Fiber Fun Friday -- Yoga socks

This week I've been working on a pair of yoga socks using a pattern passed on by a friend (Thanks Jennifer!). What are yoga socks? They are simply socks without a heel or toe (all the hard parts to knit). They keep your feet warm while allowing your feet traction on the ground. I suppose they'd also work well to keep your feet warm while giving yourself a pedicure.

The pattern I'm using can be found here. It's quite easy. It's actually given me some ideas for making my own pattern, but we'll save that for another day.


These socks are a milestone for me. Up 'til now I have spun and knit using rovings or batts I've bought on Etsy. These socks are made up of alpaca that was raised on our farm, sheared on our farm, washed, carded and dyed on our farm. Then it was spun....you guessed it....by me.

Now I am knitting up these super soft and comfy socks in a lovely shade I call Watermelon. The striping was unintentional though, but you never now what you are going to get with hand-painted yarn.

I modified the pattern to knit on 2 circs because we all know I hate DPN. :P The one real advantage to knitting socks on 2 circs is you can try them on! You can know before you are done if they fit or need any adjustments.

I had hoped to have at least one sock done for today's post, but I got distracted by another sewing project. I made the cutest, funnest project bag. It actually stands up!! I always have a problem with bags because they flop over, but this one stands up making it super easy to use. It needs a little tweaking, but who knows, you may find it on Etsy some day. :o)


Anyway, happy Fiber Friday! I'm going to go finish my sock.

Organizing Some More

Since I seem to be in the organizing spirit, I took on a larger project.....organizing the fabric stash.

~Cue the creepy Twilight Show theme song~

For years my fabric stash has been stored randomly around the house, with the majority of it taking over our bedroom. It's so bad that I can barely walk in there now. (I'd show you a pic, but we are so not going there)

Today my loving hubby built me shelves. Lots of shelves to stash my stash. These shelves are in the closet of the studio and will hopefully make my crazy life just a wee bit less crazy.

And yes, my fabric stash is way larger than my yarn stash.

I spent the afternoon filling them up. They are even organized by fabric type. I know I have a problem. :o)

Now how long they are going to stay that way may be up for debate, but today at least they are organized.

Fiber Fun Friday -- Organizing and Sewing

I'm sure you're asking, what does organizing and sewing have to do with fiber? Well, let me tell you.

It's been ages since I was anywhere near my sewing machine. Actually, the last time I was using it was for Christmas projects. All the fiber, yarn and spinning has taken up my time.

I decided I needed a brief change. I pulled out the machine and dusted the layers and layers of dust off. I have tons of projects that have been sitting in the closet waiting for me to find the time, so what to start with...

Well, it's got to fiber related, right? I found the perfect project. A knitting needle case. What better way to organize than with a cool case. I have a serious problem keeping track of knitting needles. I swear they are in every room and never where they are supposed to be. I am constantly buying more because I can't find the right ones.

Problem solved! In just an afternoon I made up this cute little case and now my needles have a home. Now where to put the case so I can find it later??

Fiber Fun Wednesday -- Work in Progress

I swear I should have one of these signs floating over my head at all times because everything is a work in progress and I'm still waiting for the progress.

Let's start with an update on the incredibly ambitious project for Nationals. I already hit a huge snag and had to back up a little to get going again.

My beautiful Chu Chu is an amazing girl, but too much for this novice fiber artist to handle at the moment. I got her fleece washed and dried, but as I began to work with it, I realized it was a mess. It was her first shearing and there is nearly 2 years worth of growth in her fleece. It's veeerrryyyy tangled. There is no way I could get through it in the time I have, so......

On to plan B. No, I am not scrapping the project. Just revising it a little. It's now a combo of Jack, Misti, and Mario. All whites so this will become a dyeing project too. While I'm at it I'm adding just a hint of Bamboo. It'll be a 90% alpaca/10% Bamboo blend. It's actually carding up wonderfully. I'm trying to card all my batts at once so they are similar and I know I have enough.

For the skirt I need about 1200 yards of sport weight. I'm going to card up 1 1/2 pounds just to be absolutely sure I have plenty.

I haven't started spinning it yet so I'll have to let you know how it goes.

Next project....

The fiber studio.

You've heard a lot about it, but haven't been able to see it. Well, here it is.

It's more of a glorified craft room/office, but I am calling it the Fiber studio.

It's still a work-in-progress because it needs shelves in the closet and I still need some kind of cabinet/counter top for the carder. I'm really tired of carding on the kitchen island because no matter how careful you are fiber gets in the food. Yuck! I need to bring my wheel up too.

It's mostly organized at least. Plenty of room for my dyes and stuff.. It's even got a TV although I'm still not convinced that's a good thing.

I've also managed to find my sewing machine which means I can get some more cria coats made. Get your orders in now for those spring cria! :o)

Oh wait, you have to see the door. Isn't it pretty?

Last, but certainly not least....

My latest yarn. It is turning out to be the most consistent yarn I've spun so far. I already have a hat in mind for it although it keeps saying socks....socks....socks as it glides through my hands. I want the hat. We'll see who wins, me or the yarn.

PJ beginnings

Did you ever have a season just sneak up on you without you ever realizing?

Summer was strangely cool so when fall appeared on the horizon I wasn't paying any attention. The leaves had started to turn, the garden had given up the ghost and the most obvious sign, the furnace was on. Now, don't you think a girl would notice these things and think....oh, I should get all that sewing done so we can stay warm this winter. Nope. So this is what I am now stuck with.
A large pile of fabric just waiting to be turned into winter pj's for the kids. Where to start?

Well, I started in the most obvious place. :) Pick a pattern and fabric, and just dive in. First up was a really cute penguin flannel I got from my mom. Not quite enough so we are adding a red flannel to go with it. Ok, next step.
Lay the fabric out and pin all the pattern pieces to it. Get the scissors. Cut out all pieces, avoiding pins and fingers. Those little pattern lines are sometimes tricky. Why do they have to put so many sizes on top of eachother? I know it's to save space, but still.

Now I've got all my fabric pieces cut, on to the sewing. After reading the instructions twice, I get started, making sure I have my pieces with right sides together. It's like cutting wood, "measure twice, cut once". I double check everything before I make that first stitch.

I have the front sewn together and the back sewn together, now to put the front and the back together. Should be simple enough. It's only a straight line after all. Well, apparently not that simple. Seems I caught something I shouldn't have in the seam. Seam ripper, where are you?

There seems to be a lot of drama going on with this nightgown. :(

Sleeves are coming next. Gather them up and then sew the elastic in the cuffs. Not too bad if I do say so.

How many of you enjoy hemming things? Not me. It's my least favorite part, but it always happens to be last. Makes it really hard to finish things sometimes. I'm a good girl today though. I finish the hemming without much complaining although I did stick myself a few times.

All that work and I now have a completed nightgown! Yeah!! (Thanks to Kayla for holding it up) Now I just have 5 more nightgowns and 3 pairs of pants to go. Remind me to make them in summer next time. :D