Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts

Friday, April 15, 2016

What does Spinning mean to you?

What does Spinning mean to you?
 
Some think it is a child turning round and round really fast, while playing, until they get dizzy and fall down.  Some may even think of a merry-go-round from their childhood, and how fast they could make it go, before they jumped on.When you type in spinning on the internet you get things like spinning bicycle wheels, tires, exercise bikes. 
However, to us Fiber Artists, it means twisting fiber, fleece, or wool roving, silk, alpaca, angora, mohair, flax, etc. into a continuous thread using either a spinning wheel or a drop spindle.  Spinners can spin their thread thick or thin, plied or un-plied, some will dye their yarns, while others leave it natural.
Fiber artists use their yarn for knitting, crocheting, or weaving projects.  I have seen people even use unspun fiber for knitting, crocheting, weaving and yes even felting.  I love seeing all these different ways of using fiber.
I love to spin my yarn into thin singles, 2 plied yarn and even a 3 ply yarn.  I knit a lot of different projects from my yarn, like socks, hats, scarves, boot cuffs, cowls and shawls.  I have even wove triangle shawls, scarves and overshot coverlet squares with my handspun yarn.  I have even dyed my own yarn too, its fun to watch the fiber absorb the dyes.
Spinning is a form of art and is done in a variety of ways, which makes it exciting, because no 2 yarns are the same.


Monday, April 11, 2016

The Call

The Call
A call came in this morning
to tell me some news.
News that has sent my mind
on a whirl wind.
I've had this call a few other
times, but I worry regardless.
I know you are in good hands,
and there's really nothing I can do.
I'm 3,000 miles away, so all I can
do is wait.
I try to knit, but my mind wanders
and I loose track of my stitches.
I try to do some spinning, but the
fiber is getting over twisted and sometimes
under twisted.
My mind is nothing but a whirl wind.
The phone rings, I jump and I hear
that you are resting and tests were being done,
and the results will come back in a hour or so.
The whirl wind of my mind is slowly dying
down, but its still whirling.
It will not stop until I know that all is well and
you are home.
Get some rest, I love you Mom!


Friday, March 11, 2016

Newly Listed Skeins and some knitting

Well, my newly dyed yarn is all dry, labels are made, and all 4 skeins are now listed.
Pink Handspun Alpaca Yarn 179 yds.
Pink Handspun Alpaca Yarn 178 yds.
Kelly Green Handspun Alpaca Yarn 200 yds.
Kelly Green Handspun Alpaca Yarn 195 yds.
Once I had all these skeins listed, I sat down and did some knitting on the new Handspun Knitted Mountain Sunset Colonial Merino Half Circle Shawl.
I now have 103 1/2 rows completed.  I still have 56 1/2 more rows to go before I start on the border edge.


Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Lots of plying yesterday and some knitting today

What more can I say?....should I gloat?....should I rejoice over my success yesterday.  Yep!  I did it!  I finished plying up the second skein, that I had started plying up on Monday.
I wound it off onto my niddy noddy, washed it, hung it to dry and headed back to the spinning wheel and plied up a third skien.
Then I wound it off, washed it, and hung it to dry and headed back to my spinning wheel.  I changed out my bobbins and began refilling the first bobbin.
I did all of this in 2 hours 4 seconds.  I now have 4 skeins (1 was from last month), that I can dye up.  I'm thinking Pink for 2 and Green for the other 2.  What do you think?
This morning I was up bright and early, as I wanted to get back to my knitting on the Handspun Knitted Mountain Sunset Colonial Merino Half Circle Shawl.  I finished another  8 rows in 1 hour 51 minutes 3 seconds.
I now have 86 rows completed. 
 

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Lots of spinning yesterday and some knitting this morning

Well, yesterday I got a lot of spinning done.  I managed to finished refilling the 3rd bobbin,
then I started in plying
This was all done in 1 hour 49 minutes 56 seconds.  I took a bit of a break and then came back, to finish plying up this skein.
I wound it off onto my niddy noddy, then washed it and hung it to dry.  Then I returned to my spinning wheel to start plying up a new skein.
I came awfully close to filling this bobbin.  It took my 1 hour 50 minutes 45 seconds to finish the first skein and start plying up this skein.  All in all I spent 3 hours 40 minutes 41 seconds in the spinning room.  Not bad for a days worth of spinning!
This morning though it picking up my Handspun Knitted Mountain Sunset Colonial Merino Half Circle Shawl and started in knitting.  I knitted 10 rows and started on the 11th row.  I now have 78 completed rows with 1/4 of the 79th row started.
The shawl isn't laying flat, due to my beginning a new row.  However, the pattern is starting to show up.  I need to get a closer picture of what I call shells,......the pattern calls them fans.


Monday, March 7, 2016

Relaxing Sunday, Knitting on new shawl and maybe some spinning later today.

