25 May 2008

Recent Yarns!

Following are two of my recent yarns. The first is "Hailey the Mermaid" from Noelle's Noodles on Etsy. It is Romney and it was a lot of fun to spin. The resulting colors are very heathery and I'm really happy with how they plied together.




This was a yarn I spun for a private swap on Craftster. The Craftster had tried to take up spinning and didn't really enjoy it, so she sent me the roving her friend had hand-dyed for her and I spun into yarn! The was a Finn top, also a lot of fun.. Great staple length, easy spin.

Summer of Yarn! Love Info

Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft?

I learned to knit over 10 years ago, but I've only been "seriously" knitting for the last two years.

Do you spin? What type of spinning?

I do spin on a wheel. I love spinning wool, alpaca, bamboo. I'm not interested in spinning cotton. (I hear it's a real pain and sometimes wool gives me enough trouble.)

What are your favorite yarns/fibers? What are your least favorite yarns/fibers?

My favorite fiber is definitely wool. It doesn't matter what type it is, but there's something in feeling a springy wool that just feels... like nothing else, really. My tastes in yarns has definitely changed since I've started spinning-I appreciate single ply yarns more and I like textures that mimic handspun.. Malabrigo, Rio de la Plata, etc. (I am especially a fool for Malabrigo) I prefer solid colors over varigegations, unless it's a tone-on-tone.

My least favorites are acrylic and cotton. I don't like knitting with either, really, unless they're blended with another fiber.

What are your favorite colors? What are your least favorite colors?

My favorite color is definitely green. My eyes are always drawn first to greens. My second favorite color is that mustardy yellow but I have no idea what to do it with since it looks awful on me. (I can still like it, right?) I also like blues and browns.

My least favorite colors are orange, anything pastel or neon.

Are there any yarns/brands that you are dying to work with but never have?

I have been eyeing the Noro Sock yarn forever, but I've got tons of sock yarn and it would seem like a sin to add to the stash. I always eyeball Tili Thomas yarns, but never have splurged. I have no idea what I'd do with it.

What is/are your favorite types of projects to knit/crochet?

Well, almost anything, really. I like starting all sorts of projects. Finishing is another matter.

What are you currently working on? Anything you plan to work on this summer?

What am I not working on? Lots of secrets. Some other things. You know. I really like the Wallis cardigan in the new IK, but I've got the yarn I'd like to use for it. Maybe some shrugs? Who knows.

What is your favorite FO? (Post a pic if you would like.)

Hmm. I really like the Retro Rib socks I made. I'm too scared to wear them, so they just sit around the house.

What is your oldest UFO?

My oldest UFO became my first official completely frogged UFO. So, there.

Are there any techniques that you want to learn?

Nope. Well, I'd like to learn how to finish lace--once you've knit the main part and then go back to pick up stitches around the edge. I'm pretty sure it would involve a bottle of Advil.

Are you on Ravlery? What's your ID?

Yes! Lapoli over there.

Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Sure. Foot measurments? I'd say I have a daintly small woman's foot.

Do you collect anything?

Yes. (We're talking besides yarn/fiber, right?) I collect gnomes and my collection is happily increasing every month. :)

Do you have a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes! (And a good husband! :) )

Do you love sweets? What are your favorites?

Of course, but I'm definitely a salt person. I'll eat cake with the next person, but I'd rather eat a bag of potato chips, probably. I like chocolate covered things. The best present, ever, was someone who dipped salted potato chips into chocolate. THAT was a good present.

What are your favorite scents?

I really like lavender, vanilla. Not fond of very strong florals like geranium. And if you're wearing a Clinique perfume, I'll be leaving the room.

Where do you keep your needles/hooks?

I've got most of them in a yarn, separated by straight and DP. I've got a set of Denise interchangables that sit in a basket, alongside the rest of my pre-Denise circulars.

Do you have a wishlist (Amazon, Etsy, etc?)

I've got some favorite stored on Etsy (I'm at http://lapoli.etsy.com) and a Wist: http://www.wists.com/lapoli

Having a birthday this summer?

Nope.

Are you allergic to anything??? Please let your pal know!

Pollen. No pollen!