Art Yarns & Tweeds

I ventured out to Woolfest at Lake Metroparks’ Farmpark last weekend with my friend Linda.  I have been completely bitten by the spinning bug after looking at oodles of gorgeous fibers.  I tried a drop spindle a few years back and frustrated myself right out of that.  I should have known better!  I am just not coordinated enough to do several things at once.

I tried this already with glass blowing.  I really wanted to be a glass major at school.  In fact, I made my decision to attend the Cleveland Institute of Art based on that desire because of their reputation and that of the glass department.  Two weeks into the course I realized it requires 3 activities performed all at once.   Keep it moving, work fast enough to keep it hot and turn it into something all at the same time.  YEAH, Riigghht!  So I switched to enameling, which is applying ground glass to metal, and firing it in a kiln.  It’s a beautiful blend of glass that waits for me, and the focus that became my major, metals and jewelry design.

But now I want to try spinning again and with the help of Linda and our local spinners guild I am going to suck it up and try really hard!  I just love art yarns and tweeds and I have lots of fibers, including cashmere noils, that will make spectacular yarn.  Abby Franquemont has inspired me as well with her blog Making a Tweed Blend.  She gives wonderful directions with lots of photos for making batts and spinning tweed yarns.   

 

Handspun Tweed

 

 

In case you needed some inspiration of your own, check out the batts and awesome yarns that Linda has spun – FABULOUS!  Be sure to look her up on Etsy too for more eye candy.

 

Sunny Day

Batt with Cashmere Noils

 

Wild Skies

Silk Shirts & Jackets Cut Up to Make Yarn

Let me tell you why I love Ravelry so – This morning I was looking at one of my favorite groups ‘Cowls’ because I am addicted to seeing what’s being done in project do-able time, since I currently have no time!  It’s like looking through Saks 5th Avenue, what would I buy if only I could, or for me, what would I knit if only I had the time…

And so one project led to another, which led to a link to a free pattern, which brought me to Robin Dodge’s website and finally to her new blog MetaPostModernKnitting.  In her MetaTrends she has outlined the fashion forecast for Spring 2009 complete with colors, textures and complementary clothing and accessories.  I immediately gravitated to a silk scarf that has been knit on big needles (read super fast knit-ability).

 

 

I  have several silk blouses that have some sort of acquired defect so they can’t be worn anymore but the quality of the silk was too nice to throw them out.  So they have been waiting patiently for a project to call them to life once again.  It was definitely an artist’s ah-hah moment when I saw this scarf!  After the Great Lakes Fiber Festival, I will be home, scissors in hand, making yarn out of my blouses, maybe dyeing some too to add visual interest, and then knitting happily once again. 

Phat Fiber Batt Giveaway for May

 

I was able to play with my new Louet drum carder for the first time today!  I had almost forgotten how much I love blending fibers.  It’s a lumpy, textural mixed batt of Suffolk and Perendale wool with a hint of merino and a good dollop of cashmere noils.  Just in time for blooming spring flowers… 

 

Phat Fiber Giveaway for May

 

 

It reminds me of pansies, a garden staple of mine, when I decide which flowers I’m going to plant each year.

 

 

Phat Fiber Sample for May

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Phat Fiber sample for May’s box.  It’s a 1/4 ounce of hot pink 100% cashmere noils.  Maybe you will find one in your box

 

It’s also available now in my Etsy shop too.

Diz and WPI Combo Tool

IT’S UNIQUE!!!

Here’s my first diz and WPI combo tool. I feel a series coming on because I’ve had great suggestions from Rebecca from my Phat Fiber group and there’s lots more to consider. This is my first attempt though and I’m really tickled with the way it has turned out.  The holes for the diz measure 1/2 inch, 5mm, 3mm and 1.5mm.

WPI Gauge and Diz Combo Proto-Type

 

To notch or not, that is the question…

I tried a design with notches to hold the yarn wraps in place, and after a couple tries with placement, I am happy with the result.  These will be available in my Etsy shop for $10

 

WPI Gauge and Diz Combo with Notches

Extreme Sheep Art w/LEDs

Just for fun. Of course some of this vid is fake, but it is a nice little palate cleanser.

Sock Blockers v2.0

I was completely addicted to designing on the computer yesterday.  I added a hole for hanging at the top of the sock blockers  I also have designed metric sock blocker pairs in each size to put everyone on the same page instead of having to cross reference any other measuring system outside of the US.  Now it’s all nice and easy!

I’m in the home stretch of putting the finishing touches on the heart shaped knitting needle gauge.  Lots of requests to make those available in my Etsy shop so I am going to try and have those up for sale by next weekend.  Stay tuned…

Simple Chocolate Brownies for Your Dog (The healthy kind)

While listening to the radio on the way to work this morning, I heard about a tasty sounding recipe for chocolate brownies that are OK for dogs to eat.  It’s not real chocolate, it’s carob.  What a great idea to make something special for Kaylee.  I hope my vet is NOT reading this.  She’s on a diet… SSSHhhhh.

Putting good old Google to work, I found this recipe. It comes from a site called www.seefido.com.

I’ll post the recipe, but you might want to visit their site if you have a dog. Lots of little tidbits of helpful info.

Ingredients
1 and ½ cups of all purpose flour
3 tablespoons of carob powder
½ teaspoon of baking powder
½ cup of canola oil
½ cup of honey
2 eggs

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Oil an 8-inch baking pan with vegetable oil.

2. Use a large bowl and mix the flour, carob powder and baking powder together, then set the mixture on the side. Then in a small bowl beat the oil and the honey, and then add the eggs one at a time by beating them as you incorporate them into the mixture. Next, mix the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir well until you have obtained a homogenized mixture.

3. Spread the batter into the pan and smoothen the top out with a spatula. Put it in the oven and bake for 20 t 25 minutes or until you notice that the brownies start to pull away from the sides of the baking pan.

4. Once they are ready, allow them to cool before serving them out.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for no more than 4 days, or wrap well in freezer wrap and store in the freezer for no more than 2 months.

My Corgi, Kaylee, needs to lose a ‘little bit’ of winter padding so she is on a diet. This is an utterly lunatic idea from her point of view, but she really needs to drop a few pounds.

To help reward her, I thought I might make some of these when she gets down to her swimsuit weight.

Kaylee after a full day of camping.

 

 

 

 

Simple Secrets to Mastering Tunisian Crochet Stitch.

Here is a video showing the basic Tunisian Crochet Stitch. This is from CraftyAndy on YouTube. This stitch is also called Tunisian Crochet, Afghan Stitch, Tricot Crochet, Shepherd’s Knitting, Hook Knitting, Railroad Knitting.

You can find beautiful Tunisian Crochet Needles Here.

Funny Ikea Commercial

If you Love Ikea like I do, you’ll like this commercial.

LOL. Narrator Gets Lost Following Knitting Demo.

Here is a quick 53 sec. Video I found at 3jomark on YouTube.

Follow along with the narrator as he describes what the knitter is demonstrating.

Good for a grin.