Friday, June 29, 2012

Uhm. Wool?

Yes. I have a problem. I am a fiber addict. I give you proof:

This gal finally has hands. I was supposed to sew them. Instead I wet felted them. Because wool beats sewing any day.

I was dreaming of shady forest pools while I dyed this lighter than air merino. Shiny rocks under graceful ripples. Sunlight peaking through the trees to highlight the water. Yes. I was dreaming when I dyed this.

For the past month or so we've been saving yellow onion skins. This is the result. Not impressive, is it? Well, it's softer than pillows (hello, merino. I love how you feel but am not crazy about spinning you) and the sweetest creamy wheat color. Next time maybe I'll cook the skins longer. Or soak the yarn longer. Or *gasp* find some suitable pots and mordants.

I wanted to share the pictures of the merino roving I dyed this morning. Alas, dye and cameras do not mix. I'll share my results when they're done!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

In which I have much wool.

Today has been amazingly fun. Which is weird. Because I think I started the day out cranky. I have sewn buttons (from The Sitting Tree) onto a cardigan, knit, spun, washed wool, went for a walk, froliced in a field, possible found wild mullein, collapsed in a heap.

Reading: Sheepish. I've jumped on the bandwagon, indeed. Knitting: a doll's dress.

Finished: Shalom in merino and possum (with much modification - Ravelry notes here).


Today: Spinning and twist-setting!


Later in my Etsy shop: handspun, hand dyed yarn!

Me: tired. Short sentences preferred. Linking up with Ginny's Yarn Along.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Yarn Along

After a bit of a blog break (in which I had a horrible headache and felt like crap) I'm linking up with Ginny for the Yarn Along.



Working on the Shalom cardigan. But you know what. I hate it. Why? Why do I hate this cardigan that so many people love? Because there's only one size. In one weight yarn. So I'm guessing - completely guessing - about how to adapt it to worsted and a huge size. Yep. Not having a great time with that.

Still reading Alamut. Not much time to read lately.



Here's my finished February Lady. It's scratchy and I had to felt on a scrap in order to finish binding off. But I like it well enough.



Side/back view.



Cute toddler.

That's all I've got.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Yarn Along

Joining up with Ginny for the Yarn Along!



Still working on my cardigan (February Lady) and still reading Alamut. Enjoying both.



Last month I was so incredibly lucky to win a set of rings from Heart and Stone (via The Artful Parent). After much deliberation on my choice of words I picked "quixotic" and "dreamer" - two words that speak to my heart. The rings arrived today and wow! I am in love! These are, without a doubt, the nicest rings I've ever worn (or owned!). They're thick and lovely and just perfect!

I'm going to ask B if I can wear them in place of my wedding ring. Am I crazy? No. Here's the thing - my wedding ring was $11 from a local new age store. I have that same ring tattooed on my ring arm. So it's always there. No matter what. B's wedding ring was $22 from a place in the mall and is likewise tattooed on his right arm. The thing is, his original ring was squished (the man is brutal on rings) quite a long time ago. He's gone through at least two others since then. I finally bought him a ring from and Etsy seller a couple of years ago. It's lovely and he's been unable to destroy it! So, it's not so odd that I'd want to wear these in place of my original ring. Also - he won't really care.

Right. Rant over. Heart and Stone is awesome and everyone should own some of her amazing jewelry!



And here I leave you with a gratuitous toddler picture. This is what happens with you are two and you get up too early, utterly refusing to go back to bed.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Crafting

Linking up with Nicole for {crafting on}.

A lovely friend asked me to give something a try. Here are my attempts, in order of creation.






This little lady still needs some hands, but I wanted to share her anyway.

The middle puppet is likely the only one suitable for kids to play with. The older ladies have delicate hair (and I should probably sew their head scarves on).

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a nearly completed cardigan to share!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Yarning Along

Linking up with Ginny for the Yarn Along.

Did I ever mention that I jumped on the bandwagon? Followed the crowd? It's not something that I usually do - in any aspect of my life. But here I am - knitting the February Lady sweater. Please excuse the darkish pictures - it's been constant rain around here today.



I'm knitting this with yarn from a sweater I knit last year. Or maybe it was earlier this year. Either way, I knit the whole sweater. And it was too big. So I ripped apart the whole thing. I've finally gotten the umph to use the yarn again. It's wool that I've dyed (and over dyed several times) with food coloring and black walnuts.

The book is another reread. Alamut by Vladimir Bartol. It's a really good book if you like history.



I'm thinking about using these buttons. Not sure yet, though. I also ordered some handmade buttons from The Sitting Tree. So many choices. Guess I'll just have to knit another cardigan after this to use them all up! Darn!

Monday, June 4, 2012

What I've been up to.

My weekend looked like this:



I know it's hard to tell what that is. So let me explain. It's a towel covered in 42 small knitted pieces that all needed blocking. Yes. And why did I need to block them? So that I could sew them into this:


(Ravelry notes here)

Yes I know. You all think I'm crazy now. Since most people probably have no idea, it's a companion cube. For those who don't want to follow the link - it's a video game thing. Knitting this was terrible. Sewing it all together was worse. I am not a fan of knitting small bits over and over again. I am not a fan of sewing. At all. There were 57 pieces to this cube. Wow, right? B wanted it, I made it. If that's not dedication then I don't know what is.

On a sunnier note, the doll I test knit for Emily now has hair!



The Imp loves her. He declared that she is his princess and carried her *everywhere* he went for most of the day. By her foot. He's anxious for a dress for her.

Linking up with Nicole's {crafting on}.