Posted by: Mare F | December 3, 2013

Spinning corner revised

My little spinning corner has finally  come into its own.  Just a small bit of rearranging and organizing has given me a lovely spot to relax and play with my fibers. It’s within sight of the computer screen so if I require the assistance of a YouTube video or one of my Craftsy classes I can easily see it and work along. There is a window for natural light behind me and the fireplace for ambiance. It’s quite the little roving nest I’ve created. I’ve had to pack up my rug loom for the time being, but I need to get a different back beam for it before I can attempt to weave a rug so it’s  not a painful separation for now.

photos 247 I only got to spin up one of the 11 types of roving I purchased in Rhinebeck, NY last week. I woke with a wicked cold on Monday and it’s stuck to me until just before the last show that I worked…quite the tenacious cold it was.  but the spinning is coming back. I worked on a red and green dyed CorriedaleX that came out very pretty, but I didn’t have quite the grace this past week that I had a couple of weeks ago. I’m blaming the cold, but we shall see.

photos 249

I am entranced with my new 7′ adjustable triangle loom. I have one shawl on it finished, but I haven’t had time to take it off the loom. I did the Vo-Ag craft show and have gotten enough orders that I haven’t had time to play with it. I’m not complaining  about the orders, just can’t wait for Christmas break so that I can really get creative with the new toy. I bought it because it will work very well with my not entirely consistent hand spun yarns so I now have more incentive to spin…when I get the time. Now if I can just squeeze out a little more time in my day…..

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Posted by: Mare F | October 22, 2013

New York Sheep and Wool Festival

This past Saturday 3 wonderful women and I spent the day at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY. The weather was lovely although it did cloud up later in the day, but that just made it even better for buying roving and wool.

Rhinebeck 2013 016It was my first, but certainly not my last, visit and had I not had a serious game plan in place I might have just wandered around in circles all day with my jaw agape. As it was I believe that for the first 1/2 hour I was there my mantra was, “I’m not here for this, I’m here for roving.” It worked. Eventually I could just scan a booth and tell if there was a breed there that I hadn’t gotten yet. While I’m sure that I missed some wonderful things, I’m happy with the rovings I managed to get.

Goodies from Rhinebeck 001This is my assortment of roving to spin. I got CorriedaleX, Dorset, Wenselydale, Wensleydale/BFL, Jacob, Border Leicester, Cormo/Silk/Alpaca (this from Barbara Parry’s booth as well as her two books – Adventures in Yarn Farming and Visually Teach Yourself Dyeing autographed), Hog Island, 2 wool/silk art  batts, Cormo, and Maine Island. I also woke up yesterday with a vicious head cold so I’ve only spun a small amount of the CorriedaleX, but I love the way that it’s spinning up so far…even while being mildly uncoordinated. I also bought a 7′ adjustable triangle loom which is being shipped to my home….very excited about this one, I am. So all in all, it was a lovely and informative day with good friends. I couldn’t ask for more and sincerely look forward to next year’s festival. Now to start formulating a plan for that trip.

Rhinebeck 2013 017

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Posted by: Mare F | October 3, 2013

Spinning up stash

With the New York State Wool and Sheep festival in Rhinebeck, NY just 2 scant weeks away I decided it was time to get off of my butt, or rather onto my butt, and start spinning some of the rovings I’ve picked up over the past couple of years. My concern with consistency has deterred my spinning and while I know that I need the practice I have a hard time accepting the spun results. It’s time for me to suck it up!

HPIM0935This is one of my first attempts with Romney and really it didn’t come out that badly but in a fit of pique I turned it into dryer balls. Sometimes I’m just not sure about my actions although I must admit that I really do like the dryer balls.

Wool festival goodies 001I took the dyed locks and tencel into school for next week to share with the kids during Spinning and Weaving Week. It will be interesting to see what they think of it. I should be working on my drop spindle as well so that I can possibly get some of the students to try it next year. I also got 5 of the potholder looms in the hopes that I can get the kids to make up squares (they made loads of origami a couple of years ago) to make an afghan for them to donate. Another we will see scenario!

Spinning Corriedale 001This is tonight’s effort. I did much better with the Corriedale than I did with the mystery purple roving that kept fuzzing and pulling apart on me. I’ll keep the purple for later and either needlefelt it or try spinning it when I haven’t ignored my wheel for months. I have 16 days to improve my spinning skills so that I can reward myself with some wonder fleece from Rhinebeck and that’s my plan. What do you do to reward yourself for a job well done?

