Little Pieces

Tuesdays are for spinning on this blog, and though I totally screw that up on a regular basis, I actually have a little product to show for yesterday.

Sangrybatt0207-1

This is a batt from the Sanguine Gryphon in beautiful reds and orange, with gold and sparkles. (It’s not nearly as violently coloured as the photo would lead you to believe.)

Detsanggrybatt0207

It spun up like butter, and although I’m usually anti-sparkle, the amount of glitz in this batt was charming rather than overwhelming, and the resulting yarn has become a skein that I may be able to use as a bribe to get one or two loads of laundry out of a sparkle loving teen or two. (I may hold it back until I see the action.)

Finyarnsang0207

The only bad thing about this wee skein is that it is a wee skein, (and that it’s rather underspun) not even enough for a pair of mittens, though it would make a pretty border on a hat or something. I’ve got to start spinning larger quantities of stuff, or find a better use for these wee ones. Their role as decorative skeins is charming, but sort of pointless.

Even though I’ve created another wee skein of pointlessness to kick around, it was good practice, since I’ve decided to take part in Katherine’s clever Tour de Fleece this year. By now some of you know that I’m for sure not doing the Knitting Olympics this year. The Knitting Olympics will remain a winter Olympic sport played every four years just like other sports in the Olympics. (I know this disappoints some of you, but keep in mind that things are more special if you don’t get them to often, and that waiting is more than half of the fun.) In addition, I’m not so keen on taking part in an Olympics hosted by China within the context of their current human rights issues. I know there’s a theory out there that when you boycott the Olympics the only people who suffer are the athletes, but knitters aren’t really real athletes in the Olympics and none of us will have a crushed career if we don’t compete this year (especially since it’s only been two years.) If the politics of it don’t bother you and you want to compete this year, can I suggest that you do what real athletes do if they want to compete in the Olympics every two years?

Get another sport. I’ve long suggested that the summer Olympics are the perfect time for the Crochet Olympics, and that having them separate would mean that people who don’t knit at all get something good too, instead of standing in the shadow of another craft, and besides it’s double fun and another opportunity for those of you who are bi-craftual, or would like to be.

Me? I don’t crochet (or I do, I mean, I know how, but don’t care for it and am rather terrible at it) and I’ve sort of got that little Tibet thing that’s bugging me, but your abilities and politics (or maybe your ability to understand that Tibet and fun with crochet are actually unrelated may be greater than mine) and this idea might be just your cup of tea.

Me? Tour de Fleece. I’m all over it. Now I just need to think of what my challenge will be.

138 thoughts on “Little Pieces

  1. Lovely little skein you spun up there. I always want to shadowbox stuff like that. 😀
    My future obviously holds walls bedecked with millions of shadowboxes. hehe

  2. The Tour de Fleece sounds like a ton of fun! Since I don’t have a blog or anything like it, I’m going to be an “unofficial” participant and just challenge myself for the fun of it…especially since I have some luscious mohair that is just begging to be spun up. Fun for the whole family!

  3. How about grey yarn – gansey grey yarn???
    (AM I first, again!!!!!)

  4. What a pretty skein! Looks like a sunset.
    How about, instead of the crochet or knitting olympics (which I’m still kicking myself for not participating in…), you set up the Yarn Sport Olympics?
    (Anyone who says knitting isn’t a sport has never tried to untangle lace-weight yarn on a deadline.)

  5. Your wee sparkly skein is very pretty. So far, the only use I’ve found for wee skeins (and I mean very wee) is as Christmas tree ornaments…

  6. Oh yeah, gray gansey yarn. 😉
    My challenge is to spin camel/tussah into a lace weight. Might be doomed before I begin but I’m giving a try.

  7. It just seems right that knitting is a Winter Olympic sport. Like downhill skiing or bobsledding. As a Canadian living in one of the lands where hand knits are potentially life saving, I am glad that warmer climated people participate in the gloriousness of knitting, but it is somewhat like the presence of the Anaheim Ducks and Phoenix Coyotes in the NHL. They’re welcome, but hockey truly belongs to the north. Knitting is great anywhere, but it comes into it’s own when it’s 40 below.

  8. One more for grey gansey yarn!
    I’m glad I don’t have to train for the Olympics this year, as I’ve caught some sort of shawl fever and have a to-do list of …. more than enough to keep me busy through August.

  9. I understand your feelings about China and all, but I will have to watching the Olympics. A close friend of my son’s from high school is in trials for track. I hope she makes it.

  10. Tour de Fleece. I love it! My wheel is sitting in my living room, silently mocking me. I have more fleece floating around than woolly mammoth after springtime thaw.
    Thanks for giving my wheel a kickstart.
    Now, if I can only get over that….but it’s 90 degrees out!….felting (er, feeling)-
    I’m good to go..
    Thanks. Me and my closet thank you.

