Tag Archives: Knitting

Spinning

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When I went to the New Hampshire Sheep and wool a few weeks ago, I learned something new and it changed my life….

I can now spin “thick” yarn, the entire time I’ve been spinning I’ve struggled to spin anything thicker than the picture on the left and it kind left me in a funk. My yarn was nice, but it wasn’t what I was going for.

So after the lesson at NHSW I took a deep breath, took up the merino/silk I had dyed and went to town

I was happy with the result of the single I had spun up and those colors šŸ˜

I made three of these and started to ply

So dreamy

Folks, when I spin yarn it usually takes months because I’m just not happy with how things are looking and I tend to avoid my wheel. I did this in ONE day! Okay so it was only 120 yards but this is absolutely the best yarn I’ve ever spun, my favorite.

And it is working up nicely too!

Have a great weekend folks!

Here, there, everywhere

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That’s where my mind is tonight, because I dared to have two cups of coffee and one cup of black tea today.

I keep going back and forth to working on this beautiful Bandana Cowl I found on purl soho

To looking up areas to visit when Toph and I make a trip down south later this summer, to looking at houses online, to planning what food we will bring with us because eating out with celiacs is a pain in the padded you know what. Then my mind goes back to knitting, how much yarn will I need on this road trip, and is the tundra big enough for me to spin on my Ashford wheel while we drive? (Probably not)

So while my mind is all over the place and I thought I would pop in and say hi and share with you how I am progressing on

this awesome cowl with the accidental mystical colorway yarn

And the doodle/romney yarn, which has suddenly become easier to spin!

Have a great weekend folks!

Back at it again

Posted in Fun with fiber, kids, Uncategorized by

I’m here, splint free and going at full speed! I’ll make this short and sweet I need to tackle the house to prepare for Toph’s birthday tomorrow.

Here are a few things I managed to whip out as soon I was able to use my hands!

This lovely unicorn I was about to work on with my broken finger, pre-wrist issues. Knitting with a broken finger is a breeze, crocheting, not so much.

Toph’s Aunt really loves turtles, she has 10 where she lives in Arizona and has had them for many years.

My friends I must tell you, I have recently added a new craft into my life (because of all the free time I have šŸ˜‚), for Christmas I received a beautiful Cricut air explore 2 and I use it every day.

First I jumped in and made some lovely lettering for a mug (Lorelai is totally okay with what I wrote, she laughed)

Then I made a card (I must remember to use the correct setting and make sure then pen is in)

After that I decorated my car…it’s almost finished.

Yesterday I decided we needed labels on some of my mason jars

And today because I am restarting a pattern I started many years ago, that has several different cable stitches and I needed a little reminder of what stitch went in what section.

So naturally stitch markers were needed.

Before I go, one last picture to show that even with all the electronics out there in the world, you can still have fun with your crocheted tiger.

Happy New Year Folks! See you next year!

Broken

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A few short weeks ago, after Halloween, before a big Christmas craft fair, I had the great misfortune to join the club of my parents, siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews, by breaking my first bone.

The details are rather silly, I feel up the stairs and landed on my right hand. Having never broken anything before I wasn’t sure how to tell. When I described the pain to family members I was told “you just bruised it, you’ll be fine” (I have a very high pain tolerance, I suppose they had worse pain when they broke bones).

Though after showing my black and blue finger that had now developed a lump, to my friend who had been a nurse for 35 years, I was informed that it was indeed broke and I needed to get it checked out. That is the story of my disappearance, I sit here with my finger in a splint.

As I am sure you can imagine, crafting is difficult for me right now, I’ve been using the loom knitter every now and then but I missed being able to sit for an hour and comfortably crochet or knit.

These are a few items I worked the before the big fall

I had the girls sewing for home economics

I played with Australian Shepard’s, my own girl and of course my brother in law brought two mini’s at Thanksgiving

I’ve been busy learning about my ancestry. I received the DNA kit for my birthday last May and I downloaded my raw dna file and uploaded it other places and I’ve been intrigued by what I have learned since then.

Some of this I knew (Scottish, British, Spanish, French) and some completely surprised me. It makes me want to learn more!

Have any of my readers done the DNA test? What was your biggest surprise?

