To Dye For!

I am trying to make something other than worsted weight AND without as many slubs. I am using a wool roving that was gifted to me when we lived in Virginia by a very nice mom (I didn't even have her child in my classroom, we just shared the love of yarn). I hope to color it. I am going to try and spin it up before I go to my sister's house in Montana. I want to share the dyeing experience with her as I think she might be interested. We'll see if I am patient enough!

So far, so good. I'm doing a bit at a time as I have been neglecting my knitting for several weeks now (I blame it on the end of the school year and all if the stress it brings). You'll have to wait on pictures of my knitting progress as I'm too tired to dig it out. I know, pathetic...

Here's the bag of yummy roving that I was gifted.
Notice the black in the bottom, I think of it as the prize at the bottom of the cereal box!

Nice and thin and even.
If only I could figure out if the 'waves' on the spool should be there.
I'm thinking no.

Another gratuitous close up.

My first two hanks of handspun!

I spent my Memorial Day weekend learning how to use my new wheel. I purchased what the LYS had to offer in roving. Not my first color choices, but good when learning about plying, etc. I thought I'd use it to make something for my new baby niece. She can't complain about the bright colors :)

lime & KAPOW pink (much more intense in real life)

blush & bashful NOT (couldn't wait to show, it's still outside drying)

First try at spinning....

This is tough! I am finding that I'm having difficulty getting started. Suggestions other than, "Stop trying new things at 10pm."?

Ashford Spinning Wheel

I went to my local knitters guild meeting yesterday to see if it was something I'd be interested in. While I was there, another 'visitor' told us of an auction that was happening today. Word was, there was a "newer Ashford spinning wheel" up for sale. I went thinking I would see a glorious bidding war. WRONG!

As it turns out, I was the only one to bid on it. It looks to be the "Traditional" model. The lot included a lazy kate and a 'thing' for making multi-ply yarn. I paid only $25! That's right baby! I'm the proud owner of a spinning wheel. I even bought a pair of combing cards for $12.50. All I need is some wool....

Pictures are below. The label says Kit-Kraft on the top, it's too shiny to read. Please tell me what the rubber band is for (if anything) and the string with the wire loop. I think it's related to the tension knob, but I don't know how.

Any and all advice is appreciated. I was buying blind but knew $25 was completely a steal.


**NOTE: Please disregard the dust. I believe it was part of the purchase price :)

It says "Kit-Kraft" at the top of the label.

Extras that came with the wheel (minus the cards, I paid $12.50 for them).

What's the fishing line thing for?

What's the metal hook and rubber band (center post) for?

I'm sad

Yesterday was a hard day for our family. We had to take Porter to the vet and have him put down. The cancer was very aggressive and caused his back knee to swell from golf ball size to softball size in less than a week. What was a healthy 86+ lb. dog became one weighing in the 60s.

I think the little guy took it the hardest. He kept wanting to know how he will remember him. We are all very sad and Porter will be greatly missed.

We loved you.

Porter Pictures

March of 2007
January of 2008
May 2008
May 2008
May 2008
May 2008
May 2008

Wing Ding

I have not been in the mood to work on my knitting projects and felt that I needed to use up some of the fabric that I had sitting around. My mom purchased oodles of fat quarters for me a couple of birthdays ago. When I combine that with the fat quarters and assorted fabrics I have been buying with my quilting buddy (curse you quilting buddy for feeding my addiction) I had enough to make a lap quilt.

I'm telling myself I will be using it when I am sitting in the cold, knitting all of the projects I have been neglecting.

I selected the 'Wing Ding' pattern from the May/June 2008 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine. I opted to leave off the outermost border since the fabrics I chose are busier that the ones in the magazine. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. All I have left to do is purchase batting and backing fabric and slap it together. Yee-haw!