Tuesday, August 30, 2016

It's a Hat!

It's finished! Started this last February and set it aside for too long. Here's the pattern: 
Noro Hat


I did a flat top for my hat instead of the pointed one in the pattern. With 96 stitches, k 10, k2tog for one round , knit one round. K 9 then k 2 tog one round, knit one round, k 8 then k2 tog  followed by a knit round and etc. I left a long tail and crocheted that for a cute little loop on the top of the hat.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Been Knittin'

I haven't posted too much this year. I have been knitting. A lot. Although I have been knitting for about 50 years (no kidding), I am not a particularly dedicated knitter nor am I particularly talented. Wools, yarns and spinning wheels interest me more. Well, I signed up for a class at The Sheep Shack in Holden, MA, back in January and I am still going. I've completed 1.5 a pair of socks, a whole sweater (that is actually wearable!!!), a hat, half a shawl. 1/4 of a sweater and about 1/30th of another sweater. I have learned so much and have so much more to learn but I'm really enjoying myself. Sadly, I haven't spun much but I think these knitting classes will come in handy when DH retires in a couple of years. Clearly,  I haven't conquered the problem of having too many projects going at once.



Oh, and we got a puppy.


Friday, April 1, 2016

Yarn Substitution

I just found this website that suggests other brands of yarn for substitution...very cool.
Yarn Substitution

Friday, January 22, 2016

Love at First Spin

I adore spinning wheels and the more the merrier. If you travel to any spin-ins, guild meetings or fiber shows, I'm sure you've seen a Lendrum; it's the one that tilts back towards the spinner. Well, Web's was having its Bag Sale....everything 20% off. EVERYTHING. I couldn't resist getting another wheel and I just couldn't resist the Lendrum. 

What a wheel!!!!! It's smooth as silk, the bobbins are easy to change and the range of ratios make the thing incredibly versatile. I don't usually care to be tied to a wheel as you are with a double treadle but I don't mind at all with my Lendrum.  I've done some super fine yarn, plied and spun some funky art yarn and it didn't miss a beat.

The complete package included a plying flyer and a lace flyer and the wheel folds for travel. There's a reason you see these wheels everywhere; the Lendrum upright is a wonderful thing.

Monday, January 4, 2016

Amyrillis

I've never, ever had one of these grow to bloom. I got this one, already potted from a clearance rack.
WOW!









Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Got a blending board!

My DH asked what I wanted for Christmas and all that I could think of was a blending board. I suggested Brother's because of the lower price point and he got it for me....

My first effort was just all wrong and a few You Tube videos later (I enjoyed Gwen Powell's videos very much: Using a Clemes and Clemes Blending Board) I was able to make rolags easily, if not neatly. I also managed to draw blood twice so do be careful and do make sure your tetanus is up to date. Here are a few pics:

Painting the board

Pushing the fiber onto the tines with a paintbrush

Carding the fiber onto the board

Starting first rolag

First rolag off the board

Last rolag

A mess o' rolags

A word about selecting a blending board....carding cloth is expensive and I suspect that is the main reason for the price of these tools. There are only about 3 companies that manufacture carding cloth in the world so features become important. So far  I'm pleased with my selection and you can find boards that cost a lot more and a lot less. 

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Graniteware and Dyeing Fiber

Ever buy something, use and then wonder how you ever managed without it? Well, I'm in love with this graniteware pan that I got from Amazon: Graniteware Roaster.  It is large enough to fit a two yard hank of yarn, tall enough to hold large Mason jars and fits into the oven easily. It also works as a stovetop dye pot. In fact, it is big enough to hold a couple of mason jars along with some yarn for two dyeing techniques at one time.