Nutcracker 2011

Well instead of knitting or spinning, I have spent the last month sewing ballet costumes. My ballet studio performed Peter and the Wolf and Excerpts from Nutcracker. I made the costumes for Chinese, Waltz of the Flowers and Sugar Plum. Most of the Waltz of the Flowers skirts were made earlier this year for another performance, but there were 4 more that need to be made. I don't have a photo of the whole bouquet yet, but will get that with the next performance. I got talked into dancing in the Reed Flutes trio wearing these same skirts. Here are the Chinese costumes, designed like a friends Kung Foo uniform:
I also created the Sugar Plum costume. I can't take credit for the tunic, but I was able to match the trim with trim currently available at Jo-Ann's. There are a few things I need to fix before the next performance, but I think it worked really well. The next thing to make is a storage case so the costume can be used again next year.

Next up is a pair of mittens that have been sitting to the side waiting. Unfortunately it has gotten cold enough to need them, but I have only about 3/4 of the first one done.

Tutu

I haven't been knitting much for a bit because I turned this:

into this:



OK, so it isn't quite done yet. I still have to sew down the straps and add the boning and make a few minor adjustments. I plan on test-dancing in it tomorrow at class to see what else needs to be adjusted.

About to begin the new school year

In family news, school starts next week for Nathaniel and I can't believe how time has flown. This summer was packed with events- trip to Yosmite, cub scout camp, a week at the farm, and a ballet performance. The trip to Yosmite started off a bit bad with an unplanned night of sleep on the Augusta airport floor and only one day in San Fransisco. The weather was wonderful, but caused a few sunburns. We came home with only 1329 photos. We had a week of normal work and then it was scout camp time. Then 2 weeks off and it was time for Nathaniel to spend a week with Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Sydney at the farm in Illinois. He had a blast helping mow the lawn among other things. Now school starts next week and I can't believe we are done with summer.

In dance news, Nathaniel and I danced for a local event. For his first time performing ballet, he did great. He started ballet this spring in March, I think. He danced in both a quartet with another boy and 2 girls (including lifts). They worked really well together and pulled it off with only about 5 hours total of practice. I danced in both a group number (with the tutus pictured in the last post) and performed the Paquita variation #4 (or 5 depending on which numbering system you use). I have never done a solo and this was on pointe as well. I have seen the video and boy do I need to work on some stuff. I have never seen myself dance before and it was scary. It didn't help that the stage was slick. We both performed in the finale which was learned by everyone in about 3 hours. We definitely were not a polished group, but had fun and no one got hurt by the slippery stage. We are also getting ready to help my ballet teacher launch his new studio (this includes a repeat performance of what we did before, hopefully better than before).
Other than ballet I also competed in the Dublin Irish Festival adult dance competition. It was a fun evening. For the first time I was in the over 35 category and therefore dancing against about 18 other people. I got first in Jig and third in Treble Jig. I really messed up the Slip Jig and slightly messed up the Hornpipe, but had fun.

In spinning news, I tried to do the Tour de Fleece this year. I was going to spin the 3 Spunky club fibers I had (April, May and June), but didn't finish. I got the first 2 done quickly and then had other things going on. I did get some drop spindle time in while at scout camp. The scouts and other leaders were interested in the spinning, so hopefully some packs out there might try it. Today was the Mid-Ohio Fiber Festival in Newark, OH. I got there around 9 when they opened and was there for about 1.5 hours. I had a lovely time just looking at the vendors. The Woolery was there and I got some stuff from them:I got a packet of 2oz of silk bells, 3 packets of cocoons, and a 3/4 oz turkish spindle. I got a small packet of silk from a different vendor (can't remember who) and also 2 4oz balls of undyed wool from another vendor (a CVMX and a RomeldaleX).

In knitting news, I finished Darin's sweater, so I got to start my Bohus sweater. We revised the color pattern from the Wild Apple sweater to have fewer colors. I am using KnitPicks Palette and only 9 colors. Some of the color rows had 3 colors used and they took a long time to knit. I am now in the boring plain round and round of knitting using Asphalt Heather. I do like that the sleeves are done before the body and the armpit transition is done with a provisional cast-on, so no seam.

Finished items!

I have almost cleaned off my needles. There is still a list of things to do, but they haven't been cast-on yet. First here is the group of us in the tutus from the last post.We performed well with no major issues or injuries and had fun, so that passes all of my criteria. It was a lot of work for 2 minutes of dance, but well worth it.

