Technically, it is spring. We have turned our clocks forward and the days are staying lighter longer. Except here, in the Pacific Northwest it is still cold. Yesterday, it was raining with thunder and lightning. The wind was intense. During my drive home I was worried that I would end up in Oz. Heck, there was even a hail storm at one point. It would be really easy to get down and retreat back into hibernation until the warmer weather becomes a series regular and not just a guest star. But I will not let the gray skies bring me down, in fact I am bursting with creativity and inspiration. Something that has been filling my creative bucket is spinning. I woke up early last week and the only thing I wanted to do is spin. I love spinning. It gives me a sense of calm and peace that I don’t get from knitting. Knitting has a tendency to hype me up but spinning is soothing and meditative. I think part of it comes from having to give up some control. Sure, you can spin the spindle or treadle your wheel just so and you can control the draft of the fiber but sometimes the fiber is gonna do what it’s gonna do. I work at a yarn store and purchased two one-ounce bumps of fiber. These are bumps that I have been staring at for a while. One is a bright shimmery yellow and the other is a bright shimmery pink. They scream spring! So I brought the bumps home, pulled out my Turkish drop spindle from Jenkins Spindles, and got to spinning. I draft the fiber and think about the sunny days to come. I mentally plan spinning in the park with my friends and indulge my hopes for a spring and summer that is filled with luscious fiber and laughter. My spinning has gone to several places with me this week. I carry it around in a little basket like Little Red Riding Hood. It’s been so satisfying to see the cop increase bit by bit. I’m hard at work preparing to record the first episode of the Knitters Assemble podcast which is due to drop in May. This requires outlines, research, and other content creating. One segment of the podcast is going to be about projects that I am working on that are related to the specific fandom or genre that is being covered in that episode(s). I have so many projects that are fandom related that I want to do. My goal is that by making it a regular segment of the show I will be able to manage my ambitious “to knit” list.
I cast on my practice project for the fandom project I want to work on for the first episode. I cast on a lovely pair of color work socks from the Operation Sock Drawer book by the Knitmore Girls. The main color is a lovely light lavender from my deep stash. The contrasting color is a bright self-striping yarn from Artistic Yarn by Abi that I bought in Colorado when I was visiting for my brother’s law school graduation. I’ve finished the ribbing and the first chart repeat for the cuff. It is looking so nice. I’m using the Chiaogoo Twist Shorties which are a small circumference interchangeable needle. It is making the stranded color work very manageable. The small circumference means I am not fighting the breaks in the knitting that come with double points, magic loop, or two circulars. I have been wanting to try colorwork socks forever and am so jazzed with the experience. The sun is playing hide and seek with the Pacific Northwest but the feeling of spring is alive and well. We know that warmer days are ahead of us and I for one cannot wait.
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AuthorBethany is a knitter, podcaster, nerd, and educator from the Pacific Northwest. Archives
May 2022
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