January 2018 WIPs

Happy New Year! A progress report on what's going on at chez Fiber Sprite. 
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First, here's what I managed to finish from the December list:

• Socks (as of this writing, they still need to be cast off and ends woven in, but that is imminent)
• Spinning the BFL singles (still need plying)
• Plying and steaming the cashmere. Woo-hoo!
• Three runs of cloth for handwoven bags (two on the table loom, and one on the rigid heddle)
• Sewing up of 8 handwoven bags
• Looped pile washcloths
• Lots of hand-dyed yarn and fiber

And fiber-related, but not on the original list:

• A whole new website, from scratch, for the Mesa Fiber Arts Guild
• A 2018 fiber calendar, just for me
• Hemming some handwoven coasters that had been sitting around forever, waiting for that one last step.

Knitting

• I might have finished spinning the cashmere, but that means it's on to knitting it. This will be a long-term project with lots of concentration involved.
• The stashbuster sweater. Zero progress since last month's post. I was frustrated with a couple of color selections, but looking at it now, it seems just fine. Time to pick it back up.
• There aren't any socks on the needles, but I'm sure there will be. Something simple that I can pick up and put down without much thought.
• I bought a knitting machine (!). Learning to use it is actually pretty high on my priority list. 

Spinning

• The BFL laceweight still needs plying. (There's so much of it!) It's currently getting my full attention on the wheel.
• Last month I mentioned that I wanted to spin some of the fiber I've been dyeing. I've been asked to give a talk on fractal spinning for my monthly spinning group. So now I have a strong motivation to make this happen (and quickly).

Weaving

• That rug warp is still on the loom. I've made some progress, but have had a lot of broken warp threads. The warp is linen, which does tend to break when there's no humidity. Weaving it requires a commitment to humidify the room and patience, and honestly I've found it a bit more productive to work on other things. 
• The other looms are currently empty, but I'd like to get a few more of those bag weaves done. They're quick and fun!

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Sewing

• If I do get more bag weaves done, sewing them up will be at the top of the list.
• I'm drooling over the Fringe and Friends Knitalong, which is kicking off today and features log-cabin knitting. But in the spirit of getting things done, I'm reviving the log cabin blanket that has been in progress for years now. The knitting is done, and all that needs doing is hand-quilting the knitting to a woven backing. It went on pause when spring turned to summer and the AC broke, but it's plenty cold now, and I can work on it and keep warm while I do it. I probably won't be eligible for any prizes, but it will be fun to join in the log-cabin frenzy. 

Dyeing

• The goal is to dye a little every day. DH is working on an electric skeinwinder, which should help with some of the muscle fatigue. 

There's plenty more on the want-to-do list, and I'm doing everything I can to resist the startitis in favor of reducing overwhelm. What do you have going on?

xx,

​Pamela