Rocking Circle P

2011-03-30T08:27:00.005-07:00

Another Finished UFO!!!!

Hooray for Me!!!! I finished another project from oh so many years ago. This vest was started about the same time as the boys sweater, so maybe 1993 or 1994. I just completed it. Sadly....I've grown in all the wrong places but blocking took care of that issue. I'm on a roll now and plan to complete a project from about 1970. Watch and see what it is! It's a heirloom for sure!

2011-02-06T08:18:00.001-07:00

Finishing Old Projects

This is the year for completion. I started this sweater....oh gosh.....maybe 1993 or 1994, but I'm really not sure. I believe it was started for my oldest grandson, (who is now 21). What I do remember is saying....Ok, Brycyn has outgrown it, but I can finish it for Jacob......time passes......Ok, Jacob has outgrown it I can finish it for Zephrey.......time passes.......Well it can't be for Kyahna, so now what? Then Teagan came along.....guess what....Teagan gets it!

2010-11-22T14:16:00.007-07:00

Scary Lady
Do'n the Happy Dance

Ok....so I'm a bit crazy. But I had to show off the fact the the sweater is done. I have a few strings to weave in, but it's DONE!!!!!!

2010-11-21T05:05:00.001-07:00

Almost There

Sewing the sweater all together.

2010-11-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

I'm getting so excited......

The 2nd sleeve is complete. Both sleeves are blocked and ready to sew on.

2010-10-01T20:17:00.002-07:00

Fibery Stuff

September and October bring the return of school, and long hours for me at work. Some of the fibery things I have been working on are Dave's sweater. Have one sleeve finished and working on the 2nd. It's completed.

Showing Sister Susie how to make a pair of socks and had to make a pair myself. Just plain ole socks. Not too frilly, serviceable.....warm. Both socks are out of wool. Susie likes the short tops.

We're still trying to get through the warp on the loom. Making towels with chenille. We aren't moving very fast. Towel #2 at it's end.

2010-09-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

Then came August and the end of 4-H for the Summer. We all had a good time and I was pleased that all the horses and riders came away without injury.

Sadly, we lost Breezy on August 30th. She got colic. She is feeling sleepy in the pictures. She had a pain shot and some medicine trying to get her through. The hat band is what Ronnie's Mom made from Breezy's hair. Breezy was a beautiful horse and a wonderful ride, very smooth and fairly calm. She will be missed.

2010-08-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I would say that I have been the worst blogger. It seems that since I have been working 30 miles away, that I have just been getting worse and worse about writing in my blog. It's not that I have not been busy, or that I don't have things to share with the world, but time seems to be my challenge. This is a catch up day. Now let's see what's on the camera, for it tells a better story than me.

Some 4-H Horse Shows for the Summer 2010. I'm not sure which happened in which month. Let's just label them July/August.

Isn't that a pretty pair. Tyler and Windy. Colt class and Tyler's first show.

Amber and Tiny. Amber was new to riding and this was her 1st show, with about 5 days of riding experience.

Angie and Mariah.

Ronnie Jewel's 1st year with 4-H. She wanted to use Flint who is older and more experienced than her horse Breezy. Flint is a good old boy gelding and not too scary.

2010-06-24T09:35:00.004-07:00

June 2010

I didn't want June to get away without a post. I have been working on some of my Shetland fiber and will post it for sale soon.

This is a 4-H Summer and the kids have been to their first show. Having fun so far.
Angie with Western Pleasure and Ronnie Jewel squaring Flint for judging.

2010-05-04T18:54:00.005-07:00

De-Stashing - SOLD

I thought I could spin it all........NOT......Reality has sunk in and I need to get rid of a lot of fabulous fiber.

Here is the first to go. Angora/Pygora Mohair. Dark Silver Grey color. Approximately 10 ounces available. Washed and carded, but with a little vegetable matter. $3.00 per ounce. Actual shipping charges will be assessed, in the USA only please. If you are interested, please contact me by email.

2010-05-02T08:05:00.009-07:00

Catching UP!

Went out to post some information on a new project.......and OMG......I haven't posted since February. No Way......I'm better than that. Nope, it's true. I've been a bad girl. Life has just gotten in the way.

March brought open heart surgery to the recipient of the sweater. I told him, "You can't check out now, the sweater isn't done" Thank God.....he did not pass and he is recuperating nicely. The sweater progress was on a hold until my sister and I could conference about it. We were able to do that in April and now I can continue to finish sleeve 1 and continue to sleeve 2.

February 3rd, 2010 also brought a new little Great Grand Daughter. Can I be that old????? Yep, I can. She was born at 25 weeks gestation and she is still not out of the hospital, but gosh, a new precious little life like that needs a new blanket, hand made by Great Grandma......Right! So I started that project about the end of March. Still working on that one too. The picture of Abcyd (ab - ce - de) was taken in April. She was recently moved out of the Neonatal ICU and last I knew was approaching 4 pounds. Her actual due date was to be May 14th. She still needs to work on sucking before she can go home. But it looks like it will be soon. The finished blanket will say Great Grandma Loves Abcyd, framed with Baby and hearts. Mini kitty had to get into the picture as well.

Then........I swear it is not my fault. Every time I walked by that empty loom the thing just cried at me, and would call to me. So I warped it up with some old rug warp that I had laying around. Didn't have enough of any of the colors for a rug so I thought I would use all 3 colors for the warp on a rag rug made out of jeans. Looks like it is going to turn out pretty good.

2010-02-07T09:02:00.003-07:00

Sweater Progress

Here is the latest on the 1st sleeve. Working slowly, it seems. Progress on the sweater is directly related to how busy I am at work. When too busy at work, I just want to come home and veg out….do nothing until bedtime, which is usually earlier too. I think I might be getting old….hmmmm! Not worth believing today. Knit On!

Sleeve is 16 1/2 inches at this time.

One last comment. I knitted 4 rows while waiting for Blogger to download this picture. I just need to blog more often, include pictures, and I'll have this sweater completed in no time.

2010-01-22T12:35:00.001-07:00

Sweater Project:

Here is a picture of the 1st sleeve. I would love to knit both sleeves at the same time, but I only have 1 ball of yarn and I'm not sure if it will last through a whole sleeve. Sister Bonnie is to mail me more yarn as I need it and as she finishes with her portion of the sweater. So it will have to be 1 sleeve at a time and really good notes.