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Posted by: Mare F | September 2, 2013

Labor Day

I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day. I would also like to thank all of the farmers and farm workers for all of the work that they do year round. It is a hard life, but one I feel must carry with it a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. There is just no imagining where we would be without our farmers and I hope that this traditional lifestyle continues for a long, long while.

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In honor of this sentiment I’d intended to wash fleece this weekend and perhaps dye some fleece and/or yarn, but the weather, in true New England fashion, has not cooperated. It’s been very, very humid when it’s not actually raining so I’ve had to content myself with some knitting and crocheting.

HPIM0752This has been more of a work-a-day summer for me. I really haven’t had the opportunity to work on anything that challenges me although I have high hopes once I’ve finished up an afghan and baby sweater – although the sweater might just be the challenge for which I’ve been looking. It was started  by someone else and then the family dog helped. Maybe I’ll just hold off on challenging patterns until I’ve checked this one out a little more closely.

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Posted by: Mare F | June 30, 2013

Hazy, fibery summer days

The temperature and the humidity have been uncooperative in southern New England for the past week or so. It’s hard to decide what you want to do next when it’s visibly humid so I decided to bounce around between projects. I learned a new, to me, cast on for top down hats and it came in very handy for an order I have for a dozen hats to be decorated at the local library.

pink hat circular cast-on 001Next up I finished the cotton blend Wingspan shawl and I have to say I’m very pleased with the outcome. It’s all in Berroco yarns.

blocked wingspan 001And while rummaging through a kitchen cabinet looking for the top to my food processor I found this utensil holder that works just wonderfully for my knitting needles. Now if only the cat will leave them alone.

knitting needle organizer 001So this is how I’ve spent the past week. Today I think I’ll settle in before the fan and finish the sock I’ve had on the needles for a week and perhaps even start the second one. What’s on your needles or hook on this sultry summer day?

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Posted by: Mare F | June 9, 2013

The Wingspan shawl

My latest fascination, and I’m very glad to have one, has been the Wingspan shawl. I had a good deal of trouble making into the second triangle using the knitted pattern I found, but when I used the crochet pattern it all came together very nicely, I think. This one is made with a merino/silk blend and while it still has to be blocked, I think it came out nicely.

green wingspan 001Once I got that one sorted out, with a bit of fudging around the edges, not my most well thought out plan, it dawned on me that if I just knitted the crochet pattern, sort of, that I should get a rather nice knitted shawl as well.  This is in a merino yarn.

blue wingspan 002Of course, now that I’d completed one of each I felt compelled to continue, which is very good as I was stuck on dish clothes for over a month, and I pulled out the bag of Berroco cotton, linen, and silk blend skeins I bought last month.

2nd wingspan p 001So, here is the latest of my obsessions. I might just be done for a bit, but then I haven’t searched through my stash lately so who knows what might strike next? What are you doing with your fiber?

 

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Posted by: Mare F | May 30, 2013

Creative Slump

I’m still seem to be in a bit of a slump and I can’t quite figure out why. It’s spring, there are amazing blossoms, colors, and scents all around. The weather is invigorating and yet I can not decide on a project which makes me happy. I have begun countless sweaters, scarves, and shawls only to take them all apart. There is a sock waiting to be finished that I snub my nose at daily.

HPIM0721

Okay, so maybe not the best colors to choose, but I like them. I went to the WEBS Anniversary Tent sale with wonderful friend and inspiration Jennifer, and we had a great time. I bought lots more yarn, she did not. She said she was shopping for Father’s Day and that’s what she did. She’s so good.

WEBS May 2103 006I love the yarns that I bought, the Berroco linen blends are to die for and they were amazingly inexpensive. I think a Wingspan shawl may be on the agenda for them. I do have some projects going now that I’m happy with, although the Wingspan was a tough row to hoe and I’ll chat about that next time. It just feels so good to be excited about projects I’ve got going and I’m already looking at yarns and planning more things to make. I do believe my muse has returned. Here’s to muses everywhere, may we manage to keep them appeased!

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Posted by: Mare F | April 28, 2013

Back on the wool path

I have been very much absent from here for far too long. Work has been busy and I’ve been doing a lot of decluttering of the house which took much longer than it should have done, but I’ve really thinned things out. In response to too much work and not enough play  I went to the Connecticut Sheep Breeders 104th Wool Festival yesterday.

