Learning to weave...

My BFF let me borrow- well she isn't using it or planning on using it, so she said I can borrow it forever. I like the arrangement, it is hers- if she ever wants to use it. But I can use it all I want. I made a scarf a while ago. So I know how to use that one. I am taking a weaving class and I will learn to weave on a 4 harness loom! I am really excited- we will also go the process of designing. It is a beginning class, but I have intermediate and advanced to look forward to:-) Next time I will take pictures of the room and my loom, it will be my loom for this semester!!!!

Going backwards to move ahead

I fell in love with a pair of socks in 2007, I have wanted to make them, but they are knee high socks, which I don't wear. I have thought of these socks often and have recently cast on. The socks are enterlac, which I have made a few small things in. Entrelac Socks - Interweave"



I have only cast on and done the toes. I kinda got scared of messing up the enterlac once I got to that point. So I cast on with cotton, figuring a face cloth/wash cloth would be a nice practice piece. I also got to thinking that I should learn how to knit backwards- imagine not having to turn my work any more. I really like and it isn't as hard as I thought it would be. I also noticed that my tension is pretty even and my gauge has loosened up some. I am a tight knitter- so although as you can see going backwards can help you move forward:0)

I am always planning on updating.

I don't know why it is such a pain for me to sit down and write. I always knew that writing isn't my thing. I mix present and past tense. I make typos, after I write I don't want to proof read. I have noticed that when I read other people's blogs, they do the same things! Well they do a considerable job better, but they do make little mistakes. I know that shouldn't make me feel any better- but it shows me they are not perfect and if helps.

I have a ton of pictures that I took:) I went to Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival in Oct 2010. I will have to post pictures of that. For anyone that doesn't know it is "heaven" for any fiber artist. The spinning tools, the knitting and crochet items, weaving tools, and I am sure I am forgetting some fiber crafts.

For my not posting in forever- I can't think of any other updates that I should do. I do have project pictures and notes- but I try to keep those on Ravelry. So in short- I am going to try to keep this up. Yet, this is me and my dislike of writing isn't going to vanish any time soon.

Sheepy Kitty

I have been knitting and spinning, but I have also succumbed to the world of dyeing. My family keeps telling me why don't you just dye already- all the time. I was gathering quite the lovely stash of my own dyeing, but I finally started selling some at Sheepy Kitty:


Sheepy Kitty also has a blog that hopefully I will do a better job of keeping up to date. It is really hard for me not to keep my stuff for me, but I have to be realistic. I if I am going to spin and/or knit all the stuff I have, I have not time for anything else.

I thought I had updated this in March, but I just noticed that I my last post was the last day of February. I have been busy, only I feel like I haven't finished anything. I have been stressed out lately with taxes. I don't do taxes for profit- I do it as a favor to my family. To add to that I am self employed and I have to get all that stuff together. Every year I say I am going to do a better job of keeping everything in order, but I seem to forget that before I actually do it.

I have been trying to spindle spin:


I haven't yet finished my navajo plying of this fiber:


Then I have way too many WIP's going on. I had stuck to only working on 1 project at a time so far this year. I recently cast on a few too many projects, the end of the school year is coming up and the kids want to give teachers gift. I have Arianne's sweater going on:

The color is a charcoal and not the washed out color that it is.

Then I am making a Clapotis for one teacher:

Then for another it is a: One Skein Stole (Ravelry link) This is a swatch- I haven't taken a picture of it since I cast on.

Last but not least I started making these felted booties for my nieces baby:


Seaming the bottom to the boot is really difficult, so that is what is keeping the boots from being done. Then I made the adornments from the wrong color so I have to re-knit those.

All but the boots are farther in progress than the pictures. I need to finish something soon!

Stitches West

I am very happy with all that I got at Stitches West:0) Do you see all my goodies. I got 2 sweaters and a tops worth and of yarn from Miss Babs Superwash Merino that is so soft & squishy. I really didn't want to buy much yarn, but I also got an amazing deal on un-dyed sock yarn- so I got that. That was all I bought. I am very proud that is what I limited myself to. I did buy fiber, that is what I am allowing myself- fiber. I have to have fiber to spin right? I bought a baby slipper kit to for my nieces' newborn baby from Pick Up Sticks
I even bought an ear light, my family is teasing me over that one, but they get mad at me for having to watch movies with some light. So now I hope we will both be happy:0)

There where a lot of great Vendors there. I do have a few favorite. But because I am into spinning. My favorites are Urban Faunaand A Verb For Keeping Warm. I feel bad because I only bought one little thing at Urban Fauna, but they are great. Jamie & Blas are really nice people. In San Francisco we only have Urban Fauna or Carolina Homespun. The later is terrible- in so many respects, they act as if they are doing you a favor by gracing you with their presence. I haven't heard one nice thing about them- and I have talked to quite a few people. Sad really. But that is just one reason why Urban Fauna should do well.

Opps I forgot to add the picture of the sock in the last post. I have gone in and edited it. I have been working on sample socks and I have spun some!!!

I do not have the picture of this batt. I have more fiber to make more though. It does sparkle.



Bulky yarn from a batt


dkKnits- this will become a Thorpe link for those on Ravelry