Well, it's definitely been a while since I've added anything to my blog.. and well, I'm not sure I could say it's a lot.. but here goes... ;

Pretty sure I mentioned my spinning wheel.. yay!! Still love the daylights out of it hahaha... how can you tell I love it! So much so, I ran out of my humble little stash of raw wool. In fact, I've been trying to track down some local sheep owners (any who are selling fleece)..

Spun some yarn. Learnt a few things, and in doing so, have realised I'm going to need some wool combs.. Those are a bit expensive at the moment.. but thankfully, I found a mini tutorial on how to make some. Well, I don't have the tools to make them, so I plan on convincing one of my Uncles to help me out with that. A bit of a trade really.. home made perogies and home made bread, mmmm so tasty!

Oh yes, and I started knitting a sweater for my husband. So excited to have found a pattern for "The Dude" sweater.. gotta love it really.

Here are a few pictures...

Uck... I mean OK sure, the blue and yellow/orange work OK together.. but oh did it turn out scratchy!!! And I really don't like scratchy :(

The two spools of thread to the right turned out to be singles.. Thinking of making a little something light and lacy with those.. just not sure if it should be a scarf, cowl, or shawlette.

Ooooh... a nice soft fluffy single!!! Funny thing about it.. it is really crazy close in colour blend and weight as the previous single I spun on my drop spindle.. love it!

This yarn was spun to make a little something for one of my many cousins. I just need to make a trip to the craft store for some big beads and other such do dads... Something to add a little something to it. Thinking it should be a cowl...

OK, so not that impressive yet, I kind of need to add the other photos of it for anything like that to happen yet.. I did get the back done, and had one of the front pieces done, at least until I realised I missed two rows here, didn't make certain stitches the right contrast colour there.. And well, needless to say, I had to rip it back and start over :( Aside from that though, I really really think I'm going to need to make one for myself!

Oh yeah :( I got a little carried away with my spinning wheel. Decided I wanted to add some colour to it. Why???? I have no idea...

Latest Adventures in Yarn

OK... in the process of getting use to my spinning wheel, I did figure out a few more little helpful tricks.. like not letting it spin the bobbin backwards on me ever time I stop the spinning.. that was getting annoying! Thankfully though, that little bug has been worked out.
Another one is letting it rest on the bobbin a few days before I unwind and make a skein out of it. It would appear it relaxes a bit and doesn't let it tangle and wind in on itself... Thank you!!! Not sure if that is the typical way of doing it, but oh wow is it helpful.. especially when your singles are spun too tightly! Still doing that and trying to get into the spin of things.. lol..
I did wind up with a large freezer bag mostly full of the wendslydale... As well as a great deal of learned tid bits here and there..
What I do know... I need to get some wool combs. Which kinda scares me due to the price.. but when in doubt, make your own right?! Thankfully I did come across the best little tutorial on how to make some.. and honestly, they look just as nice as those really expensive ones I've had my eye on.. Now just to find someone with the tools needed, because lets face it, I don't have them!
I have also decided that that is where my problem and hang up right now is.. seems to be what is standing in the way of making a better and prettier to look at yarn.. and I do like pretty yarn.. After all, that is what draws you into a yarn in the first place isn't it? You see it.. either it draws you in, or you go "Ewww", and move on... And well, I need to get past that "Eww" spot.. cause I DON'T like itchy yarn and I know I can work past that and make it far less itchy. It can be done, and I WILL do it! Just need a few more tools first hahaha!

I am so excited about this.. yet the excitement is too unbearable since I have to wait until the end of the month... and hopefully not longer!

My husband says to me one day.. "Well, since we have the money now, we can either A:get our gun license or B:get you that spinning wheel that you want".
Well.. first off, that is a difficult decision for me to make since I really want both so much so that it is close to a need for me.. Anyway, I had decided after weighing pros and cons of both for a few days, that I would have to get me that spinning wheel.. and well, my blog is about my spinning/knitting so why not right!?

So here is hoping that I wont have to wait longer than I'm hoping... cause this bad boy will be mine!!!

Yay me!! OK, so it's not the best ever, but it is pretty good for a first time using the woolen technique for spinning.. I mean, it's not that bad hahaha..

I do have to say though, I do greatly prefer the worsted technique for spinning... though I am not above learning new ways of doing things.. Knowledge is never ending, and why limit ourselves when there is so much out there. I may not like this new way of spinning, but it does have it's advantages, and I have no doubts that I will put it to good use. Even if I this yarn won't make the best sock yarn, I'm sure it will make a really cool scarf...



4/10/2013
Here is a pic of the yarn... all ready to knot something, what? I'm not sure yet.

Hand Carders & Rolags

OK... I'm sure that I'm not doing it just right, but the idea has been gotten and well, here we go. First go at using hand carder, ever!

A bit blurry, but getting there...

And wow... that didn't turn out quite like it should. But seriously, first attempt at making a rolag ever!! Give me a break.. at least for now hahaha.

Better!! Definitely getting there.. thank you knitting needle of greater size, you have helped me achieve a much prettier rolag.

Here is my first box of rolags... and well, they kind of out grew it.

So, I found a bigger box!!! And well, I have decided to start spinning.. and being the first time at spinning from a rolag.. ugh, que the swearing I'm sure. I will definitely post a pic of that yarn.. even if it's shameful and embarrassing hahaha.

And this is what I have left over! Depending on how the spinning turns out and how much yarn I manage to get from it.. I may just have to do a little something different with this batch.

So glad that part is done!! Past the disappointment in my red not really being red... and really, how couldn't you be when you see all those colours!? Now, I guess I really should hold off on deciding what to do with it until after I spin it.. I mean really, it is rather disappointing to want a chunky yarn and wind up spinning a lace yarn.. that really is terrible. Still, I'm not sure at all what kind of yarn I want to spin anyway.

Holy wow!!! Decided after a rough morning I would splurge and buy some alpaca yarn.. but oh boy is it ever hard to not buy up the whole store hahaha...
So, after spending a pretty penny on 3 skeins of alpaca.. yes three.. because I just DON'T do one skein projects.. Not because I don't like them, but because I just cant make anything that small that I want. One day I'm sure I will go back on that, but for now, I want enough to do something huge and awe inspiring... OK, so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but I just cant buy one skein of anything!! I'm a yarn hog OK!

Anyway, I decided on a really nice shawl/wrap to wear with a dress I just finished (minus the buttons of course).. This dress was made solely to go with a pair of boots, so ya, I'm a bit nuts. But at least I'm smiling. A shawl will be nice anyway, especially since this dress is sleeveless.

I was also very pleasantly surprised to find out that my hand carders and wool were on their way.. I was getting a bit panicked since it was already taking so long... so, after getting off the phone with them, it shows up!! What odds eh... too funny.

Which brings me to my next endeavour. I wasn't sure if I had wanted to dye the wool or not.. and I guess I should start off with adding that it is a wensleydale... and did I mention I'm really excited?! So, to dye or not.. I think yes! Not sure how this will turn out, but considering my last few attempts at it, and having it work out well, it should be fun.
So, here I sit typing away when I really should get back in there and start the process... and yes, I will keep you posted!

6:20pm
OK... my red is not so red :(
Aside from my very bright magenta/pinkish red... there is yellow/orange, purple, green and a really nice blue (at least while sitting in the dye bath). That aside... I figure I will give it a while longer to do what it needs to do... Oh wow do I hope it works. Fingers crossed.

8:39pm
Just a few pics so far...
Top picture left to right: Purple, Blue, Orange/Yellow, Green.
The rest of the pictures... not exactly red, but it will do nicely :)