Catskill Mountain Fibers

Posts Tagged ‘knitting’

There is a second Nor-easter moving into our area this morning. Unusual for snow threats to be issued in mid October. I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised since we had such a cool, dreary summer. There had been reports that we’d have a mild winter here in the northeastern USA, but I doubt that so we’re preparing – having extra pellets delivered soon.

I’ve dyed up a pound of milk protein fiber in the Painted Desert color-way and will rinse and finish that up this morning. I also put wool into six Ball jars, added dyes and popped them all into the oven in a water bath to heat activate the dyes last evening. That all needs to be rinsed and then put on the rack in front of the pellet stove to dry. I hope to be able to start spinning some of it this evening.  I’ll be making items for raffles for a charity event that my aunt is helping to organize.  I’m thinking of some colorful cool hats for the event. . . maybe one hat in the colors of Poland’s flag.  I’ll post photos of the dyed fibers later today.

I’m going to set up two other blogs for different aspects of life.  This one will be kept for the ‘all things fiber’ part of me. A second will be to chronicle my battle with and thoughts regarding living with Hepatitis C, and the third will be a journal of sorts involving a new project I’m working on that finally came to light today.

Fiber!  Passion for sure. My fiber acquisitions have taken over the house and my darling, thoughtful HUZBEAST has become an integral part of the obsession/passion that I harbor for all things fiber. He has built me all kinds of tools so that I can work with anything from raw wool to yarn. I have hackles, wool combs, diz’s, spinning wheels – both treadle and electric, lazy kates, a fantastic drum carder, and more!  He’s quite creative and is currently working on yet another wheel which uses a miner’s head. While I’m not sure the added speed and ratios are something I actually need I”m more than willing to give it a go.  I just love watching him conceptualize these things. He becomes so intense, working from the time he gets up in the morning until late into the night – sketching designs, cutting wood, sanding, assembling. He really enjoys working with wood and he does it quite well.

This past week he built me a table for the drum carder. Excellent design and it works so well for me – custom height, it holds the carder in place extremely well. I was able to whip 6 batts off of it in an afternoon.

Today is a knitting day. I have a top on a circular that I’m working on for Andrea. It’s quite beautiful and I have chosen to work the pattern in the round to eliminate side seams. I have the body of the top just about complete and will be dividing it today for shaping for sleeves and the neckline.  I want to modify the sleeves because they’re ‘belled’ and my daughter doesn’t care for that type of sleeve. I’m debating whether to go short sleeved, three quarter, or keep them long but straight.  Once I have the piece completed (minus sleeves) I’ll make a decision.  Also on needles: the tulip baby blanket (can get bbb-ooooooo-ring), and I’ve had to rework the requested skull cap design several times. Unfortunately the cap will have be modified totally from the original concept. I think that the person that requested it will be happy in the end. We shall see!  I had also started a shawl for the wedding but I’m not thrilled with it. I’m going to go out and find something in a silk or rayon to wear instead. I have a feeling that even a lightweight wool shawl will be too warm for the September 5th event.

That’s it for now. . .

A third beautiful day! Still very cool for August, but great to not have to deal with more rain. Overnight temperature hit 55 degrees. Chilly!

The huz still sleeps. He’s coming off of his night rotation so catching up on zzz’s is essential and I usually let him sleep as long as he needs to. The lawn needs to be mowed but I’m not the type to harass him to do it. Screw it! It’ll get done when it gets done.

I would like to go outside today and go through the 10 pound box of kid mohair that I’ve had for about 9 months. I have a feeling I’ll be tossing a lot of it away – will most likely just toss it over the fence for the creatures that love this stuff to build their winter nests.  I also have 3 pounds each of Border Leicester and Cheviot which needs washing and carding. Maybe I’ll get it all into mesh bags and machine wash it (no agitation). I may be able to have it done by nightfall. The magical part of it all is — beginning the tasks!

Must go investigate the garden today to see what we have that might be ready to use with dinner. We have a large London broil thawed that I’ll marinate with shallots, garlic, olive oil and red wine vinegar. Some chard – squash – beans? Have to see what’s out there!!!

As for knitting that is currently on needles: skull hat (original design by moi!), tulip bordered baby blanket, and the Katia Caribe lacy pullover which I decided to work in the round instead of doing back & front and then having to stitch them together.  This pullover is meant for DD but she may never wear it. I’ll gift it to Abbey if she doesn’t want it and Abbey can keep it or hand it off to her sister.

Ordered my dress for our son’s September 5th wedding. Auntie has shoe stretchers so I won’t have to buy new shoes. I can wear the gorgeous suede shoes that I’ve had for so long that are just a bit too narrow for my feet.

Dress for E & J's wedding

An absolutely gorgeous day and I’m feeling a bit better. I’m worried that aunt flo might make an appearance – that may be contributing to the depression I’m experiencing right now. I hope that there’s a no show w/flo, though! lol I’ve been more than ready for that part of my life to be over for a long, long time.

DH got mail when he got in last night and my Elann.com order was there. I got their recent shawl kit offering in black/gray, some yarn to knit up a shirt or two for DD, and some baby merino in a soft buttery color to knit a baby blanket for a friend of the hubby that he works with. He likes to volunteer me to make things for the guys at work. .  . damn man!  Anyway, it’ll be quite pretty. I bought the Fiber Trends pattern – Tulip & Rosebuds baby blanket. I’ve upped the needle size to a 5 to give it a more lacy look.

Have to think about what to give DH for dinner tonight when he gets in from work. Probably chicken. . . something.

Outta here to knit for awhile and then spin more yarn.

The post office dropped off the HUGE box of wool this morning. Its stuffed so full I can’t get the bag out of the box. I’ll have DH do it when he gets up. There’s enough there to keep me busy for quite some time. I noticed some black in there – I need some for a hat pattern I”m working out, another happy plus. I also need to spin up more white, quite thin, so that I can work the skull pattern on the top of the hat.

My dyes and whatnot are scheduled for delivery tomorrow afternoon. I have two books coming with that order that are about natural dyeing. I have a bunch of reading to do before I dive into all of the naturals that will arrive. Plants, roots & bugs for dyeing. COOL!

Finished up the hat for Anda’s friend. Less than 24 hours to work it – its now on the mannequin, drying after being blocked. I’ll make the twists/tassels for it tomorrow and then he can have it —- as long as I get the photos of him wearing the hat that I requested as payment.

Upgraded WP today and now I can’t see the text on the visual screen. I’m sure I must have to go in and edit settings. I hope the damn post shows up when I hit ‘publish’.

DH & I went shopping this evening so he could pick up more wood for wool related items and I could get groceries at Price,Chopper. I found some spinach wraps so I bought romaine hearts, heirloom tomatoes, gourmet cucumbers, vidalia onions, and Virginia ham to make Greek wraps tomorrow for lunch for the two of us. Might invite Abbey over if she’s not busy. THAT depends on whether or not I’m able to get the kitchen straightened up some. Hip is screaming at me again and the doc canceled on me yesterday. They’re on vacation until the end of June so if I need any kind of treatment for the hip I’m going to have to go to the ER.