Thursday, October 21, 2010

More FO's!!!

First up is the Horeshoe Cap that was in Spin Off Magazine. Summer 2010. I had  the Shetland Yarn in fingering weight all wound up in a nice little cake, and wondered what I should do with it. The yarn for the Horseshoe Cap leans more to a worsted weight, but I thought I'd give it a try. The ribbing is done on US 5 Dbl points, and the rest on US 7 Dbl points. I think it came out cute!



Then there is the Off to the Races scarf I did for the Fancy Kitty KAL on Ravelry. Here it is, all blocked out and ready for Christmas! I wound up doing 28 repeats with yarn to spare. It looks worn, but I won't get a pic of the owner wearing it until Christmas!

That's all I have for now! I have a couple of projects that are nearly finished though. More about those later!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Dearest Averie...

Dearest Averie,
I'm missing you tonight. Your little face isn't here to brighten my day. My arms are empty, and those bright blue eyes aren't looking up at me with their little sheepish smile. I still see you everywhere...pulling up on the couch, bouncing on the floor over a new discovery, and your eyes brightening up when your Momma smiles at you. Your momma once told me, " Ma...isn't he the most beautiful baby ever? Can you believe I had this incredible, gorgeous baby?". And she was just the proudest Mommie ever. It's hard, son, hard to find words to comfort her and console her. She misses you just so much. We all do. I'm trying really hard to be strong for her. I cry for you in the dark, when no one is around.

Huggies, baby boy! Your not forgotton, not unloved. I say your name everyday and pray the Lord kisses you for me everynight. I love you forever Averie!

Nana

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Off to the Races Scarf swatch.

A brief update...I swatched for the Off to the Races Scarf. The yarn came out DK weight, so I dropped from the recommended needle size of 15 for the Bulky weight to size 11. The stitches were too big, and I lost a lot of definition. So I ripped out and reknit in size 10. Much better. Because of the multicolored yarn, I'm still losing stitch definition, but I think when I block it, at least the YOs will show up better, and it'll still be pretty.


And Addy wanted to say,"Hi!". Isn't she a doll!!!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

FO....Socks are KOd

Umhmmm! I did it!! Completed a pair of socks for Aiden before he could outgrow them!!! See!



Socks, glorious Socks!!! Ok, I admit I went over the 2 week self imposed deadline, but hey...they're done! I love the sockyarn I got from Baywood Yarns too. It's a handpainted Merino in the colorway Mallard. Lovely stuff, I have enough left for Aiden a couple more pairs. The pattern is Mash-Up Magic Toe-Up Socks by Zhenya Lavy. Just google MUMTU Socks for the free pattern. I love it because it's a customizable recipe to make the socks any size you need. The instructions are easy to follow and the only variation I made was to use Jenny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off. ( You can google that too!)

Then I spun up the Black Cheviot batts I made too. I 2 ply'd it with a single of recycle sari silk for this...
180 yards of DK weight yarn. Honestly, I was trying to spin up a bulky weight yarn, sigh. But I'm going to make it work for a Off to the Races Scarf pattern by my friend, Patricia Bishop. You can get the pattern here...  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/off-to-the-races-scarf We're doing a KAL on the Fancy Kitty lovers group on Ravelry. I can't wait to post a pic when I'm done!


Saturday, September 18, 2010

WWSIP Day

Today is World Wide Spin In Public Day!!! YIPEE!!! I did my part, I met Jerry, Barbara, and the girls. We spun in Borders in Arlington, Texas!!! I didn't take pics...sigh...no. Forgot the camera! I really hate that. So you'll have to forgive a short little blog with no pics. Mr.Aiden went with me. He was such a good boy the whole time! He has a new Leapster 2 with Thomas the Train and was busy with it. Meanwhile, Nana is busy spinning this batt up...
Cheviot, dyed black with silk thrums, black firestar, and irridescent blue angelina. The pic doesn't do it justice at all, you just can't capture angelina and firestar very well, and the flash washes out the black color.
I plan to make a bulky weight yarn to do a Off to the Races scarf pattern by my friend Patricia Bishop. We're doing a knit a long in the Fancy Kitty Lover's group on Ravelry. I plan to ply the black singles with mutlicolored recycled sari silk. It should be yummy! I've been spinning on my Hitch Hiker wheel, and I really love the little wheel. I just haul it everywhere!