  11. If you come up with a fantastic use for tiny skeins I will be here to soak up the knowledge. I become paralyzed looking at small skeins trying to dream up something to knit tat I don’t already have 3 other versions of.
    I look forward to whenever the knitting Olympics resume.

  12. Forget politics. Whose bright idea was it to have a summer Olympics, in the dead of August, in a country with some of the worst air pollution in the world? Madness!
    LOVE the Tour. The last few years have been challenging with all the steroid abuse, but hope springs eternal. The Tour de Fleece sounded like lots of fun, but I opted for the Tour KAL instead. Enjoy!

  13. I’m doing the tour de france knitalong, which is looking like being great fun.
    I’m also doing the Olympic trials via Ravelry, I’m just a big knit along junky, I can’t seem to stop myself joining up for these things!

  14. Oooooh, “bi-craftual” sounds so risque! I personally am “poly-craftual” and am getting geared up to dye quilt fabric, cause this is the time of year in Texas when it’s too freaking hot to do ANYTHING with wool except look at pretty pics on the internet! Love your skein! Mwah!

  15. Oh, Yarn Harlot, how I love you!
    In the last three entries we’ve had Pride, Canada Love, and Tibet. How could it get any better? And yet, it will, as it always does.
    Thanks for being such a fine–and fun–person. You make my day, politics, fiber, beer, or whatever you choose to blog about.
    Someday I will get to buy you a beer. (And I have damn good beer taste.)

  16. There with you on the Tibet thing. I was suprised China got the summer gig.
    I’ll just have to knit in the privacy of my humble home…..training for the Winter games.
    Where are the winter games are next? I forgot….that happens when you turn 40…..
    lol!

  17. “Their role as decorative skeins is charming, but sort of pointless.”
    I got dizzy reading that sentence.

  18. I’m catching up here.
    I picked up knitting last summer after a 30 year hiatus. So far, I’ve had to knit everything twice and I’m about to frog my first two major projects. Thanks for making me feel normal for doing that.
    I love Canada and am delighted to have you all as neighbors. I regret that we screw up down here and cause pain up there but it’s not generally been caused by anyone I’ve voted for.
    Thank you for your wonderful blog.

  19. I fully intend to knit through the Olympics anyway, as it’s winter here. And Canada sounds very like New Zealand – I hope to get there one day!

  20. Well, I read it as the Croquet Olympics. That I could go for (although I am hideously bad at both crochet and croquet).

  21. Ah, but some of us may still play. I already have my challenge project picked out and I’m not telling my family that there’s no knitting Olympics this round. Also, my daughter is a budding athlete (must have skipped a generation) and is addicted to watching the trials already. She even asked me to get her started knitting again (on project #2!) while she watches.
    And since the “why we love Canada” comments appear to be closed, can I add that I really appreciate how y’all don’t appear terribly upset at the number of U.S. neighbors who threaten to move there if we’ve gotten things too messed up down here.

  22. There are various things floating around about summer Knitting Olympics. See Ravelry for some. Apparently, you will need to trademark the winter ones if you want to hold onto it. Recalling the massive amount of emails/work that fun thing generated, perhaps not?
    Human rights supports should see the Color Orange project info, http://www.thecolororange.net/uk/
    There is a Ravelry group for that but it doesn’t look super active.
    Gerrie in St Paul

  23. I love the handspun. Go for the bribe all the way, Baby! If it gets some laundry done, all’s fair. 😉
    I don’t know if you’ve seen this, but it’s a list of 500 things to knit with 286 yds or less (I think that’s the right figure) and every project is listed out by yardage needed. Now I know you’re going to have to translate to meters, but I think it’s worth it. Check it out–the list is great, and idea of using smaller amounts of handspun.
    http://simpleknits.blogspot.com/2008/03/500-patterns-to-knit-with-1-285-yards.html

  24. I’m pretty sure *I* could be convinced to do all your laundry for some lovely “Steph-spun” yarn.
    Just sayin’

  25. How do you know how much yardage you are getting out of a batt? (I’m not a spinner)
    Is there a was to sort of guesstimate?

  26. I love the sparkles! That’s a great idea for crocheters to take on the Summer Olympics and Knitters to participate in the Winter one.

  27. Since that ‘Tibet thing’ seriously honks me off, I’m with you, sister (let’s just say Tiananmen Square happened at an impressionable age). I’m considering boycotting the coverage this year, and man, that is painful. The Atlanta Olympics helped me maintain sanity with a weeks-old baby in ’96. I love the Olympics.
    🙁

  28. For Just Me Again,
    The 2010 Olympics are in Vancouver/Whistler, British Columbia, Canada!

  29. Uses for tiny skeins:
    A pretty edge on anything.
    Knit a flower, put a pin-back on it, and call it a brooch. Or put an elastic on it, and call it a scarf-slide. Or a pony-tailer. Or put it on a hat.
    Make a shawl for a doll.
    Make tiny stockings for the fairies. They make good decorations, or gifts, or wrappings for tiny gifts.
    Change of subject:
    Coming from a hot climate, I see no sense in summer sports of any kind that don’t involve water. What greater idiocy could exist than running 26 miles in 100*F heat?

