1. July 2010 by admin.

So…this BLOG is making me nuts.  I need to find a new way to BLOG, because this site is slowing me down.  I’m not patient enough to wait for this site to load on my own computer so if anyone ever reads this, it’ll be a miracle.  I have a new site coming with a new name…stay tuned.

 Until I find time to start up the new site, I thought I would update this one.

Loving my Double Treadle Lendrum Wheel more and more each day.  I have finished a few projects since my last post and have one on the go right now.  No pics yet.

My friend Sarah, from the Knitting Revolution, joined me at the Ontario Handspinners Show at Queens a few weeks ago, where I jumped in and bought a new set of Wool Combs!  WOW.  Here’s a little look at what I’ve been up to with spinning.

 That’s Superwash Merino,Bamboo and Nylon.  Destined to be a pair of winter socks.

And this  is Superwash merino with no future plans.  Too much spinning and no time to knit.

Posted in Spinning | 1 Comment »

13. May 2010 by admin.

I have recently finished spinning and Navajo plying the “Maine Lobstah” merino roving.  Love it!

 It was pretty rewarding when I finished this project.  Probably mostly because I have no guilt about starting my next spinning adventure.  friendly obsession.

Life is very busy around here these days.  Spinning, knitting, working, starting all our flowers and vegetables in beer cups…nothing is ever fast or easy.

I did learn to crochet a couple weeks ago. pics to follow. Seriously, I only know how to do a granny square, but it’s more than I could do a few weeks ago.

Wow!  I just remembered I also tried my hand at Acid Dyeing.  It was a fun experience.  A little scary.  The dust dye  is so fine and so colorful when wet.  My first attempt wasn”t so successful, so I overdyed it.  Much happier.  Then it was smooth sailing.

Posted in Spinning, Blogroll | 3 Comments »

8. April 2010 by admin.

So, a lady from my spinning class graciously donated a 7 pound dirty fleece to me.

Nothing says generous like a bag of stinky, poop fleece

So after many days, weeks of washing the fleece, I ended up with 3 pounds of clean fleece. 

After borrowing a set of combs to prepare the fibre, I managed to get 225 grams combed and ready to spin.  The decision hasn’t been made if I will dye it before spinning, so it sits in ziploc baggies, awaiting it’s fate.

Posted in Spinning, Blogroll | 2 Comments »

6. April 2010 by admin.

So, clearly once a month is what I can commit to these days.

With many projects on the go….where to start is the question.  I guess I’ll start with what I finished.

Superwash Merino in the most luscious Royal Blue I’ve ever seen.  207 grams spun up nicely into two skeins, 2 ply.  Total of 285 yards.

I decided to switch things up a bit, after consulting the pro’s on Ravelry, and use the Fast Flyer with regular bobbins for a tighter spun single.  Still having issues getting to a sock weight two play yarn.  Although drafting is a large part of my issue, the singles I was producing just didn’t feel spun enough.  When I attempted navajo plying I ended up breaking my singles as they were a little underspun.

I have also finished spinning and plying my chocolate brown fleece that I purchased before Christmas.  Sadly before I really thought to write down the type of fiber, so it’s a beautiful rich brown mystery.

With the little bit of a single I had left, I went on YouTube and learned how to Navajo Ply.  WOW.  Once you get it,  navajo plying is pretty cool, and makes you look like a pro to the naked, untrained eye.

I also finished plying all the fibre that we got from our Spinning Class.  After plying up two skeins, I took a chance at using food coloring and dying one of the skeins.

Seriously, it’s been a busy

month.

More to come… I have a few other things on the go.

Posted in Spinning | 1 Comment »

22. March 2010 by admin.

Just when I decide not to be a slacker and want to keep my blog updated, I fall off the wagon.

Here’s a couple updates since last month:

 The 77 rolags carded during the Olympics spun up to be 262 yards of 2 ply yarn…worsted weight I think.  Will do a wraps per inch test as soon as I dye it.  That’s my newest craft project.  Learning to Dye.  Hopefully first attempt will be this afternoon.

My spinning class is over already.  Hard to belive 6 weeks went that fast.  Got some good pics of the ladies from the class and I hope to keep in touch with them in the future.  The underground spinning community. 

