Progress Report

As always, I'm juggling many things at once for this semester. I just started spring semester as a bio major and I've got five units of chemistry and four units of biology, so this semester's gonna be a bitch to get through with GE's as well. Crafting kind of took a backseat after winter break was over, but I've just organized my room and made a run to Joanne's so I'm hoping to get some sewing done this weekend.

But there's always knitting.

Right now I'm kind of taking a break from big projects, after rushing out J's socks before he left as well as rushing out my beanie commission. I don't have many pressing projects on my plate, which is a new feeling, but I've still got a lot of WIP's and plans.

1. I just got two balls of Felici self striping yarn from Knit Picks in the colorway tea party, so I' hoping to make ankle socks for my roommate and I, but I want to find a complimentary color for the toe and heel. With those socks I will be trying some toe-up two at a time socks, so I'm pushing myself to something new. 
2. I may have another beanie commission on the table, the first one was my roommates sorority sister for her girlfriend that said "lesbeanie" in rainbow, and my floor mate wants one that will say "[insert name here]'s! Gay!" around the hat. 
3. I've got some lovely maroon Plymouth merino yarn so I can try mittens, which I've also never tried before. Right now I'm trying to decide between Dainty Bubbles and Eugenia's Mittens, but I'm sure either would look good. 
4. I'm a big fan of The Decemberists and just got their new EP, Florasongs. I was inspired by the rose art on the cover, so I got some Knit Picks Pallete yarn in Jay and Cream I believe, and I'm planning on ordering Serrano soon. I made a pattern for a row of roses around the brim of a hat that would ultimately be pat of a larger collection. The Decemberists have been my favorite band for four years at this point, so I wanted to do a series of free patterns inspired by certain songs or albums. This one I feel is a good stepping stone into making some more patterns based only off the music and not the album art. 
5. I have several socks either planned or on the needles, namely Broken Seed Stitch Socks in some yarn I bought in Germany, and Kensington socks from the Knitters Book of Socks both in a wool cotton mix that I love the color of but hate the yarn, and in some cascade wool that I hate the color of but love the yarn. Can't have it all. 

Other than that I've got a cowl, a dish bag, a few scarves and some other little stuff in the making. I'm hoping for something exciting soon to kick start me into knitting more and hopefully getting fewer things on the needles.

In knitting-related things, I have picked up natural dyeing and spinning recently.

With the dying, I've been doing it since I've come to school really. I started with a big cheap pot from target and four hanks of bare yarn from Knit picks. I've used two hanks so far, splitting them each into thirds to experiment with dyes. I've done Rosemary, Hibiscus, Strawberry, Blueberry, Red cabbage, Red cabbage with baking soda, and Purple Carrots. I currently have a bunch of eucalyptus drying by my jewelry to use soon, I've heard dried eucalyptus makes a beautiful orange. Here's to hoping.!

I also started spinning recently. Over winter break, I bought myself a drop spindle and a  thing of Knit Picks roving (Wool of the Andes Roving in Tidepool Heather, a beautiful shade) and spend two days spinning some bulky yarn. I love it, and wish I had more money to get my hands on some more, but I'll have to wait.

Thats about it for fiber arts right now. Until next time, happy crafting.