Oh Macro, How I Loved Thee

Hello hello!  The evening is dark and quiet (getting on toward night now) and all you can hear is the computer grinding away and the washing machine running.  Babies are asleep and things are winding down.

As promised I have a bit of spinning to show off.  I'll start by saying that I am still not 100% satisfied with our camera choice.  One very good thing is that the girl helping me when I bought it (at Wal Mart) said that they have a 30day return policy.  If I try it out and don't like it, bring it back in the box, etc, and I can exchange for something else.  I've pretty much concluded that I will never EVER be able to take the very very close-up macro photos with this camera that I was able to take with my older camera.  Awesome macro is an incredibly important feature to me in our picture taking life.  Without a good macro feature I won't be able to get the very closeup pictures of etches on Jeff's glass pieces that he sells on ebay.  And my gosh, it's a form of entertainment for me!  Seriously.  This camera won't take macro pictures any closer than 15cm (6").  That's just not good enough.  I need more like a 5cm range.  I think that's what the old camera was.  OTHER pictures are awesome with this camera.  Nice color, blah blah blah.  I just really need a better macro feature.

SO!  I have pictures of spinning, but not closer than 15cm!  Ugh!  As I said, this bit of spinning is to make a shawl for the Spun Stitches knitalong.  The shawl pattern I hope to make is a faroese shawl called the Comfort Shawl, a free pattern issued when you subscribe to the Interweave "Knitting Daily" newsletter.  It has a garter stitch border about 2" wide with some simple lace just above the border, and the rest is stockinette.  I think this will be a good simple pattern for showing off the wild and crazy sampler-style spinning I'm doing.  I am combining so many things in this spinning because..... because why not?  Because I can!  Because it's my spinning and I am having FUN with it.  Hopefully I won't start hating it when I get to the knitting part.  This will definitely knit up with a stripey effect because of the way the colors and fibers are arranged.

There are six skeins finished so far.  The purple you see is a wool blend which I think has some mohair and possibly "angelina" or some shiny fiber mixed into it.  The third skein from the left has wensleydale locks and also llama fiber in it.  The next to last skein on the right is mostly Fleece Artist merino - gorgeous color transitions through browns and rose/berry colors.  The skein on the far right was really fun - it has a fiber blend of baby camel and tussah silk.  Mmmm.... that baby camel is a very fine micron that is similar to cashmere and yak.  You can already see the bloom just from handling it.  The camel/silk blend is soft beyond description!!  I have quite a lot more of that fiber blend and now that I've experimented with it a little I'm looking forward to using it for something special!

In the center skein:  gray is wensleydale locks - quite a fuzzy halo with that fiber because it's so CURLY!; white is wool from Jan's sheep Tootles; reddish brown is llama - a very smooth hairy fiber similar to mohair but much softer.

I've really been excited about this spinning as an experiment with different fibers.  The spinning is fun but wow, I'm really looking forward to the knitting!!  My only concern is that I might not like how the color changes look when they're knit up in this pattern.  I don't know.  I need to stop saying that because I'm really not worried that I won't like it.  My BIGGER concern is getting gauge with this faroese pattern.  It calls for what I think is a sport or possibly DK weight yarn.  I'm close with my spinning.  But the pattern calls for size US10 knitting needles.  THAT makes no sense at all to me based on the pattern photo.  It doesn't look like it's loosely knit.  Maybe it's a pattern error???  Surely not after this long.

Daily Square Report:

People - I am constantly amazed by this project and the people who are contributing.  As of yesterday we needed just 12 squares to hit the "1000 squares received" mark.  Since the project started, Tuesday has been a slow day with the mail but I was still hopeful.  Today I only had two packages at the church, and one came in the mail at home (Hi Lana!).  So I wasn't in any big hurry to open the packages... I ate a slow lunch, worked on laundry, etc.  I'm TRYING to get a long list of things done before leaving home for a few days and three packages was just what I needed to keep my focus on housework.  So finally I decided to get these packages opened so that I could get pictures taken before it got too dark.