I got a new book, 1000 Fabulous Knit Hats by Annie Modesitt. The book features pics of 1000 hats, and the patterns of the top 10 hats judged. It's insipiring and gives you a lot of ideas. I found about 20 hats so far that are on my must do list!

I am making good progress on Aiden's socks. I'm in the middle of turning the heel and plan to finish the heel before work tomorrow. (I'm really pushing that 2 week challenge, huh?)

Monday, August 30, 2010

Standing up and being strong...Life goes on.

Sometimes standing back up after life knocks you down isn't easy. I don't think anything has ever hurt so bad as losing Averie. His death was hard for me to understand. He was strong and healthy. He went to sleep, and he just didn't wake up. There's no one to fault, no one to blame. It was SIDS. For whatever reason the Lord decided to take my angel home, I have accepted the Lord's will. We are all standing strong now, and focusing on remembering Averie, and never letting his memory die. Angela has taken to scrapbooking, and thanks to her friends at the whattoexpect group, who have gifted her supplies, she has enough to keep her busy for a while. Me? I've just been spinning and knitting. I'm think I'm finally strong enough to start Averie's memory quilt.

Averie's passing has shown us there is still a lot of good folks out there, full of love and kindness that knows no bounderies. Some of my friend's on Ravelry sent me a Mary's Hugs blanket that they all spun and knit. It's beautiful and cherished by both me and Angela.
A very special thanks to Beth, Rav ID Bluemtnhandcrafts , for organizing and sewing all the blocks together. It was so thoughtful, and kind of you!
Thanks to all the contributers to the blankie...
Beth aka Bluemtnhandcrafts, Lydia aka Dakotarose, Monica aka Monica48, Aimee aka zookeeper74 and her sister Lauren, Carla aka Carlacritt, Channon aka chanknits, Candy aka Icandyarn, Diane aka DDKA, Paula aka Piglette, Jessica aka naturallyknitty, Donna aka TuttleDB, Linda aka Pacadoodle, Anita aka yarndemon, and Lori aka blushingewe.
LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! XXXXOOOO

I have finished some spinning....


Here's 236 yards of 2 ply fingering weight wool/milk fiber blend spun from a batt I got in a swap from Lori. I love her batts! She has an etsy shop, BlushingEwe.


Then there's the shetland my friend Monica sent me. 150 yards 2 ply lace weight. I have some more shetland I plan to spin to go with it. I want to knit a smoke ring with it.

Finally....LOOK!!! My first sock!!! (Now I just need to finish the other!). It's a toe up pattern and it fits Aidan perfectly! My personal goal is to finish 2nd sock in 2 weeks, and post a pic with Aidan in said socks! If not, ya'll can call me on it!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Dear God...

Dear God,
In this trying time I thank you for many things. First of all Lord, I thank you for all the people that you've sent into our lives to support us with kind words, thoughts, and prayers to sooth the pain. I also am thankful for all the food you sent, and not having to cook for few days really helped me out. I also thank you for sending kind people to help pay for Averie's funeral and the kind folks at the funeral parlor that allowed me to make payment arrangements so I could make sure the boy was taken care of in a way that was kind to the parents.
I also thankyou for opportunity to meet Averie's other family and for the opportunity to meet his great great grandfather.

Most of all, I thank you for allowing me to be Averie's Nana for a short time. I really enjoyed playing with him, and cuddling him. He made me so very happy while he was here and I'll never ever forget the little angel. I'll be glad when I get to see him again. I'm ready for more of his little hugs and sloppy kisses. I also thank you for giving Angela the strength you have and I see now that Averie is still touching her life even through death.

I'm sorry I got mad at you Lord. It just really hurt when you took him home. I wasn't expecting it, and was looking forward to him running after the other grandkids and chasing after them all. There were so many things I looked forward to doing with him. I wanted to teach him to fly a kite, go fishing, toss ball with him. I know I am still blessed with two others, but forgive my selfishness...I really love having the little guy around. I was already to make him and Aidan matching hats for this winter, and planning on having them some matching jackets as well. Now I'm going to have to console myself by making a quilt for Angela with his little clothes. I'd really appreciate it, if you'd give me the strength to do this and help me to get it finished.