2010-01-18T20:49:00.004-07:00

Winter Retreat 2010
We just finished our Winter Retreat for my local spinning guild. It was a really great relaxing time for me. Here are a few of the things that came home with me. I love the 50's flower pot with the little sheep. I'm going to put it in my office with the socks needles in it. I think my mood must have been a bit lavender or pastel. It seems those are the fibers I choose this year. But I also purchased some bright blue Pendleton selvages to make a rug.

2009-12-29T19:48:00.002-07:00

BAD BLOGGER.....BAD BLOGGER !!!!

Where does time fly when you are having fun?
Ok, I know I should have written something sooner. But Christmas was upon me, and I just don't know where the time went. I'm still working on my Brother's sweater. Here is the finished back. It goes in the mail tomorrow to my sister who is going to block it and sew the front and back together and knit the cowl collar on it. I'm working on the sleeves now. Picture will come soon. For those who saw the old picture.....it had really terrible contrast, so I took a new picture.

2009-11-25T08:28:00.001-07:00

Continued Progress

Newest picture of the sweater progress.

2009-11-14T23:44:00.003-07:00

a
New Project!

The beginnings of my Brother's sweater. I'm actually a bit further in the knitting than this picture shows. I have completed the first cable and working toward the second. I'll have to take pictures tomorrow. Hopefully this will be a fast knit. My two sisters and I are suppose to be knitting this together. I only have the back to do, but I'm going to leave that one open for a while. The yarn on this is a beautiful alpaca wool blend.

WOW..... you get to see my ugly favorite chair covers. One was a rug gone awry, and the other my mother knitted and you just can't give those things up......at least I can't.

2009-10-26T13:25:00.003-07:00

Happy Dance! Doing the Happy Dance!

I figured it out.....the Log Cabin pattern for my handwoven towel.

2009-10-16T09:59:00.004-07:00

New Project

I'm about rugged out for a little while. However, I do want to try weaving a rug. I have tons of old jean strips that I want to make into a rag rug, or maybe braid a rug. Anyway, now......I'm working on weaving a towel. I've been working on this towel for several months. Warping for the log cabin pattern took a long time. As I said, this is suppose to be a log cabin pattern......NOT! Obviously, I don't read weaving patterns (drafts), as well as I can knitting patterns. This is only my 3rd attempt at weaving, so I'm still a beginner. There's enough warp on this to get 2 towels out of it so, there is always the next one to get it right!

2009-10-02T12:23:00.003-07:00

Another Rug!

This one is for Melissa and her new home. I like that basket weave pattern, so I thought I would try it with 3 color combinations. I think it looks ok. I might like just 1 color combination a bit better. She's the one I wanted to please and she likes it........so.....IT'S A KEEPER!

2009-09-14T12:05:00.003-07:00

Where did August Go?

I can't seem to find it. Here it is nearly mid September and I haven't done much. Washed some fiber. Mocha is washed and I'm working on Raven. Finished this little rug this weekend. It was yarn that I had purchased for Roni Davis.....we were suppose to be knitting the same rug. Mine was the tan colored one in April 09? She never got started. So I decided I would change the pattern and make this one instead. For her new house when she and hubby get moved in.
Contents: 2 strands for white cotton and 1 strand of white acrylic rug yarn.

2009-07-05T06:45:00.002-07:00

New Weaving

Learning to do anything by yourself can be a long, lonely road. That's been my perspective on weaving. I really enjoy weaving, but I feel so inadequate. Here is my second weaving and there are questions that I hope my groupies in Yahoo can help me decide what it is I'm doing wrong. Practice makes perfect......right! Next I'm going to participate in the Weave-A-Long (WAL) in the Yahoo group and see if I can get a log cabin pattern to work for a couple of towels.

2009-07-01T07:19:00.004-07:00

VACATION TIME!!!

I wish I could say that I went to a weaving workshop, or a sockknitting machine workshop, but.... I can't. What I did do and continue to work on is take some days to spend with the families of each son. Couple days here, couple of days there. It was an enjoyable time. Gosh do those people eat. Gained 10 pounds in one week, eating myself round.....ok rounder. Now that I am home, I get to finish some well deserved projects at home too. What I was able to accomplish during all the traveling was some spinning on my spindles. I took two zip lock bags full of fiber and two different spindles, (they travel so nicely), and here is what I was able to do.

First is some yarn from my Shetland ram Valentine. I want to make this into a rug, so I have been trying to spin it a bit thicker than I normally do. That's difficult to do when you have a learned to spin finer and finer. I also think it is interesting that the colors are different. In the fibery fluff form they didn't look all that different.

Next is some of the finer stuff for a pair of socks this winter. Mocha socks? This wool is also Shetland wool, from one of my ewes. I have not plied it yet. I am contemplating mixing some of it with the fiber from my Ginny dog and create my long awaited for Ginny Dog socks. Time will tell, certainly, I have enough of Mocha fiber to do both. I love the, traveling nostepinne, which I don't use correctly, but it works.

2009-06-13T11:06:00.005-07:00

Last Baby of the Season!

Dot, one of my Shetland ewes had her very large single, a Morrit Ram Lamb on June 3rd. I need to get a picture of this boy. I'm going to call him Freckles. He's pretty cute. Here is his picture.

Today I finished all the ends on this striped crochet rug. This was a quick crochet rug. Just used some Supersaver stash yarn and a simple Leisure Arts pattern.

2009-05-26T07:12:00.007-07:00

New 2009 Babies!!

Well Ole McPeggy's farm is at it again. Grace, my cashmere goat, was first with a new little doeling on May 16, 2009. We've named the baby Miracle. Grace is a first time momma and it was not an easy delivery. OUCH! Good size baby for a 1st time momma.

This morning I walked out to check on Mocha, one of my Shetland ewes to find 2 new babies. One of each. A little sugar lipped ewe and a little black ram.

2009-05-13T09:55:00.005-07:00

May Marches On!

