Seabreeze Spinners

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I spun the Easter Egg Dye fiber and plied it with white wool/nylon (for strength).  The yarn was then hung with weight to dry.

I have wool and llama also drying:

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The Ships Project hat/cap was too loose and too big. I unraveled it and started over. This time I’m using two strands of llama/silk to give it more substance. Here we go again …

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I’ve just discovered a new to me organization. The Ships Project delivers hand knit hats and socks to our troups. You can get more information on their web site The Ships Project or visit the Yahoo Group The Ships Project
I’m knitting a llama/silk cap. No wild colors, no tassels, no roll-up brims…so I’m knitting a simple cap that will fit under a helmet. I’m using my husbands head as a model so it will be extra large; he assures me that it had to be extra large to hold all his brains. The llama/silk is soft and light but should be warm. I’ll add photos as the project goes on.

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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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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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I am so excited. My new drum carder arrived! It’s a Louet Roving Carder Junior It is amazing! It’s built to produce 4″ batts but in every way the machine that it’s larger cousins are. I’ve been generously given llama fiber to process. It is processing like a dream. See the batt below. I am carding to spin and will be knitting a stole/lap robe for the owner of the llama ranch. The batts produced by this carder contain a lot of fiber. You’ll see updates on this blog as the project proceeds.

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We met earlier today …such fun. We missed regulars Gail, Vicki, and Elizabeth but were delighted by new faces; we’re growing. There is always room for more. Our next Fiber Space is Saturday, December 20 from 9 to noon. Take a break from Christmas preparations and plan to take some time for yourself.

We had rugs, and frogs, and Christmas trees, and shawls, and scarves, and …

(Click on photos for larger image.)

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Photos show my set-up for show today (before anyone arrived). Featured Lacy’s Chiengora Shawl. We were rained on, winded on, and sunned upon. I was demonstrating spinning (wool/silk/seaweed) and my Weave ‘n Stixs. It was great fun. Met a number of guests and several fellow crafters. Introduced locals to Fiber Space. If you’re reading this, and you’re local, please come to our next Fiber Space, November 22 (Saturday) 9 to 12 noon. (No cost/fee and everyone is welcome.) We’ll be meeting at Palma Sola Presbyterian Church located just off West Manatee Ave. behind McDonalds near the fire station (6510 3rd Ave. West, Bradenton FL).

Notice the chickee in the background. This is Florida; the Seminole Indians used available materials. Families lived in homes called chickees. The chickees had no outside or inside walls. The house was made by driving big logs into the ground between posts. The floor was made of long poles covered with cypress bark and palm leaves. The roof was made of poles covered with bark and leaves. The roof sloped down on each side from the center. A ladder was used for climbing up to the floor. The park, the Florida Marine Museum, uses the same style roof for their sheltered areas.

More on the Weave ‘n Stixs later.

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http://Seabreezespinners.com/

The llama shawl finish:

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9/16/8 First, complete last shawl knit row. Then, cast on six stitches of border yarn on the circular needle next to live shawl stitches. With a straight needle the same size as the circular needle (my circular needle was an 11 and the only straight needle I had on hand was a 10 1/2 … it worked), slip the first border stich (one you just cast on) onto the straight needle. Then, knit four stitches. You now have one border stitch remaining on the circular needle. Slip that last border stitch onto the straight needle. Now, slip the next stitch on the circular needle (a live shawl stitch) onto the straight needle. Rearange the needles so that you can knit two together (the two stitches you just slipped onto the straight needle). Now, turn your work. Slip the first stitch onto the circular needle (that’s the K2 you just completed), knit the rest of the stitches onto the circular needle. You now have 6 border stitches on the circular needle. Turn again. Slip the first border stitch onto the straight needle. Knit to one from the end. Slip the last border stitch and then slip the first live shawl stitch onto the straight needle. Continue in this same pattern until the next stitch is the middle stitch of the shawl (remember, that’s the one you marked with the openable marker).

Next, directions to miter the point. (to be continued…)

9/26/8 Miter Point:

‘Til you get past the point, you’ll only be working mostly with the border stitches.
Row 1 slip the first stitch, knit 4 and turn.
Row 2 slip the first stitch, knit to end (this and all even rows)
Row 3 slip the first stitch, knit 3 and turn.
Row 4 repeat row 2
Row 5 slip the first stitch, knit 2 and turn. (see the pattern?)
Row 6 repeat row 2
Row 7 slip the first stitch, knit 1 and turn.
Row 8 repeat row 2
Row 9 slip the first stitch, kinit 4, slip the last border stitch then slip the slip the shawl stitch (that middle stitch), then reposition your needle so that you can knit the two stitches you just slipped over together and turn
Row 10 repeat row 2
Row 11 slip the first stitch, knit 1 and turn
Row 12 repeat row 2
Row 13 slip the first stitch, knit 2 and turn (again, see a pattern developing?)
Row 14 repeat row 2
Row 15 slip the first stitch, knit 3 and turn
Row 16 repeat row 2
Row 17 slip the first stitch, knit 4 and turn
Row 18 repeat row 2
Row 19 slip the first stitch, knit 4 and then slip the last border stitch and then the next shawl stitch and then reposition the needles so you can knit the two stitches you sliped together.

Continue on the pattern above along the live edge of the shawl picking up a “live” shawl stitch every two rows, as you had been before you got to the point.

I’ve tried to make the directions clear. It’s always easier in my head than when I try to write it out. Questions? Just ask.

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