02 August 2011
Spinning and knitting and dyeing...
Summer is currently making a short appearance and I've decided not to miss its show ;-)
So I spent yesterday swimming with a friend and then talking spinning in her garden. She came into the possession of an old spinning wheel, which needs some glue and tender loving care and a couple of bobbins before we can test drive it. But the main parts are in good condition...I just have to figure out where the brake band is...
The late evening was spent spinning myself - some Gotland for my cardigan and some silk-merino-flax mix for a funny hat.
I've also corespun and knitted a Kermit and Miss Piggy cowl. No picture of the finished product yet - it's too warm to model it right now. But here it is on the bobbin:
Recently finished:
www.knitty.com/ISSUEff11/PATTprettytwisted.php
Handspun and party handdyed yarn - a small amount
3,5mm dpn
three cute cat buttons
One lovely piece of jewellery. Has already seen some wear on the autumn days we have had...
I wish my two outstanding yarn deliveries were here...one is a sparkly sock yarn and the other is mixed sock yarn. You know - silk and wool and bamboo and wool. It would have been a perfect day for dyeing.
Talking about dyeing...
My friend Miran and I are going to try our hands at dyeing with chestnut shells. The first ones are already falling (seriously, we haven't had summer yet, could autumn wait a bit? Pretty please?) and we would love to experiment. We don't want to use mordants that are poisonous and are researching methods to avoid those chemicals. I'm pretty sure the medieaval and early dyers didn't use anything that comes in christalline form out of a pot with a skull on. I'v stumbled across a great Wiki site about traditional dyes of the Scottish Highlands which I'm going to try. Dandelion turns magenta? I so have to try this...
But first: breakfast for me before I wash some wool and hang it to dry.
Happy Tuesday!!!
So I spent yesterday swimming with a friend and then talking spinning in her garden. She came into the possession of an old spinning wheel, which needs some glue and tender loving care and a couple of bobbins before we can test drive it. But the main parts are in good condition...I just have to figure out where the brake band is...
The late evening was spent spinning myself - some Gotland for my cardigan and some silk-merino-flax mix for a funny hat.
I've also corespun and knitted a Kermit and Miss Piggy cowl. No picture of the finished product yet - it's too warm to model it right now. But here it is on the bobbin:
Recently finished:
www.knitty.com/ISSUEff11/PATTprettytwisted.php
Handspun and party handdyed yarn - a small amount
3,5mm dpn
three cute cat buttons
One lovely piece of jewellery. Has already seen some wear on the autumn days we have had...
I wish my two outstanding yarn deliveries were here...one is a sparkly sock yarn and the other is mixed sock yarn. You know - silk and wool and bamboo and wool. It would have been a perfect day for dyeing.
Talking about dyeing...
My friend Miran and I are going to try our hands at dyeing with chestnut shells. The first ones are already falling (seriously, we haven't had summer yet, could autumn wait a bit? Pretty please?) and we would love to experiment. We don't want to use mordants that are poisonous and are researching methods to avoid those chemicals. I'm pretty sure the medieaval and early dyers didn't use anything that comes in christalline form out of a pot with a skull on. I'v stumbled across a great Wiki site about traditional dyes of the Scottish Highlands which I'm going to try. Dandelion turns magenta? I so have to try this...
But first: breakfast for me before I wash some wool and hang it to dry.
Happy Tuesday!!!
24 July 2011
Knitting: Pretty Cuffed
www.knitty.com/ISSUEff11/PATTprettytwisted.php
Handspun and partly handdyed yarn
3,5mm dpn
three cute cat buttons
One lovely piece of jewellery
Started working on a winter design - a felted headband. It's still under development and a prototype of an idea, so you have to be patient :-)
23 July 2011
Unbelievable and sad
I wanted to share some new yarns and batts with you today, but....
The drama that unfolded yesterday and is still unfolding today in Oslo today is breaking my heart. I had to step away from the news, I forced myself to, something very unusual and unheard of when it comes to me.
The sadness is endless and the more I hear the more I feel I'm loosing my faith in people.
My heart and soul go out to the good people of Norway and all those slain and left behind.
We will never really understand why....
The drama that unfolded yesterday and is still unfolding today in Oslo today is breaking my heart. I had to step away from the news, I forced myself to, something very unusual and unheard of when it comes to me.
The sadness is endless and the more I hear the more I feel I'm loosing my faith in people.
My heart and soul go out to the good people of Norway and all those slain and left behind.
We will never really understand why....
13 July 2011
Spinning: Camp Pluckyfluff
I think I still pull strange fibres out of everywhere :-)
Two days of intensive spinning, many new techniques, wonderful new acquaintances.
So many spinners, so many different areas of interest. Technical spinners, crazy wild spinners, new spinners, old spinners.
To sum it up in words is difficult. I could tell you that we covered coils, granny stacks, corespun, adding objects into spinning, spinning around an elastic core, spinning clouds around a core, tailspinning, coreless spinning, navajo plying....
One thing I took away from this is that there is no right or wrong way of spinning, just personal and unique ways.
I leave you with many pictures, how about that?
The classroom on the first day, very early:
Crazy Carding:
Lexi explaining sandwiches:
Her finished batt out of one colour she would never spin with (purple) and filled up with some random drawn colours and her favoured colours:
Impression of expression:
The classroom table:
Cloud spinning over a hideous 90s acrylic novelty yarn:
My brain in the making:
And done:
Anyone want to interpret that?
Sort of corespun around elastic thread, including:
- locks
- shredded newspaper
- big and small felted blobs
- feathers
- bells
- sari silk
- roving
- Angelina
- Firestar
- Lurex thread
- blue beads
Collection of brains and hearts:
If you want to widen your horizon and have the chance - take a class with Pluckyfluff! She is tons of fun and knowledge and helped many of us with our respective wheels, brake bands, tensions....