  30. Have any suggestions for those of us who are non-spinners yet hankering to be an olympic knitter?
    Also- I planned out Christmas knitting yesterday and I’m already starting to panic.

  31. What an amazing transition from roving to yarn. That is lovely.
    Sometimes I purchase a single skein when I want to try out a new yarn. Recently I have used this pattern to test various yarns and it has resulted in some amazing treats. Filigree Lace Ensembles – HeartStrings knitting pattern #A135 which can be seen (I have no affliation, just a fan) at:
    http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/a135.shtm
    My favorite yarn with this project so far is SWTC’s Terra (50% Bamboo/50% Cotton) but I also liked it with SWTC’s Yin (60% Wool, 20% Silk, and 20% Bamboo).
    Perhaps a bit of sparkle might be might next experiment. Thanks for the idea.

  32. OK, OK, the url is not mine but the Museum’s. Therein you will see glorious photographs of Tibetan art. I do completely understand your pov re human rights issues, and applaud, once again, the staunch and fearlessly moral perspective of the Yarn Harlot on this and many other issues.
    And yes, Oh Canada! That was a great birthday blog. A lot of us actually wish we were Canadians and could partake in the wonderful Canadianisms that pepper your writing.

  33. maybe you could knit up teensy-tiny pretties for me to bribe my children with? i’m currently making the 17 year old boy knit to make up for his cell phone transgressions — i could use a carrot to go along with that stick!

  34. What about doping scandals in the tour de france? Some spinners might start using performance enhancing drugs!! Danger!

  35. I’m so sorry but I’m relatively new to the harlot’s world, and i have no idea what the knitting olympics are. Any illumination please?

  36. I’m with you on China. I was dumbfounded that they were awarded the Olympics to begin with. I don’t plan on watching. I have no love for NBC, either, which, I read, demanded that the swim finals be held in the morning in China so that they could broadcast them live during prime time in the US. I find that a bit disgusting, too.

  37. Well, Stephanie, I am gobsmacked and honoured — and now I understand why I’ve been sitting here at my computer and frantically trying to keep up with the folks who are signing on to spin.
    What you may not know is that I started the Tour de Fleece three years ago as a kind of spinner’s revenge for the Knitting Olympics — we didn’t seem to have an even all our own, and, frankly, I don’t do the Olympics for political reasons — so it’s fitting that you sign on to something you indirectly inspired!
    Shall I add you to the list of participants on the blog page?

  38. And yet if Jesse Owens hadn’t gone to Berlin I’d be out the story of him and Luz Long, and I’d be sorry to lose that.
    With you on the logic of not knitting every two years, though, and spinning my way back to walking room has its charms.
    You will note, by the way, that not one word in this post begins with a “g.”

  39. pretty! and oh MY would that be great as the sparkle in a felted purse….
    as to mini skeins of not so much usefulness, have you considered modular knitting with them?
    how about a sampler afghan?
    purses/ipod cases?
    cuffs for a pair of mittens or socks ? with the main body in something sturdy?
    just spin more?

  40. you all think too much
    its summer its hot in florida
    pitchers of sweet tea enjoy
    the garden turn the ac to cold
    and wear flannel pjs when its 100
    and just enjoy please just enjoy

  41. Also catching up. Once again I’m thoroughly ashamed of my fellow US citizens (and whoever else the trolls may be). I cannot believe you get flak for loving your country! Check that. I can believe it. I would rather not have to. {sigh} I’m also very impressed you have the strength and graciousness to handle them like a professional diplomat!

  42. Pictures, pretty please, of the Bleeding Hearts stole and the gorgeous purple-with-beads scarf?

  43. Y’know, I never cared for the Olympics (modern anyway) to begin with. The original Olympics were where it’s at. (I’ve visited the original Olympics site, too. Beautiful place.)
    But then finding out about the bullshit in China. Knocking down people’s shacks? Killing cats for no real reason?
    Ew.

  44. Dude, I hear you on the political front, daughter Havala and I have both boycotted these upcoming Summer Olympics. We have issues with that Tibet thing also.

  45. Dude, I’m not sure how, but I think crocheting just got equated with human rights violations in Tibet…
    I may never crochet again!!!!
    Lovely fleece–and lovely spinning. I’m waiting until the teenagers move out and we have money again, and then I think I MUST move on to that addiction!

