Spinning Update

Not much today. Just a quick post about some of the spinning I have on one of my spindles. My Aunt gave me some raw angora fiber that she purchased at a fiber festival this summer. When Debi was over awhile back I combed some of it up with her combs.

This is at a roadside park that my brother and I stopped at a couple weeks ago. There are 234 step down to the river. The view is lovely, especially in the fall when the colors have changed!

There was all manner of places to take nice pictures. I thought I would include a few of them here.

I find the angora rather difficult to spin. I keep getting little blobby pieces that don't want to draft. The reason might be because I didn't comb it well enough. Or maybe I just don't know how to draft off a rolag. I have only ever drafted off of roving before.

It is a very soft and lovely yarn though. I am not sure what I will make out of it, but whatever it is, it will be quite elegant and warm!

Angora Yarn

I know I already posted about this yarn, but I wanted to put some more pictures of it off the spindle.

I still have not decided what to make with it. The yarn is so luxurious and there is so much of it! A whole 258 yards! Plus it took me quite awhile to spin and I feel that I need to find the perfect project.

How To Dye Naturally

Where to start? I have so much to say! This past Tuesday my cousin, Debi, came to visit us for a couple of days. We had all manner of things to chat about and all sorts of things we were excited to share with one another. But I won't get into all of that right now. This post is about the plant dyeing we did on Wednesday. I have been interested in plant dyeing for awhile now but I don't think I would have done anything with it quite yet if Debi hadn't nudged me into the dyeing process this week.

Now I am very excited about it. I am going to use the winter months to plan my herb and flower gardens. Right now I plan on the main focus of my garden being geared toward dyeing naturally.

This here is our wool soaking. We had 4oz. that we used to make four different colors. The book that is visible in the back of the photo is where we got most of our information. It is call "Craft of the Dyer: colour from plants and lichens" by Karen Leigh Casselman.

I have looked at a couple books on dyeing and noticed that a lot of the plants they describe are not even ones I have ever heard about. I wouldn't know where to find them. What really struck me about this book was the vast array of plants described and all the detailed information. Pretty much anyone could go out into their yard with this book and find things with which to dye fiber.As you will see, a few pictures down, we found several things out in our backyard, and there were several more that we could have used but didn't.

Debi had brought along some black eyed Susan from her house so we threw those in a pot to boil and added a mordant. A mordant is a substance used to set the dye in the fiber by forming a coordination complex which then attaches to the fiber. It is also used to intensify the colours.

Based on the type of mordant used you can determine (to some extent) the color your fiber will be. There are chemical mordants, which we preferred to stay away from, and there are natural mordants. Some of the natural mordants include, iron, copper, tin, and baking soda.

Our mordant of choice was iron, because that is all we had on hand at the time. We used a rail road spike. For one batch we did use copper.

Basketful of dyeing material.

Marigolds, pine cones, and pine bark. I put the maple leaves in for color, although you can use fresh maple leaf to dye. We also used parsley but we didn't think of adding that to the list until later on.

Here is the bark simmering. We added pennies to make our copper mordant. We figured we probably didn't have nearly enough bark because the dye bath was not getting very dark. So we threw in the pine cones for good measure.
This is the batch that we used the copper mordant on.

They marigolds are from my little garden on the south wall of the garage. I planted it late in June, and to my delight it flourished and is still producing flowers. However I think the weather has turned cold for good so this is probably the last of the marigolds.

Pot of Parsley.
When I planted my herb garden I never imagined I would be using it to dye wool!

Here are the four finished batches. From left to right: #1 Parsley. #2 Black-eyed Susan. #3Pine. #4 Marigold.

Marigold.
The marigold turned out different than we expected. The book never mentioned using iron as a mordant, and it describe the colours as yellows and golds. The colour we ended up with was more of an olive green. When we first put the wool in the dye it quickly turned a minty sort of green which we loved. Our mistake was not taking it out then and there. Instead we left it in and it turned this colour. We both like this colour, but we were a little disappointed that we didn't whisk it out when it was minty.

Parsley.

This colour is not showing up as to what it truly looks like. It is more of a lemony-yellow colour. Once I took it outside I was amazed by how it seemed to glow, almost to create it's own light.

Black-eyed Susan.

This actually is not dyed with just black-eyed Susan. We found that we did not have enough leaves/petals to make a very strong dye. So later we dipped it in the pine bath to darken it up a bit. It came out this lovely linen colour and I am quite pleased with it.

Pine.

I don't have much to say about this one, other then I like it! But I think next time I'll add more pine bark and cones.

The sun was out by turns and the wind was blowing so I left the roving out to dry for awhile.