2013 wool festival 013It was a glorious day weatherwise – finally a touch of spring – and I went with two wonderful women who constantly inspire me to bigger and better things. We spent about 5 1/2 hours wandering through the barns and vendor booths enjoying the yarns, wools, and demonstrations.

Wool festival goodies 001

So I’ve high hopes for this to the kick I need to break my dry spell and get me moving back to where I want to be. With any luck at all, I’ll be spinning a bit again in the next couple of days and if not it won’t be for a lack of lovely wools to work.

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Posted by: Mare F | March 24, 2013

More winter than yarns

Here in southern New England, even though we’ve passed the first day of spring, winter will just not give up its hold on us. As much as I love my fibers and being able to work with them, I am itching to get outside and plan which dye plants to put where in my yard. I’ve worked in more beds for that purpose and I feel that its high time that the snow subside. Can you tell we’d been spoiled last year? It wouldn’t be quite so bad, I think, if the weather didn’t warm enough to melt most of the snow before we got dumped on again. Every time I think to myself, “I know what I’m doing this weekend” another storm comes along. Now, mind you, I’ve never hated a reason to work with my yarn, but there comes a time when a body just wants to be outdoors and able to bend one’s arms….

HPIM1563I’ve started many projects, finished some, taken others apart, and I just think that it’s time to move outdoors and recharge the creativity portion of my brain. I find myself spending more time than I’d like trying to decide which pattern to start next or losing track of what I’d planned to do and I think some good old-fashioned strenuous activity is called for to banish the “numb brain” syndrome. I did manage to finish a lovely yellow cowl made of some wonderful Malabrigo yarn I got on my last trip to Marji’s Yarncrafts in Granby, CT. It is almost sinfully soft. I have a skein of bright yellow Lopi I got on the same trip to make a matching set of mittens. I shall be very stylish, and bright, next winter!

HPIM1574And today I am working on some small sheep, finishing a moss stitch headband in a beautiful green tweed as well as a braided scarf I found yesterday while “cleaning” my house. Clearly I’m doing that little chore far too infrequently. Oh, and I hope to finish my second pair of socks. I should probably wrap this up because looking at what I plan to do today only shows me that I am more than a tad optimistic. What are your fiber plans for the rest of this first weekend of spring 2013?

Today's optimistic plan...

Today’s optimistic plan…

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Posted by: Mare F | March 3, 2013

Yarn & needle shopping spree

I have had a very busy couple of weeks in which I indulged myself shamefully. After years of using various knitting needles and crochet hooks picked as needed from what was available at various shops and stores I decided to spend the money and get the needle sets that I’ve coveted for over a year now of over the past couple of weeks I have purchased the following in Knitter’s Pride Dreamz needles and hooks: the special interchangeable set which runs from size 4 tips to size 10 tips with 2 16″ cables, ends, cable keys, and size markers, the double-pointed sock set which runs sizes 0, 1, 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2, and 3, size 10 32″ fixed  circular, size 13 24″ fixed circular, size 15 40″ fixed circular, double-pointed needles sizes 4, 6, 8 , & 10, plus F & G hooks. In all quite the treasure trove, but after spending many months convincing myself that these are my tools and in any other line of work I would certainly be using the best tools that I could manage, I broke down and did it! HPIM1502

The fixed circular needles I purchased to make myself a couple of beautiful patterns that have been in my basket at Ravelry for almost a year. The Sylvi coat by Mari Muinonen and the Selkie cape by Melissa Schaschwary have had my admiration since first sight. They are lovely and I can’t wait to make them. Kudos to both of these women for their amazing design abilities. I ordered the yarns for both of these projects through WEBS over President’s Day weekend and was delighted with the speed and efficiency of their service. Both were at my home within a week.

HPIM1547The green Cascade is for the Selkie and the ruby Plymouth Chunky Tweed is for the Sylvi. When the temps drop this fall, I will smiling a bit as I hope to be wearing these wonderful items.

I also ordered some undyed sock and worsted weight yarns from Sheep Shed Studio to dye. I’m looking forward to working with some Jacquard dyes, Kool-Aid, food coloring (thank you, Lindsey, I probably wouldn’t have done if I hadn’t seen the beautiful yarns you’ve dyed with it). and some of the natural dye materials I’ve amassed. This looks to be an exciting year in the fiber department for me and I hope for you as well.  I hope that you will occasionally stop by my studio to see what new items I’ve added. http://www.artfire.com/users/InquisitiveFelinese HPIM1555

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