  46. Love the skein! Very pretty; I guess a little skein could make a nice stripe in the middle of a sweater? When I have a bit like this, I do a top-down or bottom-up raglan. I knit another color (MC) for the neck and and inch or so down, then do the fancy yarn (CC), then – when that runs out – go back to the original color (MC). It sort of looks like one of these lopi-type sweaters, with the design at the top – only it’s just color – know what I mean? As for the Olympics – we need time to train! I want to try a Norwegian sweater or a Gansey and need time to prepare!

  47. do you have any knitting recipients who attend the University of Guelph? that yarn is totally U of G colours and shares the same name as their mascot (the Gryphons)…. it’s like it’s meant to be!!!
    …. and if you don’t, i can think of a certain alumni who would gladly fill that role…. ahem…
    🙂

  48. My personal feeling on the Olympics, having traveled in China: The more people travel to China, and the more those people interact with the people of China, the better off China, and we, will be.

  49. I admit to being very frustrated when the Olympics were awarded to China. I am angered by a lot of things their government (NOT individual citizens) have done. However, I don’t know if I can boycott the Olympics by not watching. It’s the last time we get to see them on CBC (I am getting some of my hate on for CTV lately, between stealing the Olympics and stealing the HNC theme song), and I will be in the middle of deep-bush northwestern Ontario with only CBC and no DVD at my disposal. After a wicked hard day of hiking in +30, my only respite is a dip in the lake and a rest watching the TV.
    I also wanted to offer my condolences for the trolls of yesterday, though I myself am the staunchest Canadian you’ve ever seen! Your list ROCKED and I agreed with everything on it.

  50. Yay you for taking a stand against China, at least within the community of knitters. I’ve found the leadup difficult to watch, to say the least. Instead, I’ve joined the interweave sockalong on Ravelry (hosted by Erqsome) and am looking forward to whipping out some Uptown Boot Socks! In green–just like the algae filling the Chinese water where the sailing events are supposed to take place. God works in mysterious ways. : )

  51. How did politics get in here? Beautiful spinning job, I’m trying myself with a hand spindle but not having much luck, sigh…I guess I’ll just keep at it…ciao

  52. ok – # 1, I love, love, love the Crochet Olympics. Makes total sense – some sports/crafts in the winter olympics; other sports/crafts in the summer olympics.
    # 2 – do you know that you’re mentioned in Wikipedia under knitting when they describe the 21st century knitting revival and that you started the 2006 Knitting Olympics (I think it says you “challenged the world”)?
    you rock!

  53. It seems to me that the athletes are going to suffer this year no matter what, given the abominable air quality in Beijing. It’s very sad.

  54. I’ve been personally “boycotting” China economically since learning about the cat and dog fur trade a few years ago. I’m sure nobody in China misses the “trade” of one not particularly acquisitive person in North America, but that’s not the point.
    I was tremendously disappointed when China was selected as the Olympic host country, but since one result has been a more frequent media spotlight on human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and other difficult issues – including the cat and dog fur trade – perhaps the long-term effects will be positive.
    (stepping down from soapbox now.)

  55. I too am a crochet weakling…or maybe I just spend too much time oogling knit patterns and goods to want to make the time to learn it. I’ll be ready when the next Knitting Olympics comes around.

  56. I’m with you on the little Tibet thing. Have been quietly going elsewhere for things not made in China whenever possible (and man, is that a challenge) since the early 80’s when I first heard about the little Tibet thing. Am planning to not expose my eyeballs to the Beijing Olympics, as well, for the same reason.

  57. No Knitting Olympics? Thank goodness. I went out with a whimper last time (read: the baby sweater remains in pieces). While I actually do like to crochet, and believe it to be unrelated to Tibet, it’s summer, and I am all about relaxing in the summer.
    That way I can save all my energy for coveting that batt. That little touch of magenta? Drives. me. wild. In a purely yarnivorous sense, of course.

  58. Tibet and crochet? I understand the Tibetan thing but I’m not finding the correlation between it and crocheting??? Harlotta, or Rams or Presbytera please explain. I don’t see the conflict (but I am purposely underinformed about a whole lot of things…)

  59. Lovely batt. It looks so much bigger in the picture. Just a wee skein? A definite bribe then….
    Crochet Olympics sounds great! I’ve been knitting so much I might have forgotten how. See what you did!

  60. Forget freeing Tibet, free all of China. Particularly jailed Chinese dissenters. And the wombs of Chinese women.
    I agree on restricting the knitting Olympics to the winter games. Wool and sprinting just don’t mix. Wool and skiing? Perfect.

  61. Thanks for being my conscience and reminding me about why supporting the Olympics in China is a bad idea.
    Now my “leftover from the last Knitting Olympics” socks (definitely unfinished!) can remain in suspended animation until the next Winter Games rolls around.
    Unless I can just take on the challenge as a personal one. We’ll see.

