I'm not someone who enjoys knitting. I tend to gravitate toward the practical so my projects are things like afghans. Big time consuming adventures that are something we will actually use. Because of this, I get bogged down and very bored before I can even master the skill.
So- note to self-
This years Christmas presents will be handmade advent calendars filled with teeny tiny knitted/crocheted decorations, using yarn I've spun and dyed myself.
There. Now I've made the decision and in plenty of time to get it finished. *cough*
Someone out there please remind me in a few months that this is what I want to be doing. PLEASE. I know I'll get bogged down with life and not even remember there IS a Christmas until around Dec 15th.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The linkiest post yet
In five days, this little beauty will be in my hands.
Oh how I love a good tax return!
In preparation, I've ordered a sampling of every raw fleece that the Spinning Loft has for sale on their site that I don't all ready have. Slowly but surely I'm building my fleece library.
I'm nearly as excited about Deborah Robson's new book 'The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook: More Than 200 Fibers, from Animal to Spun Yarn' that I've had on pre-order since January. I don't think I can wait until it comes out before I spin all this new fiber though. I'll just have to learn from my mistakes once I read it.
Until then I'll be counting down the days until my wheel arrives.
Oh how I love a good tax return!
In preparation, I've ordered a sampling of every raw fleece that the Spinning Loft has for sale on their site that I don't all ready have. Slowly but surely I'm building my fleece library.
I'm nearly as excited about Deborah Robson's new book 'The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook: More Than 200 Fibers, from Animal to Spun Yarn' that I've had on pre-order since January. I don't think I can wait until it comes out before I spin all this new fiber though. I'll just have to learn from my mistakes once I read it.
Until then I'll be counting down the days until my wheel arrives.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Cha Cha ChaCha Changes...queue Bowie
When I bought a bunch of
these, in different jewel tones, I had plans for a felting project.
Instead, those, became
colorful rug yarn to use as accent with the silvery coopworth.
these, in different jewel tones, I had plans for a felting project.
Instead, those, became
colorful rug yarn to use as accent with the silvery coopworth.
Friday, January 28, 2011
I'm sure I'll think of something to put here after I've gone to bed and I'm half asleep
While I haven't been posting I've still been very busy.
My son and his wife have managed to find an affordable apartment, so we are in the process of moving them out of the basement. YEAH! Two years down there was 23 months too long. Now they can have fresh air and sunshine and a happy life, and I can have a storage area and workspace. That is once we get them all moved. They were going to come back over this week to finish, but we are all sick with the yuckies so we'll have to postpone it for a while longer.
In between snow storms
And packing, and cleaning, and everything else that I do with my day, I've been
combing out a very VM filled Cheviot fleece.
It's also, most of the time, filled with cat.
When I shoo her out of there she makes a nest in the combing waste box
We have video of her burrowing down until she's completely covered and hiding from the world. I'll post if up sometime.
I've also been spinning up samples.
My favorites so far have been Coopworth Bulky or Chunky. I can't wait to get my hands on more of this and make some area rugs. It's so squishy and scratchy soft, plus the luster is amazing. This came from Homestead Wool & Gift Farm
My other favorite is a Merino/Targhee cross from Ranching Traditions
I've also been weaving or crocheting with the samples.
That big mass of gray is crocheted Coopworth in bulky. The woven sample on the left was woven on my weavet with left over Coopworth and Cheviot, the one on the right with some of the Merino/Targhee. I'm trying very desperately NOT to buy more of that kind of fleece. I have to take care of all the fleeces I already have. Plus I'm trying to save money for a wheel and 4 pitch combs.
In the next few weeks I'll be finishing up the Fugly afghan, getting the basement cleaned out and a work space set up, making a skirting table (No more skirting on the front porch or living room floor!!) combing out the rest of that Cheviot, and washing up some more wool.
My son and his wife have managed to find an affordable apartment, so we are in the process of moving them out of the basement. YEAH! Two years down there was 23 months too long. Now they can have fresh air and sunshine and a happy life, and I can have a storage area and workspace. That is once we get them all moved. They were going to come back over this week to finish, but we are all sick with the yuckies so we'll have to postpone it for a while longer.
In between snow storms
And packing, and cleaning, and everything else that I do with my day, I've been
combing out a very VM filled Cheviot fleece.
It's also, most of the time, filled with cat.
When I shoo her out of there she makes a nest in the combing waste box
We have video of her burrowing down until she's completely covered and hiding from the world. I'll post if up sometime.
I've also been spinning up samples.
My favorites so far have been Coopworth Bulky or Chunky. I can't wait to get my hands on more of this and make some area rugs. It's so squishy and scratchy soft, plus the luster is amazing. This came from Homestead Wool & Gift Farm
My other favorite is a Merino/Targhee cross from Ranching Traditions
I've also been weaving or crocheting with the samples.
That big mass of gray is crocheted Coopworth in bulky. The woven sample on the left was woven on my weavet with left over Coopworth and Cheviot, the one on the right with some of the Merino/Targhee. I'm trying very desperately NOT to buy more of that kind of fleece. I have to take care of all the fleeces I already have. Plus I'm trying to save money for a wheel and 4 pitch combs.
