Stash Busting

Today was Spin Guild, postponed a week due to the Senior Center being closed last week.  And even though I brought my knitting, due to my bum knee, I did bring fiber.

A few days ago I was tossing stash in my Wool Room and knew some had to go.  My spinning fiber stash was well beyond the SABLE level.  SABLE stands for "Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy".  My fiber room definitely reflected that status.

I pulled out a gold and red bag to start with, then two bags of light blue Corridale cross.  A one pound bag of a pine green and brown combed top, a big bag of peachy Merino roving from Stonehedge Mills, some possible alpaca, and various bits of other rovings.  I had three large garbage bags full. Plus the merino in a separate bag of fluff.  I didn't look too closely.  I didn't want to be tempted.

Once at the meeting place, I lugged them in, plus my coffee, purse and knitting bag, all in one trip.  (Whew!). Then I dumped it down and told the others to have at it.  None of it was coming home with me.

There was some unclaimed, but that is going to be passed on to another spin group that meets farther north.

On my way home I picked up a four foot closet rod and tossed the aluminum rack that had been sagging and dropping hangers of clothes in my wool room.  While I was setting it up, I found the original bag of red gold roving that started it all.  I know just where it is going.  Not on my shelf either.

 

I put in the new closet pole, hung summer clothes and put some of my remaining roving on the corner shelf.

 

I have walking around room again.  And I found of the second pound of pine green and brown top. 

 

Thursday, it will go to live with the first pound.  

Sweater quantity!  That's always a good thing!

I Promised Pictures.

Here are the pictures that were sent to me from my spinning demonstration on Tuesday evening. Phone pictures so not the highest resolution, but you get the idea.

Yes, I do spin barefoot. At the most only with socks... and only hand knit of course.

This picture shows the sweaters and other items knit from my handspun, I had lots of yarn, as well as fiber: merino, mohair locks, Southdown wool, Shetland wool, blends, silk hankies and even some yummy soft pygora.
Not pictured is another chair that displayed a couple shawls and a poncho. The one shawl was this one completed during the 2012 Summer Olympics. It had bits of many different handspun samples. And no, my Gertrude didn't get to go.

Finally, after yesterday's rain, I managed to get everything brought in and put away. I'm glad I tossed the stash for this. I found some fiber, and yarn, I had forgotten about. Now I have more projects in mind.
That's all I need.

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Spinning Success

I think I was a hit.

At my spinning demonstration Tuesday at the church ladies group, I may not have known what I was going to say but I had plenty of display items, two tubs full! What I didn't have was presence of mind to take a picture of the table laden with fiber samples, hand knits, yarn and tools. I didn't even think to have anyone take my camera and get a picture.

But I didn't need to worry about what to say. I had a few questions to get me started, and continued from there. The one in charge, was great about asking some to get me started. Then as I referred to some of the items on the table (sweaters, socks, hat, fiber, etc) she passed it around so everyone got a chance to see it up close.

There were lots of questions, and I think those who were there enjoyed themselves.

I know I did. But I still haven't completely unloaded the car.

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Crafty Little Me

I almost forgot the other day, in my review of current knitting projects, to show my progress on the Ten Stitch Blankie.

That was almost a week ago. I have since continued the right side to the top and turned the corner.

There won't be a lot of knitting going on tomorrow though. I may have mentioned a while back that I was drafted into giving a talk on spinning at our church ladies group. Tomorrow is the night. So tomorrow will be devoted to gathering stuff and loading my car, Hharry.

I will be tossing the spinning stash and sorting my handspun and knits using my handspun. Two wheels, my Traditional, and my portable Joy, will be loaded into Hharry together with samples of fibers. I hope to have Shetland roving, hand painted top, some merino top, mohair blend, Southdown, even some silk hankies, and angora cloud if I can find it. I plan on taking two shawls, and possibly two sweaters made from my handspun. One shawl is a sampler of an assortment of my handspun, the other is cormo silk. I may toss in my "Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook" too.

It may be more of a super "show and tell" than talk. I hope they like it.

 

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Keeping Busy....Part 2

As I mentioned yesterday I have been keeping busy. I failed to mention that it will be getting busier.

My beloved Community Bible Study (CBS) starts on this coming Thursday morning. I found out my group leader is a friend at my new church who worked with my dad when he got his infusions. I will enjoy getting to know her better as we study Matthew this year.

Because of CBS, I will be unable to attend breakfast on Thursdays with some of the women from church. I have enjoyed diving in and getting to know them better. They invited me to the women's Bible study at All Saints, on Tuesday mornings. I am seriously considering attending.

And then there was the surprise I got at Mass this weekend. One friend greeted me, noting that I was settling in and becoming famous. With great poise, I said "Huh?

