Seabreeze Spinners

I’ve finished one and have one to go. You’ll notice the missing strawberries … we ate the three ripe strawberries over lush vanilla ice cream. Does it get any better than that?

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I knit my first sock on huge needles (10 1/2) and it was a disaster, so … I ripped it out, reballed the yarn, and started over. I love the new sock, soon to be a pair. As you can see, it’s coming along. I used the Sock Wizard for perfect sizing. (Even my huge guaged socks were the right fit.) I have large (ladies size 10 1/2) feet but they are narrow. Men’s shoes and sock are too wide and ladies socks are always a bit small. What a luxury to have socks that fit. Seaweed is reported to have benefits for circulation so my tooties should be happy feet once I finish the socks.

Happy New Year !

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I’ve finally spun enough yarn to start my “Seaweed Socks”.  The socks are a wool/silk/seaweed blend.  The merino (fine wool) was dyed a soft green and aqua before blending and spinning.  Also enjoy my Florida garden.  Santa brought an Earth Box filled with strawberry plants and as you can see, my tomatoes are coming along.

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Merry Christmas !

Merry Christmas!

This morning I balled up the yarn I plyed from the yarn on the Mason Spinning Wheel which had been spun by the original owner.

I plan to straighten out the house this morning then focus on finishing projects. This evening we’ll all be going to church for a candlelight service.

May the joy of the season be yours now and may God be with you throughtout the coming year.

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Click here for greeting:

nut-cracker

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(Click on photos for larger image.)

In correspondence, it was mentioned that although the socks were great, they were a bit short. They’re not, I’d just rolled them down and my photos were a dis-service to the knitter. Here are updated photos of my great new socks. I also included a photo of my tomatoes. No, it’s not snow or ice … it’s Seven Dust. The insects come south for the winter too.

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We met for the last time this year for Fiber Space. Again, a mix of projects. Vicky was working on a “tree skirt” she plans to gift to her daughter, beautiful net over gold satin; I was spinning wool/silk/seaweed for socks on my new Mason Wheel; I created the roving “buns” on the Louet Jr Carder before I got to Fiber Space; I had given Jennifer homespun which she transformed into Kumihimo braides which I displayed over the roving; and Jennifer was working on a cross stitch project, a Nut Cracker (yes, no beads BUT she intends to scatter some beads in the background). Fun to take some time for ourselves during this Christmas season.

(Click on photos for larger images.)

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My newest wheel is a 1973 Ernest Mason handcrafted chair wheel.  It arrived this past week.  It needed some adjusting but with the help of my husband, (thank you Lee), I got it lubricated and spinning.  I LOVE IT!!

This wheel has a whorl which provides either 1:4 ratio or 1:16 ratio depending upon where the drive belt is placed. The bobbins appear to be hand turned. It was constructed from hardwood. I think it might be cherry.

The second photo shows the wheel in operation. The one bobbin has Blue Faced Leicester (dark) which I spun up when trying to get everything adjusted. The other, spinning wool/silk/seaweed. I plan to knit a pair of socks from the yarn. (I’ve spun out the yarn that was on the bobbins and fulled them and they are drying now. One I plyed with itself; the other with some of the Blue Faced Leicester.)

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I had the most delightful eBay experience. I ordered hand knit wool socks from “The Potty Knitter” of Williamstown, Australia. See photos of my new, hand knit socks. Her knitting is flawless. She has all kinds of socks, scarves, and hats on her site and on eBay. Her site is http://thepottyknitter.com.au

The “potty” part is that she is a potter, as in ceramics, as well as a knitter. You can email her at angelikasmales@bigpond.com

(Click on the pictures for a larger image.)

I’m planning to order another pair in bright colors. The socks were $39 Austrailian which is about $26 US.

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