Dandelion Spinnery

In which I'm always gone

2007-11-30T21:29:00.000-07:00

So, haven't been at home much. Working all the time, in my wonderful job at Organic Good Food Store. Now, I love my job. I love my co-workers. what I don't love is developing tendonitis in my right arm from repetitive stress. that's right people. the bane of knitters and spinners everywhere is coming to a woolfreak near you.

In happier news, today I got a bunch of packages. I received four pairs of shoes, which I will supply pictures of. My order from knitpicks; yarn, arctic lace book, and harmony wood options! I also got a rather mysterious package from my $60 swap pal from Fiber Frenzy. There wasn't a note inside, so I wonder if it's supposed to come with another package? In it was some tweedy yellow wool, and some really nice babydoll southdown sheep fleece.

Pictures coming soon, for all you drive-by bloggers out there!

Chez Twoshoes, version 2.0

2007-10-21T20:44:00.000-06:00

I finally got around to taking pictures of the new Humble Abode. Sorry, I haven't had much creative force in the fibre front, but I'm working towards it. Max is here now, and terrorizing the dog, as was to be expected. He happens to be selectively evil.

Onto the Kitchen (my favorite room).

Everything in my house is a weird 2/3 size. stove, fridge....bathtub. Perhaps I shall show you my hilarious bathtub next week.

I scored this table and chair set while garage sailing. So far it has served me well, and I do love it dearly.

My living room, with it's cunningly concealed television and books.

And part of the bedroom. the other part is too disastrous to show. It's very orange for a bedroom.

A pie for all seasons (except late winter, spring and summer).

2007-10-14T20:30:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday here in Canada it was Thanksgiving. I know Americans all have it in November because my stepfather is american. in order to transition him to canadian customs, we had two thanksgiving a year for a while. here's a play by play (sort of) of my pie making adventure this year.

First I scooped out the pumpkin innards.

Then I baked the pumpkin (no photo). Then I put the baked mushy pumpkin into the food processor, quarter by quarter, until it was all mush (fairly self explanatory). After that In went the sugar, spices and eggs.

And whipping cream.

There's something special about whipping cream.

The way it makes everything better. Like chocolate. Or chocolate with whipping cream.
Anyway, stir it up, and you got yourself some pie filling. Unfortunately, those pies got eaten before the camera was remembered....

One 7 lb pumpkin will make three pies. And distract you from your knitting for all of one evening. The next you'll also be distracted by all the food.

In Ur Computur, Postin Ur Blogz

2007-10-07T17:20:00.000-06:00

I got me a package from my Fibre Frenzy Handspun Yarn pal Theresa. It's awe-inspiring. Truly. It had Green Tea.

Bathtub Tea

Ginger Chews

Full view includes the piece de resistance; autumn coloured alpaca yarn. Theresa is a very very talented spinner, and I'm thinking a colourwork tam may be the order of the day.

Also, chocolate, Yak Down (the brown stuff) Mohair from a green goat, and all these little white things that rattled. I couldn't tell for the life of my what they were (alpaca girl that I am), so I opened one.

Flash Yo Stash

2007-09-30T20:54:00.000-06:00

So we're having a contest in my group, and it says flash your stash. Okay, I was also going to post pictures of my brand new place of living....but fell asleep after an insane workweek instead. So here's some not quite so recent pictures of the stash.

and the newest addition to the family, who hopefully won't be too detrimental to the aforementioned stash:

He's a 2 year old retired bengal cat, and he'll be flying in from alberta mid-october. Coda and I are both very excited for his arrival!

Day Dreams

2007-09-02T11:11:00.000-06:00

So I get the box in the mail. From the outside you wouldn't think it was an especially extraordinary box. But you'd be oh so wrong. Behold, all the wonders bestowed upon me by the lovely, the miraculous, Donna!

There was Cotton:

There was Honey:

There was (gasp!) Yak fibre and a hair/shawl pin made from himalayan ebony:

Block printed stationary and stitch markers :

Full view with extras of salt scrub (silver thing) and the Dyer's Garden book, which I have been coveting for who knows how long. Also, a wonderful bag Donna made for me, with wool she dyed herself. I've been using it to carry knitting, and totally love the alpaca.

And not shown here, but so very very much appreciated, were blocking wires from knitpicks! The mailperson (to be pc) hid them from me among the boxes in the carport, so the pleasure was slightly delayed. I can block my shawls properly now! I'm not sure anyone's ever spun me a better daydream than this!

Stuff

2007-08-30T10:55:00.000-06:00

Some stuff finally to blog about! Slow progress on the mystery stole (and accordion):

Finished Tiger Striped Opera Gloves:

Action shot :

Ridiculously rich espresso chocolate blueberry mandarin almond torte :

In addition, Wooly Two-Shoes is striking out on her own after living with her family for far too long. The new Two-Shoes residence promises such exciting things as 3/4 sized bathtub, 3/4 sized stove and a 3/4 sized fridge. With a pink inside. Can't wait!

Speleven

2007-08-16T00:23:00.000-06:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Synthetics

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? A box, and I have one cloth DPN case.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting since I was 4, but only seriously for the past several years.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yep, usually you can find them under my email.

5. What's your favorite scent? Spicy cinnamony kinda stuff.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Less and less as I age I find. I like organic dark chocolate, and ginger candy. And Butter. Definitely Butter.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? Spin, Weave, a bit of sewing and dyeing.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Folk, They Might Be Giants, Moxy Fruvous, old jazz.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love love love autumn colours. And green and blue. Not so fond of chartreuse or puce. Pink is low on the list, but in general colours are good.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Perpetually single and child-less, with a dog, boa, and some tarantulas.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, yes, yes, no

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Lace Shawls

13. What are you knitting right now? Lace Shawls

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? uhm, I like wooden needles. Socks and mittens on dpn's, other things on circs if I can.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yep

17. How old is your oldest UFO? You mean the crocheted acrylic sunflower afghan? pretty old.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving! which is in October.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Yarn, fleece, dog hair, hair ornaments, shoulder bags.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? No subscriptions, wouldn't mind interweave and spin off. Barbara Walker's treasuries?

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Steeking, colourwork, patternmaking.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Looove socks. 7US

23. When is your birthday? April 7

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Not Yet

The last Spackage

2007-06-29T00:18:00.000-06:00

I recently recieved my concluding spackage from my absolutely gorgeous pal Ingrid. She's an absolute doll, and sends the most beautiful things from London(!), England(!!).

From left to right we have silk roving, Posh yarn's sophia (my first cashmere, how exciting!), and opal sockyarn hand-dyed by her.

an EZ book (another first for me, but let's face it, I'm like olive oil - extra virgin.) And a copy of a wonderful new UK magazine called Yarn Forward. Also, geisha lip gloss. There were candies, but I'm not sure where they are now (that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

And get this. She knit me a shrug, out of rowan yarn (which I've also never had). My very own shrug! I have been wearing it religiously, as it is positively divine.

But it was a bargain

2007-06-29T00:06:00.000-06:00

So my grandma calls me up about a week and a half ago, and says "oh, do you know that Betty's mother just died and they had that loom you two were talking about and now they need to sell it?"

So the next day I go out and take a look at the thing, and it's not really small. It's a Leclerc 4 harness Artisat, circa August 1977.

Now, since this transaction was one doukhobor to another, fierce bargaining ensued (not really, it was actually pretty tame). And it came with an accordion, which is at the doctor's right now. Because uhm, I decided that I need to know how to play the accordion. My reasoning behind this is that it's a great instrument to play under the influence of A) alchohol, B) France, C)busty barmaid outfits and D) all of the above.

Back to the loom (excuse the mess, but this now takes up 1/4 of the room I have allotted as my own personal space, starving food-obsessed student-of-life that I am, so there's not much room for everything else.

This was Betty's mother's last project, and so I shall cut it off and return it to them.

I should probably start learning to weave.

of Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax

2007-06-28T23:51:00.000-06:00

Scratch the ships and sealing wax, didn't get any of those lately. Even though I've been MIA for an amazingly long time, there is some exciting blogging material.

Exhibit A, "There's no place like home". Especially not for $14.99 USD. Of course shipping is $14. But still quite reasonable

Enter Exhibit B "zomg!!1 they were polka dotted and had a bow and I just couldn't NOT get them!"

We won't discuss what these cost, but it wasn't $14.99. Gratuitous dog butt.

Up next, what's the largest, most useless thing you could buy when you don't weave and already have a tableloom? Also, final Spackage, which totally rocks!

MeMe

2007-05-18T00:10:00.000-06:00

I got tagged with a seven things meme, but have decided to alter it to Seven Rules I live by.

1 - If you're anywhere near anything that a skunk has been near, shower and change your clothes, no matter how late you'll be.

2 - Practice safe eating; always use condiments.

3 - Equality is a moral principle, not an assertion of fact.

4 - Om tara tutare ture soha

5 - Never be friends with anyone who has to promise not to kill you.

6 - I am the constant in every relationship that has failed.

7 - When the world laughs at you, laugh back. It's just as funny as you are.

Done smelling skunk and bastardizing meme's for the evening. Wooly Two-Shoes, signing out.

Remember that time I went to dance class smelling like skunk?

2007-05-18T00:00:00.000-06:00

So the Idiot-Dog walked outside, scared a skunk right outside the front door. Got sprayed in the face. runs back inside, and he must have drooled on my pantleg without me seeing. I dragged him outside careful not to let him touch me, and tied him up.

Unfortunately, everything within fifty feet stank, and I didn't notice, that I too stank. I did not in fact notice, until I got to class, since I figured my senses were overpowered by skunk. I tried in vain to get the smell out with baking soda and water, to no avail. Also, stank up the entire beginner class.

Run away to the outside, call home.
"Hi, mom?"
"yes?"
"I really need you to bring me some new clothes, I stink."
"but I'm hungry!"
"but I reek!"
I did get new clothes, and it seemed to make most of the smell go away. I think by that time I was down to heavily-stoned scent level. Yeah, sorry to my salsa partners. Although the teacher did in sympathy tell me of the time he got skunked before going into a movie theatre.

So I came home, and de-skunkified myself in a bath of soap, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. After I got out, I added a whole bunch more and took it in buckets outside to dump on the dog.

Remember that time I went to dance class with skunk on me? I do.

Mwahahaha

2007-05-15T15:03:00.000-06:00

To: manager of Giant Evil Corporation store #3060

I have been offered an acceptable amount of hours per week by another employer, Organic Local Good Food Store, with whom I would like to pursue longer-term employment.

Unfortunately, Giant Evil Corporation and my new employer Organic Local Good Food Store, have irrevocably conflicting schedules and you're assholes who don't pay attention to days on which I am unavailable. Due to this, I must regrettably (happily) tender my resignation of the position of evil minion for Giant Evil Corporation.

I Respectfully Request that my final work date be Saturday the 26th of May, 2007. I realize this is several days short of two weeks but suck it up, but I have mandatory attendance after this date at my new workplace, Organic Local Good Food Store.

In closing, I would like to curse thank the Giant Evil Corporation staff and management for the opportunity to sell my soul gain work experience as an evil minion of Giant Evil Corporation.

Sincerely,
Wooly Two-shoes

P.S. I want my soul back, thnx.

The stuff in italics is what I didn't put in my letter, but should have.

Spin me a moth

2007-05-01T18:10:00.000-06:00

A little while ago I participated in a french-based exchange called Spin me a Treasure. I recieved some lovely mohair/tencel yarn from a Texan Spinner, but never made anything with it in the three month probationary contest period. My pal, however, presented a dilemma. She said she'd never experienced non-scratchy alpaca. Now, I'm not sure what kind of alpacas they have in La Suisse, but I was determined to change her mind. After I thought about it for a few moments, I grabbed my lowest micron Suri fleece, and set to work.

I sent her around 250 yards of laceweight beige yarn, and she wrote back to tell me that it did not itch her at all. Which left me pleased as punch. Now, this fleece was the second shearing off of a particularly lustrous alpaca by the name of Almond Rocca, from Sahalie Suris. Anyway, these are the picture of the finished item she made (because she did participate in the contest). I present, Midian's Wing of the Moth shawlette:

KnitBloggers : forcing their animals to sit still since at least 2001.

Spackage

2007-05-01T17:55:00.000-06:00

So I got my 2nd Spackage from my pal a little while ago, and it was truly wonderful. It arrived on a not so good day, and was truly a highlight. I would have posted sooner, but blogger appears to have issues with WORKING. So, you know. Here we have Magazine (it came with wooden needles...they're somewhere), Cupcake notebook (my pal has a thing for cupcakes...who knew?), some jewelry, there was also a very neat hair vice, it escapes me. and Les Pieces de Resistance : A beret in LL Cedar, white angora roving (!), and the other is camel/silk (!!).

My pal dearly wishes she had a dog, but her husband thinks this is certain evidence for an insanity plea. So I had Coda model the Beret (also I don't photograph well with hats, no idea why).