Turns out, according to the announcements, I am on the schedule to be a speaker for the women's group, CCW, in October. I repeat, huh?

I figured it out later, after corralling one of the gals who had come to see my spinning demonstration in my hometown earlier this summer. They had suggested that would be a great program. So I got drafted. I don't mind, if they want to see it, but what a surprise.

So I suppose I should attend the meeting this month, to see just what kind of program they expect. They meet once a month on Tuesday nights. Sounds like I may be missing Knit Nite occasionally.

I may also need a bigger table than I had in July.

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Tour De Hesperia?

Among spinners there is this thing called the Tour De Fleece. This take off of France's bicycling binge involves spinners spinning daily during the same time period as the Tour de France. I took part several years ago, but this year, I have been trying to knit through the heat, rather than spin. However, as I mentioned previously, I did sally forth with my wheel and some drop spindles to Hesperia to spin.

You will notice the temperature was warmer than the last time I spun there. Indeed, this time I was more worried about a heat stroke, but the day was delightfully cool as I spun away.

I completed almost second bobbin today at Spin Guild. Although I didn't have as many extra equipment with me. The spindles and hand cards were left at home.

Knitting continues on the Baby Hap as the border grows. With the heat is a bit hard to work on the border with the entire blanket on my lap. As a result, my knitting mojo has been wilting.

I have been working on the Tapestry Hitchhiker at Knit Nite, but perhaps, I will need to start something more compact to work on occasionally at home.

Hmmmmm. Perhaps a baby something. Maybe I'll go stash diving again.

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Hearth and Home

My hometown, Hesperia Michigan, is celebrating 150 years this summer. Each weekend from July 4th through Labor Day there is something going on.

This weekend is dedicated to Hearth and Home.

You will notice on the schedule above, this Saturday there will be some demonstrations in the pavilion at Weaver Park. Old timers like me may know it as the old fair grounds. There will be demonstrations of quilt tying, basket weaving, Dutch oven cooking, and spinning. Guess who is the guest spinner?

Yes, that's me.

Hmmmm. I have a feeling that I won't need to bundle up quite so much tomorrow. Last October, when I spun at the library, the temps were in the low to mid thirties. (I can only dream of those temperatures now.). At least it is only supposed to be in the mid to upper 70's tomorrow.

I have been scurrying around, gathering roving, my hand cards, some uncarded locks, a couple drop spindles and spinning totes. My traditional wheel, Addy, is already loaded in Hharry and ready to go. I can hardly wait. (Why yes, I do have more than one wheel. But only three now. I have had two others that I learned on and passed along.)

So please stop by if you have the chance. I will be there from 10am to 2pm and would love to see you.

 

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Poetry Month--Day 11, "Spin" Guild

With only a forecast of two in attendance,

We decided to meet and take our chance.

Cyndie and I sat, talked and knit instead,

We had but an hour, so our wheels stayed a' bed.

So come next month, we will try it again

Hopefully more folks will be out of their den.

But even if it is just us two who show,

We can spin a yarn with time to blow.

 

As mentioned above there were just the two of us coming to spin guild today. And I had to leave after an hour. But we had a good time, even if it was just the two of us.

Our group has been at cross purposes lately. Last month I couldn't attend at all. But the two months before, I had come at one and left after half an hour when no one showed. Cyndie showed up later (each month) and did the same. Hopefully we can do better in the future, both meeting up and getting people. Cyndie and I at least committed to come, at least for the first hour, next month.

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Spinning and Knitting, With a Side of Genealogy

Saturday was a bit chilly in this neck of the woods. A glorious low of 31.5 was recorded on our thermometer. I love the cooler weather, but I, or rather my Cemetery Walk alter ego, Calico Jane was scheduled to sit outside the Hesperia Library spinning that morning!

My Ashford Traditional wheel hasn't been used much, especially on the road. But I finally have a car that I can (barely) get it to fit into. I had to spend some time Friday getting it tuned up and remembering how to adjust it. But it spun like a dream after profuse oiling and fiddling.

Luckily, it was a great morning. While the local history and genealogy folk were gathered inside, I filled half a bobbin of light gray Shetland wool. I was well bundled against the chill, armed with hot coffee, wool socks, a hand-spun, hand-knit wool scarf, sweatshirt cardigan, and two knit tops. Only my foot in the shoe was cold. The other was kept warm by tredling along.

After a couple hours I went in to the gathering. I discovered my Cross family line that lived in Beaver Township left me related to several people who there, including some I went to school with. My family just keeps growing, even if a certain grandniece continues to take her own sweet time.

Back home and back to knitting. With the Gray Spiral Blankie done, and the Purple Swing Cardi off the needles, I needed to pick my main project to work on. I have been working along on the Lilac Lace Cardigan, but it is a project that requires careful watching. (And it is Lilac, not Lavendar as previously reported.) Now that the Lions somewhat embarrassing game is over I do have the Scoreboard Cowl to work on as well, but that usually is done by the day after the game.

