Good Tools

I have always enjoyed getting the tools needed for any art/craft/project/activity. There are always tools that are beautiful as well as functional. Here are some beautiful little tools recently purchased from Fred Hatton at the Endless Mountain Fiber Festival. A lovely supported spindle out of Purple Heart:

Then a new wheel hook out of Tulip Wood and a lovely shuttle, unfortunately I forgot the name of the wood.

They are all just so beautiful to look at - love having the combination of beauty and function.
I started a sweater out of yarn I spun for Tour de Fleece in 2010 - Spunky Eclectic mixed wool colorway "Champagne". The sweater pattern is Corinne by Crystal Erb Junkins. I have a picture of the very beginning and I have about 5 times as much done already. I am hoping for a fast knit since I would like this to be my Rheinbeck sweater. I has an interesting vertical construction knit from the front left edge around - love those vertical stripes!

I have three heart repeats done (first ball) of my Love and Prayers Scarf, that was moving along pretty well before I started the sweater.
Almost forgot the Fiber! I got 3 pounds of Teesdale at EMFF in addition to the tools. Some day, another sweater!

Endless Mountain Fiber Festival

I can't believe I took my camera and only managed to get pictures during the needle felting class I took. It was a wonderful day! Saturday was sunny with a little breeze so it wasn't too hot. I spun with my Spinning Guild, shopped (got several lovely things that will be their own post when I get pictures), visited with animals (sheep, lamas, rabbits and alpacas) and took this needle felting class:

As you can see we are having a lot of fun! There were some students missing due to all the flooding, some people couldn't get anywhere with the roads that were closed. Some vendors weren't able to make it either but thanks to the ones who did! The instructors, Karin and Mina, did a great job:

I really enjoyed the class as well as the entire day. I hadn't gone in several years because this is the start of the week I am usually at the Outer Banks with family but I messed up this year and agreed to two days of away meetings for work. I have next year's beach week on my calendar already!

This is my project in process. I think it will end up being a pin.

So I left the class with the skills and tools to do more needle felting - I think I have enough wool supplies!

Finally Finished!

I started these socks at the end of last October as part of my year of one-pair-of-socks-a-month (the year I started was 2008 so I am so far behind there that I don't care anymore!) there is no reason they took so long to finish except I really do not like cable needles. They make sense - easy to take along, I can't drop them in the car or out somewhere, doing 2 at a time keeps all my modifications the same on each sock, but - I just don't enjoy using them. I love double points, just nothing like having a hand full of needles! I appreciate feeling the connection with all the knitters from the past. I don't plan on fighting this feeling, my next socks will be on double points!

So where are these so-long-in-the-making socks you ask. This post was waiting for a stunning picture taken by Ann Ross at Gosh Yarn It for Finished Object Friday but my lovely LYS is a few blocks from the Susquehanna river and in the evacuation area - so no S&S tonight. Think positive thoughts for them and all the people (including several usual S&S knitters) who are hoping to get back home soon to undamaged homes! I am home from work, on top of my mountain. Our road has been washed out some but I had no trouble getting up the road.

Summer's End

Almost the end of August - Fall is just around the corner - YEA! Autumn is my favorite season and Winter runs a close second. It is the time for woolly warmth! As mentioned in my last post, I just started a new scarf, Love and Prayers, a Carolyn Kern Design. What a fun knit - I have gotten through the first heart repeat:

My October socks (from my year of the socks which was 2008! These were started at the end of October 2010) have reached the light at the end of the tunnel status:

They should actually move along a lot faster - they are going on double points tonight! Did not enjoy the magic loop at all.
Finally my First Hello Yarn fiber spun up on my new Pocket Wheel, 472 yards, 28 wpi spun single - can't believe I got that yardage out of 1.6 oz!

More Weaving

Another Scarf done! This one was the July 2011 Spunky Eclectic Weaving Club project. Lovely soft Merino Wool (picture soon I hope). Next up the August project - something different, washcloths!