Other things of note : sheep pie. They kinda look like alpacas to me though. Don't worry though, the filling is spicy apple/pear. Not really spicy, I just like to add some chilis to my normal apple pies for interest.

Also, Chicken.

(around here they're bigger than most horses)

Peacock Feather Shawl

2007-04-20T17:10:00.000-06:00

So I finally finished the damn thing. Actually, I finish it about 2 months ago... or something. But I finally blocked it. I used every pin in my arsenal (I kid you knot). There was not a single pin left in the house. Melanie doesn't own blocking wires, just keep laughing. Some photos :

Real peacock for reference :

On the Devil, Hell, and also, My Birthday.

2007-03-30T23:25:00.000-06:00

So, it has come to my attention, in the three weeks I have been an Evil Minion, that I am not being payed enough to pretend I don't work in Hell, and Wal-Mart isn't the Devil. Aside from that little detail, it's not as bad as I thought it would be. My co-Minions are generally likeable, nice people. My superior-minions are accomodating with my needs for days off, and not being able to work evenings for the next two months, and are also generally nice people. And so far, I haven't gotten in trouble for spending customer-free time gossiping with other cashiers, probably because my superior-minions are also gossiping. Could be worse.

On to the subject of my Birthday. Today I had to show a co-worker my driver's license to to prove I would be the age I am about to be. I'm deciding it's a good thing. And serendipitously, The local Ballroom Dance night will be a week early in April, thereby falling exactly on the Saturday (april 7th) that is my Birthday, and not on the next Saturday, which is another dancer's birthday dancing bash. I'm planning to take some workshops on cha-cha and foxtrot in the afternoon, and then dance all night.

Now, because it is my birthday, and I get to dance all day, I thought I would treat myself to a nice dress, as a birthday present. It's been many years since I was actually given something I wanted for my birthday and, well, I'm still living with that hairbag. This year is proving to be slightly different, with the Lovely package my SP sent me. Unfortunately it seems damn near impossible to get a $*%@ing dress in this town. I've checked almost every store in this town, except for the salvation army (which is horrible in Nelson). I found two that Might do. One is $100 over my budget, and I don't really know If I like the other one. Might have to be a shirt and skirt again.

Also, I think Virgin mobile should change it's name, because their system is Royally screwed.

Fresh new SP

2007-03-26T17:31:00.000-06:00

got my first package from my Sp today, and let me tell you, I am up in a tizzy about it. Got the new IK, some really yummy espresso truffles, awesomely hand-dyed opal sock yarn, AND, get this, Hunza apricots. I'm just ass-over-teakettle for them too. Really, Really yummy. Obviously my Pal lives in england (hard to get these in north america from what I hear) and she has (per my suggestion) Taken great pains to conceal her address and name, so I still know not who she is. it's a mystery! Behold, photographic proof :

Oh, and how could I forget.... Aren't they just Fetching?

(yes those are my feet, you try taking a photograph of both your hands by yourself and tell me how it turns out. I think Reese witherspoon can, but sadly my chin is nowhere near as pointy as hers, and wouldn't push the button.)

Spin-Swap

2007-03-23T15:07:00.000-06:00

So here is the culmination (minus edible things) from the interweave spin swap that was held jan-feb-marchish. My pal was Lilith in Scotland (how cool is that?). We have some really nice cashmere/silk, which is oh so soft and pretty. Then a handspun-hat kit of two yarns, moorit sheep's wool, and the white 50/50 angora/lamb. She also sent two bundles of shetland roving for me to spin up, in my desire for something scottish. And I already started spinning the moorit one.

Dime for scale :

Swallowtail Shawl - FO

2007-03-23T14:55:00.000-06:00

Here is my version of the Swallowtail Shawl from Ik, It's knit from handspun alpaca (Saints Alpacas). Forgot to write down the yardage of the skeins before I wound them into balls, oh well. Put it in the mail yesterday, as it was payment for all the lovely fleeces Leanne sent me. I'm getting a little tired of putting such labour-intensive things in the mail though. Somehow the difference in price between standard shipping (1 week) and express (2 days) is 53 cents. Don't ask me why, this just seems odd. Here is the shawl, completed and unblocked :

Here it is blocking. I had to fold it in half because there was no free surface large enough to block it spread-eagle.

And finally, I enlisted the rather dubious photographic skills of my mother, in a desperate bid to actually record something before I sent it out.

And, so garbed, I set out for my final waltz class.

Canadian culture, and scarves.

2007-02-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

It was only after I typed the title that I realized what an essential part of Canadian culture scarves are. Anyway, why this subject? Well, as I was chatting with a friend the other day, she expressed her wish to go somewhere other than Canada, because Canada "has no discernable culture". Now, I was immediately affronted, because we are both Canadians, and yet she had the gall to say our country had no culture of it's own? Ludicrous in my mind. I'm quite certain people who've lived in ireland, or Thailand, or China all their lives don't think of their countries having a special, stand-alone culture.

I think a good way to ascertain a country's culture, is to watch what people who immigrate to said country do in an attempt to seem less foreign. So what kind of things make up Our culture? How about snow? It's here 6 months a year. The Quebecois and their unique adaptation of french? The labelling guidelines on products, stating that everything must be labelled in both english and french for resale. Hockey, Mittens, Glittens, and gloves. Yeah, and Newfoundland? Nationally slow healthcare? Those are pretty Canadian. We live in a country where civilization is describes as anywhere containing two or more chinese restaurants. Most of Canada, obviously, is completely backasswater. And you know what we have here that they don't have in the USA? Crunchy cheesies, Butter tarts, and Rick Mercer. Also, Shelagh Rogers, Ian Handsomemanthing, and CBC in general.

Plus, has anyone noticed how much CanadaPost kicks USPS's ass? Honestly, the only bad things that ever happen to my mail, happen once they cross the border. The post office workers will even chip in a dollar and thirty cents from their own pocket if your debit card has epilepsy. Anyway, back to the subject of scarves, which you may have spotted during my culture rant, strategically placed so drive-by readers stop and lend me an eye. They're both 100% suri alpaca, spun and knit by yours truly. Unfortunately they're for an exchange with a farm, so they left last week. I've knit a total of 4 scarves since october, and not a one did I get to keep. I did finish the Peacock feathers shawl though. I haven't the courage to block it at the moment (or the space), so it's sitting in a rumpled heap on my yarn-mountain table.

My wonderful drum carder was starting to act strange, so we performed drum carder surgery this afternoon, which led to a full cale cleanup of the fibre creation room. Due to space constraints and my living situation, this also doubles as my bedroom, snake/tarantula room, library, closet, and stash room. Anyway, drum carder works again, room has considerably less alpaca fuzz-weeds drifting over it's floor.

Oh the Suspense!

2007-02-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

Here is my Questionnaire for secret pal numero dix!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Well everyone knows I'm pretty crazy about alpaca, but considering the Insane amount of fibre I have to spin, I'd like to branch out. I'd really like to try some cashmere, qiviut, angora and uhm...silk more silk! I'm not fond of synthetic fibres, a little bit in sock yarn is ok though.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Mostly in a box. My previous secret pal (bless her cat-loving heart) sent me a cloth needlecase for dpn's though, I'm putting that to good use.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I'd say I'm an advancved intermediate, I learned to knit when I was 4, then again when I was 9, and have been knitting seriously for about 4 years.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yup I do!

5. What's your favorite scent?
I love spicy scents, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, amber, especially ginger. I am allergic to synthetic scents though, perfumes don't really work for me unless they're made only from natural products.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I love organic Dark chocolate, and candied ginger. There is also this rare thing called a Hunza apricot, or a sund-dried turkish apricot. They are uniquely wonderful in every way, but I can't find them here.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I spin, and weave a little. I also cook a lot from scratch (in this day and age that's pretty do-it-yourself) and garden.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like Joni Mitchell, Holly Cole, and Sarah Machlachlan if I'm in the right mood. I'm also a big fan of They Might be Giants, Moxie Fruvous Andrea Bocelli (the classical stuff only) and old jazz.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Favorite colour would have to be green. I love green. Mostly I just don't like too much pink, mustard yellow, olive green, Neons, or pastel overdoses. Can't go wrong with fall colours, earth tones, or greens! Blue is nice too, sorry blue. And orange.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have no partner, no children, but I do have pets. Which are like children. and siblings, which are worse than both. I play servant to a psychotic dog, a boa, a cranky old mare, and two tarantulas.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yup, not so much ponchos. I hate knitting scarves. And it takes special hats to make me look prudy, but I like hats all the same. Especially ones with big brims. And bows.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like lace shawls. %#$& scarves aren't my thing right now. Socks are fun, except when you have to make the second one. Mittens are good. Hats are really good. I think I should make a sweater one of these days.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Lots of stuff. Scarves (#$%&), almost finished the peacock feathers shawl, and lots of random things.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yuppers

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like circs, but straights are okay if they're short enough not to catch on everything around you and disturb your knitting. I don't like plastic, and my last pal sent me some bamboo needles which I am quite enjoying.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yarn winder, yes, Swift I am in Desperate need of.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Does it count if I don't know where it is anymore? if so, 7 years, if not...2?

18. What is your favorite holiday?
oooh, thanksgiving probably. Gotta love all that food.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Bags. Dog hair (intentionally and not), alpaca fleece, dust (not intentional), seeds, books, hair pins, yarn, needles.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
HOMESPUN HANDKNIT. I love that book. I wanna try some Socks that Rock and uhm, new spinning fibres! Also, knitpicks Options would be a blessing. I don't have any mag subscriptions, but I'd really like interweave Knits, or Spin off.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Fair Isle knitting, double knitting, steeking, all the hard stuff.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am a sock knitter, and I have a ladies 7 - 7 1/2 foot.

23. When is your birthday?
April 7!

A last word to whoever my next pal is. I have curiosity that simply cannot be stated, and in most swaps by accident a name gets signed onto the email. Sometimes when I check statcounter I can see what link people came to my blog from, and if it was from an email I'll know who you are! Take every precaution, and make it really really hard for me to find you!

Oh hey, I have a blog.

2007-02-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

Whoops, kinda forgot about this little page. I got pretty sick on tuesday, and stayed in bed the next day too, horrible stomach flu...or maybe food poisoning. Now I have a head cold, always fun. I went to a chi kung workshop last monday, and that was really quite helpful. You guys wanna see some pictures?

First we have the yarn from Tricotin's Spin me a treasure swap. It's tencel and mohair, all the way from Texas. Not the softest thing out there, but the colours are pretty gorgeous, maybe I'll use it as a warp!

Next we have a pair of giant mansocks I made as part of a trade for an alpaca farm. They're size twelve. I carden, spun, and knit the damn things. I never want to make socks this big again! Sadly I don't think that's up to me. My hand for scale, which probably doesn't help unless you know how big my hand is!

Next we have a scarf I'm making in trade, she wanted something plain, but I'm not really happy with this. To me it says 'rustic' but not the kind of rustic I like. It'll probably end up getting ripped back and re-knit. I hate knitting scarves, did anyone know that?

In any case, I'll try to update more often. I may even resort to desperate measures to create blog fodder if I have to. And on another last note, I forgot to add that I also recieved a beautiful needle case from my Secret Pal that I didn't photograph or post...Next time, when I pick the million dog hairs off of it!

Spoiled Rotten

2007-01-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Indeed, that's what I was. And then I went rotten, and forgot to post the spoils. If any of you ever have Gina as a pal, I assure you that you'll be blown out of the water. No one can gift wrap like she can gift wrap. No one can convince you to start space dyeing your own sock yarn like she can. In this last package, there was the Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook,

two skeins of Knitpicks Suri Dream in Emerald, and ribbon (as part of the wrapping). I feel however that the ribbon really was a gift in it's own, it's so gorgeous.
Seriously, she's been the best pal, and I have been a rather lax spoiled. Sorry Gina!

I really hate to put this in the same post, But I regret to inform everyone (whether you like tarantulas or not) that Ruby has sadly passed on.
I'm not exactly sure if she just didn't survive a molt, or if she was a he, and since he was going on two and a half, that he just reached his expiry date. Rest in peace, o psychotic but beautiful spider.

Snow, Snow, Snow

2007-01-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

My Sp9 hostess (whipcracker that she is!) has asked that we all write a post on what snow means to us. Being a good Canadian girl who has always lived somewhere (except maybe those two years in Vancouver) in which snow covers the ground 7 months a year, I think I have had plenty of exposure. I tend to prefer the British Columbia snow to that of Alberta. In BC snow means that everyone goes skiing or snowboarding and you get some time to yourself. You can go sledding or build snowpeople. In Alberta, the snow is usually powdery, and can be sparse at times. It also signals the arrival of the really &*%#ing cold weather. Except for this year, and part of last year. Global warming brings Edmonton out of the ice age!

For a lot of people, snow heralds the incoming madness that is Christmas. With the planning and the buying of stuff and the cooking and generally going completely insane. When you're a child Christmas is a lot more fun.

