2009 Goals - Progress Report #1

Goal: Barack Obama quilt

Here is the beginning of my Obama quilt. I decided to use the McDowell technique to reproduce the picture of the family at Grant Park on election night. I'm hoping to take Ruth McDowell's workshop again this year and want to have the drawing finished so I can get some advice from her before I start the fabric part. There are still a lot more lines to draw and some major finessing to do but I think it's going to work. I'll probably change the color of the clothing - too much red and black. To be honest, I hate that sweet little girl in black and I still haven't figured out Michelle's dress. But I'll call that "artist's prerogative".

Goal: UFO completion - Llama sweater

I was perilously close to finishing the sweater knit from my handspun llama that I started on the Japan trip in October until . . . . I ran out of yarn. Fortunately, there's more llama fiber left so I'm back to the spinning wheel and should have enough yarn by next week to finish it.

If you remember, the pattern called for a sweater knit from 2 strands of different colored yarn. When I knitted the gauge swatch from my handspuns - llama and white merino - it was much too dense and heavy. Handspun has a lot less air in it and so tends to be more dense. So I decided to use just a single strand of the llama and it is a perfect weight. Though it has lost a bit of the drama of the sweater in the picture, I still love it.

I had enough yarn to finish the crocheting at the shoulders and sleeves but ran out on my first round of the rest of the sweater. Once I have some more yarn, it shouldn't take me long to finish.

I think I'll send the finished sweater to the dry cleaner. They do a great job on my sweaters and I think they'll give it a more finished look - tone down the rustic handspun just a tad.

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Spice Quilt on Hold

I've put the workshop project on hold and I'm spinning away to complete yarn for a sweater. I have a stash of llama that I bought on Ebay and I've been washing and carding it. It's really beautifully soft and very easy to spin.


In a little more than a week we leave for a vacation in Japan. I figure with all that travel time I could practically finish an entire sweater. So I've decided to take supplies to work on this sweater that I've been drooling over for ages.

I've decided to knit it with the llama and and some merino I got from Coppermoose and I am furiously spinning to complete the yarn to take with me. The body of the sweater is knit with one strand of each yarn. I need to finish the yarn, set the spin, and figure out the gauge so I'll know what needles to take.

I'm waiting for the fabric I ordered for the spice vendor to arrive. So, until it arrives I'll just keep spinning.

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Has It Been That Long . . .

. . . since I last posted? Time to come back and talk about my projects in progress. Thought I'd start out by refreshing the appearance of the blog. How's the new look?

I visited the blog of someone on my Yahoo list and she had the tarot card posted so I took the test and you can see the result in the sidebar. I think it sounds like me - Empress? I think I'm going to have to upgrade my surroundings :-)

Well, even though I haven't posted, I have been doing some things. My online group has been feeding its postcard addiction and we traded cards for Black Music Month in June. I've also been spinning yarn for a sweater and I'm currently taking an online doll class.

Spinning
A while ago I found this wonderful site with free knitting patterns and I fell in love with this sweater. So, I decided to spin some of my stockpile of roving and fleece for it. The yarn I came up with is a heathery, taupe Blue-faced Leicester plyed with white Shetland and 2-ply BFL for the edging. I am happy with the yarn.


Now I'm beginning to have second thoughts. I'm carding some recently washed llama and I began to think I might like to knit it from the gray llama and white merino - decisions, decisions.
Black Music Month Postcard
After our card exchange in February, we've just completed another in June. In 2002, President Bush proclaimed the month of June Black Music Month. Below is an excerpt from the 2008 Presidential Proclamation.

Throughout the course of American history, black musicians have used their great talents to share the richness of the African-American experience and to develop a uniquely American style of music enjoyed throughout the world. This month, we honor the pioneers of African-American music and today's contemporary artists who have enriched the lives of people everywhere.

My choice for this year's card was Otis Redding. The impact of his music is such that most people don't realize that he only recorded for 4 years and that one of his biggest hits, "Dock of the Bay", was released a year after his death.




Well, the postcard challenges never end. I'm currently finishing up a card with a Blacks in the military theme for Veteran's Day. It's a little late but I should have it finished next week.

Doll-making class online - a new challenge for me



One of the people on my quilt list is a doll maker and she mentioned a class that was being offered online. When I saw the doll, I had to take the class. Although she's a little glitzy for me, I could visualize an earthier version - with a touch of glitz. So, I immediately signed up and I'm now in the process of putting her together. More to come when she's finished.     END OF POST

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Just So You Know I'm Still Working . . .

I can't believe I've posted nothing in September. Well, September is my busiest month at work. But, I've been working at home, too - maybe not on quilting. I've been visiting a seller on Ebay I've bought from previously. He sells fleece for spinners and during a recent visit I saw some of the most gorgeous commercially dyed fleece. My name is Phyllis and I'm addicted to color. After drooling over it for quite some time, I have succumbed and bought some fleece to spin into yarn for knitting and weaving.

Why spin, you say, when you can buy yarn anywhere? Well there are a couple of reasons. Spinning is a very "zen" endeavor. You can sit at your wheel, set a rhythm and commune with nature outside or ignore the laundry and dusting waiting for you inside. I'm sure if you measure blood pressure before and after a spinning session, it will have dropped.

Secondly, items knit from handspun have a distinctive appearance. There's a different feeling that I can't describe as the result of using this imperfect yarn.

Anyway, after unpacking my purchases, I couldn't wait to get started spinning some of it. Look at those colors!! The brown one is naturally colored Border Leicester and the others are commercially dyed.

Before these arrived, I was spinning some dark brown Finn and fabulous, luxurious llama and silk blend (the ligher skeins)

Now I feel the need for color and I've started with this wonderful blue with shots of burgundy and green (lower left in the photo above). I'm spinning a conventional 2-ply to knit a sweater. The color is breathtaking. Remember my addiction?

After years of spinning "conventional" yarn, I'm ready to begin experimenting with some different techniques. So, I've purchased a book, Spinning Designer Yarns, to start my experimentation.

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