Spring 2012

I suppose I must admit that spring is actually here!!
The weather has been absolutely outstanding. Now I'm wondering what will summer 2012 be like?

Things that have been happening:
My new wheel is done. Photo to appear soon.
Spring shearing of sheep & goats at a nearby friend's farm. New baby goats. Photo to appear soon.

Spun on my new wheel. Wool is Falkland 56's, 2 ply.

The wheel is a 25" diameter & spins really nice. I have to get to know it better. This is to be my main wheel.

Newest book I can't wait to start.

 My knitting style is changing. This will be the second time I will be relearning my knitting style. I went from holding my wool supply in my right hand to the Continental style where the it's held in the left hand & very short quick movements few years ago.
Now I move onto a 'combined style as suggested in 'Knitting in the Old Way'.
I'm still practicing with swatches before I start a sweater design & start a sweater hopefully with my own handspun.

Mystery yarn.

 I found a piece of brown woolly fluff in my garden where I must have poured a dye pot out. It looked interesting so I shook it off & spun it up. It's hard to see in the photo, but the colour is a bronze brown with a greenish tinge too. At the same time it has a coppery tinge. Very interesting. I wouldn't be able to duplicate this one. It's a product of the winter elements & was found with marigold flowers in it.

Tree down in our yard.

 This old, very large, but dead tree was the victim of one of our windstorms just before spring arrived.

Shetland fleece drying.

The fleece from 'Hans" (I think it was) followed me home after shearing last week. Here it dries in the sun & wind. I wonder what it will be?

Dye garden spring 2012

Spring time look at part of the dye garden. That might be the coreopsis that's all green.

Lace scarf. Woad. Handspun 2 ply.

Woad overdyed with leftover marigold from last year.

The lace scarf was a pleasure to knit. A simple two line pattern. Easy peasy! Soft & yummy!













It's a light yellowy green. Interesting, but would I do it again? No.

Spring is here

Well it feels like it is.
I haven't been here for a bit... and I have many reasons. The first being work,work and more work with almost no play.
I must take time & do the things that are important to me at this moment. These things are knitting some socks, knitting on my shawl and the spinning which I started this year.


Did I mention I like to cook, but it's not a food blog & I will stay on topic.


First came the spindles, then my Louet S 75 wheel and a visit to the local spinners' & weavers' guild in Woodstock. 


My spinning wheel has a single belt bobbin drive with an adjustable flyer brake to regulate tension and flexible polyurethane belt. The 3 bobbins included have three settings on one side used to obtain three spinning speed ratios: 1: 5 slow 1: 7 medium and 1:10 fast spinning for fine yarn. The fly wheel is 20" in diameter. It has 2 treadles, but is not a true double treadle.

I don't know much about wheels, but it is working out nicely for me so far. I am studying the Alden Amos Big Book of Spinning.


At the same time, my hubby, Warren is making more spindles. The spindles are getting better with every new one. I am using a nicely balanced bottom whorl, but I think the favourite so far is the top whorl.

I have Briggs & Little pencil roving, B & L washed roving, Black Lamb merino roving, Louet Shetland roving and Hopeful Shetland roving. Favourite roving so far is the shetland which is very easy for a beginner to draw out.

I visited the Spinners' & Weavers' Guild in Woodstock yesterday for the first time & was warmly greeted by the President, Mary Saunders. I met three other members who very nicely gave me very useful tips to help me along. They meet in an old school room which is filled with looms, wool & yarns. 


Before I left I joined the guild and look forward to future meetings. I also found out about the Master Spinner program offered by Olds College. There is a Ravelry group with information at this link: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/olds-master-spinners---ontario .


Here is a link to the program information: http://www.oldscollege.ca/programs/ContinuingEducation/trades-career-studies/fibreweek/OffCampusOfferings.htm .


This is so interesting. I would love to do this, but with a date of April 19, I don't think I can be ready this soon. In the fall probably.


Warren has also made a hackle & comb for me:

It works beautifully!!
Anytime one of you would like something made, please consider having Warren do the project. He is wonderfully talented at such endeavours.


I also have some wool carders:

Soon I will have a look at Linda W.'s sheep selection for some fleece. Just have to choose the colours. 
I really want to try preparing the fleece right off the sheep and taking it to a finished sweater (s). 


My M-I-L is waiting outside so I can take her to the grocery store. So I do hope you will drop in again to check out my progress.
Bye for now & enjoy the weather. It's free!!!