BLUE TOE SPINNER

Do you remember this little project I started earlier this year?  The Petal Vest. I actually finished it.  I call it my Conversion Project, because knitting it was my happy place during my company's core processor change.  Thus the conversion. I think it turned out quite nicely.  I love Helene Rush's patterns!! I was fortunate enough to be able to attend Amelia Garripoli's Workshop a couple weekends ago.  Held at the Pioneer Craft House  Here is Amelia, teaching Long Draw.  I was actually able to do it by the end of the class. Look at all the beautiful spindles we where able to play with.   We did fantastic things with drum carders. Jill and David played with Cyndi's Super Carder. Kathleen and Cathy carding self-striping roving. Amelia checks on our progress with long draw. Only two of the pieces that when home with me.  An Akha spindle for spinning cotton and Angel Wings for support spindles. Amelia helping Bakti set up her Charka....

Tomorrow is Worldwide Knit in Public day. There will events Saturday thru Monday. Check with your local yarn shop for information on events they will be sponsoring. Take your needles or spindles with you everywhere. '\/'

I love merchandise that reflects my interests.  Enter the every popular t-shirt... I ran across these shirts on the Knitty Shop .  Some really unique ideas and many styles to choose from.  " These are the ONLY kind of needles you should ever share."   "Don't bother trying to resist. The sheep are more powerful than we are."  Just wanted to share...  

I found the perfect name for my Ashford Joy wheel.  I named it after one of my favorite flowers.  Hyacinth.   Also the name of a very funny character on the British Comedy "Keeping Up Appearances" on PBS.  Hyacinth Bucket.  But, she pronounces Bucket as Bouquet. I think it suits the Joy very well.

This post was created and published using my Kindle. Which makes it really nice when you don't want to turn on the computer for just a random comment. I also want to tell you about a really cool weaving book I found in the Mary Meigs Atwater Guild Library. It is called "The Magic of Handweaving - The Basics and Beyond" by Sigrid Piroch. It is the most amazing weaving book I have seen. It is really easy for me to understand. I know! Even me. The guild libraries are fantastic resources and the price is right -free with your membership. Have a great weekend and don't forget to spin, knit or weave. :-)

Did you know that you can upload PDF docs to your Kindle? I have had a blast loading all sorts of patterns and ebooks and even downloadable magazines. So, you can take your favorite patterns & how-tos along with your favorite books without all the paper. Isn't technology amazing? Just thought I should share.

Cedric my sweet Hitch Hiker wheel, has been put out to pasture.  He would not allow me to adjust the scotch tension.  It completely stops the bobbin from spinning.  It's hard to spin when your wheel won't spin. So, enter the new Ashford Joy.  I ordered it through Kristine's shop .   I've already added bling. As you can see in the background, Ted and Taylor quite like the pretty, pretty wheel.  Ted is the black blob in the left hand corner.  The bobbins are this wheel hold about 3 1/2 ounces.  And the spinning is lovely!  I haven't found a name for her yet.  I've just been calling her "the Joy".  I'm not oppose to suggestions.   We are making progress on the Petal Vest.  It is soooo fun to knit.  And it's so pretty. They look like real flower petals.  So fun.  Did I mention that before.   Ted thinks the colors set off his eyes.   I'm also working on the Talisman Shawl , pattern by...

I am working on this really cool pattern.  I saw a sample knitted up at Three Wishes and had to make it.  So, I bought the same yarn the sample was done in.  The yarn I bought is Classic Elite Yarns Liberty Wool, 100% washable wool.  It is machine washable in cold and then you lay flat to dry or tumble dry cool.  I bought the same color (7898) but two different lots (1696 and 1698)  I think they will go together very well. Now for the pattern.  It is by He'l'ene Rush.  I love her patterns.  The first pattern I did of hers was "Hey Teach", and it turned out so, so well.  The problem is, you can only get this pattern thru " Knit One Crochet Too ".  Which is fine, but this particular pattern isn't down loadable (many patterns from this site are down loadable).  But, as has always been the rule of  life, if you have great taste this means it is more expensive or is harder to get, right?  Bummer.  So, I p...

It's been nearly two months since my last post.  I haven't done anything fiber related, except thinking about it.  I haven't been to any weaving or spinning guild meetings.  I didn't even participate in Dye Exchange this year.  I didn't have the energy to get it done.  I did go to Three Wishes and buy some yarn, but it is still sitting in the bag. Is it me or does anyone else ever wonder what their legacy will be.  I sometimes wonder if I am making good use of my time when I spin or knit or weave.  How am I benefiting the world by creating pretty things.  I have been overwhelmed by the happening around the world.  Japan, Libya and such.  I can't do anything personally to help these situations, and it make me feel as though I'm unsympathetic, useless and unfeeling.  But, then I think of cultures that struggle to every day just to live and make ends meet, yet in their spare time they use their hands to create beautiful textile works...

This was my final project for my beginning weaving class.  It was woven with sock yarn as the warp and cotton boucle for the weft.  I learned that I didn't get the warp tight enough, so the middle of the scarf sags.  So, I learned about the importance of a tight uniform warp.  But, I still really like the scarf.  Then, I twisted the fringe.  It is very fun to wear.

Merry Christmas to all and remember the reason for the season.  Call your parents and/or children or other people you love who tolerate you and your quirkiness.

Last night's Woolpack meeting we had a discussion about how to spin "fat" again after we have learned to spin "thin".  These as some of the tips I thought were useful. Switch hands to spin, (if you draft with your right try drafting with your left). Increase the whorl size on your wheel. Spin from batts instead of roving. Don't draft at all with your second hand. Concentrate. The down side to spinning "fat" is you don't get as much yardage from your fiber, so you may need to buy extra fiber for a project.  Oh, darn.... For show and tell, I showed them my new books. Vampire Knits A Sorcerer's Cookbook Learning to Weave The Handweaver's Pattern Directory After class Bakti showed me her current weaving project.  A room full of looms...what's not to love!  It was a fun evening.

I only have one more weaving class with Deanna at Three Wishes, then I will be turned out on my own.  I will need to have some place to keep learning.  So, I joined the Weaver's Guild on Thursday.  Kathrin Webb was the guest speaker.  Beautiful weaving and dyeing and a really fun presentation.  I hope I will be able to keep learning and keep having fun.  Here is what I have done so far. This is the first project.  Guess what I discovered when I washed it.  Yes, that mystery yarn was wool., and it did a little shrinky-dink thing.  Oh, well it is still interesting looking and I have to keep it because it was my first project.  This is the second project.  Very fun and I think very pretty.  Here is the other end.  I warped it all by myself.  I am iching to start a project on my own loom, and I will be able to soon because I got new cables for it.  The leather ones are shot.  And I should be getting...

I've been taking "Beginning Weaving" from Deanna at Three Wishes .  After 3 lessons I have produced my first sampler.  It's a little rough, but I learned alot.  And that is what I am trying to do, is learn.  I was really worried about warping.  However, I found it quite fun! It hasn't been finished (wet finished).  I really enjoyed the color combo I used.  I have been inspired to produce something to honor weavers.... ...... ENJOY!!