We learned quite a bit, at least I know I did! It was a lot of trial and error. We were not too precise as to the measuring of our water and ingredients. But I do believe we discovered some things about the plants we were working with and also the mordants. We'll have to keep notes each time we dye and we'll learn as we go. There are some other books I would like to check out concerning plant dyeing.
I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Freshly Spun Angora Yarn

I started plying this yarn last night and finished it up this morning. It is so scrumptious, 85%angora/15%merino wool. I bought it at the fiber festival I attended in the summer.

I have no idea how many yards are here yet. I still need to treat the yarn and and then hang it to dry overnight.

I do have a project in mind, but we'll see how much I get first. I have a little bit of roving left from this batch, I also know where I got it as well so I could always buy some more.
It was a fun yarn to spin up because there are a multitude of colour variations within the roving. They ranged from all manner of blues to lavenders, white, and even some green and turquoise. I liked to spin it outdoors because then all the true colours were visible. The pictures don't do it justice. This is a gorgeous yarn!
Too bad my spinning skills aren't more up to par...

Quilted Teddy Bears

I was going back through older photos today looking for projects I have done in the past. This little quilt was one I made for a friend, back at the beginning of 2008

This quilt was a lot of fun because there was a lot of hand stitching on it. I quilted circles and did the blanket stitch around the little bears. I like the little bears, they are so cute!

I used only scraps. I was just thinking today that I need to make one of these for myself now. Currently I have another little quilt in progress, I'll have to post that as well.

I really enjoy quilting by hand, it is so relaxing, beautiful, and very rewarding.

Mossy Mitts

Mossy Mitts

Started: September 26,2009

Finished: September 27,2009

This is the perfect weather for knitting fall accessories! Today it was raining and very cold, and I won't elaborate on what I went through to get these photos.

These are the "Wave Hand Warmers" found in One Skein Wonders:101 Shop Favorites.

I have wanted to try this pattern for a long time now, and I am so glad I did.

I used the leftover yarn from the mossy wimple to make these mitts.

They are soft, warm and simply luxurious!

I'll have to make myself some. These are for Mother, to go with her wimple.
I did alter the design a little bit. If anyone is interested in making them I can give you the notes for how I changed them. Basically I made them longer beyond the thumb hole, and also went down a needle size so they fit better around the palm. Oh, I only did five pattern repeats for the arm, instead of the eight that the pattern called for.

P.S. I did make two of these! But my right hand is kind of tied up holding the camera!

Mossy Moebius Wimple

Mossy Moebius Wimple

Started: September 24, 2009

Finished: September 25, 2009

Isn't this the loveliest wimple ever! Well, I have seen quite a few wimples and cowls that I like. I think almost all of them are lovely. But this one here was a Moebius wimple, and quite the project!

The cast on for this particular wimple is very confusing at first. I originally found the free pattern on Ravelry under the name Cashmere Moebious Cowl. I copied it out, settled down with my needles, and then read in the fine print that I needed to know how to do the moebius cast on which was found in Cat Bordhi's book, "A Treasury of Magical Knitting".

Naturally I do not own that book, nor have I ever heard of it! So I ordered the book from the library. When it came in I spent a good half hour trying to make heads or tails of the crazy cast on technique. But when it finally made sense I found that it was the fastest cast on I have ever done in my life!

The pattern itself was actually quite easy, just a simple lace pattern. I was quite surprised how fast it went. I cast on Thursday evening and bound off Friday evening. Granted I have been sick so I have had a little more time for knitting than usual. But still, it is a very quick knit.

The yarn I used is suri alpaca, and very soft.

Altogether it was a delightful project and I can't wait to make another one. The wimple is actually for my Mother so I shall have to make one for myself in the near future. I love the colour of this one but regretably it has been discontinued.

Oh, this pattern can be found at www.catbordhi.com

And....What Is It??

No, it is not a wide scarf. Nor is it a panel for an afghan. In fact, this is the beginnings of my shrug! I know, it looks a little odd here, but it will be lovely when it is finished.

As you can see from the pictures I am about out of yarn. I went yesterday, and then today for the rest of the yarn, but the store is running low at the moment. They should be getting in an order sometime this week though.

I probably need a short break from "the shrug" anyways, as it grew from nothing to 25" in less then 24 hours! I went to keep an elderly lady company Monday night while her family was gone.
I didn't really have any simple projects to take along and work on while we were chatting so I decided just to start a new one. Bad idea I suppose, especially after my resolution to find and finish all WIP. Oh well, there is always tomorrow, or the next day.
At the moment I am going to go quilt for a while!

Knitting At The Shore

We have been to the beach several times recently, and I always make sure to take along some knitting. You never know when a spare moment will be available.

This blue bit of knitting here is a shawl that Mother is making.

And I am making the same shawl only with different yarn. I thought our yarn colors were very apropos to the setting.

