February 24, 2006
Baaaaaaa!
So that I cannot be accused of encouraging my readers to make a pie that contains “hiney” or asking them to “refrigetate” their food, here is the original, typo-free recipe for Moo-Less Chocolate Pie from Alton Brown’s site. Scroll down to the bottom to find the directions, ‘cuz those three steps? That’s all there is to making the pie. So, go, melt, pour, refrigetate, eat, and enjoy, my lovelies!
Drum roll, loud bugle fanfare, and a big, undulating stadium wave! It is my pleasure to present The Mysterious K’s first second skein of yarn!
On the winder:
A closeup:
Post-washing and in the Magic Drying Closet where it seems to have gone a mite higgledy-piggedly:
The Magic Drying Closet is a regular clothes closet which also happens to house TMK's hot-water heater so the inside of the closet is always a Sahara-like dry and warm, perfect for drying skeins of yarn—and t-shirts and underclothing that get soaked when you wash the dog, specifically when you stand her up on her hind legs and squash her dripping wet, furry body firmly to you so TMK can wash her stomach. (How do I fit so much inconsequential information into one sentence? Eh. It’s a gift.)
The good news is that the higgledy-piggledy comes primarily from the thick and thin of the green which was Attempt at Spinning #2. By Attempt at Spinning #3, the navy blue, her string singles had become much more uniform. (And TMK further reports that she has been experimenting with the white-and-aqua Blue Faced Leicester that Anj sent her, the big skein in this photo, and is able to spin it quite thinly! As Rachael would say, "Woot!")
The navy-blue-and-sage skein measures approximately 190 yards. What can we do with that amount of yarn, Dear Readers? We’re thinking of stretching this yardage with some matching, manufactured navy blue yarn, and seeing if we (note the “we”) can turn this into a pair of socks. We may have to go the cop-out striped route to stretch the yarn far enough but I sense that TMK is not happy with this option, or so I interpret the pouty lower lip I got when I made this suggestion.
In the meantime, we’re having a good snort over some of the other fiber Anj sent us which was mysteriously labeled “CVM.” Through some judicious research, we have discovered that that stands for California Variegated Mutant. “Mutant?” I mean who really officially and formally names their breeding experiments “mutants?” Where does it stop? Corgi Mutant? Maine Coon Mutant? Thoroughbred Mutant? I mean, we all know it's true; it's just something you don't say out loud in polite society. To top it off, since TMK comes from California, she has decided that she is a CVM. I’ll believe it when she starts to grow some luxurious multi-colored fleece. And if this does happen, I’ll be selling tickets at the door for a lookee-loo. And I’ll sell her first shearing to the highest bidder.
Standing Ovation! I just did the wave at my desk - it should be heading north at about 12 knots. Expect to see it in Lynnwood at 2:10pm. That is some fantastic stuff, if ya'll can't figure out what to do with it - well, you know where to find me.
Posted by: Elaine on February 24, 2006 01:39 PMI suggest making TMK some typing toasties or a little neck warmer out of her first handspun. Maybe then she'll put her pouty lip away!
Posted by: LaurieM on February 24, 2006 01:43 PMPurty yarn! Good job TMK.... :)
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on February 24, 2006 01:49 PMThat is gorgeous! TMK is a fast learner! I love the colors, too.
Posted by: Patti on February 24, 2006 01:52 PMGorgeous yarn. TMK is a natural at this.
I second the idea of typing toasties. The yarn is probably a bit thick for socks to be worn in shoes and being 2 ply would likely not last very long as house socks. Besides doesn't she want people to see the item? If it's socks they'll either be hidden in shoes or only worn at home. If she absolutely insisted on socks I'd do feet in a store bought yarn with gorgeous handspun cuffs.
Posted by: Jayme on February 24, 2006 01:58 PMJayme, you're a genius! Use the storebought for the feet and the homespun for the cuffs--perfect!
Posted by: Ryan on February 24, 2006 02:04 PMDang, your site is not remembering me again ... it was for a while.
Anyhooo, I have some CVM, too. I just can't get over that name. What were they smoking when they named it that. Of course, it may be a true description, but still!
Awesome spinning, TMK!!!