Still, still, still, knitting the socks. That is the only knitting project I have in the works - until Saturday when I plan to cast on for Carolyn Kern's scarf pattern "Love and Prayers". I love the pattern and have enjoyed following the story on her blog, Carolyn Knits. The pattern was the winner in a contest on Knitcircus, an on line knitting magazine. More links are available on ravelry . Missing my mom so, I get teary eyed every time I read the dedication to her mother. Today Gosh Yarn It is hosting a reception in her honor and kicking off a KAL. Doesn't that sound like fun!
On the spinning front, still working on my 3 ply sock yarn.

A Great Weekend

I have had a wonderful weekend. It included knitting, spinning, weaving and carding! First, have some lovely pictures of the woven scarf I made for my sister's birthday - May 21st (A late gift but much loved anyway!). My local yarn store takes pictures for Finish Object Friday (check out their Blog ) Ann takes stunning pictures as you can see:


I now have the Spunky Eclectic July Weaving Club project in the works"

Some progress on my 2 socks at a time, one one circular needle from the toe up. So far I really miss my double points. Also got some of my first fleece carded. Finished up the Hello Yarn I started as my first Pocket Wheel spin, drying now and worked on spinning more Southern Cross Fibre Jacob, colorway "Tendrils" for my next pair of socks. I will try a friends pattern. TATU Sock Try A Toe Up sock! The fiber is lovely :

I also got to meet a friend at Gosh Yarn It on Sat to help her pick out yarn for a sweater she is knitting for her first grandchild. All in all a wonderful, satisfying weekend.

Pocket Wheel Touch Down!

My big news - my long awaited Pocket Wheel has arrived. Here is the event! First, the box makes it home:

Opened up - it was very well packed! Then First layer off. Loved the bubble wrap - my favorite color, green.


Here are my bobbins. Three for the regular flyer one each in Maple, Cherry and Walnut. Three for the Woolee Winder:

All the parts laid out:

Couldn't help talking several pictures - still need a real "beauty shot". The red bag is an extra large Lands End zippered bag which holds everything plus!:


This one is the most accurate color and shows the lovely cherry in the treadles.

The best news - it is such a lovely spin!

Cousins

I am so lucky to have cousins. Last Saturday I went to the annual Mannings Sit and Knit with my mother's sister's daughter and my father's brother's daughter. What a wonderful day we had, sitting under a tree knitting and chatting. My cousin from my mother's side has been part of my light from day 1 (as I regularly mention to her, she is 59 days older than I am). I lost touch with the cousins from my father's side (there are 2) for about 40 years. It is such a gift to have them in my life again. I just couldn't manage without cousins! Here is a picture of the 3 of us at The Mannings.

We did have a picture together from maybe 1953 not quite in the same order, can you tell who is who?

It was a perfect day for Auguest, no sun and a few light showers but we were under a great tree with a great view - on one side grapevines and fields:

On the other side The Mannings:

We had a great day!

Climbing Back On

It seems I fell off the Tour de Fleece wagon weekend of the 16th. Must have been a hectic week - I needed a weekend of nothing and I had it! Read all weekend, my escape to the 7 kingdoms and free cities in the "Game of Thrones" series. Feeling much better after my get away and I came back strong. While I didn't finish my 3 pounds I didn't do too badly. So here is the end results:

The total wt spun in 2 pounds 10.5 oz. The singles on the bobbins have been plied since the end of the TdF and everything has had a wash. Planned on taking more pictures but didn't get to it over the weekend. Just for comparison here was my basket of fiber prior to TdF:

Now I am back to finishing up the woven scarf project that will go to my sister and the never ending socks (working on the cuff so not too long now). As soon as I finish the cuff increases I will be switching to double points - I miss my double points! I need to knit and weave some of this new yarn soon!

Second Week

July 16th will be about the mid point of Tour de Fleece 2011, a few more days. Half of my 3 pound goal has been spun but most of the yarns yet to go will be more time consuming.I am about on track to complete my goals. So here is a picture of where I am now. The 8 oz. of Southern Cross Fiber "Wide Awake" Polwarth has taken up most of this second week so far. That is the beautiful mainly red and blue yarn in the "9 o'clock" position. The bobbin at the top in my current spin - about 2 oz to go on that one.