Yesterday was a quiet relaxing Sunday with my husband, Sue-chi.  We were hoping for some warmer weather, so that we could start leveling the ground and cinder blocks to get ready for erecting, our greenhouse.  However, we didn't get the warmer weather, so instead we relaxed and watched some old movies (Flight of the Phoenix with Jimmy Stuart, The Aviator with Leonardo DiCaprio).  Today though, I started off knitting on the Handspun Knitted Mountain Sunset Colonial Merino Half Circle Shawl.  I was only able to knit 8 rows though, in 1 hour 48 minutes.
However, I have a total of 68 rows knitted so far and that is not bad, since I started knitting on this shawl last Wednesday.
Now to head upstairs and do some spinning.  I'm hoping to finish refilling the third bobbin and then start in plying up a new skein of Handspun 3 ply White Alpaca Yarn. 


Saturday, March 5, 2016

Spinning is a major part of my life

Spinning is a major part of my life.  I spin everyday, sometimes for an hour and sometimes for 2 or 3 hours.  On days where I only get an hours worth of spinning done its usually because life outside of spinning intervenes.  The days where I get to spin for 2 or 3 hours are rare but nice, because I get lots done.  I may even get a bobbin and a half filled or even 2 skeins plied up.  Today I was only able to spin for 1 hour 47 minutes 34 seconds and almost had my 3rd bobbin filled.
Knitting is also a big part of my life and whenever, I can find some spare time to knit, the needles come out and start in clicking away.  Since I was up really early this morning with Sue-chi, because she wasn't feeling well.  I pulled out the shawl I started on 2 days ago and knitted 9 more rows in 1 hour 47 minutes and 23 seconds.
There's a total 60 rows knitted now and a little over 5 hours worth of knitting time.  I've place markers after each repeat, in order to keep track of the pattern.
 


Friday, March 4, 2016

Sunshine in my eyes makes me feel energized.

Each morning the sun rises earlier and I find myself waking up to the sun shinning in my eyes.  This gives me energy to climb out of bed and head into the spinning room to do some more spinning.  I was so energized this morning, that I finished refilling the second bobbin.
Then because I was so into my spinning, I started in refilling the third bobbin.
Its really hard to believe, that all this spinning was done in 1 hour 46 minutes 43 seconds.
You'd think I would be tired after doing that much spinning, but I wasn't and so I moved on to my knitting.  The Handspun Knitted Mountain Sunset Colonial Merino Half Circle Shawl is growing.
I now have 51 rows knitted and there's 162 sts on my needles.  This is only the second day of knitting on this shawl too.  Yesterday I knitted 35 rows, but today because, more stitches were added, I was only able to knit 16 rows in 1 hour 46 minutes 30 seconds.  The pattern is starting to show a little bit more in this picture too.
 


Thursday, March 3, 2016

Ideas form for some new products while spinning early in the morning.

As you all know, I really love to spin wool into yarn, knit it into products and even play with dyeing the yarn.  So this morning, when I was sitting at my spinning wheel, at 6:11 am, and spinning up more white alpaca, ideas started forming for a new product to knit up.  My spinning time went by so quickly, because of the ideas that were flowing and 1 hour 46 minutes 17 seconds just flew by.  The second bobbin was almost filled.
So when my spinning time was done, I pulled out a skein of Handspun Mountain Sunset Colonial Merino Yarn, that I spun up a few years ago as a single ply yarn.  I placed it on my umbrella swift to wind it into a center pull ball.  Then I pulled out my size 8 circular needles, that I just recently bought and started in casting on for a "Handspun Knitted Mountain Sunset Colonial Merino Half Circle Shawl".  Here's how much I have done so far.
35 rows finished in 1 hour 42 minutes 59 seconds.


Monday, February 22, 2016

Back to the spinning wheel

After taking the last 4 days off from spinning to do some knitting, it was time for me to get back to the spinning wheel today.  I able to spend roughly 2 hours, 20 minutes and 25 seconds at the spinning wheel.  I would have spent more, Monday's are about doing the laundry and going grocery shopping.  Anyways  I came really close to refilling the 3 bobbin once again. 
I hope tomorrow to finish refilling it and start in plying up 2 more skeins of 3 ply white alpaca yarn.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Lost in my own spinning world

Sometimes I just get lost in my own little spinning world.  Once I get into the spinning room, my thoughts are on nothing but fiber, spinning, carding, weaving and knitting.  Today was not the exception!  I knew that today I'd be concentrating on where I left off yesterday on my spinning.
This bobbin was almost completely full yesterday with handspun 3 ply white alpaca and my goal for today was to finish filling it.....
which I accomplished in the first 27 minutes and 27 seconds of spinning.  I then wound it off onto my niddy noddy, washed it and hung it to dry.
Then I began plying up another skein (22nd) and managed to almost have the bobbin full again in 1 hour.
This is what happens when I get lost in my own little spinning world!  Now that lunch break is almost over, I think I'll go and get lost again.  I so LOVE to spin!
 
