Yarn Substitution

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

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.

Amyrillis

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

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. 

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. 

Things to see in Massachusetts

Here's a fun list of cool things to see and do in this great Commonwealth:

The 20 Most Jaw Dropping Places in Massachusetts

Sad News

On last Friday, we had to put Travis, our dear little dog, to sleep. The poor guy had kind of a

tough life over his too short 12 years. We often referred to him as the dog with nine lives as we nursed him through each different problem. He was a sweet guy who always bounced back after each illness but this last one was just too much for him. We would never, ever, ever have let him suffer through something that he couldn't overcome and liver cancer was his last and final battle. He lost the battle but sure won the war and I count myself so lucky to have known him; he had spirit and he had spunk. I read somewhere that we only get to borrow dogs......