While listening to cbc the other day, there was a conversation going on about whether or not winter was king anymore. And you know... I don't think it is. It really isn't the cold gripping hand of mother nature, that will trap people in their houses or vehicles for hours or days. I don't know if it's a good thing that we have so little fear of the weather nowadays. how long will it be before humans believe they are gods? Like in stargate sg-1 when the goa'ulds take a human host, except...without the whole weird snake thing.

In short, I think winter, as it was in my childhood, and even more so for those before me, is about hot chocolate, and skating. It's about building snowpeople (must be politically correct). It's about having your friends push you into snowbanks. It's about sledding, with friends, or for some of us, with our dogs (who are also friends). It's about sitting at home with a fire going, and building a bit of a layer of fat, you know, to keep you warm. For gods' sake, it's about having to plug in your vehicle, and get into a cold car, that's colder than the -35 outside! And not having it warm up until you're already where you need to be! And it's damn sure that you will be there exactly the right amount of time the car will be frozen again as soon as you're done! For some of us, it's also about having your glasses fog over whenever you step inside.

Also, It's Hockey Day in Canada here tomorrow. Yay Nelson!

New Year's Eve Morning

2006-12-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

It's about that time again, to go into the new year. Attempt to stay up until midnight playing monopoly or risk or trivial pursuit, and make resolutions you never end up keeping. One might wonder why we even try, sometimes. We've all made it through Christmas or yule or Hanukkah or something. Most of us have eaten a lot more yummy things than we should have, and our new year's resolutions include losing weight, losing lots of weight. We want to fit back into those pants and have them look good dammit!

I was pondering the other day on the subject of mascara and how, not unlike nail polish, it made my eyelashes suffocate. Well, nail polish doesn't make my eyelashes suffocate, but rather, my nails. In any case, it occurred to me that the vast majority of makeup is applied in such a way as to make us look more vulnerable and weak. Did you know Marilyn Monroe had one of her high heels made intentionally shorter than the other, so that she would sway as she walked, for just that purpose? Makes you wonder, when did weakness become attractive? I suppose it varies from culture to culture, but in most of them, strength and beauty (at least for us females) are mutually reclusive (I really wish she hadn't stopped writing that blog, alas).

I guess what I'm trying to say is society is odd, and conforming is proving difficult. Not much knitting going on at the moment, I guess it'll have to be a resolution. Also, it may not be very well known, but I am, in fact, the queen of healthy homemade waffles. It has once again been proven by delicious spelt dairy-free (except for eggs, but are they considered dairy?) rice milk waffles! Huzzah!

Saints alpacas

2006-12-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

A word about Leanne St. Jean. She's a lovely lady, and she has more dogs than you can imagine. Anyway, on Sunday December 10th I took a friend (and two kids, neither of which were hers, but that's another story) out to Saints Alpaca farm. It was great great fun. You remember LaRocque? The fleece and yarn of incredible appaloosaness? Well let me tell you, he sure is something to see in person.

I also got to see quite a few other familiar fleeces while I was there, and leave Leanne with some yarn and a sneak peek at her up and coming shawl.

Behold, Aztec D'Kota, Currently becoming the Swallowtail Shawl. It think that's the name of it anyway, the one from the summer or fall issue of IK? D'Kota is actually not that dark of a fawn, but none of the other pictures turned out nicely.

She was kind enough to send me two lovely white fleeces. Alanna and Aristocat.

At this point I'm not exactly sure which one of those pictures is who, but they're both lovely. I didn't actually have a camera with me when I went to her farm, or to the Mooseberry Meadows (you'll hear about that one next), But I'll attempt to find pictures of stuff somewhere. Since we all know drive-by readers only read posts with pictures.

Tongue Twisters

2006-12-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I sat in a car, and drove to Penticton and back just for the hell of it. It's about five hours each way. Anyway, as I sat there, a great tongue twister occurred to me.

The horrible hereford hefer haughtily hunched her haunches.

Enough about me being a spaz, and onto the tales of Christmas just past! You'll all be pleased to hear that I received a digital camera. Unfortunately I did not receive it with a memory card, So until further notice it's not incredibly useful. Behold, my previous list of christmas wishes!

My Ten in no particular order :
1 - The forgiveness of someone (you know who you are) that I have wronged in a most dreadful way.
2 - The serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.
3 - An Umbrella Swift
4 - A set of dyes so I can get colourful with my first love (Alpaca).
5 - A Skeinwinder
6 - A new niddy-noddy
7 - Homespun Handknit
8 - High quality dancing shoes for ballroom dance
9 - A quality female Alpaca with which to start my (future) herd.
10 - A good sewing machine so I can become as obsessed with fabrics as Ally is.
You know what else would be cool? A set of KnitPicks options, cause everyone says they rock.

Still working on number 2, number 8 has been most satisfactorily accomplished, and number 9 actually has a promising future. Why you ask? Well, I stayed on an alpaca farm during my long absence. I know, I thought it was totally cool too.

Mail is fun

2006-12-04T00:37:00.000-07:00

I got the second package from my pal, she's really cool. She's also like, the queen of gift wrap. I'm serious. I couldn't gift wrap to save my life, but she has it down pat. See that? It's a brick of icelandic chocolate. I know! I've been called a chocoholic before, and it's true. Nothing gets me like organic dark! Not so much into milk chocolate, and don't even get me started on the white stuff, but anyway. There's some beautiful green stitch markers, some bamboo needles (maybe I'll knit the next shawl on them?) and really yummy silk yarn. She said she thought I could use a bit of luxury.

Oh, here's some yarn that's getting sent out tomorrow for a trade with Country Haven farms. All white suri, except for that bottom skein which is plied with dyed mohair I got from my very first secret pal exchange. There was just a tiny bit of it and this was the perfect project.

Do you all want to know why mail is so fun? I bet you do. Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Here's two pictures :

While I could write two thousand words on this glorious piece of machienry, suffice with these two statements. Strauch Drum carder with fine cloth AND brush. Cards like a hot damn.

Ahem, Yarn?

2006-11-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

Can't think of what else to write about, except oh, I got the first package from my SP9, here's what it contained :

Isn't she the greatest? Cutest little alpaca bag Ever, and also, an alpaca motif bracelet, and you see that book? That's Yarns to Dye for. I'm not so sure it's a pun either. I loved your gift, and I'm sorry I didn't post pictures earlier, but my mother had a baby. Yeah...anyway it's a boy. Because of complications she had to forsake the homebirth for a c-section and the whole 9 medical yards. Everyone's mostly okay now, and she got out of the hospital after four days. Unfortunately I'm the only person allowed to cook and/or clean. And I'm sick again, well, I wasn't ever Not sick, because this one didn't even wait for the last cold to leave.

Fibre work has been a bit sparse because actually, I can't think clearly. Oh, but look I made a baby sweater out of Handspun alpaca (cinnamon) and some green blue sky alpacas.

Oh, it has a back too.

My two front teeth.

2006-11-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

Instructions blatantly copied from Ally, who stole them from somebody else.

Step One
- Make a post (public, friends only, filtered...whatever you're comfortable with) to your Blog. The post should contain a list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and internets-related ("I'd love a such-and-such icon that's made just for me!") to medium ("I wish for _____ on DVD!") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV!") The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.

- If you wish for real life things (not fics or icons), make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where a "holiday elf" could get in touch with you.

- Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your Blog.

Step Two
- Surf around your friends list (or friendsfriends, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list. And now here's the important part:

- If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true! Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use--or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free--do it.

- You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday fairy--to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not--it's your call.

- There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just...wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.

My Ten in no particular order :
1 - The forgiveness of someone (you know who you are) that I have wronged in a most dreadful way.
2 - The serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.
3 - An Umbrella Swift
4 - A set of dyes so I can get colourful with my first love (Alpaca).
5 - A Skeinwinder
6 - A new niddy-noddy
7 - Homespun Handknit
8 - High quality dancing shoes for ballroom dance
9 - A quality female Alpaca with which to start my (future) herd.
10 - A good sewing machine so I can become as obsessed with fabrics as Ally is.
You know what else would be cool? A set of KnitPicks options, cause everyone says they rock.

Ugh.

2006-11-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

I'm sick, again. No coughing, at least, just sneezing and runny nose. Luckily I didn't have to work yesterday, because I spent most of the day half asleep listening to CBC radio.Anyway, on to some better stuff.

I have received my first package from my Secret Pal, and let me tell you, this one's really after my heart. I'll find the camera when I can think coherently and take some pictures, cause the stuff is just great! I got some yarn sent off, and that stinky white feather and fan scarf too. that and my ISE 3 scarf. Maybe when my pal gets it we can see a picture. I seem to be in the bad habit of sending them off un-photogaphed.

I'll leave you with a ride out into the sunset, back in the alberta days.

More Natural Phenomenons

2006-10-28T13:49:00.000-06:00

First I'm going to post about my International Scarf Exchange scarf and mitts I got from my lovely pal. Not only did she make me a wonderful leaf lace scarf, but she had some leftover yarn, so she made some of those fetching fetching from knitty.

As you can see, the scarf quickly went back to nature, blending in with the local scenery. The mits were a little harder to photograph, as they are a shy and elusive creature, who prefer to remain hidden in pumpkin patches.
One of the alpaca farm I'm doing a fleece to yarn trade with, will receive their end of the bargain soon.
From left to right we have 3 skeins Rocky x Dynamo, 50% huacaya and 50% suri, 204 yards total. Coal Man, 100% suri, 380 yards total. Rocky x Marble, 50% huacaya 50% suri, 300 yards total. Naturally Halloween, 40% huacaya 60% suri. Macluster 100% suri, 134 yards total. All 2-ply. Some Closeups :

Isn't this yarn the neatest? It's the combing refuse of coal man and macluster carded with a bit of Rocky (grey huacaya) then spun and plyed together. It's halloween!
Here's a closeup of Coal Man's yarn. This guy is as black as black comes, and shiny too!

The Cloud Cycle

2006-10-28T13:18:00.000-06:00

In this post I present to you 3sons Peruvian Grand Nimbus of Howling Hill Alpacas. I received a box with two of his wonderful fleeces in it a few weeks back. His yearling (baby) fleece, and his second year ribboned fleece. It's a wonderful brightly soft white. The first thing I noticed, was how much it resembled sheep fleece! I took it to Tricia Rasku (master spinner, wonderful lady) and she agreed. Therefore I'm not totally off my rocker, or she off hers too. I vote for the former. So, for the first part of our educational display, I give you, the cloud :

Clouds are formed when water vapour in the air cools and condenses as part of the water cycle. Alternately they can be gestated for 11 months, and raised on a healthy diet of orchard grass hay, fresh pasture, and pellets.

Occasionally, it will rain. When cloud droplets (or ice particles) in clouds grow and combine to become so large that the updrafts in the clouds can no longer support them, and they fall to the ground as rain:

Hail is made up of frozen raindrops – solid chunks of ice more than 5 mm in diameter. It forms when raindrops are tossed high up by winds inside huge cumulonimbus clouds. They freeze into ice and are continually bounced up and down inside the cloud. As they rise and fall like this, more ice builds up in layers around them. After a certain period of time the hail will turn into a baby hat, swallow a skein of cascade 220, and attach itself to a pumpkin. This phenomenon, while not as well known as Frog hail, is only slightly less common.
It's getting to be that season her in the Kootenays, where dropping temperatures cause snow to fall instead of rain. Everyone knows that every snowflake is different from the next, but I'm sure some of you have seen one similar to this before :
Up next, we have some a cyclone, a dynamo, and the Suri incarnation of coal.

When you're good to mama

2006-10-28T13:03:00.000-06:00

Well, it was pulla saturday here at the Dandelion Spinnery. It's mostly based on Lene's recipe, but I used spelt flour, and usually I would use soymilk. Having no suitable soymilk in the fridge (I didn't think chocolate would go over well), and only some organic cow juice, I used that instead. Interesting, since we hardly ever have cow's milk.

So I made the dough.
Then I rose the dough on top of the antique wood oven, which I made a fire in so that the kitchen would be warm enough for the dough to rise. We have a very cold house, and I usually don't make the fire because fire is really not my element and gives me a hard time when I try.
The I rolled out the dough, put on some butter, sugar and a spice mix. It's only supposed to be cinnamon, but I love my spices so I mixed cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice. Then you roll up the little strips, tie them in a knot (or something). For some reason this step didn't get photographed. maybe because I had buttery hands. Before the oven :
Ten minutes later :
So, it being 10:30 am, naturally I ate a few right out of the oven with copious amounts of butter on top. Nothing's better! Half of these are being saved for my Fall Fibre Fiesta tomorrow, the others probably won't last the afternoon!

SP9 contest

2006-10-13T11:25:00.000-06:00

Actor - Johnny Depp

Actress - Keira Knightley

Animal - Alpacas!

Band - They Might be Giants

Book - Deerskin by Robin McKinley

Bubble Bath - haven't had one since I was 5

Candy - Candied ginger, organic dark chocolate

Color - Green!

Flower - Dandelions (who would've guessed?)

