What a difference 3 days make

I posted a picture of the first 'skein' I produced on Sunday. Monday I took the day off spinning, come Tuesday I was back at it. Spinning had 'clicked' for me and now I've been working to thinner and thinner 'yarns'. Now look at the difference of what I did today compared to what I had done on Sunday, so much thinner now eh. Unbelievable! I'm so pleased with myself, and I've only been taking 10-20 minutes each day. Phew! I'm not a spinning idiot.

Before and After

Off topic: I sold my first ebay item today, not knitting or spinning related, but something I had won ages ago and decided to try selling since I had no use for it. I expected to make about $10-15 and instead was just shy of $25!

Back on topic: I was so happy with my paypal money (coming in, not going out, for once) and my spinning success. I combined that with pay day and came up with another ebay purchase - 2 15 oz balls [if that's the right word] of Brown Sheep co. roving (yum), a nice skein of Brown Sheep cotton fine and some stripy sock yarn for socks for Dad's Birthday (make myself feel better about the other purchases I think!!).

As for the fish (no, I haven't forgotten the fish). There is a grand total of 94 done - YES, 6 more to go. I will be out tomorrow night, so no fishing for me, but should be done (knitting at least) by the weekend.

So that's what 86 Fish look like

I hadn't posted a picture of the fish in a while, so here's a little pic of the 86 I have right now. It measures (kind of) 35 x 52). working it out, the next 14 fish will take it to 35 x 60, which I think is a reasonable size for an afghan. Now watch these last critters take the longest of all as I put off the seaming, try more spinning and get distracted by the other projects I have spinning around my head right now.

Computer - what computer?

The computer and desk are gone, in their place are shelves for the masses of books we have, and my little "fibre corner". Whaddya think?

Before - boring desktop computer

After (note the pretty little wheel in the corner and blocking board, and yarn, and bobbins and wips?)

Not a lot of other news, no spinning today (revamping the old blog site). Only one more fish knit today too (grand total = 85.25 fish to date).

First "skein"

Just a quickie with a picture of my first hank of 'yarn'. It's overtwisted in parts and incredibly thick in others, but I made it! It's from a bunch of Lamb's Pride roving that I bought on ebay, has a nice sheen on it. Now I have to get back to spinning, see if I can figure out how to go a little thinner....

Spinning

I wanted to post a picture of my wheel, along with my first attempt at spinning (not great). It's proving to be a tricky (to say the least), my main issue appears to be that I stop and start because I don't have a 'flow' going yet. When I stop-start, I end up with a wheel going the opposite direction, effectively unwinding the spinning I've just done. You will also see that it's extremely thick/thin, something I'm assured is normal for beginners and I'm sure it will improve with time and practice.

I did get some fish done yesterday though :)

IT'S HERE!!

My wheel arrived today! My wheel arrived today! Wheeeeeee! I'm happy as a pig in the proverbial. It's all in pieces at the moment, I have had a good look at the directions and think I get how to put it together. I'm currently waiting for the glue to dry in the base before doing anything else (4 loooooong hours). It's sooo cool though. Here's a pic of it in pieces:


Now on to other noteworthy items. I now have, 77 fish - gulp! Getting closer to needing to sew. Nothing else knit-wise going on since I've been going out a little and focusing on the fish.

Trying to sell the computer and desk on craigslist (so we can make space for the gorgeous wheel and some bookshelves), it's proving to be a complete pain in the arse - I hate it when people piss me about, there's no need when we are selling the thing so friggin' cheap anyway, but that's the nature of people I guess. Must...stay...positive.

I'm not sure I mentioned my interviews at work, but long and short of the story is that I have had 5 interviews in 6-7 weeks for this position. I am supposed to have one more, however, the woman I'm to interview with will not be able to do it for at least another week (not her fault and I know I'm not being messed about). I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed and see if I get this job (with reasonable pay, I hope). I'll let you know.

Fishometer

Here's a pic of the blanket so far, there are 62 fish pictured here (you can see the 2 that escaped, they will have place soon enough). The blanket currently measures 30" x 41" at the moment. So I'm reckoning on about 100 needed for a decent size afghan. No sewing done so far, but I'm sure once the sewing starts the fish will fit together better, and (hopefully) lie flatter. The one good thing (maybe there are more than one) about chenille, is that the fish don't "bobble" in the body as other people have noticed with other yarns.

The Leisel scarf is now 18" long, so a fair way to go yet, but I'm well on the way. Here it is in progress.

Oh yes, and Mum opened her gothic window lace scarf today (as it's her birthday today) and she loves it! So glad she does.

Not knitting

Haven't done much knitting the last few days, just added another inch or two to the leisel scarf and another fish or two. Although on counting the fish I found a freakishly large one in the 'school'. I guess I will have to toss that one back, don't know how it happened, it's like I switch up 2-3 needles sizes!


Anyway, the reason for this post is to share this image that made me giggle. Of course I mean no offense to anyone who owns/wants to own one of these, I'm sure that it's a great idea for keen swimmers with little space. But the image just makes me laugh. I can just see me getting pinned up against the swimming pool wall!!