Just for comparison - the basket of fiber before any spinning:

So far so good

Had to start with this picture of our lovely Weeping Red Beech that has climbing pink roses and grapevine in it. I plan on getting the grape vine out before it hurts the tree but it is so pretty right now.
So - first 2 days of Tour de Force and 8 oz of Merino Singles. Day one, Southern Cross Fibre "Giza"

Day 2 Spunky Eclectic "Night Owls"

Both are destined to be cozy hats sometime this winter.

It's Coming! It's Coming!

Tour de Fleece is coming (TOMORROW!) and I am excited. This will be my third year participating. Every year I see my skills jump from daily spinning, something I normally find hard to do but for Tour de Fleece, I just do it. My fiber picks for this year are:

That includes Southern Cross Fibre (20 oz), Spunky Eclectic 12 oz), Hello Yarn (4 oz), then 4 oz each from Bitsy, Gilead Farm,and the ball in the middle is from Handspun by Stefania who uses all natural dyes. Isn't it a lovely, colorful group of fibers! More information as I spin each fiber during the TdF.
I checked back and found that in 2009 I did 2 pounds 10 oz. - 3,035 yards. Year 2, 2010, was 2 pounds 9 oz. - 2317 yards. I think the reduction in wt and yards was due to the fact that 2 pounds of my spinning went into a 2 ply. This year I was again aiming for 3 pounds but I think I will change that to spinning for a minimum of an hour a day. I am also hoping my new travel wheel - a Pocket Wheel - comes during the TdF so I can spin on it for the first time but I am still "in production" with that. haven't moved to the finishing booth then there is "final testing". I plan on spinning my first 4 oz. of Hello Fiber, my first CVM, I think my first Mohair.Cooperworth mix. Since last weekend my treat has been to pick out the fiber to spinning during TdF. Nothing like a good stash dive!

I was lucky enough to score another 4 oz. of Tendrils (pictured last post) from a destash so I will in fact end up with enough fiber for socks! That spin will have to wait until after the TdF unless I power my way through the 3 pounds early.

Spinning for Socks!

Here is one socks worth of Southern Cross Fiber April Club, mixed Jacob "Tendrils" colorway. It is a 3 ply and the colors are pretty accurate.

I actually finished the second sock's worth tonight - they are both soaking - but I think the second is a little lighter weight. I am thinking the foot out of the finer yarn and the cuffs out of the heavier. Still need to decide what to use for the toes and heels. Here is another in process picture, colors not so accurate:
Single on bobbin, fiber ready to spin for a single, and one sock's worth plied but not washed.
Still knitting on the October Socks, first toe up - slow, slow slow.
Then there is weaving! Warped up and started my sister's birthday scarf. Warp is commercial Bamboo, the weft is handspun from Southern Cross Fiber Paua, Faukland wool spun single.

And I got my June Spunky Eclectic Weaving Club which will go on the loom next:

June speeding by

After many hurdles, Haruni is finished!


A picture of the Spunky Eclectic Weaving Club May 2011 project which was a fast weave. Has been finished since June 3rd.

June has included a 5 day trip to Toronto for a conference, a weekend at my cousin Susan's with a day at the Mannings for their annual Spinning Seminar and a Wedding Shower for a niece today. A busy month so far! However, there is in progress the toe up 2 at a time on one circular needle socks, spinning Southern Cross Fiber "Tendrils" in 3 ply for socks and still carding my corriedale fleece. Last picture is some lovely Norwegian Long Wool, Spunky Eclectic May 2011 Club.

Tomorrow will be a day at home, YEA!, knitting, spinning, and starting to pick out this year's Tour de Fleece fibers.

Fast Weekend

The weekends go so fast, never seems like enough time to get to all the fiber fun on my list. I got to spend a little time outside weaving this weekend between the showers. I love all the spring flowers. Pictured here is a blossom from my oldest peony tree.
To give an idea of the size I included it in some of the other pictures for this post. The Spunky Eclectic project for the month is well underway. Not only is the peony pictured but the beautiful yarn bowl purchased at MDS&W holds the fiber that is unused so far. In addition to the yarn each month includes the pattern.
Finally, a group picture of my 2011 MDS&W fun.