Food - Curry

Lip Balm - Weleda

Lotion - Avalon Organics

Movie - Pride & Prejudice

Song - Hall of Heads - They Might be Giants

TV Show - tough, since I don't watch TV at all. Futurama, Friends?

Vacation Spot - If I ever go on vacation I'll let you know

Maybe I'm more mainstream than I thought. Friends IS funny though.

Everyone's a novelist, and everyone can sing, but no one talks when the tv's on.

2006-10-12T11:01:00.000-06:00

I am constantly confronted these days, with the changes that have come to north america in the last 100 years, even in the last 20. I've started listening to CBC for the better part of the day, while processing fibre and spinning. Increased mounted border guard on the Canada/US border. North Korea is testing nuclear weapons. The conservative government is making some of the same promises, and allocations of funds, that the liberal government made. Neither government followed up. The news is increasingly depressing, and this is on the radio. I'm so glad I don't watch television! And yet, these days, most of North America watches hours of television a day. Is it just escapism? Most people I know will mute the news or turn off the tv when it comes on because it's "too depressing". Are we constantly being bombarded in an attempt to create even more of a fear-based culture than we already have? I have to admit that I'll most likely be one of those parents that kicks the child out of the house to go play outside. Jumping in puddles and catching frogs Has to be more fun than watching tv, doesn't it?

While on the note of children, has anyone else noticed the trend towards children with No manners at all? I wonder if we are increasingly afraid to discipline children. I suppose I should write down all of my "child rearing theories". After all, you know how to raise children, until you have them.

On the craft front, I've been inundated with fleeces. I received my International Scarf Exchange scarf (hint : it's lovely). Spinning continues apace. Pictures will follow of things that should (if you have your priorities right) make you drool.

Everyone's Favorite Questionnaire!

2006-10-04T21:51:00.000-06:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? - I love alpaca, in all its forms. Soft luxury yarns are where it's usually at for me, but I can be prevailed upon to take colour combo over softness, and I'm always excited about a colourful sockyarn! Don't like acrylics, I'm a yarn snob, I'm afraid.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? - They're currently residing in extra-tough ziploc bags with the size written on the front (DPN's anyway) and then all stuffed in a grocery bag, which is in a box on a shelf.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? - I would consider myself an 'advanced intermediate'. I can knit lace, knit backwards, a little bit of two-colour, and follow most well-written patterns.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? - I do, I do!

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) - I'm really liking the spicy scents right now. nutmeg, ginnamon, cloves, ginger. But only if they're derived from natural essential oils, I seem to react to lab-made scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? - Dark organic chocolate and candied ginger will win my heart any day.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? - I do spin, quite avidly and mostly with alpaca. I crochet a little, weave a little, want to learn to dye.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) - Andrea Bocelli (but only the classical stuff), They Might Be Giants, Moxie Fruvous, Counting Crows, Traditional folk music.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? - LOVE autumn colours and adore greens, Not really olive or neon, but most greens I like. Blue is okay, purple if it's deeper wine coloured. Not so much into pink. Natural fleece colours are nice (rose grey!).

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? - I have 3 younger siblings and another on the way (I know, weird), Parents and step-parents. I also have 3 tarantulas, a dog (you may have seen him before on this blog), a red tail boa, and an old arthritic arab mare.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? - Yup

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? - Lace is good, socks are good, mittens are good, hats too. I have the attention span of a spatula so small projects are easier on my nerves.

13. What are you knitting right now? - Scarves, a sweater, shawls, socks, stuff!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? - certainly, if it's something I'll enjoy!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? - I like circs and straights, but not long straights. Haven't used wooden needles yet, but would like to try them. So far I like metal.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? - ball winder, yes, skeiner and swift Desperately needed!

17. How old is your oldest UFO? - About 4 years if you don't count the scarf I started when I was 9.

18. What is your favorite holiday? - Thanksgiving (canadian) is good. Pumpkin pie, stuffed squash (vegetarian here!).

19. Is there anything that you collect? - Alpaca fleeces, I used to collect bags, but mostly fleeces now.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? - There are many! Barbara Walkers treasuries, and the Flower Basket Shawl and Fuzzy Feet and Creatures of the Reef shawl (which I actually had at one point but sent it to my SP7). And the Lace Smoke Ring pattern from heartstrings and also also the Silk Corset pattern by Annie Modesitt (very much).

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? - practice more with two-colour knitting, maybe some entrelac, and knitting two socks at once with the double knitting method. Maybe magic loop too.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? - Sock are the knitting godess' gift to low-attention span knitters who get bored in public places easily! I'm about a size 7-7.5 US.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) - April 7

High Fashion?

2006-09-30T20:40:00.000-06:00

So, a bit of interesting news before I take off to dance class. I walked into the yarn store where I'm selling my handspun yarns on consignment, and had a little chat with the owner this morning. And she said that a woman had come in, who was very interested in my yarns. This woman, it just so happens, is a spinner and knitter, and used to be quite a high profile designer for the New York runways. And aparently she was quite adament about the fact that she Really liked my yarns and thought they were very well-spun. So I'm taking this as a good sign, considering the lady is also a spinner!

Yarnagogo

2006-09-26T17:34:00.000-06:00

So I decided to take pictures for all you nice, and patient folks (and you drive by readers), and also the wonderful alpaca farms who are trading with me and would like to see what I do here at the Dandelion Spinnery. This is my yarn production for the month of September up until now.

Bullet:
Adult male huacaya, Silver Grey (I know it looks blue, but even though alpaca comes in 22 natural colours...blue Still isn't one of them).
TLC Alpaca Ranch

Eve:
Adult female huacaya, Rose Grey.
TLC Alpaca Ranch

Hope:
Adult female huacaya, Light Fawn.
Xtreme Alpacas

Charmane:
Adult Female Suri, Off-White.
New Moon Alpacas, LLC

Sadie & Shadows of Grey:
Sadie - female cria huacaya, White.
Shadows of Grey - I spun this yarn from Bullet and Eve's fleeces to be very subtley variegated, with a new technique I unvented. Aparently I did something right, it was the first to go at the fairs.
TLC Alpaca Ranch

Nailah Peet:
Adult Female Huacaya, Dark Brown.
Saints Alpacas

Midnight & Silk:
Midnight - Male cria huacaya, Black w/grey base.
TLC Alpaca Ranch
Silk - Dyed by a very nice local lady, this was spun as a laceweight 2 ply from silk hankies.
Barb Robinson A.K.A The Silk Lady

Sandy Sadie:
75% Sadie the white huacaya, 25% Chiengora (from a shetland Sheepdog).
TLC Alpaca Ranch & Zetos Dog Spa

Stevie:
Adult Male Huacaya, Light Fawn.
YKnot Fibres

Hypocritical Hippo-Critic

2006-09-05T18:31:00.000-06:00

So, my good readers, today we are having Wheel review part 1! Today I'm going to focus on ashford wheels, long-trusted and well known workhorses for most of the people who own them. All ashford wheels have add-on kits, such as lace flyers, jumbo flyers, distaffs and quill spindles.

Single drive VS Double drive. A great explanation on how to choose, though I would go if single drive if possible. Changing bobbins is already enough of a chore.

With single treadle wheels, you use only one foot on the treadle. This can lead to a terrible affliction, in avid spinners, known as SLS, or Spinner's Limp Syndrome. Not that while you can shift your body position and treadle with the opposite leg, this can put you at odds with the way you normally use your hands to draft. With double treadle wheels, instead of sitting on an angle, you Usually sit more or less straight on, depending on the wheel. You can use only one foot to operate a double treadle, if you so choose. SLS is not prevalent in spinners who use double treadle wheels, though it should be noted that sitting down to spin after jogging in a town set entirely on a 45° angle will cause leg cramps.

First up, the Ashford Elizabeth 2.
As we can see, this is a very pretty wheel. The Elizabeth only comes in double drive and single treadle. as with all ashford wheels, you can buy a distaff, lace flyer, and jumbo flyer. starts at $615 USD. I personally have never used this wheel, but i have been told by several people that it is "tricky", and not a beginner wheel. More of a looker than an easy-to-use, take anywhere wheel.

Next is my personal favorite, the Ashford Traveller.
The Traveller has been available as a double treadle option only for several years, though if you come across an older, single treadly model, there is an upgrade kit. It's a nice, compact and sturdy wheel, and mine has served me well these past 2 years. I chose the single drive model. I can spin chunky to fine laceweight on the flyer it comes with, and as a bonus there is a built-in lazy kate. This seemed odd and a slight hassle at first but after hauling her to a spin-in the park and having people ask to "borrow" my lazy kate (while I was spinning) I understood how useful it is! I would definitely reccomend this wheel to a beginner, or someone who needs a wheel for more than to look at. Starts at $385 USD.

Ashford Traditional
Affectionately known as the "traddy" this wheel is the kind people find for 25$ at a garage sale, because someone's grandmother has moved to a home and no one knows how to use her spinning wheel she bought in the 70's. I've tried a few, and always found treadling more difficult than on the traveller. It seemed to have a tendency to stop on a whim, but that could have been my fault, since all the traddies I've tried were single treadly, though it is available in double. Note, though, that people have loved this wheel for a Long time, and the wheels from 35 years ago still work competently today, even if they've been beat up. Lots of beginners choose this wheel, not quite as portable as the traveller, but still good for transport. Starts at $365 USD.

Ashford Joy
I didn't get to spin long on this wheel Very long. Treadling was easy, It's not very high off the ground though. If you're tall, it could be awkward. Very portable, folds up and has an optional carrying bag. I've heard that Plying on a Joy can be tricky, and you really can't overfill the bobbins at all, like you can on other wheels. I wouldn't recommend this wheel if you have the ability to keep one in a more permanent location. come sin both single and double treadle, but unfortunately has no add-ons. starts at $495 USD.

Ashford Country Spinner
If you're looking for big and bulky yarns, this is not your wheel. Unless of course, you could lift a cow above your head with your legs. This wheel is enormously difficult to treadle, and has really wacky take up. I really would not recommend this wheel to anyone, it makes spinning very difficult, and if you're a beginner, probably very frustrating. Starts at $475 USD

If anyone Has had experiences different than mine on any of these wheels, do tell! Also, does anyone else's traveller have one unmarked spoke?

More wheel reviews next time!

King of the Bongo

2006-08-31T15:57:00.000-06:00

Lately I've been listening to that song a lot. For anyone who hasn't heard it, it's Bongo Bong by Manu Chao.

I've realize recently that I have more fleece than I know what to do with. This realization mostly struck me while trying to process fleeces on my days off of work. It's a little quicker now, having borrowed a drum carder from a friend. Naturally, my response to this terrible realization was to order more fleeces. You can't say you wouldn't have done the same. I have samples coming from a suri farm in Colorado, and lots of fleece from a huacaya farm in Wisconsin. I've also entered back into negotiations with Allison of New Moon Alpacas. I love her fleeces, and talking to her is always a blast. If you need fleeces, talk to Allison, you won't regret it! But you can't have Pandora's or Bartleby's this year. They're mine, all mine!

What else could I tell you? I came down with a head cold on saturday. It was horrible, snot everywhere. Work on monday was horrible so I called in sick tuesday. By yesterday I was starting to feel better and made it through a five hour shift. Did I mention the new job? At a organic vegetarian bakery/cafe. I do love it a lot, and hope to stay there for a while.

I have tons of spinning to show you, alpaca DK weight, alpaca laceweight, really laceweight silk spun from hankies. Unfortunately, Sister Twoshoes, Small Boy Twoshoes, Pregnant Twoshoes and Squinty Eye Twoshoes have all gone to Florida. With the digital Camera. Without me. So you can have pictures of goodies. In ten days when they come back from Florida without me.

In other news I received my last Secret Pal 8 package. I tell you, my spoiler, Princess Genevieve, really went above and beyond the call of duty. The latest package contained Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn, in the Life's A Beach colourway. I LOVE it. With the fiery passion of a thousand suns, or something very near that. It also had some yellow Cascade. I've heard everyone rant about Cascade, so I guess I get to jump n the bandwagon! The person I was spoiling was Malin from Sweden. Aparently the 'Maskros' in her name means Dandelion. A fitting pair we are! Malin in turn was spoiling Genevieve so I'm wondering SP coordinators, is this an oddity, or is the pal-distributing done in trios?

That's about all for now, Dorkboy Twoshoes is about due for a walk, and is driving me stark raving mad. I get to teach someone to knit tonight. I'm taking her to a yarn store too. As the Yarn Harlot once put it, Missionary Work. Brothers, Sisters, spread the word of Yarn!

Fake It

2006-08-25T10:51:00.000-06:00

So there's this blog I really like reading. A spinning blog, alpaca blog, and lately, garden blog all in one. Meet The Spinning Guy. I've posted a few comments, regarding fibre analysis and crimp. I've been trying to sound like I know what the heck I'm talking about, but I'm not sure I do. So a short breakdown of the extent of my knowledge of alpaca fibre, and some of my opinions, seemed like a great way to blog without going through the hell of uploading pictures onto the computer.

