Holy overdue update post, batman!

I got back from the DFW Fiber Fest in Grapevine, TX, on Sunday afternoon. I had so much fun with Gnome and my bff Liz. I had promised DH that I wouldn't buy any fiber, yarn, or a spinning wheel (this is because I bought a guitar 2 weeks ago). I never said I wouldn't buy a spindle, and I need a plying spindle. Introducing Rosalie!

Rosalie is a 1.4oz spindle from Butterflygirldesigns. She joins my Golding, Alice. In case you can't see the trend, perhaps you should know that I named my guitar Jacob.

I had a pretty crappy day on Friday (my interview at OU did not go well, but that's a rant for another place), so I felt that the crappy day could possibly override the "I won't buy anything" promise with minimal backlash from DH. So I bought fiber from Two If By Hand. I saw their 80/10/10 Merino/Cashmere/Nylon blend in the colorway Radical Librarian. It reminded me of Laura from The Knitgirllls. Since I love to read too, I figured it fit me as well. I went for the slightly cheaper SW merino version.

Luckily, DH didn't intend to hold me to my promise. He just waited for me to fess up. It took me about 20 minutes after getting home to spill my guts. It's probably good that I didn't know that he was lenient or my wallet would be crying.

I was able to try out a few wheels while at the fiber fest. The first wheel I tried was a Spinolution Mach III. I didn't know what it was when I tried it, and it was soooo wonderful. I found out later that it is a $1,000 spinning wheel and just about choked. I was able to try an Ashford Joy, and while it was nice, it was a bit fiddly. We just didn't really get along. The last wheel I tried was a Ladybug. There wasn't a chair available, so I initially had to try to treadle it standing up. It sucked, and I was so disappointed. I really really wanted to like it, but I didn't. I walked away from the wheel, but came back to it later and asked for a chair. I am incredibly glad that I did! It was fantastic to treadle while sitting down. I didn't buy that one, but apparently I have begged DH enough because he agreed to split the cost of the wheel! We both get paid on April 29th, so that's when I'm getting it. My mom is going to chip in as well. There is a spinning store about 30 minutes away, and they have it. I need to go by and see how much they're charging for it as compared to the Woolery. I'll likely cave in to instant gratification and buy one from the local place.

I'm supposed to be spinning the SAL fiber, but I decided to start some of the Cjkopec fiber about a week before the SAL started. I'm still not done with it. I don't know what I was thinking other than that I wanted to practice so I won't screw up the SAL fiber. I split the 2.2oz braid in half, and this is what I have so far:

My consistency has gotten much better, so that's a plus. I hope I can finish it before April is over. I've been so busy lately that I've barely had time to knit. I'm knitting some socks for a friend and they're part of the last month of the Wendyknits KAL. I've got about 3" on the first sock done. FAIL.

I'm also doing the Lady Bertram as a KAL with my friends Muriel & Courtney. They finished about a month ago, and I'm still slogging along. I just started chart B, and I still have to get through it and chart C before I'm finished.

On a sidenote, it doesn't pay to wind your yarn too tightly.

Finally, I'm almost done with my Austin hoodie (this might be why I'm not making much progress anywhere else). I've finished the body and have picked up the stitches for one of the arms. I haven't decided if I'll actually put a hood on it or if I'll just put a collar in.

Hopefully I'll blog again before the month is out. I'm way too busy and really stressed out, but I'll definitely shout it from the rooftops when I get my spinning wheel.