Lisa Kay Knits... and Quilts!

Oh, I forgot to blog my last spin of 2015 TdF, "Promise" on Finnish Landrace ("Finn"). 230 yards. Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

250 yards. Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

240 yards. Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

302 yards. Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

I finished "Oak Moon" on Kent Romney, late yesterday. It is a bit thinner than the "Heart of Winter," making 230 yards. Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

Tour de Fleece is underway. Here's how I started: "Heart of Winter" on Kent Romney (201 yards of heavy worsted). First bobbin of "Oak Moon" on Kent Romney: Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

And speaking of gradients, I finished spinning nine bumps (nearly 36 ounces) of Southern Cross Fibre's "Beyond The Yellow Brick Road" on Organic Merino. I measured a total of 1637 yards (based on niddy-noddy wraps), all colors combined. At an average of about 180 yards per bump in aran, it is about what I've gotten in previous aran weight yarns (such as "Tempest" and "Seraglio" ). Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

Here's my first spin of the year, eight ounces of Southern Cross Fibre's "Dragon Scales" on Falkland. It is about 500 yards of aran-weight yarn. Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

I haven't spun since September, when things got really hectic at work. I also haven't posted my latest yarn, finished in September. It is eight ounces of Falkland, Hello Yarn's " Mignardises " colorway. From what I could Google, the word means, "Small sweet tid-bits served at the end of the meal (after dessert), usually with coffee." I ended up with about 700 yards of worsted, spun woolen from fauxlags . Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

My first two knitted Christmas gifts are gifted. They were mittens for the two teachers in Mitchell's classroom. I used Peggy O'Grady's " Arc Mittens " pattern, again. I really like the pattern as a quick gift. The pattern is in Interweave Knits' "Accessories 2011" issue. The first pair used Trendsetter Yarns Vigna in the colorway "Tiger's Eye," held together with a strand of brown mohair, for fluffiness. (These two yarns were left over from a project I haven't posted, yet... Hint: this vest .). The second one is a handspun, the " Loch Ness " I spun at the end of 2013. I held two strands together, and it still only used just over half the ball, so I suppose I could still make some fingerless mitts with the rest. The Merino/Silk/Angora is super soft and very warm, so it makes mitts that feel wonderful to wear. Mitchell took these gifts to school on Friday, so it is safe to post them, now. :) Happy Knitting, Lis...

I finished and blocked a sweater last weekend. It is a bit free-form, just a large box with garter sleeve caps and cowl neck. I used some Corgi Hill Farm " Insomnia " which I finished some time ago, paired with Stricken Smitten hand-dyed Shimmer Glimmer yarn in the colorway "Plumage." I started the bottom in garter, switching to a couple of pattern stitches and stockinette, as mood suited me. I saved a couple of pieces of handspun, in similar colors, to do the arm bands. Otherwise, I used up the handspun and switched to the Plumage. I used two different knitting needles to keep the gauge as consistent as possible with the different yarns and stitch patterns. Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

I finally sewed the buttons on my Garter Yoke Cardigan. I knitted it out of yarn I spun back in May, Southern Cross Fibre's " Cavern. " Ravelry Project Page Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

I've been spinning when I'm home... though I've been away a lot, lately. I traveled five of the last six weeks. Still, I plugged away at eight ounces of Hello Yarn's "Village Smithy" on BFL/Silk. It is about 440 yards. I like the way the silk gives it a sheen that works with the brown/silver colors to make it look metallic. Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

It's the last day, and I've just finished five bumps of Hello Yarn, "Mochi" on superwash BFL. It's not as much as I normally do during TdF, but I have been traveling for the last three weeks in a row... so I think it is a pretty good haul! Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

I've been traveling a lot (twice this week, already), so I'm not keeping up with posting, daily. I'm still spinning every day I'm home, and trying to get some extra time (mainly weekend time) when I can, since it's TdF. I've finished plying the first two yarns, four ounces each of Southern Cross Fibre "Tempest:" ...and "Seraglio:" I have also finished the singles of the lighter half of five bumps of Hello Yarn "Mochi." The darker half of "Mochi" is next (pink and brown). I'll ply the light-with-light and dark-with-dark, to get two different yarns. The general plan is to make something striped with the two yarns. Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

Four ounces of Southern Cross Fibre "Tempest" on SW BFL/Silk: Notice the not-so-innocent by-stander in the lower right of the frame. Chris has been bemoaning the voracious bunnies all spring. They just decapitated his last stalk of corn, yesterday. We saw an adult and three of these little guys taking dust baths out here a couple days ago. As Chris said, "We're completely infested." I said, "What's not to love? We have a smorgasbord and a private bath." Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

Tour de Fleece kicks off, today. Here are the fibers I prepped over the last couple of days: At the lower left: SCF “Seraglio” fauxlags (one bump). Top: The darker half of five bumps of HY “Mochi” (SW BFL). Bottom center/right: The lighter half of five bumps of HY “Mochi.” Under the “Seraglio” (not visible in picture above), is one bump of “Tempest.” And day one spinning: Seraglio Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

Here's all my spinning in June: Right to left: Four bumps of Two If By Hand “Calavera” on Polwarth Silk Two bumps of Hello Yarn “Ominous Laments” on Corriedale One bump of Southern Cross Fibre “Vista” on SW BFL happy Knitting, Lisa Kay

Back in April I started the Hela cardigan. I finished it a couple weeks ago and finally got around to taking some pictures. It is a fun sweater, but will have to wait several months for wearing! Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay Ravelry project page

In week 23, I spun "Pink Dagger" on Merino/Cashmere/Nylon, by Two If By Hand . Two bumps made about 450 yards of dk weight. In week 24, I started another Two If By Hand roving, "Calavera" on Polwarth/Silk. I have four bumps, and two of them are spun into singles... two to go! Happy Knitting, Lisa Kay