Wednesday, January 24, 2007

What do you get

when you combine 8 girlscouts, carders, and a spinning wheel?



Then add a spindle





We discussed the different types of fiber that could be spun, gave them samples of everything I had from alpaca to angora, and they had a blast. They got to do some carding. They each took turns on the wheel - at first one would treadle, another would draft and then they would switch. By the end of the night most of them were able to treadle and draft at the same time. I was amazed how well they did. I even have a couple who want me to order them a spindle and some fiber.

I now have the task of taking all this funky yarn they made and knitting up a hat to be donated to the local childrens hospital. I'm curious to see how this will look.

On my needles - the Trekking socks, which I am still not jumping up and down about. They just seem so big. I tried them on and they really are not. I think that because I usually do 3/1 ribbing all the way down the sock, this pattern (which I am designing as I go along) seems too baggy.


I found a pattern for hubby's Aran Cardigan that he has been asking for. I will start swatching for it tonight and see how I like it. Hopefully pics will follow tomorrow.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Toasty Warm Socks

Done just in time for the frigid winter temps we are having



My first socks done with my hand spun yarn! I am a bit concerned about how well they will wear. I knit them on a size 1, so they are pretty tight. I still have enough yarn left over to knit another pair. I think I bought a total of 8 oz. altogether. I think next time I will spin thinner and do a 3 ply.

Now, what do I do with this



I bought this last time I was in NC on a visit and didn't realize how popular Trekking had become. I want to do something a little different than my normal sock pattern that I have memorized. Need a bit of a challenge.

On my wheel I am still spinning my free fleece. I am not sure what is next. I still have those 2 pound bags of roving I got at the last couple of Sheep and Wool festivals. Not to mention the big bale from Sheep Shed Studio.

Did I mention that my Girl Scouts decided to work on their Textile Arts Badge? I am bringing my wheel in to the next meeting as well as some spindles and let them card some of the fleece that I still have. We will be taking a trip in the Spring to an Alpaca farm and they will get to see the Alpaca sheared. I'm not sure who is more excited - me or them.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Progress so far

I finished the roving I got from VT Sheep and Wool that I had been spinning on my Hitch Hiker



I'm still unsure of what it's future holds - a scarf? mittens and a hat? I am not inspired yet.

I finished the shawlette I was making from the merino/tencil I spun over the summer. But alas, I hated it and frogged the entire thing. It is now becoming a moebius. It matches my winter coat perfectly - the colors are great.



And there are the handspun socks that I have been working on since,,,,,,,,,,well, I don't know since when. But it's been a long time. I aim to have them finished for the Spinning Retreat in February.



Don't they look toasty warm? We'll be needing it - it is supposed to be 8 degrees tomorrow night!

Sunday, January 7, 2007

January 7th??????????


It's like a spring day! I have been sitting outside looking out at the bay on my deck spinning the fleece we washed (in October) and carded (still carding as we go along). It spins real well. I am pleased so far.

Nicole spent the morning doing some needle felting. She is trying to make a gnome. She ended up with a punk-rock looking head right now!

It is such a beautiful day - watching the Jets vs. Patriots right now (it's a tie - let's go Jets!), then the Giants vs. Eagles is after. We won't catch that game though. We have tickets to see Wicked at PPAC . Who could have predicted such a nice day when tickets were bought in October???

Friday, January 5, 2007

What to do with that Alpaca???



It's kind of difficult to see because it's black, but that was the hat I was knitting for the hubby. Nicole and I were sitting down last night and were knitting. She looked at the hat and said "Gee mommy, that looks really big!". She was right - I took it off my needles, and although I had my guage, it seems that Alpaca does not hold a good shape. I frogged it and started again, but cast on 20 less stitches. I am getting the idea that Alpaca might not make a good hat. I'm thinking it will just slip off his hair. I have to think about this one. I would make a nice scarf, but he doesn't wear them.

Another day, another fiber lesson learned..........

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Walking that 100 miles

I have been so inspired by everyone who has jumped on board and committed to walking/running/hiking/biking, etc... 100 miles by April 1st. At first I looked at that and thought "No way - I can't do it." Then I slept on it - and it haunted me for the rest of the night. I was waking up thinking about it. I got on the bloglines this morning and saw a whole bunch more people who are doing it. Then I went through my line of excuses - it's too cold out, I have no time, and the list could go on.

I then thought of the list of reasons why I should - lower my blood pressure, lose weight, more energy........ Let me assure you, the reasons far outnumber the excuses. So if anybody can tell me how to put that button on my blog, I am walking with ya'll.

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

I'm not ready yet

Well, school vacation is over and it's back to reality. I'm not bummed about going back to work - I'm actually looking forward to it. What I will miss is snuggling on the couch with my daughter while there is still daylight and knitting together.

She did finish her socks this morning


She is so proud of her accomplishment.

Remember this?


Well, after pulling my head out of the sand, I realized that this Christmas present was going nowhere fast. So the present became this


They are wrist warmers. I have just have to print out the label with washing instructions and we'll be ready to drop in the mail tomorrow.

On to face the day........

Monday, January 1, 2007

Happy New Year!!!!

2007......where does the time go? I can remember this time last year. I was high on the excitement of getting my first wheel and learning how to spin. This year I am looking forward to the Bayberry Spinners Retreat the first week in February, maybe getting to the Spa in Maine a couple of weeks later, and the fiber festivals to follow.

Project wise my goals for the year are:
1. A cardigan for hubby (I know the yarn I am going to use - I just have to find the pattern)
2. Christmas stockings for the family (Nicole is carding the fleece for those as we speak so, it's a start)
3. Moebius scarf for myself
4. Spin my stash - which is.......


and 2 lbs. of this




and there's this




can't forget this



yeah, it's about 3 pounds.

And this



There's about 2 lbs. there too.

Yes, there's more than I can post in photos here. So while Wendy is encouraging us to knit our stash, I will be spinning my stash!

And speaking of spinning, the Alpaca is done and ready to be knit into hubby's hat



It's beyond soft!

I don't have a clear recollection of my 2006 projects. I obviously learned to spin, ply and even did some Navajo plying. I dyed sock yarn (and have it for sale too, check out my shop - http://knit1spin2.etsy.com) and roving. I spun sock yarn and started the sock. But can you believe I can't find it in this house?? I got my first fleece then washed it and am in the process of carding it. I feel good about my 2006 fiber life.

And I wish all of you a happy, healthy and fibery 2007!!

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