The lengths I go to for pictures for the blog......
This picture was scary to take. I was afraid my yarn was going to plunge into the water any moment. But it didn't.

This is my shawl a week later. We were back at the beach so I thought it was only fitting to take another picture.

All that sand is a scary thing when it comes to knitting. But thankfully a brisk shake normally does the trick, and all the sand falls out.

My Latest Bit Of Sewing

Well now, here I am with some pics! I whipped up this lovely little bag for a surprise birthday party this past week. I probably could have made it in a few hours, but as I was with relations there were other things going on, so I worked on it here and there.

But isn't it just beautiful? I love to look at it. I can see I shall have to make myself one of these. I can't remember the pattern name off the top of my head, but if anyone wants to know just leave a comment and I'll get back with you.

The pattern uses 28 - 5X5" squares, I bought a packet of the pre-cut ones from the quilt shop.

This is my first attempt at taking blog worthy self portraits with the timer on my new camera. I must say it was a trial at first. I was pressed for time since the birthday party was starting in 15min. and I was nowhere near ready. Plus I suddenly remembered that I needed to take pictures of the Anne bag for my blog! So I grabbed my camera and raced outside, shooting of a whole slew of pictures within a few minutes, hoping at least a few would turn out. Thankfully, a few did. (I had one shot where all I got was the woods and railing of the porch.)

I didn't have any buttons with me, but I was meeting up with my family at the party so I called and asked Mother to bring some along. These ones here are Mother-of-pearl buttons.

I sewed them on while sitting in the car and then it was done! I really liked making this pattern, I expect to make many more in the future!

Sorry...No Pictures

Yes, I am at a computer. But the computer does not happen to have access to my pictures so at the present you must content yourself with words. I suppose I will have to try and be semi-interesting , or else you will all fall asleep before you finish reading this.
Hopefully this weekend I will be able to blog in proper style and you can see what I have been working on lately.
However, I can not show everything I have been working on. All close relatives of mine have a tendency to pounce upon my blog like sharks whenever I post something new. So consequently I can not put up any pictures of gifts I may be making. Expect either a barrage of posts, or one really long one, come January. It gives you something to look forward to, right?
Speaking of gifts, today I was debating on whether or not to sit down and sew, or go to the yarn shop. Which do you think won out?
Yup, the yarn shop.
I grabbed a list which included, potential projects, the yarn and needles they require, weights etc, and off I went. I happily browsed the shop for about an hour. But I ended up getting rather in a dizzy state by all my options. This one was too soft, that one too scratchy, too shiny, too....odd. I finally quit looking at yarn, scrapped my idea paper momentarily, and went to look at the pattern books.
Thankfully the kind ladies at the yarn shop know me on a first name basis. Otherwise I might have been sent to....well, you know. One of those places for those not in complete control of their mental faculties.
I finally made a selection, based on a careful process of elimination which involved standing with three colorways of the same yarn in my hand for a good 8 minutes, putting one down, picking it up again, putting it back down....I felt quite silly. Common sense won out and I picked the color I knew the recipient would like, not the color I liked best. The recipient and I have different tastes in some things.
Hmm...what other knitting news do I have? Not much. I have been working on another shawl, now that the Peace Shawl is finished. I do so love new projects. But I have too many projects floating around, I need to stop starting new ones and finish some of my WIP and UFO's. The UFO's are the scary ones. I ran across one the other day when I was getting ready to leave for the week. I took one hasty glance and quick stuffed it back where I found it. Not because I don't want to work on it, but more because I felt guilty for not having finished it already.

Note to self: Find, sort and make a list of all UFO's and WIP's.

Well that is about it for now. Cheerio!

Raindrops On Roses......

The Completed Peace Shawl

Hurrah! I am finally finished with the Peace shawl! Actually I have been done for a few weeks. I never mentioned it, but my gauge was way of so I ended up tearing out the shawl (when it was already a third done) and starting all over.However I did take my own sweet time knitting the 2nd time. Mainly because I was repeating two rows for most of the later part of the shawl, and that got old real fast. I ran into a few snags along the way. For the most part it was just because I had forgot to mark what row I was on, and so I ended up doing the wrong row.

Here is is all laid out and ready to be blocked. To be sure, I have never blocked anything this size before! I was rather nervous as to how it would turn out. I pinned it out, laid a wet sheet over it, and then went to the beach and happily forgot about it until the next morning. Thankfully it blocked beautifully, and I was thrilled with the finished results.

The shawl was a gift from my family to Grandma, as a comfort shawl. It has been a little over three months since Grandpa passed away. I was hoping to get it done sooner, but it just didn't work out that way.

Grandma loved her shawl. She was quite thrilled with it and wore it to Sunday morning church. Doesn't she look elegant?