  62. Thank you for remembering the freedom of Tibetan and Chinese people, Stephanie. Remember when they were NOT awarded the 2000 Olympics and they promised things would be different and great for everyone in China by 2008? And many people believed them? Now there’s farmers with tumours growing out of the side of their heads, no more free health care, pre-teens slaving away in blue jeans factories and tens of thousands of people have been “mobilized” to clean the Olympic sailing lake of green gunky algae, clogging the water because of industrial pollutant runoff. Yeah, that.

  63. Everyone should love their own country. There is much beauty in other countries, in landscapes and people. But we all love home. I wouldn’t presume to criticize another’s home. Although I will say this: Canada is not just beautiful, it is spectacular!

  64. Dude! You’re going to participate in the Tour de Fleece? That so totally rocks! Which team are you going to be in? I’m in the sprinters, although given the sheer mountain of fiber stash that’s assumed a permanent position or two in my house, I might make a bigger dent in it if I were spinning something besides laceweight!
    As others have mentioned, thanks for thinking of Tibet. I’ve known Tibetans in my life, and they’ve gone through some horrible, horrible stuff.
    My favorite parts of Canada would have to be you, Screech, my dear friends currently living in BC, Macintosh Toffee, and the Red Green show. Hope you had a wonderful Canada Day! (do you guys do fireworks for it the way we do on the 4th?)

  65. Just signed up for the Tour de Fleece yesterday. Methinks there must be some way to power peace all over the globe by way of spinning yarn. There must be.

  66. All I’m going to say on the China issue is that China has realized that to hold their system together and keep it vaguely functional is to crush any and all opposition with a swift and heavy hand. Unfortunate by true in their situation.
    What about a singular mitten with that skein? I mean, since mittens are going to get lost anyways, might as well make only one and just wear non-matching mittens forever. XD

  67. Love , love yarn with sparkles. I’v never had any but this year I will somehow. Can’t help it I’m just a kid at heart. Good luck trying to figure out what to use it for . The girls will probably solve this problem.

  68. Some very nice gals over at Ravelry are organizing Summer Knitting Olympics. I’m on Team Obama, committed to knitting with orange yarn in support of Tibet. I’m counting at least 5 buzz words or phrases in that sentence, and only one word that starts with “g”.

  69. I hope the Canadian Organizing Committee has you on their radar for 2010. They overlook you at their peril.

  70. I also am boycotting the 2008 Olympics, and am ever so pleased that some of China’s many, many wrongdoings are being exposed. One runner actually dropped out of the Olympics because he was worried the horrible quality air would damage his health. I was thrilled when someone hung a Free Tibet banner from the Golden Gate Bridge (!). There’s also Darfur: the Sudanese government has been murdering their own people and committing heinous crimes against them for years, funded by selling 80% of their oil to China and obtaining weapons from the Chinese government.
    Rock on for standing up for what’s right.

  71. cute wee skein. thankfully you do not crochet. it would not go far at all if crocheted – – running out of yarn faster as we hookers do……

  72. Ok… what I am about to say will shock you. So sit down and perhaps hold on to some yarn.
    Knitting is a three season sport for me. I can’t stand to knit in the summer, it’s just too dang hot here. It’s midnight and it’s still 24C/75F, and today would be considered “cool”.
    I tried switching to seasonal fabrics, cottons, etc. I just can’t do it. I don’t make a conscious decision to stop knitting, it just dwindles off as the weather gets warmer. I have three or four projects on the needles right now that I won’t touch for another few months. Sometime around September I’ll get the urge to start storing up food for the winter and making warm clothes, and then I’ll pick the knitting back up again. And there you have it. Knitting as a three season sport.

  73. Ah yes, that pesky Tibet thing. I’m going to miss watching the Olympics this year. Though, since we don’t have tv, I’m guessing it might have proven too much a pain in the ass (arse. happy belated Canada day) to watch anyhow.

  74. The yarn came out really pretty! And thanks for the heads up on the Tour de Fleece.

  75. My Tour challenge is to spin my first skein. Ideally, I’ll knit something with it to give to my colleague/friend in China; but that’ll be later.
    I hope I can do this …

  76. I’m in Stephanie! This will actually get me back in to spinning on a regular basis so I can get this stuff done.
    Thanks for the reminder! Bring on the cashmere!

  77. I’m definitely not up enough of spinning to join the Tour de Fleece, but I can certainly live vicariously through the mega blogging action of you and other participants.
    I keep telling myself that someday I’ll do that spinning thing regularly, so I can make pretty things like your wee skein. In reality, it probably won’t happen until I have a charkha or a spinning wheel. I just don’t seem willing to spend the time on the spindle.