I'm so happy. I've completed a UFO (unfinished object).............Now I have a FO (finished object). Back in the early 1980's my older 13-14 year old daughter wanted to make a wall hanging/rug for her little brother for Christmas. He was around 3 years old as I recall. We purchased a latch hook project of Garfield the cat for her to make for him. She started it and worked on it pretty good.....Christmas came and went. Well I finished it today. What's kind of special now is that 3 generations have worked on this rug. Myself, my daughter and son, and the youngest boy who was to be the recipient, when he was around 10 -12, and now..... his daughter who is 10 years old. It was fun, but it's feels so good to have the project completed. It will be placed in my spare bedroom which his two girls occupy when they are at Grandma's house.

Now it's time to turn toward the critters on the farm and get everyone sheared. First sheared this year was Gracie, my new cashmere goat, but I'm not sure she kept her pregnancy or I'm off on when she is really due. Next and very soon will be Mocha, sweet little Shetland moorit ewe. I believe she will birth next and I need to get her prepared.

2009-04-07T12:26:00.002-07:00

One Rug Done

Here is a picture of the Accent Rug that I finished today. Still working on the latch hook UFO from the 1970's.

2009-03-26T12:35:00.002-07:00

March........Where did it go?

This is a very busy month for me. Why? I'm not quite sure. Maybe because I was sick and that took two weeks out of my busy life to heal.

What am I working on? Well I have finished my Mystery Stole. Finished all the knitting, but stalled out on the Kitchener stitching it together. This was a common problem with others in the group too.

I've also been working on 2 rugs. One of them is a UFO from the late 70's. I've got 3 generations that have worked on this rug. The other rug I am knitting. I'll have to post pictures tomorrow.

2009-03-13T07:48:00.003-07:00

Are Ya Feeling Old Today?

I'm feeling it today. Today, I became a Great Grandma. Can't believe it. I know yesterday, I was watching my son get married. Now his son, Brycyn is a Daddy too?

Here is our precious Ambria. Born on Friday, March 13th 2009. 13 is the number of change, so she is going to bring wonderful changes to all who touch her life. So be it.

2009-02-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

The Knitting is Done!!

Finished all the knitting today on my Mystery 4 stole. Now I need to kitchener stitch it together and block it. Hope to do that this weekend. Hooray......I can't believe it's finally knitted.

2009-01-26T09:19:00.001-07:00

Getting Speedy in the Final Stretch!

Can't believe I've already finished Clue 4. One more Clue to knit and then join the two sides and I'll be done. Plan for a completion date in February. I still think it's the lack of fear over knitting lace that has made the difference. Less beading, and no holidays to contend with.

The Winter Retreat for my Spinning Guild is coming up this weekend. WoooooooHoooooo! I plan to relax and enjoy myself with my fiber addict friends.

2009-01-16T10:03:00.002-07:00

HOORAY!!!! Finished Clue 3

I finally finished Clue 3, side 2 of my Mystery Stole. There was so much to do over the Holidays, I didn't even pick it up. BooHooHoo! Then I needed something easy like a pair of socks to relax me and get the brain back in gear.

2009-01-13T13:49:00.002-07:00

Working On - for 2009

The Holidays are over and I find myself wanting to knit more socks. I went stash diving and found this Parade self stripping sock yarn and thought that would be perfect and fast. Started the first sock and worked it up to......where the picture is on the foot. I only purchased 2 skeins of this yarn, and of course it is no longer available. So my simple pair of socks is now going to require a purchase of sock blanks or just plain yarn and some commercial dyes to try and match the stripe. Life is so wonderful, and full of learning lessons.

2008-12-19T12:18:00.001-07:00

Clue 1 and 2, Side 2 are done.

Clue 1, Side 2 is completed and I forgot to take a picture or even post on my blog about it. Now Clue 2, Side 2 is completed too. It appears to me that the second side of this stole is going faster. I think it is because you know the pattern a little bit and the fear factor of lace knitting is gone. I'll post a picture later. Christmas knitting is also taking a toll on me being able to work on my Mystery Stole.

2008-11-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

Clue 6 Completed!!!!

Now to begin again with Clue 1, side 2.

2008-11-13T12:33:00.002-07:00

Clue 5 Done!!!!

Here is a picture of Clue 5 completed.

2008-10-29T11:51:00.002-07:00

Finished Clue 4
on my Mystery Stole 4

Here is a picture of Clue 4 completed.

2008-10-25T07:24:00.004-07:00

Trudging Along With My Fiber Projects!

Still working on the Loomclass Afghan/Lapghan. Finished Block 9, but I don't want to do the Ribbon Block. If the afghan were for me, it would be fine, but I may give it to someone else and I just don't want it in there. So, I'm making two Block 9's. I like the pattern anyway, so I think it will add to the balance of the afghan.

Working on Clue 4 of the Mystery Stole. Ran into a snag, and I haven't figured it out yet. Some of the rows are real difficult to knit. Snag is row 167.

I'm spinning on my wheel this Icelandic fiber from a local farmer. About 3/4 of the way through the second spool. It's talking to me about socks or mittens. We'll see which one wins out.

2008-10-14T15:38:00.003-07:00

Clue 3 is Finished!!!!

WOW, the stole is getting really pretty. I like the pattern. This particular clue was very hard to keep the pattern right. Too many yarn overs, knit one, slip slip knit, knit 2 together stuff going on. I really struggled on row 121.

It was a B*#%@. On to clue 4 tonight.

Happy Knitting

2008-10-01T11:19:00.002-07:00

Clue 2 Finished!!!

WOW, this lace knitting takes a long time, or it seems so. I've only had to frog just a little, maybe 20 stitches to correct errors. I like that part. To think that I have to do this all again for the other side is a bit itimidating right now. I'm trying not to focus on that.

2008-09-21T08:02:00.006-07:00

Clue 1 is

Finished!!!!

I joined the Mystery Stole IV and just finished the first clue. I love the lacey look of these stoles. It takes me a long time to complete 1 row and the return, but I think it is worth it. This is my first bead project. Not too shabby for a newbie.

2008-09-19T09:26:00.005-07:00

Project Afghan/Lapghan

Finished both Blocks 7.

Pictures of both.

Also finished Block 8. They all need to be blocked.

Phew!!!!! I'm finally caught up for a day or two.

Next Project I started is the Mystery Stole IV.

Still on Clue 1, but should be done with it tomorrow. Here is my progress so far.

