November and December 2014

In November and December,  life seemed a little to busy to be able to post properly. So I've decided to make quick sort posts to document my activities. I would like to share my first wall hanging and dabble in dyeing.

The wall hanging is using a wool Warp and cotton weft. At the bottom is some of my first wool top spun thicker and woven in.  I love these colors as they seem calming in some way.

The dyeing experience was absolutely fun!!!  I learned how colors ran into other colors muting out my original. intentions of spaced dyed roving.  The yellow yarn is very vibrant.

Back in October...

I went to my first Sheep and Wool Festival at Rhinebeck!  It was a delightful sensory overload to say in the least.  I was so excited to borrow a rigid heddle loom,  I have dabbled in weaving with it ever since.

  I have  been spinning on a beautiful Ashford Traditional as well.  The styling looks similar to one from the 70s or 80s. I have a hankering to try to add a distaff as there is remnants of one being previously present.  It runs so smoothly.

I can't show her that

I can't show my knitting  teacher  this  attempt of a scarf.  So many holes and mistakes,  so I cut it off the needle  and will use it as a swatch or something. So now I have two days to catch up in the pattern.

  At the same time I started this other project that was originally a hat...  60 cast on stitches and it's too big  for that I think.  It is special as its my first spun ply  and I only have a tiny bit, maybe I can ply this other beautiful mess into some  sort of item. 60 stitches do not fit on a needle. I don't care what that youtube video said...

I also started carding rolags with dog slickers (well sad versions of such) I love the red and green dyed Finn wool so far!

I am excited for the upcoming fiber festivals!  I need some deals and am filled with ideas. 

Today a knitting class, tomorrow a spinning wheel class

 I have been busy trying to figure out whether  I am going to  be a crocheter or a knitter  with the wool I  have been spinning. 

 I crocheted a tiny bit following a book this last weekend.  Tonight I have a knitting class,  I think we are making a scarf  throughout the class.

Tomorrow I continue the spinning  class that I started  last week.   It was a great class! I have taken out a dvd and various books about felting,  crochet,  knitting and spinning. Below is the start of a crocheted piece,  followed by my first drop spindle (a bottom whorl).  Lastly was my picture from Instagram (more a spinning announcement) when I first rented a wheel and got help from a new friend on fine tuning my introduction to the wheel.  Since then I  have been quite busy. other things I think I would like to try are felting slippers &   hand knitting a fluffy cowl.  perhaps that crochet thing will become a hat.