Birth, Hookers, and Handspun

Today's temps were in the low 90's.  I never thought I'd be glad to see a gray overcast low 90's day.  After the skin searing, hellacious 3-4 days this past week of 104-106 actual temperatures (up to 115 w/ heat index), the low 90's almost made me want to run for a sweater!  Well, not really but still the lower temps were a relief.  Now, if we could just get a few really good rains.  We had a storm during the night last night but it was just a small drop in the bucket where our drought is concerned.

First, here's the birth of a new sock.   I love this yarn!!  The colors are just great for a summer sock knit.   The name of this yarn is ONline Supersocke 100 and the name of this color is Tropic.  One skein will do a pair of socks.  This color-way contains every color imaginable!  So pretty.  I purchased this a few months ago -- from either Yarn Circle or Knitting Sisters.  I know I saw this yarn in action at knit night at Yarn Circle while I was down there for the week at John C. Campbell Folk School.  Please note, I'm knitting from my sizable stash.  I figure this will be one less skein I have to enter in Ravelry!

Today was our first rug hooking meeting for the 2007-2008 meeting year.  We had 16 members in attendance.  It was good to see everyone again and catch up from our couple of months apart.  I am either the youngest or the next to the youngest member of this group.  I know that's hard to believe!  Mary, who is in her early 90's, is our oldest.  Mary can hook circles around us.  Her granddaughter brings her and she really seems to enjoy our company. 

Nina was working on this really sharp black and white six-sided geometric rug.  The rug is also six feet in diameter. 

Chloe was working on a very pretty Spring-like floral rug.   

Mom worked on her angel rug from the HOOKIN' at the LAKE 2007 workshop held a couple of weeks ago. 

Fran was hooking a pattern of her house.  She had include Pearl, her cat, in the design. 

Martha worked on a group of animals while Donna started a long skinny pumpkin.  Mary worked on a great geometric scrap rug which is just a terrific way to use up your wool scraps.  Katie was hooking a leaf trivette / tile.  Pat and Nancy were both working on Orientals.  Now,  what was Betty working on??  Was it an Oriental, also???  All of a sudden, I can't remember!

Helen is almost finished with her flower rug.  She designed this piece herself!  Do you see the green catapillar in the lower left?  If she doesn't watch out, she just might finish this rug!  Helen has more energy than a 2-year old and we tease her because she it constantly out of her seat helping someone or visiting.  But all this rug needs is the background and she'll be done.  Great going, Helen!

I'm the president of our rug hooking group and I do the monthly newsletter.  I keep asking to see if anyone else wants these jobs but no takers!  I am a certified teacher of traditional rug hooking but haven't picked up a hook in months.  It's just not as portable as I need right now.  Hopefully, I'll get back to it sometime in the future.

So, what did I do today while everyone else was hooking??  I was plying!  Here you can see the skein hanging out to dry on the porch.  This is the blue-pink Australian top I purchased at Holly Spring Homespun a while back.  This was definitely not my best spinning.  Had some overspun kinky spots and a couple of breaks which I couldn't get joined again very smoothly.  I probably should knot them.  Oh well, it will knit up OK and no one will be the wiser! 

This yarn reminds me of red grapes and blueberries --- thus, the fruity art photo!  This made a bobbin full using the Lendrum plying head and bobbin.  I still have some singles left so I need to go ahead and find time to finish plying.  Then, it will be on to another roving.  I love the part where you go through your roving stash and look for just that perfect next project.  The one that hollers at you ---- Do me next!  Me next!  Hey, Me, Me, Me!!!!!!

Sunday will find me working and hopefully, we'll have time to take the boat out.  It's been months since we've been on the water.  Can't wait to go!

Comments

[jessie]

I guess I should stop complaining about the temps hitting 90 (and the humidity), although without A/C it really bites.

Great yarn!

[Suz]

I can see that you are a lover of the wild socks! ;) I think that's the only way to be!

Wow, the group has some really lovely rugs in the works. So much talent. I hope you gals rope in some hookers even younger than yourself so you can pass on the tradition of the craft.

[Jackie]

Hi Robin!

Loved the homespun and can't wait to take my first real spinning classes on my new wheel in a few weeks! And hookers always have a special place in my heart so loved seeing all the rugs in progress! Your group has always been multi-talented and prolific! As always, loved the post and catching up with your world.

We are hot here too, but had tremendous lightening, thunder and over my Mom's house, tons of rain! We had the noise but not the rain as much! Sending your way hopefully. I remember when Jeannette and I were on our way to your rug camp and I took her to Monticello...it was 106 in the shade with heat index of 120! Our makeup and mascara literally melted down our faces! We were always going to do Karen Kahle's Monticello rug to commemorate that visit and the heat with two stick figures at the bottom with melting faces!

[Mary]

Pretty handspun! I like the sock yarn, too. It'll be fun to see all the different colored stripes emerge.

[Robin C]

glad to see what you've been up to. Love the rugs, are you trying to entice me to start another hobby?

Have a wonderful Sunday and hope to see you soon

[Amy Artisan]

What lovely projects throughout the post! I'm working on a 2nd sock in a fun OnLine colorway these days - love the colors. The rugs - wow, how beautiful and creative. And you handspun yarn is gorgeous - a very fine vintage indeed!

[Margaret]

Cute Socks! And they'll remind you of summer if/when cool weather ever gets here.

That same Holly Spring roving was the first thing I ever span when I had my lesson with Kathy this past Spring. And all of my first skeins and a little shoulder shawl are from that first bag of roving.

[isobel]

Love the sock yarn! The colours are wonderful. Plus I love your handspun! One day I'll learn......if I live long enough!

[Nikki]

The new socks will be gorgeous! I got a very bright very not stripey color from STR (Fire on the Mountain) and they are such bright socks. I love them!

The handspun and all those rugs are most pretty too!

[KSee]

Love the colorway of your new socks. Still going on Ravely as WIP. The rug are just amazing. How many yards are in your spun yarn?