  78. Just an idea for small amounts of gorgeous yarn:
    Nicky Epstein’s knitted roses make wonderful lapel
    pins or hat/purse embellishments. It may not
    be your taste, but I bet the teens would love it.
    Maybe a prize at a knitting guild “do”?
    Marlyce in Windsor, Ontario

  79. Perhaps why you don’t crochet is because there’s nothing inspiring to crochet. It’s a long standing mystery to me why the Europeans can design beautiful things in crochet whilst the North Americans seem to come up with stuff that makes me want to scream “who wears this stuff?” Amigurumi is exempted from this

  80. I think you weren’t going to do the Knitting Olympics anyway, but I’m glad you put in a word for Tibet. Seems to have otherwise faded from headlines.
    I liked your use of the word “mosaic” yesterday, too.

  81. I’m only just into dyeing yarn so I guess the Tour is out. I totally agree re the Olympics.
    And I love the fact that your blog has political comments (probably because I agree with you)
    Knit for Hope and Change (Obama)
    Susan in New Freedom, PA

  82. You to crochet is me to knitting – I’ve been known to do it. I do it poorly. And it doesn’t thrill me at all.
    I’m that way with yeast recipes, too.

  83. Hello Stephanie,
    I have crochet through several Olmpics , this is the first since I started knitting so a knittin I will be.Also its good to se that much pride in ones country you kinda make me want to be Canadian,soom of us could benifit from the pide it ones self and country , you go girl.
    Shelda (U.S.A)

  84. I am in total agreement with you on the China thing. I don’t plan on watching any of it. We have REAL issues with China in this household and we try not to support anything about the country. We have a problem with the “Tibet issue” too. Hey, if you haven’t already seen it watch “10 Questions for the Dhali Llama”. It’s a really good movie about the Tibet situation and the Dhali Llama.

  85. I’m so glad you mentioned that “little Tibet thing.” I’m not watching the summer olympics either. Besides, they don’t have any curling!

  86. I’m with you on the Olympics thing and China. But I had been pre-planning for a Knitting Summer Olympic event just in case. No worries though because I have Summer of Socks and I’m learning about other summer knitting events taking place — its hard to keep up!
    Lovely skein! I look forward to what you create during the Tour De Fleece – great idea!

  87. I was part of an international delegation to China several years ago. In that role, I spent several months there and got to see parts of the country that most foreigners never see, such as the insides of their prisons.
    Let me tell you in perfect earnestness our real challenge: we must break through to the Chinese people before they get their shit together as a society.
    If you think that refusing to watch swimming races on television, or refusing to knit during the Olympics, will help in any way, you’re mistaken. Well-intended and big-hearted, but still mistaken.
    If you really want to help, there are two things you should do. First, stop buying any product made in China. No exceptions. Second, find ways to build inroads to the people there. It can be done, and it will be worth it. They are so isolated that any contact with outsiders is a life-changing experience for many of them.

  88. oooh, I’d do laundry for yarn with a bit of sparkle!
    As for short yarn quantities, I’ll be shameless and tout a fun charity project my mom is running. She’s starting a mystery mitten knitalong on Sunday that’s said to produce a pair of wee-sized toddler mitts, suggested for donation. I have it on good authority that the pattern will only take a small bit of yarn! URL for signups is in my link on this post, rather than my own blog.

  89. I loved your little skein, it’s so pretty and would make a lovely iPod or cell phone cover perhaps.
    The Tour de Fleece sounds like fun, however my spinning (I use that term loosely), which I thoroughly enjoy is somewhat lacking (sucks). I’m a new spinner and not having had a CLASS makes me wonder how I got the spinning bug in the first place.
    Does learning to spin count as part of the challenge?

  90. I’m not going to join Tour De Fleece, though just the name alone is enough to tempt me sorely.

  91. Hey Sharon V? Learning to spin absolutely counts as part of the challenge. That’s what I’ll be doing. Wanna play?

  92. That adorable wee skein would make a lovely wee yarn cake … my daughter likes nothing better than to wind skeins of yarn into what she and I lovingly refer to as yarn cakes. So, if you haven’t the time to wind it up, send it on down to Philadelphia …

  93. Tour de fleece.. if only I had known, I started spinning my kit from Socks that Rock (sheep to shoe) last week. Spinning good enough for a 3-ply sock yarn will be quite a challenge for me! btw, I have a drawer full of wee decorative skeins as well, but probably not as pretty or as well spun as yours! -patti

  94. I love the Tour de Fleece- I am going to be on vacation for most of the tour, but I may indulge an unofficial spin along. I need to jump start my spinning.
    Fortunately in regards to the wee skein, the recipient of your bribe gets to puzzle out what it can be……..

