Seabreeze Spinners

Spent two weeks in the Smokies; spun some, took a Charkha class at the Ashville Fiber Festival, watched the colors change and all together had an amazing time.

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UPDATE: SOLD 8/16/2010

LOUET Hatbox Spinning Wheel Demo

Louet S40 Hatbox spinning wheel for sale.

Video HERE demonstrates the wheel spinning and how to set-up for spinning or take down for toting. It is easier than I make it look; I was trying to put things together one-handed and upside down while making video:) Hatbox will be listed on eBay … will update with address.

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These two skeins were inspired by my recent Jacey Boggs Insubordknit art yarn workshop. While I favor tiddy, small circumference yarn because I actually want to knit with it, I was delighted to experiment with some of the techniques I learned and adapted them on a smaller scale. Both yarns are aproximately bulky weight but no where near the heft of “art yarn” thick and thins which may only have a few wraps per inch. The bright multi wraps 8+ wraps per inch and the green, blue, purple wraps 10+ wraps per inch.

I hung the finished skeins outside in the fresh air to dry after fulling the fiber by hand “washing” in Soak, agitating, and then rinsing in cold water.

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Just spent the most amazing spinning weekend attending the Jacey Boggs Insubordiknit Art Yarn workshop on Anna Maria Island. A very pregnant Jacey Boggs challenged us by providing introduction to the technical aspects of Art Yarn. The fast paced two day workshop provided exposure to no fewer than a dozen techniques to create sturdy, outrageous yarn. The spinners included a novice with less than two days spinning experience, an eight year old and well seasoned fiber enthusiasts. Jacey’s warm, friendly teaching style engages the seasoned spinner and novice alike making the workshop just plain fun.

I may have been the only one at the workshop that didn’t know Jacey offers a video CD on her web site CLICK HERE and who hadn’t already purchased the CD and attempted the techniques before attending the workshop. While the video/CD is excellent, (of course I had to purchase and have already sneaked a peek), I would encourage the one-on-one experience of the workshop. A simple reminder to slow my treadling made all the difference when I was struggling with cacoons.

My yarns:

Mermaids, slippers, jewely and piles of fiber…

Jacey promises a new workshop for 2011 and her book is schedued for publication fall 2011 … I’ll be watching for both!

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Used hand spun beaded yarn to create top down beaded shawl. The yarn is wool and alpaca. The spinning process was described HERE and HERE in the blog. The beads are silver lined glass beads and antique Chec beads from an old lamp. I’d gotten an ounce of Momi fiber (wool, silk and glitter the color of sunset) from the Ashville fiber festival which I spun on the Trindle I’d purchased at the festival. Too little yarn for a project but worked great to provide an accent of colored lace.

I used the same pattern as the pink top down shawl

And, an interesting aside. Lacy, my mostly border collie … just learned she has no discernable border collie DNA. Had her DNA run through Wisdom DNA thinking I’d learn border collie and what. (No blood is taken, cheek swab.) Learned she has only two breeds discernable: Austrailian Shepard (that fits) and Cocker Spaniel (didn’t see that one coming). It was great fun and splendid painful anticipation while waiting for the DNA results.

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Completed the hand dyed, hand spun, hand knit lace shawl. The pinks blended nicely but to pick it up a bit I knit lace panels. The lace was knit from a bit of yarn previously spun. The yarn was a caliopi of colors but not enough for any project…but, a great accent. See the finished shawl below.

Happy “Black Friday”

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When I purchased the Norge Mongold Spindle, the seller packed it in space dyed roving. The roving was felted and wasn’t useable in its shipped state. I carded the felted dyed roving and then blended in tencil to create a soft, icy roving. I split the roving in half lengethways and then spun each half. I then carefully plied the resulting singles so that the resulting yarn slowly transitions from very subtle pink to vivid hot pink. I skeined the yarn, washed it and hung it to dry with weight. I then used a ball winder to create center pull yarn balls, being careful through out that skeins and balls were wound in sequence. I put a paper label in the center of each final ball with the sequence number so that as I knit, the yarn transitioned properly.

I wanted a pattern that would emphasize the changing yarn colors, a simple pattern that would compliment the texture of home-spun. I used the same pattern I had used for the Cheingora shawl

Cheingora shawl

This is a lovely top down pattern that starts with 3 cast-on stitches and creates a chevron pattern for interest. (Instead of size 11, because this was finer yarn, I used size 9 needles.)

While searching the “net” this morning, after I had started the shawl I discovered a similar pattern by Janice Farrell Pea (CLICK HERE TO GO TO PATTERN)
I guess as they say, there is nothing new on the planet.

Aside from complimenting the home-spun and focusing attention on the transitioning colors, its a breeze to knit. I can sit and watch tv and not really have to think about my knitting. Because I can’t remember which side I’m on, the pattern side or the knit side, I used a safety pin on the face of the shawl to remind me which is the pattern side and to mark the center “k” pattern stitch. I put the pin through two stitches so it wouldn’t poke through on the back and confuse me. I move the pin up ever so often (5-6 inches) so it stays close to the active knitting.

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SpinOlution has introduced a reflection of its Mach II Spinning Wheel, the new Echo. Mine arrived this week. While it arrives unassembled; it is quickly assembled and spins like a dream! It’s lighter than the Mach II and has the same head as the Bee Travel Wheel. Notice the open orifice; no orifice dimension limitations. This open orifice arrangement is great for “art yarns”. I’m a distributor for the Echo that retails for $ 450 should anyone want to purchase.

It is an amazing wheel. I have tile floors throughout and some wheels walk. I usually have to place wheels on a bath tube mat to keep them from walking. The Echo is solid and doesn’t walk. I love it! Good job Mike & Kris!

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Playing with my recently arrived Royal Hare Support Spindle. It’s pictured with wool/silk/bamboo fiber from Louet and a spindle case from Royal Hare.

Not me, but you can see a YouTube video spindling on a Royal Hare Support spindle by clicking HERE.

UPDATE 11/9/09

In response to an inquiry: I found my Royal Hare at Woodland Woolworks (CLICK HERE to go to their web site). When I ordered mine in June they were back ordered but they were finally able to ship the spindle this month.

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Attended the annual Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair in Asheville NC October 23. It was amazing! Knitting, spinning, felting, chrochet … the colors and textures … made my heart “pitty-pat”. I discovered (and had to bring one home) the most amazing spindle, a Trindle. The craftsman who created the spin-forever-spindles is a Georgia science teacher who came up with a “better mouse trap”, that is spindle. I purchased mine from booth representing a yarn shop, The Whole Nine Yarns from Woodstock GA. I later visited the shop on my way back down to Florida. They have some spinning but Knitters will really love it and need to stop. They have hand crafted buttons and purse handles, the perfect finish for a special project. They also boast a warm “classroom” which begs you to sit and knit awhile you forget the busy-ness of the day and the staff are super helpful. I came away with the neatest little “repair hook”, looks like a finely crafted chrochet hook from Lantern Moon nestled in its own little sleeve.

P.S. on the show. This was only the arena; there were more displays and booths in a huge barn that accomodatd the overflow. What great fun!

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