I guess that's all I had to say to you for now. Give the boy a big hug for me, and kiss his little cheeks. Tell him that Nana loves him, and his cousins miss him. His momma and daddy are being strong for him, and his aunties are too. I hope he's having a good time up in heaven with his grandpa Darnell, and papaw Lonnie. Look down on us from time to time, and let us know with a kiss.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

In Loving Memory of Averie Joseph Tomah

No words can describe the grief I feel. The Lord took my beautiful boy home today. I'll never forget you Averie...the cute little bubble you blew on my shoulder, the toothless grin that made me so happy. A big peice of my heart is gone and I miss you already. I love you Averie, forever and a day!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Splatter Batts and Alpaca!



The idea struck me one day...if you can hand paint roving, why not batts? So I started by presoaking a batt and gently draining it in a strainer. I rolled it out on a cookie sheet covered with saran wrap.
I then took some syringes filled with dye mixed with some vinegar, and splattered the batt. (I was a bit heavy handed with the dye. Next time I'll be more sparing.)

I then rolled up my batts and steam baked them at 170 degrees for around an hour.

Then I rolled out the batts, and let them dry. Waaa Lah! Splatter batts! Love them! They remind me of tyedye. Next time I will not roll them up, it disarranges the splatters. I'll just leave them out flat on the cookie sheet. Need to pick up some more cookie sheets at Goodwill!


Next up is the absolutely yummy Cria Fleece I got from Linda at www.bluemoonranch.net . It's buttery soft and Linda is a doll to work with!
Look how gorgeous this fleece is and how crimpy! I'm going to enjoy spinning this up for sure!

Here's a lock all combed out, pretty nice staple length too! I loved the way Linda packed this fleece. It was rolled up in a big sheet of plastic, so you could unroll it and it maintained it's structure. It's easier to work with this way.
Ok...I have more to post yet! Stay tuned!





Saturday, June 26, 2010

My New Hitch Hiker Wheel is Here!



Isn't she just the cutest thing ever!!!! My new Hitch Hiker Spinning Wheel from Beth at
www.bluemountainhandcrafts.com . As you can see, I wasted no time testing her out. I admit it took a bit of getting used to the heel/toe treadling, as well as going from a double treadle back to a single treadle, but it was a minor adjustment. It's not a bad spin at all, and at 9lbs, I can haul it all over the place. I've spun at Denny's yesterday while waiting for breakfast. ( The kids think I'm nuts...I am!) Now how to best decorate my little wheel....paint? Woodburning? Both?
Koi fish? Cherry blossoms? Maneki Neko???? I'm still undecided!

Batts!!! Count them! Eight yummy batts from my Corriendale all ready to spin into some yummy yarn! (And another pound to go! Man, a whole fleece is a lot of wool!!!) This is the wool I ran through my picker. I've discovered that you can't get smooth batts with a picker. It's opens up the locks, but doesn't remove second cuts that cause the nepps. The batts are neppy, but that's okay. Never underestimate an neppy batt. It can make some really nice textured yarn. The Fancy Kitty Drumcarder has been working overtime. As you can see from the next pic!

Shetland! My friend Monica sent me some yummy Shetland after I made the comment I'd always wanted to try some. Elizabeth Zimmerman was always going on about the virtues of Shetland. I used my hand combs on the locks to get smooth batts. (No nepps!) Hand combs remove the second cuts, as well as VM. (We've talked about this in other posts.) Below is the pile of combed shetland ready to run through the Kitty Drumcarder. Yummy stuff!

I wasn't able to take pics of the other batts I've made, but they're coming up next when I can take pics during the day. (The flash just makes it impossible to get the right color.) Stay tuned!



Wednesday, June 23, 2010

New Stuff to Come!

Once again it's been awhile since I've blogged! I've got so many things to take pics of, just need some time off to do it! We're learning a new charting system at work and it's a brain fryer for sure!
On the fiber front, I have new tools to take pics of. First, Beth hooked me up with one of Eric's blending hackles. It is absolutley awesome and I'll be taking pics of it with some fiber I blended on it and pulled off into roving. It's just as nice as the hand combs Eric made, he really does an outstanding job of making these tools.