I learned to spin at the South Country Fair in Fort Mcleod, Alberta in 2004. Dave and Connie Carlson of YKnot Fibres had set up a booth and I was immediately entranced. They showed me some pencil roving and a cd drop spindle, and I was soon merrily putting twist into the already drafted fleece. The cd spindle didn't hold me for long, and by the next day I had moved on to a Navajo Spindle. I bought it, and a shorter one for sitting on the ground with. Dave and Connie also raised llamas, alpacas and sheep. So I brought home some white wool, some alpaca, and some baby llama. That was pretty much the beginning of my love affair with alpacas, and their fibre.

I kept on spinning on my little spindle, sometimes up to five hours a day. And my arm hurt like heck, so I started researching spinning wheels. After long deliberation I decided on an Ashford Traveller Double Drive. A not very long but pointless story had me end up with single drive, which I'm sure right now I love much better. Like everyone starting out on a wheel my stuff was overkinked and could be used to anker a ship. Needless to say, I did not submit alpaca to that treatment, but common wool. This was in November 2004. A few months later I responded to an add in the paper, for too much alpaca fleece to handle. Carolyn of TLC Alpaca Ranch let me take about 20 lbs of fibre off her hands, at 8$/lb. Plus several bags of "felting" quality. A word about their sorting method; most breeders have 7 grades for a fleece, Carolyn only used the first 3 grades. Which means that their felting quality is really very spinable.

I still have many pounds of their fibre left, and a friend has recently loaned me her drum carder, so I'm working like mad to try and process fleeces. Anyway, back to what I know about the fibre itself. A histogram, or fibre analysis gives us the micron count of an animals blanket fleece. Angus McColl, The director of The Yocom-McColl fibre testing facility said that "Histograms should be compared to other animals in the same herd of the same age, not against an animal living on a different diet and of an entirely different age group." Now, this is completely reasonable and true, for breeders. For us that don't own any alpacas and are just wanting spinning fleeces, we should compare, in order to find the fleece best suited to what we want to make. But when you look at a fibre analysis, please look at more than the micron count. If the animal is 22 microns, with a high standard deviation, you're going to spend hours picking out guard hairs to get that 22 microns. A very useful bit of info on most histograms, is the Comfort Factor. Obviously, an animal whose fleece has a comfort factor of 98% will do very well worn next to the skin.

Don't let micron count give you the blues. I'll accept almost any fleece, and spin it. It doesn't have to be soft, i'll go for colour instead. I have 4 lbs of coarse suri locks, but they have great staple length and lustre. I recently ordered a fleece of 32 microns with a 6.3 standard deviation, but the colour is amazing. Everyone needs rugs and totebags.

And now, a short word on crimp. People are always going for crimp, and breeding for as much as they can get. Which is good for a light, fluffy, bouncy yarn with lots of memory. As I said in my comment to the spinning guy, no crimp is not Bad, Suri alpacas are highly prized. But if you're breeding for crimp, which I think almost all huacaya breeders are to some extent, no crimp certainly isn't good. Anyone who's read a few posts back probably remembers Bartleby, part of a fleece I purchased from New Moon Alpacas in California. His father was a Snowmass alpaca, and his fleece is Crimpy. And soft, and completely amazing. Spinning Guy asked if anyone notices the difference once the fibre has been processed. I can say that I do notice a difference, but I think for it to become very obvious one must work with something that has no crimp, like suri. In combing suri, Static is a pain and the top will fall apart very easily once it comes through the diz. But once I start combing huacaya the top is fluffy and sticks together. The crimpier the fleece gets, the fluffier and bouncier the combing is, and the static trouble is easier to deal with.

There are lots of levels of crimpiness in between none and, well, merino, sometimes you won't even notice a difference if there's only a little bit more or less. But one thing I've noticed is that if you are going to spin a short staple length, crimp will make it Lots easier. Short staple length with crimp won't shed as much as short staple length without, that's for damn sure. So, in conclusion, take on almost anything, but in order to spin the best yarn you can, note several things. Staple Length, Lustre, Crimp, Comfort Factor, and Colour. Alpacas come in 22 natural colours, try before you dye!

If this is at all helpful, let me know, and if I just sound like a rambling idiot who wouldn't know a good fleece if it hit her in the head, let me know too. But if it's the latter, be prepared to teach me what is a good fleece!

The Great Sewage Explosion of Summer 2006 (made with 100% authentic human excrement!)

2006-08-22T01:14:00.000-06:00

As the title hints, this post will be the promised documentation of the great sewage explosion of summer 2006. I had recently decided to move from my father's house, to my mother's, and hadn't moved my actual possessions yet (this is an important part of the story later on). With great gusto, we pulled into the parking space and made our way into the house. Small Boy was watching the Spongebob Squarepants movie, when the City of Nelson decided to come and 'unblock' the sewer right in front of our house.

Soon, I start to hear a horrible gurgling sound coming from the bathroom. I run to look, and sewage has backed up the toilet and bathtub. So I run outside, and yell over the noise of the truck that we have a backup. City guy #1 responds with "well that's what we're trying to fix". A short while later city guy #2 (not a sewer guy, he was on loan from parks) comes in, and decides to start snaking the toilet. After breaking two snakes, he decide it would be a great idea to Flush the toilet upstairs. Despite our disagreement, the upstairs toilet is flushed and then....

It overflows, all over the floor, into the hallway. City guy #2 then grabs ALL of our best towels and uses them to try and "soak up" the sewage, which just keeps spewing out of the toilet.

Not only that, but in the basement, sewage literally Spewed out of the sink onto the wall above it. It filled up the washing machine. It smelled, Foul. Soon after that I got some clothes in a bag, some food for dorkboy, and my sister (codename : Fatty the Tulip) and we went leisure camping on the outside-living acreage of a friend. Small Boy, Mother and Squinty McSmalleyes spent the night in a motel, courtesy of owner's insurance.

We didn't lose anything besides all of our good towels, and we don't have renter's insurance. A friend of the family recently had the house she was renting Burn down, and they lost almost everything. Because she had come into some money she had decided to prepay 6 months rent. The landlord refused to return her money, and is making Her clean up the debree, and highly toxic burned material. So now we're going to get renter's insurance.

The reason I mentioned not moving my things is that, when my father decided to go to his summer house for a week with friends from out of town...a pipe burst and leaked water into the house for a week. With all my stuff stored in the basement. No yarn or fleece was harmed beyond repair to bring you this dramatic tale.

Unfortunately, I had some books in a "special book" box. Herbs for pets, a wonder Expensive reference book I truly loved, and will sorely miss, and some heirloom knitting/sewing/tatting scrapbooks from my grandmother's aunt, who was a nun in Quebec. These got wet. Very wet. Herbs for Pets is completely destroyed, one of my great great aunt's books is moldy, the other appears to be okay, if a little warped. Which really, really makes me sad. Anyone know how to get rid of mold on books? I cannot throw it away, there has to be some way to save it!

I suppose, in conclusion, it's good to be thankful that I didn't lose more, like my grandfather's antique chest (now my hope chest filled with special yarn) and my near 30 lbs of alpaca fleeces, and other fibre related things (which is all that really matter here chez Twoshoes) But if we get another flood, I am going on a rampage.

And it wasn't even Our shit, it belonged to all the houses up the street!

Back on the horse (only figuratively)

2006-08-10T18:13:00.000-06:00

Wow, I can't believe I haven't updated in 3 weeks. In any case, today we have a grand show of sp8 gifts and WIP's, if the computer would lower itself to the level of the camera and cooperate in downloading the pictures.

I started to knit the Embellished V-Neck top from the fall VK. Actually this is the second time I start it, since I knit 30 rows in denial that my gage was in fact, way off. No big deal right? just rip out 2800 stitches, and weep. I'm knitting it with Fernando, or rather, with his fleece, courtesy of TLC alpacas. It's gonna be pretty! If I can bring myself to wash, comb, and spin another 800 yards.

Next up we have the Baudelaire sock from Knitty, In Lorna's Laces Mint (courtesy of my awesome pal). My first toe up sock, it's progressing...given the fact that I seem to be afflicted with a horrible case of startitis at the moment.

So here it is, my newest SP package. I have to tell you, so far, my pal is the best Ever. We have Trekking XXL in a colourway I've been in love with for a long time. Those green things actually, Aren't jujubes, but are needle point protectors shaped like socks. There's lemon candies, jasmine soap and a cute little dragonfly purse all the way from San Francisco (though my pal lives in Maryland. Maryland! hey pal, can i come stay with you next year for the $heep and wool fest?). And also, green cotton sock yarn! I love green, I love sock yarn, and cotton's just fine with me, so naturally, I love this stuff too.

And since I don't have a cat, like every single other Knitter in the blogosphere, to name a few, Gratuitous dog shot :

Next Up, The great Sewage Explosion of Summer '06!

Harlot and Everything After

2006-07-12T14:28:00.000-06:00

Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee, Spinner, Knitter, and writer, has been inspiring me to throw caution to the wind, and not knit gauge swatches since I came across her blog a year and a half ago. Her colourful language and knitting have pushed me towards starting ~~problems~~ Projects sane people wouldn’t, and abandoning ones only a reasonable person would pursue. She has always had witty, insightful advice on such global afflictions as steeking, dropped stitches, miscrossed cables, and even Second Sock Syndrome.

Have you developed a twitch in your left eye upon discovering your creative interpretation of the chart for your lace shawl, artfully constructed out of Alpaca Dental Floss? Worry not, for after a suitable amount of cursing, help will be on the way! Though I am not yet a knitting master, and my neighbours still vue me as slightly sane, I hope that one day I too will be as old, wise, and completely off my rocker as The Yarn Harlot.

Thankyou for blogging our knitting days brighter!

P.S. Anyone know what the title of this post is derived from?

Yarn and Sheep

2006-07-10T17:59:00.000-06:00

So a little while ago I received my first package from my spoiler. I haven't really had access to a camera i know how to use until now, so here...

The mint Lorna's Laces popped right out of the box at me, and she also sent me the yarn harlot's second book, and copy of Knit1, one of those absolutely adorable little sheepy measures, some green and black's maya gold chocolate (which has been gone for quite some time) and some Alchemic Dragon Lavender soap! Somehow the other components of the box don't seem to have made it into the picture. Thankyou dear pal, it was a really wonderful surprise! The other skeins of Lorna's Laces are the ever popular Gold Hill, which I bought on on my trip to vancouver, where we ended up staying only 2 blocks from a yarn store. Fate? I think not!

Also, we have some Opal Tiger, and uhm, three skeins of blue sky alpacas that I got as the last gift from my sp7 (sorry for not posting them!) they're so soft, and I absolutely love the colours of them. She had also sent me some nice face masks, and a lovely wooden darning needle case.

Some bighorn sheep, looking a little moth-eaten in this weather...I wonder what their wool spins like?

Belated Thankyou

2006-06-07T21:45:00.000-06:00

So, I got these wonderful socks from my sockapaloooza pal, a while ago, exactly on time (even a bit early). And they're gorgeous and soft and a lace pattern I've never seen before. Alpaca, and we all know about me and alpaca! It was really hard to get a good photo for some reason, my camera was not cooperating (it never does).

They're very bright, which is good for me. I'm not big on blacks and greys, because they're too dull and colorless, and absolutely love almost all colours. But I don't like to wear pink or purple very much, although deep wine purple is pretty. My horse somehow got a shallow cut on her hind left pastern. It's been an enormous excercise trying to come up with a method of disinfecting and applying vitamin E to the back foot of a horse who really would rather kick you than let you help her. As yet, I'm still searching for ideas.

It's off to Vancouver on Friday morning, to see a an old friend, a new Friend, and a for a wedding. I'll try to bring back some pictures, because I'm sure the bride and groom will be lovely. The bride being a family friend (of my mother's) and the groom, well, I've never met him but I'm sure he's lovely too. Hopefully the weather holds, because I think they were planning to have it outside. The reception is at the extraordinarily fancy capilano golf and country club. "men without suit jackets will be turned away at the door" kind of place. So I've been wearing three inch heels around the house, where almost no one will see me walking around like a penguin. It's getting better though, walking's not to bad. It's the standing that kills you.
And my legs aren't that white, I swear, the camera hates me.

A Horse's Prayer

2006-05-18T13:58:00.000-06:00

Here is a short poem that is good for us all to take to heart, no matter of our religion, Though I believe this is originally of christian origin, the message itself is fairly universal.

A man of kindness to his horse is kind,
But brutal actions show a brutal mind.
Remember he who made the brute;
Who gave thee speach and reason, formed him mute.
He can't complain, but God's all-seeing eyes
Behold thy cruelty, and hears his cries.
He was designed thy servant, not thy Drudge;
Remember his creator is thy judge.

I do not credit the author, because I found this scrawled in my notebook, and unfortunately I have no idea where I would have found it.

What's New Pussycat?