2008-09-09T11:48:00.003-07:00

Fireside Socks are Complete!

I finished the Fireside socks faster than I thought I would. It's been real slow at my work and that made it possible to work on them there, just a little.

Next projects:

Finish Loomclass Block 7 second block

Start Loomclass Block 8

Start Mystery Stole IV - my yarn and beads just came in. This is my first bead project. I'm not sure how that will be.

Nothing Ventured.......Nothing Gained!

2008-09-08T09:11:00.006-07:00

Fireside Sock 2

My homespun is not as fine as store bought sock yarns. I ran out of yarn. I thought 5 ozs. would be enough......funny girl. So, I had to spin more yarn for my socks. I also had to dye it, hopefully the same color.

HOORAY!!!!!

It worked. They are the same, or close enough for the boys I date, as Grandpa always used to say, only he would say girls I date. You can see where one yarn left off and the other started using up the 5 ozs and on to another 4 ozs. Side by side they look like they belong together.

Winter beware.....for I am wearing my Fireside toasty socks.

2008-08-24T08:16:00.003-07:00

#1 Sock Done

Finished the first sock. They are going to be thick winter socks. I could wear them with clogs and my feet will feel very comfortable. They are not wet finished, but I want to get sock #2 done before I do that. Sock 2 will start tomorrow.

2008-08-08T09:02:00.002-07:00

Knitting Fireside Sock

Knitting the socks, I have found that my homespun yarn is not as fine as the yarn used in the pattern. Had to do a little frogging and start all over again with larger needles and adjust the pattern a bit. Here is what it looks like so far.

2008-08-03T22:14:00.007-07:00

Socks to Dye For

Here is the yarn dyeing in the sun. Really labor intensive.......NOT! I used 6 packages of the cheap Koolaid type flavored drink mix, cherry flavor. Placed it in the jar with hot water and a splash of vinegar. I presoaked the yarn in hot water with a glug of vinegar in it for about 20 minutes. Removed it and drained it a bit, just so I didn't make a mess when transferring it to the jar. Put the lid on it and placed it in the sun. Sit back and let nature take it course.

The dye was totally absorbed by the yarn. The water I poured out of the jar the next day was clear. I gently rinsed out any excess dye from the yarn and hung it up to dry. Here is the balled up yarn ready to knit.

2008-07-31T19:41:00.007-07:00

Fireside Socks Ready to Dye

The fiber is spun and ready to dye. I have nearly 5 oz. of shetland/mohair blend. It's a 2 ply yarn. It's approximatley finger weight, maybe between finger and sport weight.

Still working on Block 7 of the Loomclass Lapghan/Afghan. Should be finished tomorrow.

2008-07-24T08:08:00.011-07:00

Block 6 is Done!!!!

Moving right along, I have completed Block 6 of the Loomclass Lapghan/Afghan. I started Block 7 this morning and am on row 10. Hopefully, I'll be caught up with this class this week. Regarding cables on a loom. It's much easier to do with needles, but it's a nice skill to learn.

2008-07-16T12:11:00.003-07:00

Block 5 is Done!!!!!

Here is Block 5 of the Loom Class Afghan/Lapghan knitting group.

WOW!! that table is one ugly color. Certainly doesn't do anything for the block. It will have to do for now.

2008-07-15T14:20:00.005-07:00

Happy July

What am I working on? Well first there is this group of loom knitters and I'm on Block 5.
Almost completed it.....yea for me! But the sad news is I'm behind on this group and have Block 6 already waiting for me to start.

Next, I finished spinning some Corridale X and it's on the niddy noddy, getting ready to ply.....hummmmm 2 ply or 3 ply?

Currently on the spindle and wheel are Alpaca from Rainbow Farms in Vernal, Utah. Nice fiber if you need alpaca.

Today I purchased this cool pattern from Pinklemon Twist. So I went stash diving and have decided to card some shetland fiber and some mohair and dye it red for those Fire socks. The fibers are grey, brown, and white so I'm hoping when I dye it that the colors will take up the dye just a little differently and give it a cool look. I'll have to post picture of the process. Wish me luck. Here's the link if you want to see the Fire socks. Enjoy the rest of July!

http://pinklemontwist.blogspot.com/2008/07/fire-pattern-ii-of-elements-sock.html

2008-06-26T12:01:00.006-07:00

Bump....Bump....Bump.....
Another One Bites the Dust!

Gosh it feels great to complete projects. Big Sigh!!!! Here are my friend Roni's socks. Completed and ready to deliver. They were suppose to be for her birthday on June 11th. Well, I'm a little late, but had to adjust the foot length. She measured her feet and she said they are 10 1/2 inches. I knit a 10 1/2 inch foot on the sock, but it was too big. Raise your hand if you too have experienced this? Ok, leave a comment and let me know what happened. Does the sock grow when you put it on? Don't be intimidated, the pattern is a lot easier to knit than it looks.

2008-05-22T10:46:00.003-07:00

SOCKS!

Around the heel and almost there!

This is a project that I started last year, and then life happened. I'm trying to finish them for my friend's birthday in June. It'll be close, this is sock #1.

It's a Knit Picks pattern, "Aran Braided Socks," by Susan Lawrence, that my friend fell in love with when she saw them.

2008-05-17T15:23:00.006-07:00

We Got Babies!

This seasons of new kids and lambs has started. Silver was first as usual, May 8, 2008 and again she had twins, but rejected the white one. Prejudice goat! I think I can say that, this is the 3rd year she has done it. I'm not a very good goat momma and I've not been able to save them. This year I was away when she had them and when I came home I found a dead little white doeling, and she was nursing the heck out of the little bager face buckling, who was obviously smaller and I assume weaker.

Next was Goldie, twin sister to Silver, and she too had little badger face babies. But she had two little doelings., May 14, 2008.

Then Dot, one of my shetland ewes had her baby the same day, about an hour later. I didn't even know she was in labor. Look at this little ewe lamb cutie.

2008-05-07T08:40:00.002-07:00

Can't believe I missed April.

I was trying so hard to post at least once a month.

I'm a terrible blogger.