I've finally got a picker too. It's a Lil' Dynamo Picker. It does alright, but I'm afraid it's like my first set of handcombs. The points are just space too far apart to do a really good job and it takes several times to separate the locks on the fleece. It doesn't do a very good job at all on fine fleece like rambouillet. I'm thinking of adding more points to see if it'll help.

Then I have a cute little wheel coming in. It's a Hitch Hiker from Merlin Tree. Beth became a dealor and I ordered one. I have been wanting a little wheel that would be portable enough to take to outtings at the mall. I can't wait to spin on it!

I have some alpaca coming in . One is Cria, and I'm very excited! Both are gold tone like Vicuna. Very pretty! I also have been washing some Cheviot a friend gifted me with. I meet Barbara at the little spinners/knitters group I go to from time to time. She gave me two whole fleece! Then my Rav friend Monica gave me some Shetland! (I've been wanting to try shetland for a long time. Elizabeth Zimmerman is always going on about shetland!)

So there you have it! I've got batts I've made up to show and Addi's leggings are almost done. I promised to take pics and have a better blog next time!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Hand Knit Hand Spun!

Finally got around to using some of my hard earned handspun yarn! First up is Averie's Hat. The grey yarn is a angora/corriendale blend for ultimate softness. The accent colors are california red in baby blue and purple. The red is some handdyed SSS fibers. All were Navajo plied in fingering weight. The pattern is from Knit Hats! by Gwen Steege, in the Color Me Bright pattern. The only changes made in the pattern is using size 6 circs instead of the size 10, to compensate for the fingering wt yarn and finished size.

It was my first color change project and I can knit both continental and throw, I was able to knit with 2 yarns at the same time. It went easier than I thought it would and it was a fun pattern. I really love the icord dangles on the hat! Averie does too...it gives him something to grab as he's pulling off the hat! Leave it to me to knit a hat with the hot summer months approaching! But I did make it big enough to allow for growing and hopefully when it's cold, it'll still fit! Isn't he a sweetie! This is one cuddly baby!

Next up is Addi's leggins. I had recieved a gorgeous batt in a swap from my friend Beth. I spun it into some nice fingering weight, Navajo plied.(I really love Navajo plying...it hides a multitude of sin in those 3 plies!) I couldn't find the pattern I wanted, so I made up one. It's a simple fan pattern with simple repeats.
Addi's Leggins
On size 6 DP, I cast on 42 stitches and spread on 3 needles with 14 stitches each. Join. I did a simply K2,P2 ribbing stitch for 1 inch. Problem is, you wind up with the 2 K2 at the beginning and end with K2 at the end, so you have 4 knit stitches together. I couldn't figure out a fix, and it really doesn't show unless you want to nitpic. Anyway, the pattern is as follows:
Row 1- K1 , (Sl1, K1,PSSO,K9,K2tog) x 3. 12 stitches on each needle.
Row 2-Purl
Row 3- K1, (Sl1, K1,PSSO,K7,K2tog) x 3. 10 stitches on each needle.
Row 4- Purl
Row 5- K1, Sl1,K1,PSSO,YO, (K1,YO)x5, K2tog. 14 stitches on each needle.
Row 6- Knit.
Repeat rows 1-6 10 times or until you reach the desired length.
Complete another inch of K2,P2 ribbing and bind off loosely.
There you go! My first original pattern. Addi doesn't care for the leggins unfortuately. (Think it's because...Gee Nana! It's hot outside???) She's more impressed with Nana's yarn balls!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

But I HAVE been productive!!!!

Ok, it's been a while...but I have been productive! Do you remember my post about the hand combs? I had wished the tines were spaced closer together? Well, wish granted! My friend Beth at
www.etsy.com/shop/bluemtnhandcraft.com has a talented husband,Eric, that makes these perfect hand combs! They are ergonomic, light, and the stainless steel tines are spaced just the perfect distance to make combing the most vmish fiber a snap! It whups the vm right out of your fleece and I just couldn't be happier!I think they're beautiful too!