I carded and spun - though not crazy - a batt last night for a hat. Was a bit strange not to add anything into it, but I applied some crazy batting ideas (like taking a colour I would normally not spin with) and the endresult is nice! But more on that later - I have some bad weather knitting to do today.
Two days of intensive spinning, many new techniques, wonderful new acquaintances.
So many spinners, so many different areas of interest. Technical spinners, crazy wild spinners, new spinners, old spinners.
To sum it up in words is difficult. I could tell you that we covered coils, granny stacks, corespun, adding objects into spinning, spinning around an elastic core, spinning clouds around a core, tailspinning, coreless spinning, navajo plying....
One thing I took away from this is that there is no right or wrong way of spinning, just personal and unique ways.
I leave you with many pictures, how about that?
The classroom on the first day, very early:
Crazy Carding:
Lexi explaining sandwiches:
Her finished batt out of one colour she would never spin with (purple) and filled up with some random drawn colours and her favoured colours:
Impression of expression:
The classroom table:
Cloud spinning over a hideous 90s acrylic novelty yarn:
My brain in the making:
And done:
Anyone want to interpret that?
Sort of corespun around elastic thread, including:
- locks
- shredded newspaper
- big and small felted blobs
- feathers
- bells
- sari silk
- roving
- Angelina
- Firestar
- Lurex thread
- blue beads
Collection of brains and hearts:
If you want to widen your horizon and have the chance - take a class with Pluckyfluff! She is tons of fun and knowledge and helped many of us with our respective wheels, brake bands, tensions....
I carded and spun - though not crazy - a batt last night for a hat. Was a bit strange not to add anything into it, but I applied some crazy batting ideas (like taking a colour I would normally not spin with) and the endresult is nice! But more on that later - I have some bad weather knitting to do today.
10 July 2011
Spinning: all spun out...
..at least for today!
Back from two days of fiberheaven and the calming sound of spinningwheels in motion.
Camp Pluckyfluff was a delight for the senses and I have plenty of pictures to share.
But for now I'm just going to relax, smile every now and then when another little story pops back into my head, see whirling pink and purple locks when I close my eyes and smile some more.
Exhausted, but full, so full of ideas and inspirations.
But that's for later.
For now I leave you with the sound currently filling my ears and head:
Back from two days of fiberheaven and the calming sound of spinningwheels in motion.
Camp Pluckyfluff was a delight for the senses and I have plenty of pictures to share.
But for now I'm just going to relax, smile every now and then when another little story pops back into my head, see whirling pink and purple locks when I close my eyes and smile some more.
Exhausted, but full, so full of ideas and inspirations.
But that's for later.
For now I leave you with the sound currently filling my ears and head:
01 July 2011
Alphabet Game
A. Age: almost 41
B. Bed size: my half is 90cm. The other half is also 90cm, but is occupied by my husband ;-) Plenty of space, unless two cats invade and somehow manage to take over the entire bed.
C. Chore you hate: Ironing!
D. Day: Friday
E. Essential start to your day: COFFEE
F. Favourite colour: Indigo blue, gray, bright but not hot medium pink, black.
G. Gold or Silver: silver for me.
H. Height: 168 centimeters.
I. Instruments: flute and guitar
J. Job title: fiber artist, formerly SAP consultant.
K. Kids: I don't have any and I don't want any, but I love them.
L. Live: The Netherlands
M. Mum’s name: Eva-Renate
N. Nicknames: Kiki
O. Overnight hospital stays: usually related to minor surgeries, like getting my gal bladder removed.
P. Pet peeve: People who don't even manage the time of the day before dishing all their problems onto your plate. Good morning to you, too!
Q. Quote from a movie: Gerettetetete (Otto Der Film - German movie, you might not know it).
R. Right or left handed: Both
S. Siblings: Sister
T. Time you wake up: Noon if I have my way. I'm a night owl, not a long sleeper ;-)
U. Underwear: Black bra and hipsters
V. Vegetables you dislike: Brussel sprouts!
W. What makes you run late: public transport delays.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: head, teeth, arm, foot, chest
Y. Yummy food you make: Spaghetti with tomato sauce!
Z. Zoo: I'm highly ambivalent about them, but I still go. I love the penguins...
B. Bed size: my half is 90cm. The other half is also 90cm, but is occupied by my husband ;-) Plenty of space, unless two cats invade and somehow manage to take over the entire bed.
C. Chore you hate: Ironing!
D. Day: Friday
E. Essential start to your day: COFFEE
F. Favourite colour: Indigo blue, gray, bright but not hot medium pink, black.
G. Gold or Silver: silver for me.
H. Height: 168 centimeters.
I. Instruments: flute and guitar
J. Job title: fiber artist, formerly SAP consultant.
K. Kids: I don't have any and I don't want any, but I love them.
L. Live: The Netherlands
M. Mum’s name: Eva-Renate
N. Nicknames: Kiki
O. Overnight hospital stays: usually related to minor surgeries, like getting my gal bladder removed.
P. Pet peeve: People who don't even manage the time of the day before dishing all their problems onto your plate. Good morning to you, too!
Q. Quote from a movie: Gerettetetete (Otto Der Film - German movie, you might not know it).
R. Right or left handed: Both
S. Siblings: Sister
T. Time you wake up: Noon if I have my way. I'm a night owl, not a long sleeper ;-)
U. Underwear: Black bra and hipsters
V. Vegetables you dislike: Brussel sprouts!
W. What makes you run late: public transport delays.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: head, teeth, arm, foot, chest
Y. Yummy food you make: Spaghetti with tomato sauce!
Z. Zoo: I'm highly ambivalent about them, but I still go. I love the penguins...
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