2006-05-18T13:40:00.000-06:00

So, as we all know, I took a very long absence from blogging. There were several reasons for this, the first being the fact that I moved from Edmonton, back here to the West Kootenays in British Columbia. The decision was made on very short time, and we had 28 days to pack up the entire house and get our arses out of there. Needless to say, this became very stressful, and by the end I was getting migraines that would lay me out for hours at a time. This did not help me pack either. So finally, everything is here in BC, all the pets made it alive, and I unpacked a few things. Although I still haven't unpacked half of my boxes, which just goes to show that I don't actually need half of what I own, and yet I won't throw it away, because I know as soon as I do, I'll need it desperately! This also has the added benefit that if I move again (not likely in the near future) I'll only have to pack half my things!

Anyway, I get here, and two weeks later, my boyfriend up and dumps me. Surprised me too! We were long distance, and had been arguing more than usual for some time...But one day, bam "I don't love you anymore, bye." except of course, he didn't say goodbye. So I was depressed for a while. You know how everything somehow reminds you, and you burst into tears every five minutes? It went away slowly, two weeks later I called him and got my goodbye. I suppose I'm doing relatively well now. I'm happy most of the time, which is more than I could say when I was back in Edmonton. It's almost a shame really, that he dumped me right as I was becoming happy and fun to be around!

There are a few ways people react to news that you broke up with someone. There's the typical "Ohh, I'm so sorry." and of course the "You're young, you'll get over it." Which is true, I am young, and I will get over it, just not because of my age. So now I don't cry anymore if I hear the song "Earth Angel", and I wake up happy most mornings (except for those where I wake up grumpy, because of certain times of the month).

At the end of march I took a trip back to Edmonton to pick up my mare, Tia Sabrei. She's settled in well now, I bring her out in the evenings after the scorching heat has died a bit, and she mows the lawn while I prepare the garden, and the dogs sleep in the shade. It's all very quaint, I assure you.

Apart from that things have been blessedly low key. I continue to unpack boxes at the rate of "oh my god I need this right now and it's not unpacked!". I do a lot of cooking and baking, the rhubarb is finally coming up with a will, so there will be many rhubarb creations in the near future.

I have to get going, as I have to go and do some real work all of this long weekend, and there is laundry to wash and hang, linen to pack, food to cook, and various other small forgettable tasks! I should be back on Tuesday with more blogging, maybe a few recipes, and hopefully pictures of the socks I received from my pal (hint : they're absolutely lovely!)

SP8 Questionnaire

2006-05-12T09:55:00.000-06:00

Okay, I have officially returned to the wonderful world of blogging, and there Will be pictures, once I find the damn camera. In the meantime, here is are the answers to all your questions secret pal!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I don't like acrylic fibres, although a small percentage in sock yarn is okay, and I'm not too fond of wiry merino yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Well, right now they're in a bag in a box, from the move, and although the box is open, they seem to like it in there.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been seriously knitting for the last 2 years, and I'd say I'm an advanced intermediate, with adventurous tendencies.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yup I do, just ask and i shall tell you how to find it!

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)I Adore rosemary, lavender is nice too, I am really not fond of artificial scents, and allergic to them in most products =/.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I'm really not big on candy, but my two major failings are organic Dark chocolate (no mint though) and candied ginger.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I spin, I prepare fibre, I would love to get more into dying, and i'm a very beginner Weaver.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I don't listen to Pop music. I like classical at times, and really have a thing for Andrea Bocelli's classical music. I also like They Might Be Giants, and Moxie Fruvous, but they're not so widespread.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? I'm a real sucker for greens, though not so much neon, lime and really olivey. I Love autumn colours. I don't really like pinks, sometimes I like purple if it's in a deeper winey shade, Blues and Yellow are fine, especially orangey gold yellows.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Yes, Currently there's 3 tarantulas, two dogs, a cat, a red tail boa, and a horse. I don't have any children.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes to all, but I prefer shawls to ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I have a good time with mittens, and i like lace socks, lace everything these days really. I would really like to expand into two colour knitting.

13. What are you knitting right now? A pair of socks for my secret pal (just the toes now!), two shawls that I pick up every now and again, and a few other things i cannot recall.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes, as long as they're pretty, useful, and well made!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Straight and circular both have their place, although I would like to try out some wooden needles one of these days.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I have a ball winder, but I desperately need a swift!

17. How did you learn to knit? One grandmother taught me when I was 3, the other grandmother refreshed my memory at 7 and 9.

18. How old is your oldest UFO? Oh geeze, an acrylic sunflower granny square crocheted afghan that's 1/3 done and 3-4 years old?

19. What is your favorite holiday? That's a tough one, Beltane and midsummer and Mabon are always nice, but I kind of enjoy christmas if the people around me manage to get in the spirit, and not the wallet.

20. Is there anything that you collect? Yarn, Needles,Patterns, Alpaca Fibre, other fibre, i have a penchant for shoulderbags, and uhm...I seem to have collected a lot of junk, but that wasn't on purpose, I swear, it just happened.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? No subscriptions to anything, although I can't find Spin Off in my new area, and that's a bit of a dissapointment. I would love the pattern to the Flower Basket Shawl. I really really really covet Lorna's Laces (daffodil) and Socks That Rock, because I hear so much about them. A Gathering of Lace would always be appreciated too, and of course Madame Harlot's second and third books.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I'd like to get more experience with fair isle and three colour knitting, and entrelac too. also, I want to learn all the kinds of sock heels!

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am a sock knitter, and any kind soul wishing to knit me socks has only to ask and they can have as many foot measurements as they want.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) April 7th, just passed, mostly everyone forgot though =/

Blogger Dissapearance

2006-03-09T21:35:00.000-07:00

So, I know I haven't posted in three weeks, or maybe more than that, but this move is kicking my ass. Or was, things are calming down now. I did not finish my Olympic Knitting, and I probably won't finish very soon either. Tomorrow I have to paint, since I finally came to terms with my choice of colours. I'm moving the horse down here, and i have exactly three weeks to dig 25 2 foot or deeper fence post holes in still frozen, gravelly ground, put the posts in, and string barbed wire. Yup, gonna be fun. It's 8:38 now, starting to get late, time for bed...I know, pathetic, gettin old, gettin old. really I'm not, but it sure as hell feels like I am. In my defence though I wake up around 6am. Aparently the package from my Secret Pal is due on Monday, and boy am I excited. One horrible thing about this area, which is otherwise beautiful, is that to get to a decent yarn store, you would probably have to drive for 5 hours. Internet shopping, watch out. More updates will be forthcoming, maybe even pictures too!

Bloated, Puffy, Yarn Endowed.

2006-02-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

All you gals out there will know what I'm talkin about. Anyway, I've been trying to catch up on Olympic Knitting, but I really don't think I'll make the cut. I promised pictures of the gifts from my lovely pal, and here they are.

Out of the darkness they came, a light that could not be denied...

As the shadows receded, the began to show their true colours, and oh, how brilliant they were. Like little...yellow...jewels, gleaming on their pink paper lake...

Beware all ye who dare write poetry, for if ye do not use it, ye will lose it. There is two skeins of koigu KPPM, a really cute little tape measure, and some washed and dyed kid mohair locks. I want to make Sockbug's river rapid socks...if that's what they're called (brain hiccup), but the printer won't print. Thankyou Secret Pal, and I tell you, she did better than me on the secrecy. I sent my pal's gift overseas and the post office lady warned me if I didn't put my name on it there was a chance it wouldn't be allowed. Isn't the koigu pretty?

And on to the complaining part (don't tell me you didn't anticipate it, you all saw the title). Happiness has been fleeting lately. Usually arriving around noon from the hands of the mail lady. Sometimes you just hit a spot, and everything starts going wrong. Then you break up with your boyfriend, and come back begging like a blithering idiot 8 hours later because you cried the whole time and really couldn't imagine why you would do such a thing.

Then you realize that your olympic knitting is doomed, because your wrists developed sharp pains on the first day, so you didn't knit at all for TWO days, and you still have to finish packing to move to the next province by Sunday February 26 when you load the van. And you're trying to find a home for the bearded dragon, but no one will take him, and you're leaving in just over a week. And then you can't move because you have vicious cramps, and yet, you have to go out in -38. You try to make pullas yesterday, and realize you don't have flour, so you throw the wet mix down the drain. You buy flour, and more yeast, but this time the yeast won't activate. So you throw that down the drain, and you try once more, and behold...it finally works. But then your stomach rebels because of the horrible cramps and you get sick from eat them (and anything else).

So you drag yourself up the stairs reluctantly, camera in hand, to take pictures of the Lizard of D00m, hoping some one will give him a good home. And then you look up and see This :

Now THAT is some serious cuteness.

Baby did a Bad, Bad Thing.

2006-02-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't posted for a while...but I'm posting now! (a certain person I know will recognize this as something he says regularily...). Anyway, remember, a few posts back, I admitted to you my weakness for browns, and lovely alpaca fleeces? the two came together in an unfortunate incident in which I was Accidentally sent a few samples of Fibre from an alpaca farm in California. When the package arrived my fingers slipped, and though I had meant to return it...as this must have been a mistake in addresses, the samples all jumped out of the bag and landed on my lap.

Okay, Okay, so maybe none of this was really an accident, but I'm trying to maintain credibility. The Alpaca farm was New Moon Alpacas. A word here about the lovely Alison who runs the joint. 1 - She has awesome fleeces. They are indescribeable in their awesomeness. Most of them are very dust free, and well skirted, which makes for more pleasant prep. 2 - She's just absolutely lovely, really helpful, and also, really funny. and last, but certainly not least...free shipping! at least to US and Canada as far as I know, International folks
should check in. So without further ado I give you Bartleby :

This fleece is so soft, and such a pretty light brown...and also, amazing crimp. His father is a Snowmass Alpaca which might explain it.
Next up we have Hannah. See Pandora there too? I covet her next fleece, but aparently a lot of people do, so names will be drawn from a hat (crosses her fingers).

Now, I know I'm supposed to be packing, and knitting on my Olympic shawl...but I think you will all agree that desperate times, call for desperate measures. In this case, "desperate measures" is combing and a little itty bit of laceweight...

I would highly reccomend Alison to anyone looking to purchase high quality fleeces. just as long as you don't get the ones I want. Next Up: Package from my secret Pal! (hint, it's absolutely lovely!)

StatCounter

2006-02-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

So, there's this very nifty little Free program you can get for your blog, called StatCounter. This lets you view who came to your blog, their IP address...when and how long they came, how many times they come back, and a bunch of other cool stuff. By far, most people come from the states. I've had quite a few from my own province of Alberta, no one from BC, one or two from Eastern canada, and quite a few in Quebec. I've had someone come from Ankara, Turkey, someone from New Zealand, Italy, and Taipei. but I would really like to know, is who visits my blog from Estonia. Yes, I know you're here! Leave a comment if it suits you, as most knitters would love to have a friend in Estonia, considering all the wonderful knitterly stuff that comes out of there. In fact, anyone visiting from outside North America (and inside it too) is more than welcome to leave comments. After all, I created this blog to become more involved in the world of knitting and knitters. So all you lurkers out there, say hello!

Cold Turkey

2006-01-31T18:09:00.000-07:00

Not a whole lot going on here. Yesterda I met up with my friend Veronika, over at River City Yarns. As I was browsing, I came upon some rovings. There was ingeo, soy silk, and bamboo. The bamboo was twice as expensive as the others, so I picked up a bag of soy silk. I also picked up the pattern to Fiddlestick's Lotus Blossum shawl. You can see Stephanie's, and Juno's. I wanted to blend the soy silk with some alpaca, but alas, the soy is too short, and won't blend. I decided to spin a single of alpaca, and one of soy, ply them, and see if I like it. Here's the tofu yarn :

Lately I've been on a real sushi craze. Now, I'm a vegetarian. When I say 'Vegetarian' I mean, no animals. No fish, no chicken, since last time I checked...those were animals too. Also, I have kept fish as pets, and am very fond of chickens, alive. Something that really bothers is me, is people going "Oh, you're a vegetarian, so you eat fish right?". No, kind un-wordly wise person. This New Year's, I was at my Grandmother's, and I told her that since I was a vegetarian, I did not, in fact, eat turkey. She kept saying "mais, c'est une Dinde!" (but, it's a Turkey!). She got herself all worked up over it, but alas, even a hysterical-over-turkey grandmother will not drive me to eat turkey. Anyway, my sushi is vegetarian, is the point of this long rant.

I sent a package off to my secret pal, and I hope she gets it soon. I wonder, if I'm the only one who gets anxious that their pal won't like what is sent, while the package is in transit? I've had many many dealings with the post office lately, and I should have already received 2 packages and as many letters...but alas, Marlaine The Mail Lady is only bringing bills. I give you your gratuitous Tarantula shot :

No, there isn't two tarantulas, that's just Ruby with his shed skin. look close, you can see the fangs. More word on the tofu/alpaca yarn as it progresses, and I'm check my mailbox until 4pm, even though I know that I don't receive mail any time after 12.
Because, you know, if I keep looking, something will appear.