  95. Do you read all of these…how do you find time to knit? I must admit I’ve been a lurker for a long time, but I wanted to tell you that Canada sounds lovely–politically, summer weathery, knitterly and many other ly’s. I wouldn’t like the winters, though. I live in Pennsylvania, and the winters here are too cold for me….I’d move south, but the summers are too hot there, soooo! But I really wanted to comment on your comments. Are all Canadians so country-oriented? It’s too bad more people aren’t as proud of their country of origin. I think it is refreshing. And with regard to your “Canada Pride” day–I say, who cares what people like to do privately–I judge people on their knitting preferences!

  96. I had a bunch of tiny skeins like that when I first learned to spin on a drop spindle. Eventually three of them teamed up to make a dice bag. They were so small that one little project took up all three skeins. That looks like it would play well in a slip stitch pattern with a black yarn for mittens or a hat.

  97. buy a wee tiny little “underthebed so joe won’t see it”
    loom.

  98. Totally agree with you re the Olympics in China. Not just ‘cos of Tibet either; the way China has treated its own citizens who in any way (from speaking out on human rights, to simply living in a house the Govt wanted to bulldoze to build an arena) “got in the way” of the Games, has been unacceptable.

  99. So you’ll start by finishing Joe’s gansey yarn, right? Your new red sparkly yarn would knit into a lovely little makeup bag. You could even felt it, unless felting your own handspun is some sort of sacrilege…I’m not a spinner. Yet.

  100. Forget about human rights, their animal rights abuses are beyond the pale!! Evertime you go to buy some coat with a tacky fur color, remember – that fur is likely dog fur, that came from China – where they (shudder, queasy stomach, getting lightheaded) SKIN THE DOGS ALIVE!!!!! sick

  101. Love the sprinkly bits but yeah — you can only do so much with a bunch of little special bits of yarn.
    To sneak in a Canada remark: I wish my health issues and age didn’t preclude my immigrating. You have a much more humane and better run country than we in the USA. Enjoy and be proud!

  102. yeh, China…it is a big problem. Thanks for taking a stand, delicately and tactfully.

  103. What a great idea — tour de fleece. How about I finish a project before I start a new one. Does that count? And, yes, that would be a challenge for me 😉

  104. Big fan of all the Olympics represent and I’m not even watching them this year. Sort of my personal, unheard protest in favor of tiny Tibet. I’ve had a Save Tibet sticker on my car for more than a decade (have to keep replacing it, it fades out). If my husband and the Canadian officials would allow it, I would move there in a heartbeat. I mean, I love my country, but I don’t know how much more of this I can take (Iran? sob!).
    Ever finish Joe’s gansey? ^_^

  105. Um, past politics and human rights issues aside, the idea that China is proceeding with the Olympics is unbelievable in my opinion. They are spending lots of money to tear down existing buildings, create stadiums, hotels, roads and other necessary amenities for this two week event after a devastating earthquake that killed thousands and left millions homeless. I can’t imagine that too many people in the world (athletes included)would protest if the Chinese government decided to divert their efforts to house and feed those in need following this catastrophe.

  106. Oops, almost forgot to tell you how pretty your new yarn is. It’s worth several loads of washed, dried, folded and put-away clothes.

  107. A HUGE thank you, Stephanie!!! Specifically for your stand on the Olympics and Tibet. It’s so important that people are made aware of what’s going on and that their choices of how to participate count and, ultimately matter! As you may know, I live in the Tibetan refugee community in the Himalayas where we run a free clinic abd emergency assistance program that we started through the generousity of knitters around the world. You can see info about the situation in Tibet and the traditional knitting of the region on my blog. It’s woefully overdue for updates as I’ve been traveling in the U.S. for a couple of months, but the information is still accurate and we’ll be going back to Tso Pema in a few weeks to resume work there. I plan on doing a raffle of things like traditional Himalayan knitted good and some yarn from the region now that Claudia’s fundraising is done for this year. She’s always been so much help to us so I didn’t want to eclipse what she’s doing (though we’re pretty small potatoes compared to her ongoing MS fundraising.)Anyway, we’re grateful for anything that helps people become a little more aware of what’s going on with Tibet. The situation is actually worse that the media is portraying.
    Joy aka “India Joy”
    http://www.customjuju.com/joy/joyblog

  108. Yeah Stephanie!! Thank you for taking a stand. Many small voices can be heard when coming together for such a worthwhile cause.
    Wee skein? I say crochet some beautiful cuffs on a rust color sweater or even a flower that could be moved from one sweater to another. Although I learned to crochet when I was about 10, I learned to knit a couple of years ago and haven’t stopped since. Thanks for the wonderful, often hillarious posts. It sure make a slow day at work go by fast.