May brings finished projects:

Freckles is spun, plied, set and ready to return to it's home with my Sister Bonnie.
2 1/2 blocks of the 3 afghan blocks from my Loomclass are complete.
The gate on my main pen was created and I just love it. Thank you John
Combed and Carded the shetland. Combed shetland top is wonderful to spin.

May brings new projects:

Preparation for birth of new kids and lambs. I'm so excited!
Finish shearing all the animals.
Spin shetland - Going to send Bonnie some to try out. I want to do some of this as a 2 ply and some as a 3 ply.....maybe a navajo 3 ply.
Work on those socks for my friend.
New weaving project from my Ashford book with homespun yarn.

2008-03-21T13:22:00.007-07:00

SPRING IS HERE!

You can always tell when Spring hits the Uintah Basin.....it's windy. Yep, our Spring afternoon winds have started, and I'm glad the snow is almost gone, and hope the mud stays to a minimum. This was a long snowy Winter and I welcome a change.

What I have been working on, well first I found my camera cord so now I can post pictures.

This is the scarf that I have been working on. It's mostly done. A few strings to weave in and it's complete. I don't care to put up with the fringe, so I didn't put any on it. To be honest, I used the yarn as warp for a scarf, and if you have had any experience weaving.....well it was a bad choice. So I knitted the scarf instead, but have tons of strings to weave in. It's for me and was just an experiment on weaving. I hope to try and use it as weft on my loom and still have a woven scarf out of it. Maybe I'll use silk for the warp or some of my own mohair dyed a deep purple as warp. Here's the picture of the knitted scarf.

Next, I've been working on my Kromski Rigid Heddle Loom and my first woven cloth. I'm excited to be weaving, but I have a long way to go. This was a great first experience and I learned tons of stuff. There is not a Weaving Guild locally, so most of my learning is from books, and a few members of my spinning guild, and some groups that I belong to. You can see, I've pleased the Gods, because there is a flaw all the way through it. When sleying the heddle, one slot was missed. Big Opps!

Last, item that I have been concentrating on is spinning Freckles fiber. Freckles is an Alpaca, and the fiber is my sisters, who purchased it from a vendor at Stitches Midwest. I wanted to have it completed for her by her birthday in April. I've been spinning it on a wheel and spindle. I'm afraid it is a bit finer or larger wpi on the spindle. Is that normal?

2008-02-29T06:45:00.002-07:00

Where does time go?

February is about over and it was a whirl wind of a month. All my kids and grandkids and myself went to Disneyland in California. We had a blast! I could not have had a better time, but would have preferred to be healthy. I went with a new case of bronchitis, and infected everyone in the group....Sorry! The kids drugged me up with Day Quil, or Night Quil and dragged me all over Disneyland and the California experience side, for 4 days, it was a blur. Wednesday night I was finally able to sleep laying down and not cough all night long. I can really remember Thursday. Life is great, but I wish I was feeling better for the trip. The picture is day 1, the little guy there is the youngest grandchild, two older boys really didn't want to do the Disney character thing, so they are not pictured, but that's the rest of the grand babies. It was really sweet to see how Teagan (youngest 23 months old) reacted to Goofy. He ran to him and gave him a big hug, then cried when we pulled him away. It was so touching, it made me cry. He loved the characters, but Goofy was his first and favorite.

Came home Sunday, after attending church with my Son and grandkids in Las Vegas, in a winter storm that scarred the heck out of me. Did 30 - 35 miles per hour for the last 5 1/2 hours, that truly should have been a 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive, to make it home at 10:30 at night. I was never so glad to get home.

For the last week of my vacation, I have been a slouth. Didn't do much of anything. Finished getting well. I'm still coughing a little bit, but feel much better. I've been trying to get this knitted scarf done before Spring is here and I can't use it anymore. I guess there is always next winter. Can't take any pictures, because I can't find my camera cord. I think I left it at work. Monday it's back to the old grind stone, but I feel refreshed, and I'm glad for the 2 weeks off to enjoy my children and grandchildren on a trip of a life time.

2008-01-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

A New Year..... New Resolutions.......New Directions

I've decided to ditch the Masters program. It would have been great to have the degree, but it came directly in conflict with the farm and livestock. I own the farm and livestock and have made a committment to them. So maybe in my next life, I'll acquire a Masters Degree. With this change of direction, a great burden has been lifted off of my shoulders and I can now focus on my love of the fiber arts. Here is what I have been working on. They probably should have been Christmas presents, but I will present them to someone on another day. It's still giving, even if it is not Christmas........isn't it?......maybe more so. This is a loom knitted scarf. Just the basic knit with 2 purl stitches on each end to help the scarf lay flat and not curl.

Look at that funky yarn.

Next is a needle knitted scarf. I didn't listen to my own advice on the sides and it curls.....go figure. This picture didn't turn out very well, there is a cable in the middle

2007-10-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

TOO BUSY!!!!

I'm just too busy. I'm taking two master classes and they are keeping me hooping. I don't have time to do much of anything, but read. I have a report due tomorrow and I still am reading the material. Gosh, do this while you are young. I'm going to try and write more in my blog. I've been very poor at it recently.

2007-10-11T16:19:00.000-07:00

Sewing Conference

Besides doing all the reading and homework of these classes, I volunteered to teach a hairpin lace class for our local Sewing Conference. WOW, it's been a long time since I did any hairpin lace, but I finally remembered and I think the class went off ok. Not great, but ok. It was a smaller class and that was good for me. This is the scarf I tried to teach them to make. It's really quite pretty. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art26186.asp Teaching really is a talent and I think my talent either left or is so very rusty, I really had to work at it. It was nice to do a few crafty things for a little while. Well, back to the books.

2007-07-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

WOW! What changes in my life. I have changed jobs a couple of times over the last few weeks. I still work for the same place, just new assignments, and they still aren't done moving me around. I'm hoping for one position in particular......hope with me.

Then I was accepted into a Master's Program and will be starting that in a few weeks. Which means time away from the farm and animals. I've got to get more pens built while I'm off this week.

We've had a stud in here so maybe we'll have colts next year. I really don't care if we do or not honestly, but if so, what a nice surprise.

And the BF and I aren't seeing eye to eye......gosh we're not seeing anything together so I've dedicated this oldie-but-goodie to him. It's Rod Stewart lyrics. Thanks Rod for knowing exactly how I feel.