 
 

Thursday, January 21, 2016

No spinning or knitting today!

Sorry Folks!  No spinning or knitting today.  I did try!! Yesterday I sliced the top of my finger yesterday, when I was cleaning my house.  I sliced bad enough for my husband to take me to the ER for 3 stitches.  My finger feels better today, but its awkward to spin and knit and I have a tendency to poke myself with the knitting needles.  Then when I'm spinning, I put pressure on that area of my finger and it hurts.  So I think I'll sit back a read some spinning and weaving magazines for a couple of days.  Sorry everyone!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Tired but ideas are flowing like crazy #finished #socks #knitting #spinning #bootcuffs

TDespite my feeling extremely tired this morning, loads of ideas are flowing through my head.  Why is it when you are tired that the ideas tend to overflow.  LOL  Oh well, I'm just happy to have them!
Before I start writing them all down though, I want to share with you, what I did yesterday. 
Here goes!
I finished the first boot cuff (second pair), and started on the mate.  Since I have the pattern memorized, this pair is working up, much faster.
I finished refilling the second bobbin and started in refilling the third bobbin.  It won't be long, before I'm plying up the 16 and 17th skeins.
Last but not least, I finished up my brother's socks last night.  So today I'll be printing up labels, for my mom's and brother's socks and then wrapping them up, packaging them and sending them off to the post office.  Soon they'll have warm, comfy, cozy feet.
Now for the ideas............
1.  hand warmers
2. shawls
3. sweaters
4. woven table runners
5. woven dish towels
6. woven coverlet
7. baby blanket
etc.................
 


Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Yesterday's accomplishments #finished #socks #knitting #spinning

I did it!  I finally finished my mom's socks!!  Oh I know she'll be happy, to have her socks soon.  She told me a while back that her socks were starting to wear thin, hence my knitting this new pair.
I almost finished up the first boot cuff, from the second pair, I'm working on.
I even came very close to refilling the second bobbin with handspun white alpaca.
and to top it all off, I only have 36 more rows left and my brother's socks will be finished.
This was all yesterday's work though, so you can see just what I'm going to accomplish today.
 
 


Monday, January 18, 2016

What's on the production line? Last day for Sale #knitting #spinning #JANSALE

Yesterday, I stayed pretty busy, despite a long good conversation with my youngest son in Florida.  Once I got off the phone, I was back to knitting and spinning.  I kept the production line going, even if I didn't complete anything.  Here's some pictures of what I accomplished in 6 hours 7 minutes and 15 seconds.
17 1/2 rows completed on a new pair of Handspun Knitted Wildberry Colonial Wool Blend Boot Cuffs
First bobbin refilled once again and second bobbin started to be refilled.
I almost finished my mom's socks (4 more rows of the pattern and then toe take off time).  I finished the gusset on my brother's socks and started in on the instep.
 
Today is the last day to take advantage and
 
save 20% on purchases at http://www.spinningginny.com (expires Tuesday at 2:00 am EST).

Sunday, January 17, 2016

First Sale of the Year #knitting #spinning #JANSALE

Yesterday morning I was busy packaging up my first sale of the year!  A wonderful friend bought these 4 skeins of Handspun - Dyed - Alpaca - Yarn
After I came back from the post office from mailing off her package, I took pictures of the Handspun - Knitted - Wild Berry - Colonial Wool Blend - Boot Cuffs
sewed in the labels, printed out a label and then listed them on my website.  Then I started in knitting on another pair with the remaining yarn.
After getting this new pair started, I put it aside and headed upstairs to the spinning room to start spinning up more White Alpaca
I pretty close to refilling this first bobbin again, but needed to get back to my knitting.  So I stopped spinning and picked up my knitting needles again.  I finished the gusset on my mom's socks
and knitted quite a bit on the instep.  Then I put it down to start in knitting on my brother's socks.
When I started knitting on my brother's socks, I was at the beginning on the gusset (just starting).  Now the gusset is half way finished.

 
Save 20% on purchases at
 
https://www.spinningginny.com (expires Tuesday at 2:00 am EST).

Friday, January 15, 2016

#socks #knitting #new #listing #dyed #alpaca #yarn #JANSALE

Well, I'm late getting here again.  Sorry, but I think you'll understand once you see, what I've been doing.  I finished up the leg, heel flap and heel turn on my brother's socks.
Then I rewound the 2 skeins that I dyed yesterday and listed them on my website.
 
Spinning Ginny is taking 20% off her entire inventory.

  Sale starts 1/16/16 ends 1/19/16!http://www.spinningginny.com