Have a great day folks!

Oh hey!

Posted in Adventure's in homeschooling, Fun on the farm, Fun with fiber by

So my screen break took a little longer than the rest of my household, they all immediately jumped back in, while I dipped my toes with audiobooks, waded in a little more with kindle unlimited and now here I am with projects and introductions.

School has started and some of us have returned to our old ways of learning and by that I mean we are once again homeschooling. While Leif remains at our local elementary school that I do love, Lorelai skipped ahead to seventh grade and is now currently sitting next to her best friend (who has also joined our homeschool world), reading the free choice book.

During my absence, I have harvested and canned food from the garden, as well has competed a few items.

We have really gotten into playing outside

We observed our critters

Went on a homeschool field trip to Boston

And we have a new family member.

Meet Runa

She is a ten week old Australian Shepard, we are kind of fond of her šŸ˜

Focus

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As the days have shifted once more from 40 degrees down to -1, I find my self spending less time in my basement craft room and more time in the living room, we all seem to congregate here at different times of the day.

Some of us like to enjoy a bowl of beans and a special moments with a good friend while warming ourselves by the fire.

Whether we are enjoying a nightly show together, using our imaginations to turn a simple tub of legos into a jungle adventure, filling the house with music via, or as stated above, some of us come here to work. The living room seems to be the most beloved room in the house.

While I may have been here all weekend working on this order

My mind still goes to my craft room and all the fun things that are awaiting my return. I’m having a hard time focusing now that I’m a week and a half away from when this order is due.

I still have heads, noses, antlers, and arms to finish, I have several moose I need to stuff and sew, I also have very little attention span.

I’m fighting the urge to run to my craft room and spin up a bunch of beautiful Romney wool. I keep thinking of the sewing projects that are overdue and need my attention like yesterday. Let’s not forget the set of sock needles from Christmas, I have yet to cast on a single stitch.

I give praise to my husband however, who is finding other things to do right now, than helping me build a set of wool combs. He knows I need to get this done, he has better restraint that I do, more focus and hates starting something new when there are other things left to finish.

Speaking of focus and distractions, it’s time to go collect the eggs.

Have a great weekend folks!

The house of many projects

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The yard has been cleaned up, the greenhouse prepared, and the animals are currently freaking out about the blanket of snow falling softly to the ground. It is as if they have never before seen snow…ok to be fair not all of them have, be it is still a sight to see.

Now that the snow has arrived, I have more time to work on projects and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Here and there during the summer I had the chance to work on one or two items that were not wedding related, but only a little bit at a time.

I have certainly missed the moments of getting to sit and get lost in my work, which sometimes makes me consider Toph’s idea of selling the farm and traveling around the country in an old school bus…. I kid, I shall keep my feet planted firmly on the farm thank you.

I broke out all the projects that I am hoping to finish for Christmas (or the three birthdays that follow in January)

The first project I’ve made time for snow or not is the chemo blanket for a very beloved family member, this will have fleece sewn on the back when finished. This take priority over the other projects.

This is made with the new Caron cake colors: Blueberry Shortcake & Banana Bread. Sadly I had to take half of it out after trying a mix of two patterns that did not turn out as well as the lady who posted the tutorial.

Up next is an order I am in the process of finishing up

This is the Ulyne Unicorn Hood by the Velvet Acorn. I wont lie, I wish I had knit it, instead of crocheting. I made it child size per request and it did not even fit my child who is the same measurements as the intended. So here it is as the adult size, ready to be put together.

The first Christmas project of the year is from yarn I spun up myself. A blend of merino, silk, and yak

Fingerless mitts to help keep hands warm when gloves are not practical

#2

The bulky and quick cat blanket from MJ’s Off the Hook Designs, though this might be turned into a wolf, we will see.

#3

The never ending granny square style blanket, almost ready for the 4th cake.

#4

The start of the Lost In Time shawl, this is a shawl that I need complete silence for. I will be doing this after children are tucked into bed for the night and while my husband works on his new app.

I am still trying to find the perfect item for my now EIGHT year old little boy, he is into so many things. Minecraft, Super Mario, and now books. Time will tell.

Have a great week folks!