Creepy Crawlies

2006-01-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

So, I have come to the conclusion that when people who do Drive-By readings, only ever stop if there's some interesting pictures to be seen. Without further ado, I give you, Still life with tarantula :

And of course, my new English comb, and some alpaca top. And yes, that is a little toy llama, and behind it Is a tarantula butt. Some more tarantula goodness over here:

This little girl is Charlotte, the Brachypelma Albopilosum a.k.a Curlyhair Tarantula.
Up next we have Ruby, or more acurately referred to as Rubius Holyshitthatissbrightus.

He just molted, and indeed, lives up to his name. species is Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens, a.k.a Greenbottle Blue tarantula.

Ruby is really a skittish little attack machine, and I do not attempt to handle him. Charlotte and Rosa are sweet, and don't mind a little attention though. While I was taking pictures of the furry eight-legged ones, the no-legged one got jealous. Jack Sparrow (who is a female Boa constrictor imperator), and Coda.

The yarn dog was asleep, mumbling something about how he won the tour de france 4 times in a row. I didn't wake him up, as everyone knows you should let sleeping dogs Lie. besides, a little interspecies cooperation never hurt anyone. As I was putting the camera away, I happened to glance over to the other side of the room, and this is what I saw :

Why Melanie, is that your spinning wheel, completely engulfed in alpaca fleece? I think last night, in a fibre-enduced stupor, I took all the alpaca ROUS (rodents of unusual size) of their respective heating vents, and piled them on my wheel. And no, I do not believe it is safe to spin like this, but to tell the truth, I haven't tried. Lady Margret didn't seem to upset about it though. Thinking I was at the end of my photoshoot, I started to put the camera away. Thankfully I pulled it back out to shoot a picture of the rare and reclusive yarn snake, out for a bask in it's natural habitat:

Crikey, but E's a big one ain't he?

Blah Blah Blah

2006-01-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure what to write about today. I barely made sign ups for Sockapaloooza. Yesterday was exceedingly frustrated, and I'm glad I remembered, or there might be broken objects around the house today. Judy from The Knitter has developed tendonitis in her arm, and as such is incapacitated in knitting and ball winding. If any of you have things ordered from Judy (and I know some of you secret pals will be taking advantage of that nice discount) go and wish her well.

She's also behind on several patterns and Zephyr colours, so I will not be knitting the peacock shawl for the olympics. I'll get the Sheep Shawl pattern, and the Pacific Northwest Shawl pattern. Two colours, white and ruby, who knows what will happen? My Indigo Hound Combs from Halcyon Yarn. I'm not too pleased with Halcyon. We requested they ship by UPS, and they did no such thing. When I received my package, it was addressed to "Edmunton" Alberta. They also sent me a Broken comb cover. No, not impressed. I'm about to order a good lot of spinning stuffz, and still don't know where to order from. But it won't be from Halcyon, that's for sure.

anyway, I washed the fleece from a cria named Storm. Every shade of grey imaginable in this little guy. I combed that. And combed it some more. I feel like I've been combing grey alpaca for a year. So, Heartily tired of grey, I switched to some of Fernando's fleece. It makes me weep. Fernando is an amazing boy, bred by TLC alpaca's, he now lives at The Farm At Rainbow's End. And I have his cria fleece. *laughs maniacally*. Long long staple, amazing crimp and luster, and best of all, very soft and gurad-hairless he's part Pure white, and part light brown. Unfortunately, while the base of the white sections are indeed, very white, the middle and tips are....grey. Evil, thy name is Dust! Actually, dust is only a minor annoyance compared to his truly horrible counterpart, Static. I can't do anything, it makes combing, separating fleece, and spinning Impossible. I hate static, aaaargh. As a sidenote, I have the fleeces of both Fernando's parents, Sadie and Checkmate. All lovely.

Here's some more alpaca, but this is from YKnot fibres, down in Fort Mcleod. Dave and Connie Carlson are the people who taught me to spin, back at South Country Fair '04. Seems like forever don't it?

As I'm sure you can all tell by now, I'm quite obsessed with Alpaca. I also have a real soft spot for darker browns, and I'll show you the consequences of that when they arrive.

I've been talking to Jackie over at Wind Dance Alpacas, and wouldn't you know that she has some darker brown male alpacas, not reg'd, but registerable, for sale at 250$? she also has eight cria's on the way, which will be ready to go in eight months-ish. Let's see how fast Melanie can move back to the Kootenays and get a farm?
More to come...

Team Player

2006-01-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

I have officially signed up for the Knitting Olympics. I went ahead and put in a big order at The Knitter for 4 shawl patterns, and enough zephyr for all of them. The olympic shawl will be the Peacock Feathers Shawl in Emerald. I also ordered the Sheep Shawl, the Pacific Northwest Shawl, and the Creatures of The Reef shawl. Crossing my fingers, and praying to the knitting goddess that they get here before February 10th.

In other shawl news...Flirty Ruffles has been getting lots of attention, and chart #3 has been completed. Slowly growing. The purl back rows are starting to be very long, and knowing by the end of the shawl they will be more than twice this length frightens me. I also dearly wish the Addi Turbo needles were a bit pointier, it would make everything go so much faster.

I decided to jump on the bandwagon, and cast on for a pair of Jaywalkers. Well...I'm a bit late for the bandwagon, the KAL is almost over...so I suppose I'm walking behind the wagon. The pattern is very simple, very easily memorized, and very addictive. I'm using a Regia yarn that has tried to be two pairs of socks before this, and didn't succeed. It will stay as jaywalkers this time! Pictures of everything to come...when I figure out why iPhoto and Entourage are not cooperating.

1 Year.

2006-01-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

Today marks The 1 year Anniversary for myself and the Boyfriend of Doom. It's amazing how fast 1 year flies by. Sure, the long distance can be tricky at times, especially when you haven't seen your Significant Other for over 4 months, but at least in this relationship, it is entirely worth it. There were minor disagreements. There were major fights. And there were times when he cheered me up as no one else can. Thankyou for a wonderful year Guillaume, and I hope there will be many, many more to come.

Onto some knitting stuff. The Flirty Ruffles Shawl has been tragically ignored. I tried to work a chart section, but only managed 4 rows. I'm now on row 93, 2/3 of the way through chart #3. Yesterday, I also had the chance to go through all my bags of alpaca fibre. I am dearly hoping my Indigo Hound combs get here tomorrow I have A LOT of fibre in the storage space, and there's a move coming up very soon. I'm hoping to get most of it combed and packaged before then.... As you can see, there needs to be some serious action, and soon.

No more progress on the two colour mittens. I'm thinking of ripping them back, spinning some plain white wool, and making three colour socks. We shall see. I joined up for Secret Pal 7 and received my pal. Though I still haven't heard anything from the person who's supposed to be spoiling me. If you're out there mysterious pal, drop a line!

That's about all for now, I have been preparing and spinning some golden coloured alpaca from a cria named Seven (formerly of TLC alpacas) into a laceweight. Debating wether or not to make this into a scarf as a birthday present for an upcoming birthday. I do not like knitting scarves, they are usually long, repetitive and boring...I am adamant about this fact. And yet, I seem to be knitting more scarves than anything else. Sigh.

This was going to be a good post...

2006-01-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

So, while it's been more than a month since I spun the chiengora yarn, I figured I should maybe blog about it one of these days. Coda, The Yarn Dog, is a border collie/ australian shepherd/ afghan hound mix. I've measured some of his hairs to be 11 inches long! He has classic blue merle colouring (when not dyed the colours of the rainbow) and the yarn I spin from his fur is lovely variegated grey.

I didn't have enough of his hair to make 100% dog hair yarn, and still have enough for a hat and mittens. so i spun one fine single of dog hair, and one thicker single of fine white merino. I wasn't sure, at the time, about the Ragg colouring of the yarn, but when knitted up, it's very pretty. The white merino turned out to be the perfect background colour for the ever changing shades of grey.

Of course, as mentioned before, the first mitten had to be completely ripped back because of sizing troubles. So I reknitted it, larger this time, and it worked! Here's what they look like now, after about a month of wear. Well, actually, I was about to show you what they would look like, I went and took pictures of the mittens, and all my spoils from my trip to Quebec. But aparently iPhoto says half the pictures can't be imported because they aren't actually pictures. On top of that, every time I open entourage to configure the pictures, it freezes and quits. I always hated entourage.

So until the computer stops being stupid, you'll have to do with older pictures. Take for example, the story of the horribly inexplicable yarn. I had bought a batt of brownish merino back in august at Birkeland Bros. Wool co. So I decided to spin some up, and see what came of it. Lady Margret, my heretofore trusty Ashford Traveller, hated it. She wouldn't spin the singles evenly, and when I started plying... Well, it seemed she hated it so much, she wouldn't fill the bobbin, So somehow, even though I can usually get about 75 yards of worsted weight on one bobbin....I got 45.

I really can't blame her for it though, as everything about the yarn was weird. The colour is an inexplicable matt brown/grey. I can't decide if it feels soft, or oily, or both. It's utterly indescribeable. So given this, what would anyone do...except go to the corner store, and buy koolaid! I came home, soaked the yarn, and proceeded to dye it with three packets of Cherry. This would have been what I got, but unfortunately, the picture fails to describe exactly how even more inexplicable the yarn was after I dyed it.

The yarn, frankly, frightened me. The colour, and texture, that could never be explained, haunted me at night. It had to leave. But where does one send handspun merino that would be red if it was describeable? There's only one place that would be fitting. Kansas. After all, everyone knows...there's no place like home. Aparently Alyson (the recipient) loves the yarn, and is knitting a scarf out of it. All for the good, I say. She likes it, and it's stopped haunting my dreams. Everyone wins when you send away yarn that scares you. Does anyone know if this would work with children, haircuts, or piles of laundry/dishes?

So in conclusion, this was going to be a great post, with tons of pictures of new yarn...but it isn't. Maybe next time.

SP7 Questionnaire

2006-01-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

Here It is, for anyone who needs to know ;)

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? :
An especially snobby yarn snob =P

2. Do you spin? Crochet? :
both, I weave too, and would love to get into dyeing.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? :
So far, a plastic bag...not the best solution, I know.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? :
I learned to knit when I was 4, the again when I was 9, but didn't get into it seriously till about 2 years ago. I would consider myself Advanced Intermediate.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? :
Amazon and Knitpicks

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) :
I'm allergic to artificial scents. I absolutely love Rosemary though.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? :
I pretty much eat only dark organic chocolate, as i'm not much of a candy person. I also dislike any combination of mint and chocolate, or milk chocolate.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? :
Let's see...Cooking (vegetarian), Cleaning, Gardening. Of course spinning, Knitting, Crochet, and Weaving.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) :
I usually like folk music, and some alternative bands like They Might Be Giants, Moxie Fruvous, or Cowboys Fringants. Not at all a fan of popular music though.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? :
I love green. When it comes to natural fibre animal colours...The really dark reddish browns are by far my favorite. I generally like blue, and autumn colours. I don't wear either purple or pink.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? :
I have a Horse, a Yarn Dog, 3 Tarantulas, A bearded Dragon, and a Columbian Red Tail Boa. No children, Long term boyfriend.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? :
Yup, mostly the first three though, Love shawls.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? :
I love knitting with my own handspun. Jaeggerspun Zephyr Wool-Silk is pretty nice too.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? :
All things Fake, and coarse mohair, not too fond of coarse superwash merino either.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?:
Shawls, and more shawls. Had a bit of a sock and mitten faze, and I suspect they'll come back. I seem to be knitting many scarves lately, but I find them long and boring.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?:
I like mittens, they take little yarn, and go quickly. I find lace shawls to be a lot of fun.

17. What are you knitting right now?
Alpaca Scarf, Flirty Ruffles Shawl, With plans for the Garden Shawl (fiddlesticks knitting) In the Ocean colourway...if I ever manage to buy any of the yarn...

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? :
Yup, if they're well made.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?:
I love knitting in the round, because there are no purl back rows, and you can just go round and round and round, but I usually use dpn's for that. Straight or circ...depends on what's right for the project.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?:
usually use aluminum, some plastic ones are okay I suppose, never had the chance to try bamboo.

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?:
I wish I did, and I desperately need a swift, a ball winder, and a niddy noddy.

22. How did you learn to knit?:
first one grandmother, then the other.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?:
About 3 years, it's an acrylic sunflower granny square afghan....from earlier times...

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?:
I always liked Quetzel Birds, and I love Horses.

25. What is your favorite holiday?:
Good Old Canadian Thanksgiving. No present pressure, which can lead to severe PHKS (Post Holiday Knitting Syndrome) And lots of good food and company.

26. Is there anything that you collect?:
heh...animal hair, and fibre books seem to be fairly common around here.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?:
so far none, I buy IK, Spin Off, and VK if i like the issue.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?:
The Flower Basket Shawl!!!! and the pattern for Birch! I can't pick them up anywhere, they're Always out. I Covet Lorna's Laces in the Daffodil colourway. Also some of that newly notorious Socks That Rock stuff. For Spinning...some Suri Alpaca, Qiviut, Icelandic sheep's fleece.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?:
Hmm, I should learn entrelac, and I'd love to get into Fair isle and Intarsia knitting.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? :
I am a sock knitter, but can't recall my foot measurements at the moment.