The Raspberry Creme shawl resurfaced, as well as the Rustic Blue Silk Triangle Scarf. I may frog that and start it again. After seeing the one in the local yarn store, I think it needs to be redone at a tighter gauge. I'm not quite sure if I just need to knit tighter, or use smaller needle. Thus that sits in time out while I mull that project a bit more.

But now, back to my Scoreboard Cow. I'm sure glad I purchased the extra skein of silver colored yarn. And because I don't have many pictures in this post, I decided to include one of the cutest Little Farmer in the world.

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Endings

I mentioned the Purple Swing Cardigan was finished except for the sewing. And now another item is finished.

I really like the way the spiral shows up so well once it's off the needles. Ends woven in and everything!

But now, I must be off. There is a genealogy event at the Hesperia Library today. "Calico Jane" will be there with her spinning wheel too.

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Baskets for South Sudan

Today was the monthly Spin Guild meeting.  Joining us today was a friend ours from Greenville.  Teresa Janzen and her husband are serve with Partners in Compassionate Care.  They have made many trips to South Sudan to help encourage and support the people there in areas of education and agriculture.  Dan spends much of his time there in the past year, although at times they have been threatened with the turmoil that disrupts the area.  And she even found out how to survive being attacked by killer bees.  (Cover your head with a light silky scarf.  They attack from the top and that will intercept most of the bees.)  In spite of all that, eventually, Teresa said, they plan to move to South Sudan to serve full time.

Which brings us to the delightful baskets she brought with her.
In looking for a fund raising opportunity to support their efforts in South Sudan, Teresa ordered some baskets that are hand made in Africa.  Not in South Sudan, because the people there are too busy dealing with the war that tears across their area.  But these are handcrafted baskets made in village co-ops in Ghana, West Africa.

No two are alike. and there are many styles, from the round market baskets, to hats and even fans.  There are small ones and large ones.  And they are very sturdy.  If they get misshapen from being crammed in a closet or such, they can be dampened and reshaped.

I have a few of the large round ones that I have purchased at fiber fairs.  Crafty people love them for their knitting or spinning supplies.
If any of my readers would like to know how to get some of these wonderful baskets, and support a great cause at the same time, please e-mail me, call me or contact me on Facebook.  I will be happy to put you in touch with them. Or help arrange a meeting.  If anyone wants to host a fund raising event I am sure they can work something out with you.
A few items may have fallen into my car.

But I wasn't the only one who had fun shopping.

And one more tempting shot of her inventory.

Return of the Spinners

With the wild winter that is finally starting to end, Spin Guild hasn't met all year.  Partly that was because we had decided to meet monthly instead of weekly.  And I knew I couldn't afford weekly trips on my reduced gas budget.   (I've become a hermit, remember?)
So when Evelyn proposed an impromptu spinning and potluck at her house, we were all game.
Sure the dirt road and mud drive were challenging for my poor little car but a great time was had by all.  We ate, talked up a storm and our time was gone   before we knew it.
And I made it back to pavement nearly intact.
I can hardly wait for our next meeting.

We Interrupt the Previously Scheduled Sweater...

My October Mystery Sweater has progressed to the point that it is getting heavy. As I came to the end of a row with a mere twelve inches left on the skein, I decided it was time to put the stitches on a string. That way I could try it on and check the fit. I could also work the sleeves before the body got too heavy.

I liked the fit on myself, as well as on Gertrude.

The cable up the back looks very nice. (If you see a miscrossed cable, I don't want to know.)

You can see in the top picture the beginning of one sleeve. But as the title states, I am temporarily interrupting this to start a small project.

I usually wear earmuffs in winter. Hats don't fit over my hair clasp. But I found this, Calorimetry on good old Ravelry. It is a tapered headband, with a button fastener.

So after a a dive in the homespun stash, I dug out some navy blue wool llama blend with a hint of glitz and cast on.

It should be done in a day or two. Oh, and please excuse the photobomb by Leo's feet and tail. He kept wanting to inspect.

 

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Preparations

I have picked out the first sweater pattern for 2013. It is Rib Waist Cardigan, by Rita Moreno and it is in the book Curvy Knits 2.  (edited--designer is JILLIAN Moreno, not Rita.  :-b.) I have been admiring the pattern for some time.
So with the pattern in hand, I surveyed the stash. And the winner is green handspun Romney. Home-grown and dyed by my friend Sue Ann (AKA the Sassy Red Ewe) and spun by me.
So today, the wool took a dip and after soaking, was hung to dry in the drying rack in the tub.  I haven't dried this much yarn at one time before.  But it should done in plenty to time to wind before New Year's Eve.
And maybe even swatch!