I also finished up the afghan for Warm-up America. Last year's was very ugly, so I made this one all myself instead of sewing up mis-matched blocks that got donated. I think it looks a little like the '70s, but still nice and someone will be nice and warm.
I also finished up the In Dreams KAL. I didn't get the last clue worked on as I normally would due to the tutus, but finally finished. It blocked to 66" wide and 33" neck to bum.I am almost done with Darin's sweater as well. I am doing the neck edge this evening and expect to get it done by next weekend.

Now what do I work on next? I have tons of stuff lined up for the spinning wheel, but I need some knitting for N's class time and when there isn't enough time to spin. I have finished washing the fleece I got, but now have to card or comb it. I purchased some Acorn 4 pitch English combs and the lace flyer kit for my wheel from the Woolery.

Lots going on

It is May already and I have tons of photos to share. I have been doing lots of stuff, but in the last 2 weeks most of my work has been on some tutus for my ballet class. There are 8 of us in the class. The tutus have invaded my crafting area. Our performance is next Sunday, so all but 1 will depart for new homes then. The boy and I also dyed Easter eggs this year and I am very proud of the rainbow one I made. In the bottom row his are the 3 on the right and mine are the 3 on the left. He did some good work on gradient dyeing.

I have also finally gotten around to plying the BFL that my sister dyed for me. I needed to clean off the wheel for a spinning class (didn't get much out of that class, so no more comment here about that). I did get 433 yds of 3-ply in this skein.
And the last thing for this post are the pictures of the finished clue 5 and 6 of In Dreams. I haven't finished the shawl yet due to the tutu invasion.
I have photos taken of the fleece washing process/project and will make a separate post for that.

Nutcracker 2010 is done!

Today were the two performances of the Nutcracker for this year. I was a Party Adult and it was the first performance in point shoes for me since 1990!! All went well, but it was a long day.

I haven't finished much knitting recently. I did finish the mittens for the mitten tree at church.
The pattern is from Spilly Jane and they are knit with KnitPicks Palette. It is not a style that fits my hand, but was fun to knit and someone here in town will have warm fingers. I also started a project using my handspun merino. This is the Henley with a Twist from Knitspot.
I have finished the back and I am past the armholes on the front. It is an easy pattern to memorize and is very well written, not too much extra info. The next major project's yarn has been ordered and received, but I can't start until I get this one done. I am going to knit an Aran sweater for my husband with KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in the blackberry color. He picked both the pattern and the color, now I just have to find the time to knit it.

February blahs

January ended with a snowstorm and closed schools. Don't get me wrong, I love the snow, but I hate having to take a vacation day for closed schools.

I have gotten lots of work done on the ski sweater, but had to take a break. I needed to make some baby booties for a woman at work.Pattern: from 50 Baby Booties to Knit
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto 4-ply (same as the traveling stitch legwarmers)
Needles: Knitpicks 3mm dpns
Time: about 4 hours


Then I went back to working on the Lyra lace. I still am chomping at the bit to start either the chullo hat or the Sipalu bag pattern or one of Knitspot's lace shawls I have everything for.

The big reason for the knitting lull is the wii Fit. I have been trying to spend at least 30 minutes each night doing the yoga, strength and aerobic games. This is part rehabilitation for my ankle, part staying in shape. I am still not fully dancing yet, but it has only been 7 weeks. I can point my bad foot about half as much as the good foot. It will get there, but I am sick of waiting. I just don't want to push it and end up in worse shape than I am now.

Christmas Week

Well I have no pictures of knitting today, but I have been doing a lot of work on the Lyra lace. It just looks like a wad of string. I got quite a bit of knitting time this week by being a klutz. I twisted my ankle in Ballet class monday night. After a trip to the urgent care on tuesday I had an air cast and crutches. I have spent much of the rest of the time on the couch with my foot up. I hoped to be done with the crutches by today, but I still can't put all of my weight on that foot. Fortunately it is my left foot so I can still drive, but work is a lot harder since I don't normally sit at my desk all day. I called in lame on wednesday and friday and left early tuesday and thursday. I do have to work tomorrow and them I am off for the rest of the week. We are headed to the grandparents for christmas unless the weather really puts up a fight.

