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.

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.

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.