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
April 7th

The Ballad of Rose-Grey

2005-12-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

There is an Alpaca Fleece that resides in my closet. It's not just any fleece, I have come to realize. It has amazing luster, about a 4" staple, and High crimp. Now, as I was discussinga christmas gift with the recipient, we came to the eventual topic of what colour it should be. The recipient doesn't spin, or knit, and has no idea how to do either, so naturally he knows nothing about alpacas. The conversation went something like this...

Me: So, what colour do you want?
R: I like blue.
Me: Alpacas come in twenty-two natural colours, but i'm pretty sure blue is not one of them.
R: well...
Me: how about grey? Black? Brown? Rose Grey?
R: ya, Rose Grey, that sounds good.
Me: You don't even know what it is.
R: Anyway, as I was saying before...

So I dug out the fleece, I hadn't done anything with it yet, and to date had been unaware of it's loveliness. I carded some of it, but since I happen to be very ill-prepared when it comes to fibre prep, I have to use dog slicker brushes. Christmas is solving this with a pair of Indigo Hound 5 Pitch combs, thankfully. I decided to try and retain as much lock formation as I could, so I did some serious flick carding.

Then I pulled it through one of those little nozzles you put on the end of icing bags, since I don't have a diz yet (shhh).

It hadn't been washed yet, and having been in contact with some icky fleeces, I had this irrational fear that maybe it wasn't rose grey, but actually just grey and the brown was just dirt...but I perservered and spun two bobbins full.

It came out about a worsted weight 2 ply. I skeined it over the arms of my rocking/spinning chair, as I do with all skeins. One wrap around the chair arms also happens to measure Exactly 4 feet, so it serves well as a temporary niddy-noddy. It was around midnight at the time, so I brought them downstairs to soak for a while, and went to start spinning Coda's hair. The whole process of washing ended about 1:30am, so I put them up to dry, and went to bed. In the morning they were still just a little damp, so I stuck them in the Dryer for a little. Here is the Yarn, all finished and pretty...

It's amazingly sproingy and soft and light, I am just in love with it, which brings us to a dillema. R, the non-spinning, non-knitting friend, probably won't appreciate the sproingy perfect-pliedness of it, will he? So it wouldn't be bad if maybe we didn't give him the yarn knit into a headband for christmas, would it? I know I spun it with christmas intent and a certain person in mind and blahblah, but it turned out much better than I expected. Decisions, Decisions.

Veni Vidi Vici.

2005-12-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

It came, It saw, it conquered. The yarn that is. Not just any yarn though...Zephyr, Jaeggerspun Zephyr. As I was in the Kitchen making breakfast (at 1pm, but shhh) a package flew towards me and landed at my feet. I thought it was an awfully small package for three balls of yarn. Turns out that somehow I didn't expect it to be, well....dental floss. I couldn't help myself. I had bought the Addi Turbos, The yarn was here...casting on ensued.
Things seemed to be going well, it's my first time on a Real lace shawl. I was proud of myself that I hadn't made any big mistakes...of course, that would be exactly when it happened. I find, that knitting, is very much like skating, in that as soon as you start to get cocky and go "yeah, i'm good at this!" you'll fall flat on your face. Row 49, chart 1. I am supposed to have 49 stitches on each half. Knit one half, there is an extra stitch. Rip back until I think I found the problem. Knit. Still one extra stitch. Rip to the beggining of the row, this time I definitely fixed the problem. Knit to the marker but wait...is that an extra stitch? Cuss a little, then K2tog and solve the problem that way. Do the same thing for the other half. Work the purl back row, confidentally move on to Row 51. Knit to marker but wait...no, can it be? I'm missing a stitch. Cuss a lot, put it down, and work on a chiengora mitten.
Now, I generally like my mittens to be snug, and have shaping, but this, this seemed a little too snug. I tried it on, tried it on some more, but still came to the same conclusion. I don't want to have to rip this back too, but it's a special yarn, and I want the mittens to be perfect. And now, I get to rip back 4 rows of dental floss, and a whole F*%!$ing mitten. Perhaps this is my punishment for daring to work on two projects destined for Me, during what should be christmas knitting time. Maybe I should just stick to spinning.

True Colours

2005-11-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

For halloween, I thought it only fitting everyone be included in the festivities. And so, I give you, The Master of Disguise in the canine world, Coda!

In other news, there was The Weaver's Guild show and sale, where interesting things were purchased. There was the gorgeous Hand dyed Tencel warp. I was undecided about it, perhaps because of the cost, but thankfully, my erstwhile fibre companion, the wonderful Sue, made me do it. No hard feelings though, there's enough for two 66" long scarves with 6" fringe.

I was seriously harboring thoughts of spinning Coda's hair (not coloured) into the weft yarn, but i'm not sure how well they will blend. We shall see, since there will be no time for this project until I come back from vacation, on January 7th. Other spoils include some cones of Merino lacey/fingering weight in hunter green and dark brown, and some Linen for warp. No pictures, but they may find their way here at a later time.

In theory, there should be some yarn arriving from The Knitter for me. It's Jaeggerspun Zephyr Wool-Silk, in Aegean Blue, destined to become The Flirty Ruffles shawl. It was ordered quite some time ago, and should be here by next wednesday. Let's hope Customs doesn't decide it's a yarn bomb and hold it back for safety purposes. Because I'm really hoping to take it with me for airplane and vacation knitting.

Christmas Knitting is becoming more and more pressing. Worst of all, the yarn still has to be spun for the Gifts, so I can't just start them all right away. I have to spin and knit 3 pairs of mittens, one hat and one headband, before December 13th. Wish me luck.

Dissapearing Act

2005-10-20T12:39:00.000-06:00

This is 100% wool sliver, sprinkle dyed by "Shades of Narnia" there was approximately 100 gramms of the stuff. I spun it up, and navajo plied it into a worsted weight. The first bobbin of plied yarn had 80 yards on it. I was having a problem with cold hands, so I searched for a pattern for fingerless mittens. I didn't find any i really wanted to make, so I designed my own pattern, as I knit. They fit very well, and I loved the colours. I wore them for one day - one. That night I placed them beside the computer, and I have not seen them since.

I wonder why they left? I separated the roving colours carefully, spun them, all the while commenting on the beautiful colours. Sure, I may have cursed, once or twice, as I was plying, since the built in lazy kate on my ashford Traveller doesn't have tension...I skeined the yarn, counted how many times it went around the niddy noddy...then lovingly I knit it into mittens. I wore them to teach a knitting class, I wore them while reading my favorite knitblogs. Perhaps they could not stand the sight of me knitting other projects? And to get back at me the dissapeared? Whatever the case, there is one irrevocable fact i have to face: My hands are cold, and there isn't enough green handspun to knit another pair.

In other news, it is most definitely fall here. A few weeks ago I pulled up the garden, tomato plants we barely ate from (short growing season), lettuce that had gone to seed, and dug up the rest of our potatoes. This year we had Warbas, Russets, and a specialty, Banana Potatoe. If a banana could be a potatoe...well, you get my meaning. All summer and fall we have been kept well fed in very good potatoes. We left the kale out, and after a few frosts it is like butter...I swear...so tender, it melts when you look at it!

The herbs are still alive...but no longer growing. Spot the lavender and rosemary? Two of my favorites. Unfortunately, this year I bought my plants in June, and they were so rootbound in their little pots, they never grew out of it. Last year my lavender plant literally exploded, it was huge, this year...a whole summer of growing and that's all there is.

I have always wanted to have hollyhocks, but the seed supplier at the farmer's market was out of seed, and in any case, they are a biennial. We're hoping to move out of this house in time to plant a garden in a new yard, so I would never have the chance to see them in bloom. Well, it seems like everyone in our neighborhood except me has hollyhocks, so I decided to go on a quest for a few offshoots. I dug up three, after asking various owners, but only one survived. I was so pleased when it actually flowered in it's pot! upon closer inspection of it, and various flowers in the neighbourhood, I'm no longer entirely sure it's a hollyhock.

it's looking pretty ratty, i know, but it's the end of the season, and also, 2005 was the Year of the Slugs. like some cheap horror film. No mittens, fake hollyhocks, and good kale. Life is like a box of chocolates (just hope you don't get the marachino cherry).

Flower Dud

2005-10-17T10:37:00.000-06:00

There is a pattern, in my book of stiches, called Flower Bud. I always thought this would make a nice sock pattern, and perhaps it may, just not when -I- knit it. I knit this sock, from worsted weight wool, on 3.5mm's. I know, I know, I realize what I have done, completely wrong. I put lace all the way around, no ribbing in the back. Mistake #3. I did K1 P1 ribbing for the cuff, instead of K2 P2, mistake #4.

The sock, even after blocking, is very hard to get on. It fits, it's just hard to get on, it's also hard to get off, which could be a plus. The Flower Bud pattern, really doesn't look all that great. Maybe it's because I knit with worsted weight wool, on needles too small, I don't know. Normal wedge toe, i may have messed up on that too (possible mistake #5). I really couldn't get a decent picture of the sock AND the colour at the same time, it is, however, the same yarn used for the sock below.

I have discovered, that from one ball of guersney irish worsted weight, I can knit one dud lace sock, and one very nice "aran style" sock. I do not, however, know if i can knit two aran style socks from one ball. This was how much yarn i had left:

I love the cables on this sock. I have never really done cables before, and am just amazed by the perfect mathematical symmetry the display. I did get the side cables wrong, but i didn't feel like ripping out, and figured they could easily be covered by the cuff.

The front cable pattern was fairly simple to memorize, and I didn't need to use a cable needle, as i did on the side cables. I'm very pleased with the fit and appearance of the sock. Same wool as the flower dud, 4mm needles. MUCH better.

sockapaltwoza

2005-10-16T21:40:00.000-06:00

I have decided to commit to this blog wholeheartedly! I participated in sockapaltwoza, and although i am very, very, very late on my sockpal's socks (sorry karlie!) they are finally done.
They are made from two balls of lavender-ish colour King Cole DK weight superwash merino. I really enjoyed knitting with this wool, and bought enough for two more pairs of socks.

It's machine washable, and "anti-tickle". The lace pattern is called "fishtail lace" and it's very easy to memorize, and is a really great pattern for socks.

The sock was designed by myself, partridge eye heel flap, short row heel, and wedge toe. The ends haven't been woven in in this picture, and her feet are slightly smaller than mine.

I tried several patterns before this, and none of them turned out to be anything half decent. I've also realized how hard it is to find patterns for small feet. I recently bought the " Acorn Socks " pattern, and it tells me to cast on 64 stitches. This size of sock simply is too big for many small feet! These designers rarely include a smaller size to boot.

Anyway, That's my beef, over and out folks

Dandelions

2005-05-30T09:41:00.000-06:00

Spinning with dandelions has finally come to pass here at the dandelion spinnery. Or, rather, will come to pass. First we have to get to the part about dyeing the wool. Out at an organic farm yesterday I picked dandelions. I may have miscalculated my amount of dandelion flowers, but i suppose that's no surprise with someone who would pick five 1 gallon buckets crammed full of flowers in the first place. How I will fit these all in the dehydrator, I have no idea. The sun is out, so maybe I can sun dry them. Unfortunately, I still do not know how to post pictures on this beast of a blog, so I cannot show you the dandelions, the spun alpaca, the regia socks, or the fingerless mitt from hell. One day soon i will bend this blog to my will...and then...we shall see...pictures.

peaceful and fluffy

2005-03-24T15:01:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was spent carding and separating alpaca into roving, and then spinning. Unfortunately i do nt posess the wonderful creations known as handcards...and am forced to rely on two (rather small) dog slicker brushes. Needless to say, the entire process takes a very long time. The wool itself doesn't even come out properly carded, and, instead of a lovely smooth yarn...i have a slubby one. I suppose it can be used for a hat. Everyone will admire it and admire the yarn, even though it's full of gnarls and slubs, just because it's handspun alpaca. No pictures yet of this yarn (still on the bobbin, and yet to be plied) but i can show you some rather delectable 2 Ply grey alpaca.
http://flickr.com/photos/69384891@N00/7328882/
since this blog seems to have issues with actually showing my photo...here is the url. Not the best picture, but i think it depicts the fluffiness of the yarn (and it is very fluffy). When knitting this, it's of the utmost importance to remember to stop periodically and rub the yarn against your cheek. I sometimes wonder if the world wouldn't be a better place, if when someone gets angry, they could just stop and feel some fluffy alpaca yarn. Just drains it right out of you. After all....how you you stay mad at something that soft?

Birth of a Blog

2005-03-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

Well here we are, at the opening of another knitblog. make yourselves comfy, be prepared to write wry comments, and generally be merry. in any case, i hope you enjoy the wonderfully exciting (read: ceaselessly boring) world that is my life, and here we go!