Lots of knitting going on here

This would be further along if my guage swatch hadn't lied to me. It is the Telemark Ski Sweater from KnitPicks. I was about 6 rows more than what you see here when I discovered it was about 4 inches too big. The guage swatch said 6.75 sts/inch, but I was actually getting 6.25 sts/inch. Out it came and I have re-started.
I would have gotten further, but I had to go to a lace knitting class. I had a class with Anne Hanson of Knitspot. We worked on a little "sampler" for the advanced lace knitting part of the class and then got to see a trunk show of her designs. I got the sampler mostly done in class, I just have to graft part and then block.

I also got some new yarn. I got the chullo hat kit and the palette warm sampler from KnitPicks. I think they sold out again.


I also finished the legwarmers


Pattern: Traveling stitch legwarmers, Interweave Knits, Spring 2008
Yarn: Debbie Bliss, Rialto 4ply superwash, 3 balls
Needles: US 4, 3.5mm
Modifications: added 10 rows of rib at bottom to make the stirrup part
Time needed: 2 weeks!!!

These were a fun knit. I was afraid they would not fit my 16" calves, but they did just fine. I have worn them for a ballet class and I think I will need to run a piece of elastic through the top to keep them up.

Here is my basic knitting project. I loved the Jojoland yarn, but it wouldn't work for the legwarmers, so I had to find a new project for it. I think the entrelac shows off the color changes quite nicely. I have 3 balls, so we will see how long it takes to make this scarf.

Another week gone by

This past week went by with little knitting. Kindergarten graduation went well, but a bit on the long-winded side. We got our Ruby costumes in ballet class and they were lovely. The actual recital on Saturday morning went well, but was a bit long. I have done some knitting on the Rosebud shawl, but didn't bother with a photo of a larger mass of pink. I have done 70 rows of the border and I am now on a race to finish the borders before the new knitting project starts.

Pink Lemon Twist is doing the Mystery Stole 3. I did the one last year and loved it, so as soon as I knew about this one I signed right up. This one has optional beads. I have never knit with beads, so I am definitely going to try. I will use the same color as last year since I bought a whole cone (1 pound) of the mushroom zephyr. Now which beads to use? I think I will order 2 different colors and then decide when they come in.

June already?

I did some spinning this past week. This is the last of the purple tencel that had to be spun. I just have to ply this and then send it to my sister.

Here is my current sock. I got one done and have started the toe on another. This is one of the Koigu sets from MS&W. It is lovely to knit with.
I have added more rows to the rosebud shawl, but you can't really tell there are 4 sides that have 178 stitches each.
This has been a busy weekend. I had my dance dress rehearsal (without costume, ours are not here yet) on saturday morning and then stopped by a yarn store on the way home. I got some of the Panda Wool and then some of the Tofutsies for more socks. After a brief nap we went on a brief bike ride to the elementary school to play on the playground. Then this morning we went on a shopping trip to check out some new bikes. We found some really nice ones at a new bike store and so had to come home and get the bike rack for the car before returning to the store to buy them. This was followed by another bike ride to the playground. It was much nicer than yesterday (I could shift gears and my bum didn't hurt as much). Then after an early dinner we went to the pool to try and teach my son to swim. He isn't learning very quickly. The only reason he went totally under water was because he slipped. Swim lessons start June 11.

This week will just be busier with Kindergarten graduation overlapping my last ballet class before the recital and my husband going out of town for work (and that is just wednesday). Then this coming saturday is the dance recital (hopefully with costumes).

5 days until MS&W

I have been working on the Rosebud shawl. I got the center done and picked up all the stitches around the edge. It looks like a pouch of dental floss, but I am progressing. I have done 14 rows out of about 92 for the borders. Then there is the edging that will probably take forever. I started the borders with 117 stitches per side!!!
I have also done some work on the current SIP. I had to get some work done on my car, so that provided me with about 1 hours of unterrupted knitting time for these. This pair is actually for me and not a gift.
I also got to do some spinning. Last weekend I got some more done on the Wool/Silk blend. After letting the singles rest about a week, I plied what I could and discovered that I did not have the same yardage of singles on the 2 bobbins, so I have to spin some more single then I can finish this and find out what yardage I have. I really want to spin some of the other wool I have already and I am planning on buying some more at Maryland Sheep and Wool. I only have 4 bobbins right now, but The Woolery is currently having a sale and bobbins are 15% off, so I just ordered 4 more. (This is the same store I bought the wheel from and I had great service on that order).
In non-knitting news, there are only 2 more practices before the first Irish dance competition of the year. I am a little worried, but keep reminding myself that this is just for the kicks and giggles, my life does not depend on me winning (just not getting hurt). There are also only 6 ballet classes before our recital.