"I Wish You Love"

(feat. Chris Botti)

I wish you bluebirds in the spring

To give your heart a song to sing

And then a kiss

But more than this

I wish you love

And in July a lemonade

To cool you in some leafy glade

I wish you health

And more than wealth

I wish you love

My breaking heart and I agree

That you and I could never be

So with my best, my very best

I set you free

I wish you shelter from the storm

A cozy fire to keep you warm

But most of all

When snowflakes fall

I wish you love

I wish you shelter from the storm

A cozy fire to keep you warm

But most of all

When snowflakes fall

I wish you love

[Thanks to www.oldielyrics.com for these lyrics]

2007-05-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

First Spring Lamb

Mocha had her first lamb. Little black ewe lamb, with a few sprigs of white hair on the top of her head. I'm not sure how they tell if she will stay that color or not, but hope she does. Her gums in her mouth are darkish, not black but certainly not pink either. Born May 2, 2007 around noon. I came home for lunch and she had just arrived.

2007-04-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

Lots of Saddness

Boy did April suck. I lost my sweet little Tino. This is the second little dog I have lost in the last five months. Dang it hurts to loose the little guys. They get so wrapped up in my heart. Here are my babies.

Wookie - Dec 2005 - November 2006

Tino Dec 2005 - April 2007

2007-03-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

Good Morning All!

Marching into March and I haven't posted much the last little while.

Spinning: I've been working on this fiber for a little while now. It's almost done. I have this fiber and some buffalo hair to spin and my sisters fiber purchases form Stitches Midwest 2006 will be completed. This is 50/50 baby camel down and silk. Lovely stuff to spin.

2007-02-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

Fiber Dyeing

Well I played with Food coloring and Rit Dye. Here are my results. I put a roving, presoaked in a vinegar bath, of mohair in a piece of saran wrap and placed the food colors on the roving. They had been made up pretty much like you do Easter egg dyes. Poured in sections, then wraped and microwaved for about 3 minutes, at 1 minute intervals. That's the light green pastel colored roving. The other fiber were a couple of rovings put in a bath of water and vinegar. The crystal or dry Rit dye was then poured on top of the fiber. No dipping, just absorption. WOW!!!! It split. This turned out really pretty I think.

2007-01-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

The New Spin

My spindle and I are becoming fast friends. This is my mohair from my weekend of washing and carding. I have a ton of mohair now. The Louet Roving carder has that little wheel and the fiber that gathers on it is mixed and usually second cuts or something odd about it. I've decided that rather than throw it away, I would spin it and make rugs. Even if they felt they will be warm and toastie under my feet. I can bring my spindle to work and spin here and there and maybe make that rug sometime this year.

2007-01-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

Socks.....Socks.....And More Socks!

Finished my BF's socks. This is my 4th pair of home made socks. I do believe they are getting better looking and easier to make too. These are some heavy duty boot socks, but your feet would not dare get cold in them.

2007-01-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

Just Busy

Well Happy New Year to all. The end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007 has me doing some traveling. My BF and myself took a trip to Oklahoma City to see my little Aunt who is not feeling very well. Then on to Arkansas to see/meet his mother. That was a little nerve racking, but I survived and enjoyed the visit. The roads going were great.....dry and clean, but those same roads home were treacherous. I've never been so glad to get through Colorado in one piece.

I was able to get a pair of socks done, on the trip, but they have already been given to the intended recipient. Also made a bennie hat for my BF and he gave it away too. Hmmmmm...did he not like it, was it too small and is afraid to say so.....? I'm working on a pair of socks for him right now. If these get given away. I won't make the sweater I have planned for him for sure.

Aunt Bonnie winning her Red Hat for the

Red Hat Society

2006-12-11T16:25:00.000-07:00

Spindle Spinning

I needed a change and thought I would try spindle spinning some fiber. I'm rather proud of the single that I am able to produce of this beautifully hand painted little spindle from Crowhill House Fiberworks. It's turning out to be quite nice change from the production spinning of my Minstrel wheel. The fiber is Qiviut from Moco Yarns. Almost reminds me of dryer fluff, or angora it's so very soft.

2006-12-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

I am a
Violet

What Flower
Are You?

"You have a shy personality. You tend to hesitate before trying new things or meeting new people. But once people get to know you, you open up and show the world what you are really all about."

WOW.....that's amazingly true.

2006-11-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

FINISHED.......WOOOOHOOOO!

Finally finished these socks. Not a bad fit either......a little long in the toe......but they are not for me.

2006-11-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

The New Spin

Here's a new spin for me and I like it! Guanaco.....sounds scary and evil, but it is soft and devine. Again, some fiber that my Sister Bonnie sent to have me spin for her. This fiber is from Village Spinning & Weaving Shop, in Solvang California. Cool little town to visit too. This fiber is soft as butter, spins fine as frogs hair, (for me anyway, I haven't put a count on it, but it resembles thread), and I love the way it drafts. Just hold on to it and it makes the yarn, Ok.... maybe not quite that easy, but it is nice stuff to spin. I think easier than the Cashmere was for me. The fibers seem to be longer and draft out together better.

2006-11-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

Everyone Knitting?

With Christmas just around the corner, I imagine everyone is busy, with clicking needles of some sort. These are not a Christmas present, but a Friendship present. The socks are coming along nicely...... however see the two wooden DPN's..... there were five in this set. That dang little dog of mine likes my wooden needles and chewed up the third one. I've switched to two circular metal needles, but the yarn does slip easier. But a girls got to do what a girls got to do.

2006-11-20T15:15:00.000-07:00

Comfort!!!

Spinning is so much cheaper than therapy.....don't you agree.

Here is what I am working on, (left) 2 ozs of Freckles (alpaca) for Sister Bonnie and (below)eventually 3 or 4 ozs of Bluefaced Leicester for a winter project I have in mind.

2006-11-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

Finished 4 ozs of Dark Winter Nights

Here is a finished navajo ply on that gorgeous fiber. It's leaving in the mail, so I thought I better get it on the ole blog.

2006-10-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Spinning in October

You know spinning in the colder months is so comforting. Why is that? This has been my latest projects in spinning. Finished up another 4 ozs of the natural black wool.....there is something to be said about variety.