In the next few weeks I'll be finishing up the Fugly afghan, getting the basement cleaned out and a work space set up, making a skirting table (No more skirting on the front porch or living room floor!!) combing out the rest of that Cheviot, and washing up some more wool.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christmas came a little early this year
While I was desperately trying to knit my hand spun merino and silk into something resembling a scarf for my dad for Christmas
The box from Homestead wool and gift farm arrived.
My sister and her family gifted me wool this year.
6oz Scottish Blackface, 6oz Corriedale, small bag of Suri Alpaca, 4oz ivory Coopworth, 6oz dyed blue Romney, 4oz silvery Coopworth, all washed.
8oz white Coopworth, 8oz East Fresian, 8oz silvery Coopworth, all raw.
I am beside myself with glee. I haven't worked with any of these breeds before so some I ordered raw as well as washed so I could practice washing more delicate fibers without too much worry or wandering if I was felting them or not. I love to work with raw wool, but that may just be because I've only washed hard to felt wools so far.
My husband is giving me a set of wool combs as well, so once those have arrived I will take the plunge into a bag of this stuff. I can't wait. I like the Cheviot that I've been working with, but frankly I needed a break. That's why I went for the merino/silk scarves. Unfortunately I can't knit well enough to show off the beauty of the yarn.
No matter. I have lots more fiber to play with. Even Kenshin thinks it yummy stuff.
The box from Homestead wool and gift farm arrived.
My sister and her family gifted me wool this year.
6oz Scottish Blackface, 6oz Corriedale, small bag of Suri Alpaca, 4oz ivory Coopworth, 6oz dyed blue Romney, 4oz silvery Coopworth, all washed.
8oz white Coopworth, 8oz East Fresian, 8oz silvery Coopworth, all raw.
I am beside myself with glee. I haven't worked with any of these breeds before so some I ordered raw as well as washed so I could practice washing more delicate fibers without too much worry or wandering if I was felting them or not. I love to work with raw wool, but that may just be because I've only washed hard to felt wools so far.
My husband is giving me a set of wool combs as well, so once those have arrived I will take the plunge into a bag of this stuff. I can't wait. I like the Cheviot that I've been working with, but frankly I needed a break. That's why I went for the merino/silk scarves. Unfortunately I can't knit well enough to show off the beauty of the yarn.
No matter. I have lots more fiber to play with. Even Kenshin thinks it yummy stuff.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
I have fallen
Oh the shame. I was doing so well too, but that wool was whispering so loudly that I had no choice but to give in. Yes, I have set aside the fugglienes for wool.
I still have several fleeces that need washed. It takes forever to wash an entire fleece. Picking out the icky bits, washing handfuls at a time in the kitchen sink, letting it dry on the electric sweater dryer for a day or two, picking out the smaller bits.... you get the picture. It takes forever, it's smelly, dirty work, and I love every bit of it. Raw (unwashed) wool is stinky but it's a good stinky. It means I'm being creative and doing something I love. There's just so much potential in raw wool. The family has other ideas about the mess and smell though, so I have to get up very early to do it before it bothers the others.
The wool I'm washing now will be died and spun to make area rugs for the house. We have all wooden floors and no area rugs so it's going to take a lot of spinning before this project is finished. The wool isn't next-to-the-skin-soft so every once in a while I'll hit up Etsy and see what nice things are out there to spin. THAT was my real downfall yesterday. I found some yummy merino and silk that would make beautiful scarves for my dad and his wife. (Yes I promised myself that I wouldn't make handmade gifts this year. Yes I realize it's only 4 weeks until Christmas and the wool hasn't even shipped yet, let alone been spun, knitted, and mailed out. Yes I realize I'm crazy for even thinking I can get these done in time), then I found some really pretty merino and tencel and..... I think you see where this is going.
It's all the wools fault I tell you. If it would only stop asking to be washed.
I still have several fleeces that need washed. It takes forever to wash an entire fleece. Picking out the icky bits, washing handfuls at a time in the kitchen sink, letting it dry on the electric sweater dryer for a day or two, picking out the smaller bits.... you get the picture. It takes forever, it's smelly, dirty work, and I love every bit of it. Raw (unwashed) wool is stinky but it's a good stinky. It means I'm being creative and doing something I love. There's just so much potential in raw wool. The family has other ideas about the mess and smell though, so I have to get up very early to do it before it bothers the others.
The wool I'm washing now will be died and spun to make area rugs for the house. We have all wooden floors and no area rugs so it's going to take a lot of spinning before this project is finished. The wool isn't next-to-the-skin-soft so every once in a while I'll hit up Etsy and see what nice things are out there to spin. THAT was my real downfall yesterday. I found some yummy merino and silk that would make beautiful scarves for my dad and his wife. (Yes I promised myself that I wouldn't make handmade gifts this year. Yes I realize it's only 4 weeks until Christmas and the wool hasn't even shipped yet, let alone been spun, knitted, and mailed out. Yes I realize I'm crazy for even thinking I can get these done in time), then I found some really pretty merino and tencel and..... I think you see where this is going.
It's all the wools fault I tell you. If it would only stop asking to be washed.
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