Spinning in Maryland

What a lovely weekend I had - full of visiting with a cousin and her family. We spun together, knitted together and I finished my first rigid heddle project, pictures in this post!

What a lovely weekend I had - full of visiting with a cousin and her family. We spun together, knitted together and I finished my first rigid heddle project, pictures in this post! I haven't washed it or pressed or any other finish, not sure what to do there so I will wait on that. Now I am wishing I took pictures of people and puppies while I was visiting. Got a great dog fix with Milo, a 9 month old French Bull Dog who was there the whole time I visited and short fixes with Meathead, bulldog, and Grimace, pug. It is so exciting for me to have a family member getting into spinning!

Projects, Projects, Projects

I just don't seem to be happy unless I have lots of projects in process. Here it is, the beginning of 2011 and I am running true to form! In Knitting there is the lace KAL I have recently started, pictured above (ravelry group Southern Cross Fiber Haruni). I just love this yarn I spun as part of Plying Games and so glad the yardage looks right for this shawl. Then there are my October socks - on hold when I started knitting christmas gifts, still waiting but should be a good mindless knit for social knitting. A pumpkin hat just barely started for a niece whose
baby is due at the end of Feb. I had better get that one moved along! I have another friend who is pregnant but not due until March - have the yarn but haven't started that one yet. Then there is my September socks - started last March but left sitting in this yarn They are the lovely Rivendell socks by Janel Laidman and I do love this project, not social knitting for sure.
In spinning there is a sweater project front and center. BFL in mixed natural colors for an Iced sweater. This is a KSL/KAL in ravelry group Spunky Eclectic. At least until the spinning is done it wont go into the knitting queue! LOTS of fiber in my stash just waiting to jump on the spinning wheel. I think after I finish the sweater lot I will treat myself to a quick spin with 4 oz. of handpainted loveliness - but which one????
Now for the weaving. Have located some yarn to finish the project that came with my 4 harness Leclerc Dorothy and have a warp on the warping board for 2 scarf projects. The warp is white wool and I think this skein of Claudia Handpainted wool/silk will make a lovely scarf.

In the mail is a 16 inch RH loom that I plan on using for small projects out of hand spun. My first project on that loom is still marinating in my brain.

Now that I have written it down, doesn't seem like all that much.

A New Year

I decided it was a good idea to go with a new look for the new year after seeing my cousin change her blog.
After waiting until 9 days before Christmas to decide that I would in fact do some Christmas knitting - I managed 4 hats.All out of heavy worsted to super bulky handspun. I have been working on heavier wt handspun. Didn't get a picture of my Brother,s hat before I gave it to him but I do have pictures of the other 3. This one for a friend, Foliage out of Southern Cross Fiber spun 2 ply, "Double Dog Dare"
Then there is a hat for my sister, "Tuxedo Rose", spun as a very bulky single, from Spunky Eclectic.
Then another Foliage for another friend out of 2 ply "Angelfish" from Southern Cross Fiber.
Not bad for such a late start on Christmas knitting!

There has been some spinning!

I have finally caught up with pictures, lots of spinning going on but not much posting. First - some lovely Polwarth pictured above - 2 ply, woolly spun and bulky - finally! Pretty consistent too - this has been my focus - spinning heavier woolly yarns consistently. I am happy with this lovely SCFAntarctica, October club, about 112 yards.
In working towards woolly, heavier weight yarn I spun
up this Border Leicester that was my first indigo dying (almost felted!) then hand carded with some light blue angora. It is about 12 oz worth and it took me to the end to get the hang of long draw. Now I am ready for spinning my next sweater project but more about that in the next post.
This lovely colored BFL/Silk is 187 yards of Spunky Eclectic, August Club Eclectic Jam. It is my best effort at n ply to date - more spinning progress! 3 oz, DK wt..
I have also been working on low twist heavier wt singles, yet another blue in Merino, SCF Olympia and Spunky Eclectic Romney Tuxedo Rose which is my most consistent low twist single to date. Next post - Knitting projects!

Toby 1998 to Sept.22, 2010

Pets give us so much and ask so little. When they die it is such a loss. My cousin Elaine sent me a quote

"I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race: for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of 10 or 12 years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?" Sir Walter Scott

There seems to be no real customs to mark the death of a loved pet. Thank you to all family and friends who have been supportive. I wanted to mark the life of the sweetest dog I ever had – so this blog.

Toby lived with us only 6 years, we never really knew how old he was – he was picked up by after a weeklong chase by animal control in the Bethlehem area with a missing tooth and a broken front leg. It was presumed he had been hit by a car. When no one claimed him a second cousin of mine whose daughter worked for the vet that treated him – took him home. He lived happily with her and her mom until she married but couldn’t take a dog to her new home. We lucked out and Toby came to live with us. He was about 6 at the time.

He was so smart and so sweet. The first winter he was with us he loved running around in the snow – he had spent most of his outside time on a lead but here he could run. I never saw such a joyful dog running back and forth in the snow. He was always gentle with children. At the dinner table he would do the rounds, putting his head in one lap after the other – looking up at you with his beautiful brown eyes. He had the habit of listening to you talk with his head cocked to the side and those lovely eyes staring right into yours. He begged by putting his front paws together and moving them up & down. No one knew where that came from. He loved getting in the car but was happiest when the end of the trip was at home. He was most attached to my husband – Charlie went out, Toby went out – but both of his people in the same room was the best. It is so hard to be without him – he will live in my heart.

Beach Week 2010

We aren't all happy to be at the beach - here is my sweet puppy Toby, sad, sad, and resigned. He loves to get in the car but then wants to go back home - 2 days of travelling to end up somewhere hot with water and without his dad isn't his idea of a good time. While I feel bad for him I know this is actually better than him at home while Charlie works a 12 hour day, 3 days in a row but Toby doesn't know that. I have enjoying my vacation - knitting, spinning and - TA DA - my new loom picked up on Monday. Most of what is woven here was done by the individual I bought it from but I did throw a few shots myself. It is just the loom I wanted! Notice in the background on the left - the newest puppy in the family, 5 month old Milo sleeping next to his mom on the couch.

I still need to work on my Ocean Waves Cowl for the 4 Oz. Challenged but I have gotten some knitting done on my Featherweight Cardigan, cast on during Beach Week 2010. So glad it is only Tuesday and I have 4 days here to go!

Here is my progress so far on the Featherweight - One sleeve to go yet then the band that goes up one side of the front, around the neck and down the other side of the front. I think that will be slow going.

Craft Weekend

I had a lovely time last weekend at my cousin Susan's house. We do a craft weekend every month or 2. Well, actually is is Quilt Weekend but I haven't quilted since I started knitting. My sister in law Barbara comes, sometimes my sister Leslie and we have had others join us at different times too. Last weekend it was just the 3 of us - the top picture is a detail from one of the quilts Barbara is currently working on - she is very focused! I love this one with the sheep in the center block. The whole wall hanging, minus one block is laid out below. I think this is going to be my favorite. I love the colors. the pattens and the layout.

It is so much fun for me - I contribute design advice and the next time we get together - I see my suggestions completed! I get to do the fun part - design! Here is Barbara on the left and Susan on the right. Barbara is wearing a crazy quilt shawl she designed and put together. There are so many lovely little embroidery details I had to take a close up.

We had a great time, I got some more knitting done on my Featherweight sweater. Don't think I will get it done before Beach week but should be able to manage finishing AT the beach. One sleeve left to go plus the band that goes up one side of the front, around the neck and down the other side. That will take some time I think.