Birthday Season

My oldest son turned 18 yesterday.  What a milestone for any parent!  He has become a wonderful young man and we are so proud of him.  I can't believe he will be graduating high school soon!  We found out a few days ago that he got accepted into his first choice for college, Georgia Tech.  It's close by, although he will live on campus, and it is a very highly rated school.  I'm so happy for him!  Next month my other baby boy turns 14, so I feel like both my boys are really growing up!

 

It's birthday season in my household.  My birthday was in February, oldest son's is the middle of March, and also in March is mother-in-law's and father-in-law's birthdays along with my mom's birthday.  Youngest son's birthday is in April, so it's a busy few birthday months!

I have been spinning on my new spinning wheel.  Some time last week I watched yet another tutorial video and it just clicked.  I think I'm doing the short draw or inchworm method,  and I had been trying the long draw method.  The fiber was just fighting with me, and yes I was making yarn, but it seemed a little bit too hard to do.  Once I tried short draw, the fiber seemed to draft so much easier, and it worked so much better.  I still have plenty of thick and thin spots, but it's getting better.  I started using some of my pretty fibers since I may have an allergy to lanolin.  I've been getting a rash on my forearms, and the doctor thinks it could be from the fiber.  The inexpensive fiber that I was using was pretty greasy and still had bits of hay in it, so I may try to wash it and then use it after that.

I'm still working on my Harry Potter Ravelry group projects.  My Lexi Cardigan is coming along well, I'm working on both sleeves right now.  I'm doing them separately but at the same time-a few rows on one, and then a few rows on the other one.  My Lacy Cocoon Sweater is also moving along, the body is done on that and I'm now working on the ribbing band.  Still hoping to have both of these projects done by the end of  March!

Happy Birthday to Me!

It's my 43rd birthday today!  It's been an awesome birthday day/weekend.  My mom was here visiting over the long weekend, and she bought me something that I've been wanting for quite a while now...A SPINNING WHEEL!  I had decided on the Lendrum DT Complete, and mom very unexpectedly ordered it for me!  We ordered it on Friday afternoon, it shipped later on Friday, and it's due to arrive any time now.  This is so exciting!  I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to spinning wheels, so there will be a very steep learning curve.  The website that we ordered the wheel from, ParadiseFibers.net, is sending along a free DVD that shows how to put the Lendrum together, and I've also downloaded a basic how-to-spin video.  I don't know that I will show pictures of my first handspun, but hopefully I will quickly get better with some practice!

I'm still working on my Lexi cardigan, I just finished both of the front button bands and I'm about to start on the sleeves.  Also still on the needles is the Lacy Cocoon Sweater, which is my car knitting, so it's coming along slowly.

Happy crafting, everyone!

February Crafty Fun

It's February already!  Time just seems to go by so quickly.  I went to my first Atlanta Knitting Guild meeting!  Their meetings are generally on the first Thursday of the month, so I went to the February meeting, which was last Thursday, February 2nd.  I met lots of new people, made a new friend (hi Diana!) and just had a really good time.  I plan on going to more meetings as much as I can! 

I got my Ribbed Ribbon Socks finished by the end of January, and they turned out great!  I really like them.  I used Malabrigo Sock Yarn in the Persia colorway, and I like how they striped/pooled.

I've also still been working hard on my Lexi cardigan, and I've made great progress on that.  I made it to the halfway point on February 1st, and my goal is to finish it by the end of March at the very latest.

The other big project on my needles right now is my Lacy Cocoon Sweater. This is the 3rd time I've made this sweater, the 1st one was for my sister and the 2nd one was for my mom.  This one is for me, so it's a little bit larger than the other two, but it's coming along pretty well.  I'm still working the stockinette section, but it's a nice break from the moss stitch of the Lexi cardigan.  I like the fabric of the sweater, it's made by alternating rows of a worsted weight yarn with a lace weight yarn.

 One more thing on the needles is a pair of fingerless gloves for my youngest son.  I'm using Knit Picks Brava yarn, which is 100% acrylic, but it's sooo soft!  I'm really enjoying using it.

I've been a busy crafter!  Lots of in progress pics this week.  I also have spinning!  I've been working on spinning some yarn on my spindle as a gift for a chickie friend of mine.  I'm more than halfway done with the spinning, but then I will need to ply the yarn as well, since this will be my first plied yarn it will be a two-ply.  No pics yet since it's a surprise for her!
Hope everyone is having a productive and crafty month!