There’s a festival coming up in June…Ontario Handspinners and Weavers Seminar.  Sounds pretty intense with competitions.  Although competitions aren’t my thing, it’sll be fun to go and learn new skills.

First attempt at playing with Dye turned out OK.  Just used household food coloring for now.

Finished spinning and plying the supersoft Brown roving I bought back in December.  Not sure the type of wool.  I should have made a note but in the beginning the whole experience of buying roving was overwhelming.  It plyed up nicely.  Pretty even DK/worsted.  I also attempted Navajo plying with the short amount of single I had left.  Not bad.  Took a few tries to get it, but it’s pretty fun once you get the rhythm.  Watched a few video’s on YouTube to get me started.

Pictures will be posted soon.

Posted in Blogroll | 1 Comment »

28. February 2010 by admin.

I know I’ve only been to two spinning classes but I’ll be bummed when they are over.  What a great time.  All the ladies are really nice and very eager to learn. This week we got to use to hand cards and a flick carder.  The brown fleece we washed last week has a long staple length so hard carding is not recommended.  Will be using the dog brish as a flick carder.  I did however bring a set of hand cards home to prep the washed cream fleece we also go tlast week.  Those carders are SHARP and I pricked my thumb.  First spinning injury, aside from a sore back from hours at the wheel.

I have to admit I was a sceptic and didn’t think I would like to spin from the lock of fleece that wasn’t prepared in any way.  I was way wrong. It was easier than I though to draft the fibers right from the lock.

Fortunately the Olympics were amazing to watch last night and in the time span of 3 gold medals for Canada, I hand carded 77 rolags weighing in at 5.6 ounces.  Can’t wait to spin them and see how much I get.  Mens Hockey Gold Medal Game today so I might get my spinning in then. 

Yesterday was a funny site.  Ry made home made maple syrup to pour over popcorn for a delicious treat, and then a full meal cooked over the open flame from boiling the sap while I hand carded washed fleece.  It was a calm and perfect day.

Posted in Blogroll | 3 Comments »

22. February 2010 by admin.

I am super happy!  I almost didn’t get into the Yarn Spinning class put on by the Kingston Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Kingston.  Thanks goodness for having my own wheel and sneaking in. LOL!

We all got a big hunk of stinky, oily, dirty wool to bring home for homework.  Assignment: wash it without felting it. Pretty sure I’ve been successful.

I just started to spin the brown wool that I got in Picton last December.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t quite as accurate when I purchased it and didn’t write down what variety of wool it is, so washing instructions for the finished project: Wash with Care, might felt if agitated

I’m semi-enjoying the Olympics this year.  It does give me a chance to catch up on some knitting projects.  My Nanna picked out a beautiful yarn last year when we went home to Nova Scotia for a visit.  It’s 85% Nova Scotia Cotswold wool and 15% Kid Mohair semi-worsted spun yarn.  Hand dyed.  Bought it at a beautiful Yarn Store.  Gaspereau Valley Fibres.

Still trying to figure out what to do with the Superwash Merino Top I bought from Maine.  Wicked crazy colors!  Maybe sock yarn, or a cool hat and mitts combo. 

Posted in Knitting | 2 Comments »

15. February 2010 by admin.

Finally, closure on two objects. 

The toque morphed into a Helmut Hugger.  That will be the last time I try that DARN hat project.  Third time was a not a charm, but I got frustrated and turned the hat with ear flaps into a Helmut Hugger (custom balaclava)

Then there is my first pair of mitts made with handspun yarn.  A project I am very happy with.

Posted in Blogroll | 1 Comment »

7. February 2010 by admin.

So I have finished one of my mittens and working on the second one today, while I try and be interested in the SuperBowl.

Cleaning, knitting, spinning, cleaning, spinning, laundry, knitting, the usual

 Only a couple more weeks until my Spinning class starts and I am super excited.  6 Weeks of learning techniques for handspinning on a drop spindle and my Lendrum Double Treadle Wheel..  Yippee!

Posted in Blogroll | 1 Comment »

28. January 2010 by admin.

So I went from having nothing on needles (with the exception of the never going to be a FO, poncho), to now having purple lace patterned socks, honeycomb mitts with my handspun yarn and the 2nd attempt at the Darn hat.

I need a vacation to spend some quality time finishing my projects.  Pics to follow soon.

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