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. 

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......

Jake

Jake had a free portrait done today at PetSmart. Good boy.

Alden Amos

I'm sure most everyone has heard the sad news about Alden Amos' passing. "The New York Times" did a great write up. Here's the link: Alden Amos

Washing Raw Wool

Washing fleece is something I really enjoy. It is one of those tasks that I put off (as evidenced by the dozen or so languishing in our former dining room) but, once I get started, it makes me very happy to take a greasy, muddy mass of wool and turn into a clean, fresh smelling, soft pile is a true joy. Spinning wool that I've processed is about my favorite thing of all things involved in preparing wool and spinning.

Everybody has a different system and mine is no better and no worse. I use water that I heat on the stove until it is steaming. I use a combination of Dawn and Ecos for the wash cycles; I use vinegar in the first rinse and clear water in the last rinse. Thus, the wool gets soaked in at least 4 times. I add a third wash if the fleece is greasy and I'll do a pre-soak in cold water for a day or two if the fleece is extra muddy.

Here are some things that I don't do. I don't agitate the wool and in fact, I try to barely handle it. I don't buy a fleece that is full of hay or other chaff. I have been through my share of those and while satisfying, are a little more trouble that I care to deal with.  Last, I don't worry. I used to fret about felting. Well, I've felted wool a time or three but the since the sheep keep growing their wool.......there's always more to be had.

To get the excess water out of the lingerie bags that hold the wool during washing, I use Alden Amos' method of swinging the bag around and around. That gets the majority of the water out then, to the basement to dry (outside in warm weather). I did invest in salad spinner and I'll report on that after I use it. Spinning wet wool in New England winter weather is anything but pleasant.

Here a picture of some pretty CVM-Romeldale that I'm washing:

If you are just starting out, I'd suggest starting with something like Romney. Their wool tends to be low in grease and is pretty forgiving stuff. (Note: grease is  aka lanolin when discussing sheep fleece.)

Leeks with Olives and Tomatoes

Here's a quick and tasty recipe for leeks:

Cut three or four leeks crosswise, salt, and fry over medium heat

until lightly brown.

Add one can black olives and crushed red pepper.

Add one large can of tomatoes, drained and crushed.

Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 20 minutes (until leeks are tender) and serve with rice or couscous. 

A pound of humbug

All plied.  It is BFL (Blue Faced Leicester) and so soft:

I'll list it on Etsy in day or two.....

Humbug!

Ever seen that pretty striped wool top called Humbug? I scored a pound of it and started wondering why it was called Humbug? Here's a picture of the wool:

So, I did a little (very little) research and here's a pic of a British peppermint candy called....Humbug:

And, I think that I found the answer

A wonderful day in Massachusetts

Resource: Patterns for Art Yarns

I love spinning art yarn! These can be called textured or novelty yarns but whatever you call them, they are fun. I've been asked a few times  how these yarns can be used. In addition to a prior blog post (Yarn Craft), I've collected a few patterns that work well:

1 .One Piece Magic Cardigan by Lynn M. Wilson



2. High Flying Kite Art Yarn Shawl by Anna Clark



3. Ozark Handspun makes some delicious yarn; they also have patterns: Ozark Mountain Handspun Patterns



And don't forget the easy stuff like a dropped stitch scarf. Co 9 or 12 stitches with size 13 needles ( or larger). 1st row and all odd no. rows: "ko, yo to end". 2nd row and all even rows: "ko, drop the "yarn over" from the previous row, to end". The texture of the yarn will make this scarf very special.  

More Yarn:

Here's a little coil spun:

Taming the Beast

or how I came to love my Schacht-Reeves. The Schacht -Reeves is my dream wheel (well, one of them, anyway). So, I saved my pennies and bought one last year. I just couldn't love the wheel!  No matter what I did, I just couldn't get it to spin like I thought it should. Specifically, I like spinning long draw and I just couldn't seem to get the takeup strong enough to provide resistance for long draw. I like a grabby wheel for long draw and the SR was just too gentle. I tried both DD and ST. No luck and I had intended the SR to be a production wheel!

So, the drive band search began . I usually spin DD on my other wheels so I started by stringing different double drive bands.  I tried both thick and thin butchers' twine, crochet thread, hemp, cotton, candle wick, etc., no luck. So, I decided to work with the wheel in ST and tried a single loop of the candle wick for the drive band. Viola! Worked like a champ. 

There's a moral to this story. If your wheel isn't performing the way that you need it too, change the drive band. If that doesn't work, change the brake band and don't give up. 

Notes:

Generally, a thicker band is for a thicker yarn and a thicker band will be grabbier. (more surface area). Also, drive/ brake bands wear out. Yep, even the fishing line types and stretchy types. Pollutants and sunlight wear these down even though they don't stretch out in the way that a cotton band will.

Don't be afraid to have several drive bands at the ready. I've read of folks who keep three or four at the ready.

What about the brake band? I've decided to ditch the spring that came with the wheel and try a rubber band and some festive looking butchers' twine in the hopes that the rubber band will allow for more fine tuning. I'll give it a go when I finish what I spinning. I'm also going to keep looking for a material that will work for DD.

Are there spinning rules?

Are there? By rules, I mean things that must be done (or should never, ever be done). I have thought about this a lot. One example? Well, I don't  believe in weighting yarn intended for knitting while they dry. Setting the twist doesn't require weights and that fiber, once wet is likely to bias and might ruin someone's garment. So, for me, it's a rule; I never put a weight on my yarns while they dry....if they have too much twist, I either run the yarn back through on my e-spinner or I set it aside for weaving.

I'd love some thoughts from others. Does anything go? Are there rules?