Ooh, successes!

"Your tutors join me in offering congratulations on being awarded a First Class Degree. It represents the culmination of a great deal of hard work and effort, which has been justly rewarded. I hope that your future plans will be e quallysuccessful."

I feel so clever! It's the result I'd be hoping but I hadn't dared anticipate. Of course it's soured a bit by the fact that three years studying means not working thus not gaining any experience to find a job now (and they tell you if you don't go to university you won't get a god job!), but seriously I'm thrilled. I've worked damned hard these last few years and I'm so glad it's paid off. Hurrah!

That was success number one of the week :) Success number two was finally finishing my first skein of plied handspun (after getting frustrated on my first try because it wasn't well balanced). It may not be perfect (some bits are really lumpy), but I'm happy.



After the singles I'm spinning right now, I'm thinking joining the Spun Stitches KAL and buying some natural black fibre (perhaps alpaca) to knit into a shawl. I've never taken part in a knit-a-long before, but I really like the look of this one. I like the idea of knowing what I'm spinning has a destined project since right now I have no idea what to do with my handspun other than snuggle it.

Lovely fibre and freaky feet

Oh my! Got to my parents' in Sussex yesterday to find a box waiting for me... my roving from Copperpot Woolies had arrived. I didn't even know I'd had it sent to them, so that was a big fluffy surprise! The roving is beautiful. I spent a lot of time fondling it last night while Scott and my dad were watching the football. I can't wait to get spinning, though part of me thinks I should resist a while until my spinning improves. I don't want to waste it by spinning a lumpy mess.

At the moment I a trying to find something suitable to ply my second skein of single with, but feel utterly clueless. In the meantime I'm spinning some natural fibre, much coarser than the stuff I started with thus a very new experience.

The second Waffle Sock is all but finished. I just need to do the toe and weave in ends. I had to ration the yarn for the first sock, thus the toe is a little "abrupt", but they fit me okay which is a good sign since my mum and me both have the same freaky big feet.



I' really enjoyed knitting this pattern. I didn't have too much trouble with it, which encourages me to perhaps have a go at something a bit more challenging. I'd like to revisit Hedera I think, since it utterly confused me when I attempted it before. If only I hadn't left all my DPNs behind!

Spinning and socks

Seeing as today was very bright and Spring-like, I decided to make use of the good light outside and take a photo of my first little skein of handspun yarn. It's very far from perfect, all full of coils and dangerously thin in places, but mostly I'm happy just to be getting the hang of the technique. I love my dear little spindle very much.



I've decided, at least for now, to keep each skein I finish in its own zip-lock bag with note on what I learned from its spinning: what I felt went well, what didn't, what I liked about the fibre, etc. Hopefully this will help me improve bit by bit. Hopefully! I've already spun the second ounce of handpainted fibre that came with the kit (lovely pale and hot pinks, with the odd touch of mauve)... washed and hung it up to set the twist today.

Other than spinning, I've also been working on my mum's Waffle Socks. Finishing of the toe of sock one forced my to learn the three needle bind-off since I managed to leave my yarn needles in Oxford before coming up to Scott's for Easter break. I'd like to say that was my subconscious telling me to learn a new technique, but no I'm just forgetful. Second sock is just coming up for the heel, so with any luck I'll be able to get them finished before we travel down to Sussex on Thursday. That is, if a trip into Doncaster market finds me some yarn needles tomorrow, otherwise I'm stuck for weaving in the ends.

I'm spinning yarn!

Well, sort of. I've been slowly getting the hang of not getting in a complete mess and am thoroughly looking forward to practicing some more. I really am having great fun.



The fibre is an ounce of lovely handpainted that came (along with another ounce and two ounces undyed) with the spindle kit. I'll admit at first I wasn't sure of the colours, but they've really grown on me and I like the way they've spun together. I've only got that little bit left now, which I plan to spin tonight, then onwards to washing etc. Gosh, this is exciting!

Over the weekend I started knitting a pair of Blueberry Waffle Socks for my mum to give to her when I go home for Easter. I surprised myself by knitting nearly a whole sock yet simultaneously annoyed myself by misjudging the amount of yarn I'd need for a pair. Bother.

Lookie, a finished object!

It may not the knitted kind, but since this beast has eaten up the last three month of my life I thought it worthy of a mention. Behold, my dissertation:



11,430 words on "An Assessment of the Validity of the Orange Prize for Fiction" printed this morning on what must have been an entire tree, bound and submitted. Okay, so the maximum word count shouldn't have exceeded 10,000 plus 10%... yet given the fact that they were mean enough to make us included the abstract in this I feel justified in lying. After all, what are they going to do, count?

Feels fantastic to have it out the way. I might actually have time to do something other than eat, sleep and type now. To celebrate, I've just been very naughty given the miserable state of my bank balance and ordered myself some sock yarn and... spinning fibre!

My drop spindle arrived safe and well on Saturday. So far I'm having great fun, though given the above I've not been able to play for long periods yet. My first yarn is very overspun and wobbly thus far, but I think I'm vaguely getting the hang of it. Between spinning, drinking tea and curling up with a book, I think I've pretty much got tomorrow sorted :)

No spinning for me!

Oh bugger! Looks like my drop spindle kit arrived while I was away. Or tried to. Now I have to wait until next Saturday to get in redelivered. Even more frustrating, the "sorry, you were out card" is dated and timed only about half an hour after Scott and I left for the train station. Part of me wants to say it's just as well, since I'd only have ended up distracted by my new toy while I was meant to be working on my disseratation, but mostly I'm just peeved. Laura wants her spindle, damn it!

[Edit: it's here, it's here! Wonderful fibre-y joy.]

But anyway, I had a lovely time at Scott's last week, so I really shouldn't moan. It seems very strange being back all alone in my little student room now. I'm still (slowly) working on the first of the socks for my lovely, but have decided to rip out the heel flap since I wasn't paying it much attention and it's gone all wobbly. I guess that's what you get for knitting while watching Celebrity Fame Academy.