Saturday, September 30, 2006

Step into my Laboratory...

Well still no Spinning wheel! I contacted the company and they thought I would have it by next week. So I am still entertaining myself by dying yet more fiber.
I purchased a LB. of White Bluefaced Leicester Roving, to play with. I have heard this is wonderful roving to spin for a beginner so hopefully I am not going to ruin this.
I did tear the huge rope of roving in half length wise so I still have a lot left over, just in case.
I am using Procion dye, which my cousin Karen and I purchased together to dye fabric with the crazy intent to dye fabric, that was when we were going to bead dolls. Well we have moved on.
So must use this dye up.
I know from when I dyed my wool yarn with the guild ladies that this dye must be steamed.
I have read about women using jars to dye in, I also saw a woman who dyed with jars in her crockpot.
So here I am trying my own experiment with jars in my canning kettle. I have no idea what it will turn out like, but hey it was fun to play with it.
I want to show a picture of the lovely soft fiber in its lovely white condition, and now the roving in the dye pot. I will share pictures of the outcome once it is done. There is more blue than is visible at this point. I did add a tad bit of blue to the top of a solid magenta red jar after I snapped this picture.


Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Still Dying

Well the spinning wheel still isn't here! I can hardly stand the torture.
Anyway, I dyed some fleece that was given to me by some of the guild members. It has been washed but still has bits of Veg. Matter in it.
I used green food color and Kool-aid for this. It was easy and fun. I like that the dye is not a complete coverage and that the darker brown parts hardly took the dye.
Can't wait to see what it looks like spun up, and then what to ply it with??? Oh the possibilities.
I could even ply it with that light grey roving I dyed. I am working towards a large felted bag for carrying my knitting in. I have visions of Lime green, purple and denim together. So we will see.

Before dying and after Pics...

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Dyed and went to Heaven

Well my new spinning wheel still hasn't arrived. BOO HOO. Anyway I have been surfing the web to pass the time, hunting for fiber and dying info...
I came across a wonderful forum specifically for Spinning talk. I love it, if you like spinning, be it with a wheel or a spindle, stop by for a visit and check it out.
http://talk.pixiepurls.com/index.php

So anyway I had some white roving that I received from some very generous guild members, I decided to try dying some of it. I had some rit dye that said it would work for wool, but it sure didn't give me a very intense color. That is OK, I kinda like it. I was going for an indigo, denim color but it turned out a light grey blue color.

Fun, Fun, Fun!



Friday, September 22, 2006

Sock Project X 2 Up

Well I have been interested in doing 2 socks at once just for the pure enjoyment of having a complete pair at the end of the process. But toe up adds even another element of excitement.
Kitchener closing of the toes is not my favorite thing, and this method gets the toe done first thing, with a nice closure.
So lets hope that the most challenging part, the heel, gives me no trouble ; )

Last night my cousin and I began together, she is my teacher ; ) It took me 3 attempts for each sock to get the cast on right. Learning new things can be tricky!
I used the knitpicks yarn that I hand dyed my self. I am so excited to see how this yarn knits up.

So here is the beginning of 2 socks at once, toe up.
The toes look a bit square at the moment, but I think that is because it is the beginning stage and the way they were squished under the scanner bed.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Old Altered Business

Well this is an altered book from a RR that I joined well over a year ago and it had been delayed for many months. I finally got this book a bit ago and have now finished it.
This is the last one and it was a little hard to get back into the swing of it, since I have moved on to knitting and spinning art now.

This was a fun theme, It was Anything with Wings. The original artist and owner of the book is a very creative person and she enjoys things that are very unique.
So I was able to be free with my creativity ; )

First spread I titled: it's a Plane
Second spread I titled: Hatchling

Here they are.

Monday, September 11, 2006

I'm a spinner!

I went on a little shopping trip this past weekend. Hubby took me to the MPLS. area to try out spinning wheels. He is giving me one for our anniversary. I am so excited!
The experience was wonderful. I was so nervous about not being able to do it, but the lady at the shop was very helpful and I actually feel like a spinner now!

I placed my order today for a Majacraft Rose Spinning Wheel and now I will have to wait for it to arrive.
Oh it is going to be pure torture, it could be several weeks before it arrives!

I am the worst at waiting, just like a kid shaking packages at Christmas.

I can't wait to take a picture of my new beauty to post here, so stay tuned.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Sock it to me Baby!

Well I now have 2 complete pair of socks and I am wearing the green pair today, it feels heavenly.
The Under the Sea colored pair however doesn't feel so good. I used a worsted weight yarn and I can feel the stitches under foot. I am hoping that with a few washes this will disappear.
I don't care for the heaviness of the yarn either. I used a worsted weight as it was my first attempt and I wanted heavier yarn. I will probably give them to my DD. She was begging for them any way.

I can't wait to get more done like the green pair, (sport weight) only with a higher wool content. This pair only had 35% wool. I was going cheap while I learned.

Now to show off my handiwork. First the complete Under the Sea colored socks. Then the wonderful green pair I am wearing today. I am so proud!

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Playing with Dye

Well a few weeks back I went to a dye day with the local fibers guild. I took some natural yarns to dye and I am tickled with the results.

We used natural dyes: Indigo, Thistle, and Marigold for most of it.
But there was a bit of chemical dye for anyone to play with also. I wanted to hand paint some sock yarn so I did. It turned out great if I do say so myself. I tried to twist it up special, like the pro's do, but I guess I need a little practice ; )
I will be starting a pair of socks with it very soon.

Here are the fun results.