• Projects 08.09.2014 No Comments

    I’m still working on the same things. I’ve finished another hank of the East Friesian. I am working on the last of the wine and silver Falklands from Wintry Flower by Design. It looks like this:

    wine and silver

    It’s hard to get a good picture of it. I’m on the last bit of this. I picked up another 4 ounces of similar colored Falklands. I can’t really tell you why I like this so much, other than to say that I like grapey colors. I had a little extra money this month, so I picked up a few new braids of fiber for the winter. I don’t know if I’m going to bother with Oregon Flock and Fiber. I have one new spindle that should get here soon. I think I am going to buy a few more of the Enid Ashcroft spindles. I really like my Midges. I am starting to think I need one of each size. And maybe one more Midge.

  • Spindles 31.08.2014 No Comments

    Feeling much better about online spindle buying today. I managed to get a Mini from the Enid Ashcroft update today. I had problems with checkout and still managed to get it! I’m looking forward to getting this (and I may need to pick up some special fiber!)

  • I was thinking yesterday how long it’s been since I’ve used a wheel. I don’t think I’ve touched one, since I loaned out my Louet to a friend that wants to learn to spin on a wheel. I have two wheels that I will keep for sentimental reasons. I love the great wheel, but the wheel is warped and it’s tricky to use. I will always love my Pipy, which I bought in the 70s. So many memories with that one. I almost sold it, but Jeffrey told me I should keep it. I’ve had some repairs done to it, but haven’t tried using it since it’s been fixed.

    Mostly, I just love my spindles. I can use them anywhere. I’m working on the East Friesian and the Midge projects. I like to trade off, as the two fibers feel and draft differently. I finished my first skein from the Midges yesterday:

     

    The Midge project

    Skeined up

    First skein

    I have my little Tom Bihn project bags. When I have enough turtles, I take my Tracy Einheim low whorl and ply it up. Then it’s skeined and washed. I’m using my excess TB CafĂ© Bags for storage. It’s just a different process than using a wheel. It’s just plain fun!

    I do need to start knitting, as I have some projects on tap. The knuckle on my right index finger has been swollen for a few weeks and I’ve been babying it. I did knit for awhile this weekend and it seemed okay.

  • Projects 10.08.2014 No Comments

    The East Friesian project continues:

    East Friesian

    I am working through a pound of this and will likely order one more pound. I am thinking of making Pumpkin Ale (pattern available on Ravelry). I typically spin three turtles, ply together, then repeat.

    These are my two Enid Ashcroft Midges. I had a few ounces of this braid left, so am working up some three ply sock yarn.

    Two Midges

    The Pau Amarillo/Yew midge was pickup on destash. The tulipwood/pink Ivory is one that I’ve had awhile. I like them both.

    Midges sans yarn

  • Projects 29.07.2014 No Comments

    This is finally done!

    Inglenook yarn

    It turned out nicely. Still need a project for this one. I ordered a pound of the East Freisian roving. I think I’ll need one more pound for the project I have in mind. It’s three ply yarn and it does take awhile to work through that much fiber. Here’s the latest shot of the plied yarn:

    East Freisian yarn

    I’ve picked up a few more Tom Bihn yarn stuff sacks and travel stuff sacks for projects. And I have another Swift. I would love to have one of their travel bags, but the fact is that we don’t really travel that much. We usually aren’t gone for more than one day. I am planning to pick up some cotton string bags for processed fiber. I think it will be a good way to comb fiber, then spin enough for a project.

    I also bought some commercial yarn (Knit Picks Shine) for Decimal. I found I’d bookmarked this link some years ago. The note read “I really should make myself some nice sweaters like this.” Since Lon has said something similar, I thought maybe I should do just that. I haven’t started on this yet. I am trying to finish Howard’s socks (the smaller version).

  • Projects 13.06.2014 No Comments

    It’s a new yarn bowl! Howard made it for me. It’s unfinished and the yarn slot needs to be sanded. It’s a lovely bowl.

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  • Projects 13.06.2014 No Comments

    Of course not! I had about a month of no crafts. I was a little burned out by the sock projects. I have to revisit those as one pair was just too big for the recipient. Those will fit Lon, so I will do a new smaller pair. The socks for my stepson are too long. So I will cut off the toes, then re knit them about an inch shorter. It’s so easy to do this with short row toes.

    I am also back to working on the same two spinning projects. The first is the Inglenook Fibers Falkland:

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    I do love the color. In fact, I ordered a second braid of this for about 8 ounces total. This is two ply and I’m not that far away from finishing this.

    The second project is the East Frisian:

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    It’s my favorite spindle on its favorite bag. This is such a nice preparation. It draws so smoothly. It’s not all that soft but I really do like it. I would love a sweater out of this. And I’m considering buying some of these sheep. They are milk sheep too.

  • Projects 26.04.2014 No Comments

    I’m getting project burnout here. I think I’ll do another row or two and call it quits. I’ve used up most of the yarn so mission accomplished.

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  • Spindles 07.04.2014 No Comments

    This is a reminder for new spindle spinners. When you’ve decided that your first spindle is too heavy and moved on to a new spindle, keep the old one. It will likely be perfect for plying. I very seldom ply on the spindle I used for the singles. The capacity will be too limited. Instead, I use an old, heavy spindle to ply. I can combine turtles or cops for longer yardage. The spindle might be too heavy for singles, but will work fine on multiply yarns.

    Here’s my no name turk in action on a three ply sock yarn. The singles were spun on the Enid Ashcroft Midge, weighing 15gr.

    Twilight plied

    I really stalled out on this project. It will be completed because I bought that TB travel stuff sack for the Midge. I stick that in my purse and it’s always handy. If I don’t want to knit or work on my other spinning project, I work on this one. I think I’ll continue to carry around a lightweight project like this.

  • Thoughts 27.03.2014 No Comments

    I’ve been spinning so long that I sometimes have to remind myself that few people spin these days. In fact, there really aren’t even that many people that knit. If you read one of the knitting histories and think about how common it was for a woman to carry her knitting with her everywhere, it really seems like you are the only knitter/spinner in the world. At least, that’s the case until you go to a fiber festival or hang out on Ravelry.

    I do tend to get pulled into more “challenges” now, so I find myself spinning shorter batches of fiber. I really want to make the Darrowby cardigan on Knitty and I think I have the Romney lamb fiber for it. It will be a pretty long project and I do need to comb the wool before I spin it. In all this time, I haven’t done a ‘sweater on a spindle” project and it’s long overdue. But first, I’ve gotta finish that Spring Fling challenge!