Posted by: Norma on February 24, 2006 02:09 PMHot-water heater? This is on my list of things that make me go hmm. Because, hot water is already hot. You need to make it hotter?
On another note, what about really short socks. You know, 1 inch of your favorite ribbing as cuff, then immediately start on the heel. They work great with Birkies, but I suppose maybe not so good with red hightops. Curses. Is there any roving left to spin just more blue or more green for the heel and toes?
Annie, we looked up a shorty pair of socks in the Vogue sock book and even ones completely without cuffs take 195 yards--and I suspect a yard or two on either end of TMK's skein will be iffy. And your second suggestion jives with what TMK is thinking--just make more yarn!! She does indeed have some of blue single-strand leftover and she has some green roving leftover, so that's the direction we may go.
Norma--did you delete any of the "cookies" on your computer. I suspect it's the cookies that remember who you are when you come here. I deleted all of my cookies a while back and now no blog remembers me! Dang.
Jaymie/Laurie, we have floated the idea of the typing toasties but she already has two pairs. The poor girl--everything I knit gets dumped on her!
Posted by: Ryan on February 24, 2006 02:50 PMI was gonna suggest typing toasties too. hmm.. but the idea of making cuffs and then usung another sock yarn for the foot was brilliant.
Also.. If you goto the Spirit Trails (www.spirit-trail.net) and click on their why rare breeds section, you will read all about different breeds. I got the CVM from her.
Also she links here: http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/californiavariegatedmutant/index.htm as to what and why are CVM the way they are. Personally I love getting fiber from her b'c she celebrates sheep who may become extinct. In keeping these breeds viable she helps create a market so they my live another day. :)
Posted by: Anj on February 24, 2006 03:01 PMTMK a CVM? OMG! LOL
Sorry. I really couldn't resist. I tried. I'll try harder.
Love the yarn TMK. You done good! Heehee
Posted by: Stalker Angie on February 24, 2006 03:07 PMY'all are making me blush.
Posted by: The Mysterious K on February 24, 2006 03:10 PMWelcome to the coven, TMK! CVM or not, you're a fiber-ist now! Great looking yarn you've made. Sounds like you and Ryan are heart-set on making socks from it. Sounds like a good idea, especially with the storebought for the feetsies. The left over you can knit into a Dulaan hat and thus, share the joy and beauty of your creation. Mary B
Posted by: Mary B on February 24, 2006 03:28 PMRyan, you might sell tickets at the door to see TFK (The Fleecy K) but no way on this green earth would you not make her spin her very own fleece into yarn for you.
I once read that green eyes and red hair are genetic mutations, so I'm a mutant right along with you, although I'm not fleecy or Californian. (If you count the freckles, I am variegated.)
TMK your string ;D is beautiful and I can't wait to see what you all make it up to be (or should that be ya'll??)
And shopping tomorrow to make the pie -- taking your word for it that it is good. Have to admit I put both the original and the hiney recipe on the same page on my computer lol
hro
Posted by: rho1640 on February 24, 2006 06:15 PMI didn't think about it then but now it seems obvious that TMK would be drawn to spinning. Up next: making spinning wheels. Gosh, if TMK could grow fleece too that'd REALLY be closing the cycle: make wheel, grow fleece, spin then over to Ryan to knit. Man that's like a whole commune with just two people!
Posted by: Aarlene on February 24, 2006 07:07 PMI have gotten a pair of socks out of a single skein of Cascade 220 - I can show them to you so you can see the length of cuff, etc.
Don't worry too much about the higgeldy-piggeldy bits - much of that vanishes with knitting.
I'd do a hat if it were me, but I really love hats and wear one everyday from about Oct - March.
Posted by: Melinda on February 24, 2006 08:17 PMVery nice, and PS Bluefaced Leicester is an addictive substance. Beware. You can't spin just one. I have about 5 pounds of BFL in various shades stashed away for spinning. If you really want to feed the addiction, get some BFL here:
http://www.lisaknit.com/fibers/bfleicester.html
(She made up Emerald City for me and now everyone is spinning it.)
Blush away, TMK...you're amazing :-) This spinning thing, it's rather fun, eh?
Posted by: Lee Ann on February 26, 2006 12:52 PM