Social Networking Comes Through

My post from last night came through for me.  I got a reply on FaceBook about the fiber.
According the the amazing Rachel of Counting Sheep Farm, and Ewe Hottie, I was right.  The fiber was from her booth.  I think I got it from her rapidly dwindling supply over a year ago at the Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan. 

The fiber is her cormo, plus alpaca and silk from my friend and shetland source, Sheila.  It is almost scary how I guessed the fiber content of that.
On the knitting front, I am on the home stretch on the Leftover Pi shawl, shown below.

I am probably three quarters through the border.  Last night at Knit Nite I had a great chance to spread it out on one of the round tables.  The colors are blacker than shown here.  I am beginning I will need to block this either folded in half, with the fan on, or else first one half and then the other.  But the eyelet rows will need the blocking to fully bring them out.
Warm and toasty.  I look forward to using this, whether as a shawl, or afghan.  If to awkward to wear, it will still use as lap robe or afghan.  But I have to wear it enough to show people how to wear it.  I still have people asking where is the hole to put over my head.

Anyone Know What This Is?

Getting readily for spin guild yesterday I decided to grab something new to spin fo a change.  I have seven full bobbins ready to ply of Jacob wool.  There are also two finished skeins.  Plus most to the original nine pounds of Jacob roving still in the bag.  (I think there is a sweater hiding in there somewhere.)
But back to the current spinning.
I love this roving!  But I don't know exactly what it is or who/where it is from.  The white I am pretty sure is silk.  Contrasts nicely and is slightly stubby, it spinns like a dream.  The black though is the puzzle.  Is it merino?  Maybe super soft cormo?  It could even be alpaca.
And where did I find it?  I am vaguely remembering a heavenly mix from Counting Sheep Farm.  But with no receipt in the bag, I am at a loss.
Does anyone recognize this fiber?

More Leftover Pi

Yesterday, Farmmom went to an Alpaca Open House and Fiber Event at White Cloud Alpacas, co-hosted by The Old Farm Girl.  Animals, fiber, yarn, friends and food.  What could be better?
Well, maybe the weather.  That was a cool-ish 40's to maybe 50.  Sun, then sleet, mist, clouds, some occasional breezes.  But it was a good day to wear wool, spin and knit.
You can see in the picture below that my Leftover Pi is zooming along.  I am almost ready for the next and probably last increase, doubling the stitches again.  It is about a 22 inch radius now.  I may need to break down and buy more black Knit Picks Gloss before I can finish.
And somehow yesterday, when the wool fumes lifted and I got home, I found a sweater's worth of Nature Spun (in scarlet), and a pound of pinkish and brown roving in my hands.
Now, how did that happen?

Down to the Wire

It was down to the wire, but I managed to cast off my Summer Games Rumpus shawl at 6:30 this evening.  Thirty minutes to spare before midnight in London.
Woo Hoo!
I kind of like it. 
It was not without some last minute drama.  I ran out of yarn with three inches left.  I used another that I had used several stripes earlier that was close in color.  If I hadn't spilled the beans here, probably no one would have ever known.
Don't tell anyone, okay?

The Agony of Retreat

A bit of retreating in the Summer Games shawl.  I had finished my tenth stripe using my leicester combo yarn.  The fleece just shimmered, even before processing and spinning.  All went well with that stripe.  The trouble has been with the tenth stripe.
I picked a pattern from Amy's recipe style pattern and plunged in.
Hmmm, too fussy.  So I tinked back two rows.  And mind you, this section is fuzzy Icelandic.  About as fun to unknit as mohair.
So I ruffled through a stitch directory and picked an easier one.
Or so I thought.  After finishing the crucial first lace row, I started the mostly plain row.  And promptly ran into trouble again. So after more tinking, I went through and marked each repeat.  And I continued to mark each section as I finished knitting it.
So I am continuing, once again, the first pattern row.
I hope soon to continue with the rest of this.   And only a week left of the Games.  I'll see if I can enjoy the thrill of victory.  Or real defeat.

Onward the Knitting

I have started my fifth color section on my Summer Games Rumpus shawl.  I squeezed smooth as much as I could out of my precious handspun angora.  Only a few yards left. 
As a brief aside, when spinning angora, if you are plying a single batch, and want to use the andean plying method, take some advice.  Do not attempt on a hot humid day.   I did and had the grandaddy of all tangled.  Way too much of that precious fiber was lost.
Anyway, as Rumpus grows, I finally have Color Affection #1 on the blocking mats.   Only problem I have with the shawl, it is a bit large for the bed.  Even on the diagonal.  The one end is slightly climbing the wall.
Now if it will only cool enough to wear it.