  109. I love what you had to say when you closed the comments about Canada/US. I support you 100%! And your knitting and spinning are beautiful and I can’t wait to see the finished Harlot-designed baby sweater!! Please make a way for us to buy the pattern when you’re finished.

  110. I just read your Canada Day post and I have to say I have lived in the US for nearly 10 years now (9 years, 11 months) and haven’t been homesick for the last 9 of them, but you just made me homesick!!!!

  111. Stephanie, although I’m not thrilled about the China thing, either….the point of the Olympics originally (in Greece and modern times) was for ALL the countries to put ASIDE their differences for a period of time, and come together, briefly, get along, and then go back to real life.
    When one is trying to work with disagreeing people, one must make a connection between them before discussing their differences.
    What makes countries different than people? Isn’t it possible…even more likely, that we can use the Olympics to improve China if we go than if we boycott?
    At least, it is worth thinking about.

  112. Hi Stephanie,
    I’m a long time admirer of your humor and books and knitting and blog site. I was catching up on your blogs (Just found ravelry adn lace groups and have become emersed int the venue!!!) and I came across the Canada day blog. Happy belated Canada day by the way. We are celebrating the 4th of July here today. I will be voting republican again, even though I wish our candidate was more conservative. My being a conservative has nothing to do with my joy of knitting. Liberal agendas vs conservative will always be around…it’s one thing to be proud of your country…I know Americans are constantly accused of over-doing that abroad…but your post did cross the line into dumping on another country and conservatism in general. It’s funny,I don’t find many conservatives voicing their opinions on knitting sites…but I have come across alot of stuff from liberals. sad, because aren’t we all drawn together because of knitting? It’s like a cold slap in the face to come across the political stuff.

  113. Hi,
    The yarn you just spun is beautiful. Actually, most of the yarn you spin is beautiful. Do you sell any of it? I would be interested in purchasing some, especially from this batch.
    Thanks,
    Ruth

  114. hey – it’s lovely. (glitz and all) and it might make a splendid cowl. (you only need about 180-200 yards)
    and as for the gauntlet that J threw down about the AC/DC song….. ahem…. I for one would be delighted to sit on the jury for that “murder” trial (heh heh..)did he have a moment of temporary insanity going on? hahahah… nevertheless, the video of the guy in shorts and the solo were worth it. I laughed so hard., all the while having great sympathy for you.
    earplugs come to mind.

  115. Denny is a master enabler, eh? I met her a few weeks ago for the first time and she is GREAT.
    Don’t you love totally off-topic comments? I love your politics and diplomacy in equal measure.

  116. I wouldn’t have normally looked at yarn with sparkle but abslolutely love your wee skein.
    I’m not interested in sport but we make an exception for the Tour de France and really enjoy the days where they race through the Alps. I used to spin many moons ago and should be getting a wheel soon, so if there’s a Tour de Fleece next year hopefully will be able to participate.
    I appreciate the sentiment behind the original Olympics and that sport can unite people across the world. However I cannot support the Olympics being held in China particularly in the face of the human rights violations. Also feel that the effort being put into making sure everything is ok for the Olympics should be being directed towards reconstruction of the areas devastated by earthquakes.
    That is just my personal opinion and appreciate that others will have different views. I wonder if a way around this and future political issues and fact that countries have to spend so much on facilities to host the event couldn’t be overcome by them being held in Greece where they originated. The International Olympics Committee could host it and there could also be international funding which would solve all the problems.

  117. Thank you thank you for mentioning the human rights issue and Tibet.
    Olympics back to Greece, forever (they did a fab job last time, but not enough people came).
    Free Tibet.

  118. at risk of sounding like a scissor tongue or scold, i would like to offer a comment re: olympics and China. Many have made comments which are censorous of China and its role in the world re: Tibet and human rights and also the support for olympics.
    In my opinion and its only mine. I feel these comments are misguided. I seems to me, that when one tries to train or change behaviour of a puppy or a small child (or perhaps even a country) , one uses gentle persuasion. Then one rewards positive actions or attempts ( whether or not that positive action fulfills the desired golas.) It’s progress in the right direction. China is trying to clean up its act. People here are well aware that there are problems and are striving to do better. A postive response to the olympics will bolster the attempts at opening and reform. Like a pat on the head for a puppy who really is trying to “hold it” until we can make it out the door, I think China needs a little encouragement re: olympics. Most people here are honestly excited to show their country to the world.
    I have been teaching here for a year and found that many of my ideas have changed. Many things still enrage and sadden me but we need to give credit for those things which have and are changing.

  119. I’m with Jennifer, the first commenter, “Lovely little skein you spun up there. I always want to shadowbox stuff like that. 😀
    My future obviously holds walls bedecked with millions of shadowboxes. hehe
    Posted by: Jennifer at July 2, 2008 4:10 PM”

Comments are closed.