Then my dear Sister Bonnie sent me her Stitches of the Mid West purchases. Here is 1 oz of cashmere. My first experience with cashmere and it was different and I could not get it as fine as I would have liked. As a single ply it averaged 20 wpi, but as a 2 ply it is more like 12 wpi. Very pretty stuff though, soft....soft....soft.

Next is some fiber she purchased from Changing Threads & Yarn, called "Dark Winter Nights"......ooooou.....pretty color. This colorway was made by Sitka, of Raven Frog Fiber Arts. Great Job! This is spinning up really fine, gotta love those longer fibers. It will make a lovely navajo 3 ply, which is what I plan to do

2006-10-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

ARRRGGGGGH! I lost a stitch on my loom and I'm not familiar enough with loom knitting to pick it up so I put the stitches on needles and then picked up the lost stitch. After all this effort, I realized it was too small for the person who I am making it for. ARRRRGGGH! *#$%@#&* That is not suppose to happen. Back to the drawing board!!!! I started all over again with 48 stitches and it works......see!

This is sock 1 for my friend and ferrier Roland Grover. He is also the person who gave me the natural black wool. The sock is of the black wool and the toe and heel are my mohair blended with the black wool. Sock 2 is on the needles.

2006-09-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

MORE SOCKS???? YEP!

I'm going to get this down, even if it makes me totally crazy. I love socks and making socks. So here is my newest effort at some socks. This is an EFG (extra fine guage) or FG (fine guage) loom from Decor Accents, can't remember which. http://www.decoraccentsinc.com They make the best looms. This particular yarn is my own handspun. I've got to get some little rubberbands to mark the K2P2 so I don't have to count all the time. It's coming along nicely, but you can't tell what size it is going to fit. Purling around the corners is a bit of a challenge, but I'm developing a technique. I found some nice patterns for a remake of Ron's socks. I'll be starting those again very soon. Oh, I also bought some yarn and pattern from Knit Picks www.knitpicks.com to make a really cool aran sweater for someone special. sssshhhhhh......don't tell.

2006-09-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

Socks Make Good Dusting Rags....Don't They!
Well, the sock passed all the tests for the superwash. That bad boy sock didn't even shrink a teensy bit. Pilled a little.....that's all. So I now have a sock that would fit a size 14 foot or larger. Anyone know anybody who needs just one big sock? Well, if nothing else, I decided it would make a great dusting rag. I'm off to search for patterns for mens socks.
Happy Sunday everyone.

2006-09-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

BIG FOOT?

Ok, so what if I made a sock for Big Foot. I'm going to wash it and see what happens. The yarn is suppose to be superwash, so we'll see what we get when attacked by the local washing machine, warm water and the dryer. Are there any sock police out there? I think it is a good thing that I have several skeins of this yarn. I might be able to make a pair that will fit him yet.

2006-09-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

Where did August go?

I've been a busy girl and enjoying life and the pursuit of happiness. It's been 20 years since I have had so much fun with a fella and we have been having a blast. Nice to have a little male companionship. But, I have been neglecting my blog. I haven't accomplished much over the last month, been too busy having fun, but I did get this fiber spun and finished one of Ron's socks. Just one...I know.....I'm worried!.....and it turned out huge. Maybe I see my son's foot as larger than it really is. I'll post a picture in a while.

2006-07-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

Spinning

This is another fiber I have been working on this Summer. It's the fiber for my brothers socks. It seems that the 10 wpi is where I am today in my spinning. Fairly consistant for the last couple of months.

Question for all you experienced spinners. Do you count the wpi before you ply it, as a single, or ply it and then count the wpi? Or does it even matter.

This is the last of the fiber that I received from the Winter Retreat. I made quite a haul in fiber. It was an interesting fiber to spin because the brown color was coarse. I'm not sure if this was caused because of the dye or just a different type of wool. The white fiber was soft as butter and spun very nicely.

The other fiber is some Churro that I was given by a lady at the Thanksgiving Point Fiber Festival in May. It was really fun spinning it because it was a novelty from batt to yarn.

2006-07-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

What have I been doing for the last while?

I've been spinning and spinning and spinning, and making a felted bowl. Remember the first yarn? Remember the first yarn sun dyeing? I think that was back in August 2005.

Well I decided to take those first yarns that I learned to spin on and make a bowl. It turned out to be a small bowl and resembles a spittoon more than a bowl, but it was my own creation. Crocheted and Felted.

The brown raglan yarn was fiber I received from the guilds Winter Retreat in January 2006. Just finishing the spin on that fiber. My brother came to visit and liked that fiber. Hinted he needed a pair of socks made from it. I'll have to find something for the heels and toes, big footed bloke that he is, but I think I will have enough. He is moving back to Utah, so he will need some really warm socks. Hmmmmm.......

2006-07-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

July Already?

I can't believe time is flying by soooo quickly. I can't believe I haven't said a word on my blog for a while. It's not like I'm not doing things. So thought I would add some of the newer critters to the ole blog. We have Dutch and Doc. Two little brothers who will supply some very fine angora fiber to the farm.

Still in quarantine are my new little Shetland babies, Dot (white ewe with 3 dots on her left ear), and Mocha for her beautiful chocolate color.

2006-06-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

Good Morning

I like mornings. What have I been doing? Well, I purchased this lace weight yarn from KnitPicks called Shadow, colorway is vineyard. It is a lovely purplish color. I just love it. I joined a Mystery Shawl group and plan to make a lace shawl. My 1st, but hope not my last. I'll post a picture of this luscious yarn later.

This is what I have been spinning.

It's Faulkland fiber from the Winter Retreat. We dyed it there to this pretty sage color. Nice 10wpi 2 ply. There now you know how experienced a spinner I am......NOT! The yarn charts indicate that 10 wpi is bulky, but this yarn looks and feels more like a sport weight or maybe a DK weight.

2006-06-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

You're A Grafton Fibers Swan!
You are open, spiritual, creative, and down-to-earth! Which Spindle Are You?

2006-05-30T14:32:00.000-07:00

How Dare I Forget!

Here I was bragging about the last babies and I forgot Lucy was pregnant. Here are her new babies and I think the last of the babies this year. Can't believe she had so many of them. There were seven, but six survived. That's plenty babies to find good homes for.