This is some Rambouillet fleece I just got in. The fiber is very fine and full of vm! The worst I've dealt with yet! But the fiber is soooooo soft, and I really love it! I want to save this fleece!
After a couple of passess on my new hand combs, just see the difference! Now this fiber is spinable, blendable and yummy! The finely spaced tines separate the locks better and allow all the nasty vm to fall out. (Good thing too...I have 6 lbs of this fleece!)
I know it's hard to tell from this pic, but consider all this fiber is covering the foot of my twin bed! All this fiber is processed with Eric's handcombs and is ready for spinning! We have the corriendale, montedale, targhee merino, and then some blends of targhee merino/yak/angora, and corriendale/angora that I carded into rollrags. Yeah, it's alot, and there was a lot more too! I didn't feel like dragging it all out. Isn't it amazing what you can get done watching TV or watching the grandkids outside!

Oh, but that's not all! The montadale I was spinninng on my new wheel....here she is! 200 yards of worsted fingering weight navajo plied sock yarn! It's really sproingy too. (Yeah, I have a few pounds of that too! I forsee a lot of sock yarn in my future!)

This next yarn I spun from the batt Beth sent me on a swap. 150 yards of worsted finger weight navajo plied yarn that will definitely be some leggings for Ms Addi! Yummy! It really sparkles!

Right now I have been spinning on some merino lamb/angora mixed roving I bought at a spinning shop. I love the little nubs and it's going to ply into some really tweedy yarn!

And finally, just to let ya'll know I really do knit...my Trendsetter Felted Clogs are almost done! I can't wait to felt these in the washer! Just have to finish the bottom of one clog.
And there you have it! See....I was being productive all along!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Symphony Spinning Wheel

Let me show off my grandkids first! First up is Averie looking cute in his Tiger hat and mittens.

Then there is Mr.Aiden looking dashing in his jaunty Hat! (See how he poses!)

Then there is Ms.Addi in her fairy outfit... I do believe in Fairies, I do, I do! With cute toes!

Then there is Bessie...My new Kromski Symphony spinning wheel! Isn't she just grand! Ahhhh, double drive! I love it! The pull in is so gentle, and it's spins so fast that I was able to mange....

thread weight singles. LOOK at this....finer than frog hair! Yes, that's the Montadale fleece I just got in. I have 2 fleeces washed up now, and 2 to go. This is spun up from some hand carded rollrags I sat and made during the snow storm we were hit with last week. I plan to finish up this bobbin and navajo ply it. I have some merino/angora that I'd bought with the intentions of breaking in this wheel, and I'm itching to get 'er done! The angora/merino is the ultimate in soft!
I was turned onto some cream colored alpaca too. I'm thinking of doing a mobius scarf with both.
I can't wait!




Saturday, February 6, 2010

Lagging Behind!

Ok, Ok...I've been slacking off. I admit it! But seriously...2 toddlers running full blast through your house tends to dampen the creative spirit. I think that they are secretly gremlins or at least part gremlin. I have proof....for the past 2 weeks I've been battling stopped up toilets. One toilet had a sample bottle of shampoo down it. (It took a plumbers snake and plunger to retrieve it...that and a few choice words.) The other toilet....I just don't have a clue. Yeah...I'm going to have to call a plumber out...sigh.
On the brighter note....Look, new Fleece! I went to a spinning group and a new friend turned me onto her fleece source! The White is Columbian, the Chocolate is Montadale, and the grey is Montedale. LOOK....Look really close! NO VM!!! That's right, almost none...it's miniscule.
These were coated fleece and so clean, they only needed one wash and 2 rinses to come totally clean! (Mind you, I've only done up a very small amount...there's almost 20lbs of fleece to go!) Hey...I'm in Heaven! This stuff is extra sproingy and will make the most incredible sock yarn every! Stay tuned!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Your wish is my command!


Ok Aidan...you wanted a hat and Nana delivered! It's not a fancy hat, but hey...he's a boy! I made him a skull cap. Not really a pattern either. I just cast on 55 stitches, knit 3, purl 2 for 1 1/2 inches, then increased by knitting front to back in every 11th stitch for a total of 60 stitches. I just kept knitting for 5 inches, then started my decrease. Knit 2, knit 2 together. Next row Knit 1, knit 2 together. Then knit 2 together until I had one stitch left, and I wove in my end. Aidan kept me on task by saying,"Nana...where's my hat!" It took me 2 days of knitting off and on to complete. I could have finished it in one day, but I had to work!