Today's three packages..... three.  THREE.  Three packages brought us 92 squares.  92!!!!!  Can you BELIEVE THAT??  This isn't someone pulling a box of squares out of Granny's Attic.  These are three knitters.  Devoting their time and energy and thoughts and prayers and caring to families in Greensburg, Kansas.  Everyday people like you and me.  I usually don't tell how many squares a certain individual sends because one square is as important as a hundred squares.... but I just have to say - Lana sent 54 squares in her box.  It takes 56 to make an afghan y'all.  Can you believe that she sent 54 squares??  My gosh.  If I had thought I could make 56 squares in any amount of time I might have stayed quiet and knit this one afghan all by myself and never told anyone about it and never started the whole project at ALL!!  Our total square received is now over 1000!  We have received 1080 squares!  Only 40 more squares (less than 1 blanket worth!) and we'll be at the half way point.  Can we get a WooHoo!?!?

   

I generally don't tell how many squares a certain individual has made because I don't want to minimize how many ANYONE has made!  But since I told how many Lana made, I'll tell you that Eleanor also sent 35 squares.  This really just boggles my mind when I think that a project I'm talking about has caused so many people to do something so awesome.  It's not me doing this.  The people of Greensburg really didn't do it either I guess.  This honestly is not. my. project.  It's your project.  Every one who makes a square.  It's my 10 year old daughter's project.  And 92yo Ruth's project.  It's more than making squares for people who lost their homes.  I love knowing so many people want to help others when they're suffering from a loss.  The response to this whole thing has overwhelmed me.

Today's squares came from the following people:

Elizabeth - Lebanon, IN
Eleanor - Wayland, NY
Lana - Springfield, MO

Bless your hearts.  Every single one of you, for telling your friends and writing about this project on your blogs and telling your knitting groups and Yahoo groups and for knitting one square or 54 squares.  Thank you SO MUCH, everyone!

Have a wonderful rest of your week!  I guess most of you won't read this until Wednesday - only a few more days until Estes!!!  Yay!!!  :)

Comments

[Carole]

I love the macro setting on my camera - it's how I get all my Eye Candy Friday photos. If you're going to take this one back you'd better do it quick or you want have time to get used to a new one before Estes. Sigh. Estes.

[margene]

Your yarn is fabulous. Don't you just love that little camera!?! 2 more sleeps.;-)

[Wool Winder]

I love the yarn you're spinning and love the idea of a sampler shawl. I think it's going to look great. The pattern you described sounds perfect for showing off all the fibers and colors.

[Tracy]

I've avoided taking up spinning because I have too many projects and complications in my life already. But you are tempting me, it just sounds like so much fun!

I have a good little/not too expensive camera that does great in the macro range (as low as 3cm). Drop me a line if you want a recommendation.

[Amanda]

Wow! Look at the squares! Whenever I need a little boost in my day, I just come to your blog and look at the wonderful things that people are creating for absolute strangers. I'm so proud to be a small part in this project. I try to keep posting on my blog about it so that others might be inspired to send a square as well.

[Faren]

That yarn of yours looks sooo pretty, I'm sure it will look great in that shawl. I'm so amazed by those square numbers, did the boxes just pop open under the pressure? How did they fit all those in those two small boxes?

[Dana from Love's Many Cloths in MN]

AMAZING! Hey Laura! Those squares were so pretty! They are so vibrant and just AWESOME together...I definitely need to find some of those colors! I sent you an email privately with some photos of your BECAUSE I CAN! as it is a familiar thing in my house!!!!! LOL

So sorry to hear that the camera isn't working for you...next time will be better I hope! You really take some nice shots!

xoxoxo
Dana

[Marisol]

Your handspun is very pretty. I am sure it will make a lovely shawl.

Wow those squares sure are multiplying!

[monica]

Your handspun is gorgeous!

I cannot believe those 3 amazing knitters!! WOW! I'm still knitting away on mine. They are addictive to make.

[Kelly]

Macro is a must Laura, that pretty much all I use on my camera.
Your handspun is coming along sooo nicely, I love how your mixing all the fibers, its turning out really nicely.

[Pat K]

Egad, I've missed so much while I was away! So many squares! I'm glad you're still going on collecting them, because one of these days you will get mine.

[Miss Scarlett]

Oooh I love your spun yarn! It is fantastic. I am so envious - with one Spinning lesson I want a wheel and I want to be spinning - I am amazed at how addicting it is as an activity. I love it.
I cannot wait to see your spun yarn knit into the shawl --- that needle size sounds very wrong, but??

Yes! Look at all the new squares you have there. Amazing! These posts are excellent - they get me so motivated to make more myself. Wow. 52 squares. I don't even want to tell you how long it took me to make the first one!