2006-05-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

Last Baby This Year

I think we went out with a bang. What a handsome little boy! Can you believe it! I don't have colts every year, but it seems we, (between my daughter-in-law and me), have them every
2 - 4 years. This is the first boy in about 12 years.

Wait for me mommy!

Proud New Momma

2006-05-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

We're still here --- Just Busy!

I guess it's been a while since I posted a message, so I thought I better say something. Well I guess I'm only going to get two baby horses this year. Mariah does not seem to be pregnant. Lady the 19 year old mare is ready to deliver anytime.

Here is a new picture of the little Palamino filly. She sure is a sweet little girl. I can pick up all feet and she just loves to be around people. She's going to make someone a wonderful companion.

2006-04-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

Update on Ron's Socks

I haven't posted on Ron's socks for a while and thought you might be interested as to why. That same little 4 month old Chihuahua loves to chew on things. See the nice stick in the middle of the picture......it was a double pointed needle. This is the second time he has made out with them. The first time, I was able to use sand paper and smooth out the teeth marks.

Even this morning, after I took the picture, I put the stitches back on the 2 needles he pulled out, while I was getting ready for work, I looked over on my bed and there he was with one of the needles. He pulled it out again. I spanked his little hinny this morning. Caught right in the act of being a bad boy.

2006-04-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

Finally!!!!!

Grandma gets pictures of Tegan. Oh.....He's a cutie. I think we better keep him. I know I'm prejudice, but he is so darn handsome.

2006-04-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

More Babies

Can goats have babies anytime besides just before dark?

Last of the baby kids were born. Silver had twins. One looks like the daddy and one like the momma. But the little white one was rejected by the momma. I think he was in the sack too long and inhaled gunck. Well, he went to the vet and got some medicine and I'm trying to nurse him to health. I don't know how good of a goat momma I'll make.

But my little 4 month old male Chihuahua is trying awfully hard.

Here's a sad update. I lost the little white goat on Friday, April 14th.
I guess I'm not a very good momma goat.

2006-04-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

WHAT A WEEK!

Three babies in one week. That took a lot out of me and I just sat there and worried. Didn't do a thing, not one contraction did I have. Here is Goldie's new baby. She was really mauve or dusty rose colored when she was born, so I've named her Rose.

She was born about 1 hour before dark on Saturday, April 1, my April Fools baby. It was a rotten day to be born, the wind was blowing cold and we had hail, snow and rain earlier that day. Poor baby was so cold. I helped Momma dry her off so she could get warmed up and put a lamp on for them.

First exploration, the little rat got through too.

2006-03-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

2 Down and 4 more to go!

Young Master Tegan Reese Gerald Payne entered his life on this day, March 29, 2006 at 2:12 am, weighing 7 pounds 10 ounces and 18 1/2 inches tall. They ended up having to do a c-section, but Mom and babe are doing well. No pictures yet, so I thought I would put up the progress of his blanket. Grandma needs to get speedy fingers to finish it. The blanket is done in panels. Panel one is complete and I'm about to start the hearts of panel 2. There will be six panels total. That table does nothing for the color. It's actually a pretty baby blue

2006-03-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

One Down Five to Go!

Well surprise, surprise. Spring time begins at Rocking Circle P. We got a baby this morning. I think about 2 weeks early, but seems to be doing fine. That leaves 2 horses, 2 does, and Laura (daughter-in-law).

This is a Three Generation Shot. Great Grandma, not pictured, deceased at age of 29, Kelly Girl was a Palomino. Grulla is her daughter, Mariah's Wind, Palomino Paint is her daughter, Bristol Breeze, and now the newest filly, for now Pretty Girl.

2006-03-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

WOW.....This is a Beautiful Spring Morning

I really like Spring. It smells fresh and new. I've been sick with some sort of bronchial thing that made me feel like I had asthma (which I don't have). I can finally smell and taste again, and I'm really hungry. All good healing signs.

Here is what I haven't been working on. I purchased this yarn to make my newest little, soon to be born, grandson a blanket. Tegan Reese is suppose to be his name, but I'm not sure I am spelling everything right. I must get going on this blanket, he'll be here soon.

The brown fiber is from the Winter Retreat. This was the long hairy looking fiber. It spun up like a charm and I really wish I knew more about it. The raglan is the black fiber and my mohair plied together. Made one of these earlier, but it went to my sister. This one is mine.

2006-03-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Spinning On

Winter is almost over, I thought. We received another inch of snow last night and some rain too. My 400 foot driveway was slick and slippery this morning, but we made it out. I've been spinning some lovely fiber from Spinderella's of Salt Lake City. It's colorway is called "Smilin at Me". It's a very pretty color I think. Almost wish I had more to make a vest out of. It's a variety of fibers, all of which I'm not sure what they are, but there is some angelina, and silk in it for sure, and of course wool.

2006-03-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

WOOOOHOOO! It's fixed. My blog went nuts for a while. The Navbar moved down and into it's own little box. Here is the fix. I picked the same template and republished it. Only after I printed off 44 pages of source code and tried to compare them to find the error. What was I thinking????? Oh well, I'm happy!

Ok....I was happy, now I see that choosing the new template, even though it was the same template caused me to loose my side bars "Blogs I Follow" and the buttons to the other blogs. Drats......I will have to redo.

2006-02-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

The Latest Spin

Happy Birthday to me! Today is the day of the year that I turn another year older.....oh me......oh my.......don't feel any different than I did in my 20's or 30's, better than some of the 40's. So what did I do on my special day. Spin and ply fiber. Finished spinning the 4 oz of the black fiber and plied the red fiber. Had a lovely breakfast with my dear friend and my grand girls, and just relaxed.

2006-02-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

Knit-A-Long

With all the talk of the Knitting Olympics, and since I'm not going to be able to compete, I decided to do a KAL. I belong to several Yahoo Groups......just good fun people who have the same addictions as I do. DecorAccents hosted this Knit-A-Long. Here is my first loomed square of the Monthly KAL. This is the Month of Love Square. It's done on the blue Knifty Knitter loom with 2 strands of worsted weight yarn.

Update of Ron's Socks - You can see I have rounded the heel and we're heading for the foot. It ought to go pretty fast now. Alas, this is sock number 1.