm running away to Boston this weekend, here are my K1T2 Questionnaire answers.

• Do you like loose tea or bags, or both – something you want to try? Loose tea.
• What is your favorite kind of tea? For regular plain old tea, Fortum and Mason's Royal Blend, which has become impossible to find in the US. More generally, I love teas with fruit or floral notes.
• Favorite color in regards to tea or one you would like to try? Black is my favorite, green my least favorite, and I have never tried red tea.
• Would you say you were a tea pot kind of person or just a hot water heater kind? Tea pot.
• What tea accessories would you like but have never purchases for yourself? Nothing. I have been procrastinating on buying myself a new 2 cup tea pot though--mine is cracked and drips when I pour.
• How do you prefer to be pampered? Massages and chocolate.
• If you were a kind of yarn what would you be and why? Light weight wool--uncomplicated and versatile.
• If you had to knit/crochet baby booties, a fun fur scarf, or a fair isle sweater, which would you choose and why? The Fair Isle sweater: I love a challenge and I am easily bored. Baby booties are too quick to knit, and even with that quickness, I have a bad habit of knitting just one. Fun fur drives me crazy.
• What other event would make you skip a tea party? No much will make me skip a tea party with good friends. A wool festival, yarn sale, or date with my overbooked hubby might pull me away.
• What treat would you consider essential at your tea party? Hot scones with intensely sour lime curd. If my eyes don't water, the curd is too sweet.
• When buying yarn for a project how do you choose - do you buy the one called for or do you substitute? I almost always substitute from my stash. Every now and then I will fall so in love with a sweater that I buy the pattern and called for yarn, cast on immediately, fall out of love a few weeks later, and find the unfinished project in a bin 2 or 3 years later.
• What do you carry your knitting/crocheting in when on the go? Usually I have a sock stuffed into my purse. And yes, I frequently break DPNs or lose stitches off the end of a needle.
• Favorite movie to watch while knitting/crocheting? Classic romantic comedies and musicals. If I have to pick one, My Fair Lady.
• Are you a traditional tea cup kind of person or a mug type of person? Do you care if they match? Anything that will hold hot liquid is fine with me. Match? I'd rather use the cups and mugs I've picked up on my journey through life.
• Favorite childhood birthday party? A middle school sleep over party with good friends, movies, pizza, and root beer.
• Favorite type of scone and jam? Plain scones with blackberry-key lime jam.
• If you use candles, what is your favorite scent? Lavender or anything a little woodsy.
• If you could choose 3 people to have 'tea' with, who would they be and why? My friend H because I miss our frequent visits over tea and fresh baked goodies. My mom just because. Eleanor Roosevelt because I think a conversation with her would be fascinating.
• You've been invited to a tea party, what 'props' will you wear? A stunning hat.
• Any allergies/preferences you have or are willing to admit to? No peppermint, please.
• Anything we missed that you want your pal to know? I will be on vacation from September 20 until October 3. Please plan shipping accordingly. Thanks.