no sun Saturday

It's raining here in Saskatchewan. It's supposed to continue to rain for a couple of more days too. It's also chilly. My fingertips were going numb this afternoon (slight bit of Raynaud's Syndrome) so I caved and turned on the furnace. It could be worse - Calgary got a dump of snow.

I finished the first Zigzag Anklet from Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn.
I used Panda Wool in the Hydrangea colorway. It comes in 50 g skeins with only 170 yds. and I bought two skeins from Little Knits a while ago. I figured there would be enough for anklets. I hadn't thought about the fact that this pattern's anklet folds over itself so isn't really a short sock yarnwise.
After the heel turn, I started to panic about running short and ordered one more skein. I had enough after all. There is a whopping 8 g left of the skein.

I've been spinning up some merino from Sheepish Creations on Etsy. It's the Maid Marion colorway. The plan is to keep the color order while spinning the singles and then navajo ply it.

I left it for a few minutes while I took a phone call this afternoon and came back to this:
Apparently it was too much temptation for a small Dachshund on a rainy day.

Now this is what I have to organize to keep the color sequence going.
Sigh.

dyeing experiment a success

Remember this?

It's the merino/nylon top that I spot-dyed using the idea from The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook.

I finished spinning it and here is what it looks like now.

The top skein is 470 yds., 82 g of 3-ply.
The bottom skein is 430 yds., 42 g of 2-ply.

I divided my fiber into three supposedly equal batches before spinning and you can see that I ended up with way more singles on two of the bobbins than on the third so that's why I have a bunch of 2-ply from the leftovers. Weird how that happened. I used a scale and everything.

I was spinning very finely so that I would get fingering weight 3-ply but I obviously got a little carried away because it's very fine even for socks. I think the singles were roughly 57 wpi. Good grief. I'm not sure what to knit with it. It may have to become lace of some sort.

fiber goodness

Just a quick post to share some beautiful fiber that came in the mail.

The first batch are from BeeMiceElf.

Superwash merino

Merino

and a sample of alpaca/silk.

I think that these fibers are some of the loveliest that I've had the pleasure of feeling and seeing. Dyeing didn't overprocess the delicate merino at all. I'm sure that it will be a pleasure to spin. I'll be popping into this shop frequently!


And this pretty Corriedale is from Lakehouse Loft. It's gorgeous too!

thank you and a sad update about Kelsey

Thank you for all of your comments about Harrison. They mean a lot to me.

Dan came home from school with a sad update about Kelsey, one of the students at the high school where he teaches. Here is a link to my previous blog posts about Kelsey and her battle against a brain tumor. The world-wide knitting community has been wonderful about sending prayers and good wishes, as well as hand-knitted socks (which she wears!), her way.

She needs your prayers now more than ever. She had surgery recently and it didn't go well. She is very ill. Please add your prayers to mine for comfort to Kelsey and her family.

good-bye Harrison

We said good-bye to Harrison today. His passing was sudden and unexpected, probably the result of a heart attack. He had a good morning, ate his breakfast with gusto, barked at the birds, and happily greeted Margot, our long-time cleaning woman. Then he just laid down and was gone. It was quick and, I think, painless. I'm glad that I was with him. We just weren't ready to say good-bye yet. He was a good dog and will be missed very much. My heart is heavy.

spindling

Since I started attending a spinning class at my awesome LYS Golden Willow, I've become much more comfortable spinning on my spindles. Because I am a mostly self-taught spinner, I never learned to appreciate what great little tools they are. Now I love to park-and-draft when watching TV. So I've been playing around with various ways of plying from the spindle for the first time in my life.

First, I'll show you a neat little gadget that my spinning instructor shared with us. It's an inexpensive little plastic clamp from Canadian Tire with little holes in the handle. Then you put a fishing line swivel in the hole. The only reason there are two swivels on mine is because they came two to a package and I figured I wouldn't lose the extra one if I just put it on the clamp too.
You can hook the spindle in the swivel and it rotates freely to allow you to wind off the yarn. A close-up...
Cool, huh? And all for under $5.

I decided to Andean ply my singles. This technique allows you to ply from both ends of the same single. You can use your hand for this but then you have to finish all the winding before you can use your hand for anything else that might come up in the meantime. You also have to be very careful not to cut off your circulation while you're doing it. Or you can get this nifty little Handy Andy tool from Nancy's Knit Knacks instead.
Here is the paddle all filled up.
Then you pop the peg out of the top of the paddle and let the yarn fall into a 'bracelet' at its base. Both ends of yarn are available to begin plying. The paddle fits into a sturdy base that stays put so its easy to ply from it. No tangles.

Once I had it all plied I decided to slide the copp of yarn onto a straw.
I have a Katie-a-go-go where I could use the storage straws as bobbins to ply from if I wanted to use separate singles i.e. plying from different copps rather than from both ends of the same one like the Andean plying. I lent my Katie-a-go-go to my sister so used this yarn holder (also from Nancy's Knit Knacks) instead. I used this holder when I had the knitting machine but it's also great for skeining off of spinning wheel bobbins when I'm using the tensioned yarn meter. (Can you tell that I like gadgets?) The metal post fits into the straw.
I used the mini niddy noddy to skein it off.

And the finished little skein of practice yarn.

In a totally unrelated topic, we woke up to snow this morning. I decided it was too depressing to take a picture.

the Matchless

I promised a review of my new Schacht Matchless and here it is finally.

It was not love at first spin for the Matchless and I. In fact, I panicked a bit about buying it at first. Treadling it made my legs hurt. After running this problem by Cal at Shuttleworks (I know I've said it before but I'm saying it again - such great service!!), I took his suggestion to switch from double drive to Scotch tension. It was a world of difference! It also explained part of my problem with the Elizabeth as I had always spun in double drive on her too. Spinning in double drive requires a bit more oomph because it pushes the wheel as well as braking the flyer with the same band.

Scotch tension helped a lot but I was still having some problems with knee pain. I saw in ads that there are wheels available for the Matchless (they call it a cart but it's really just wheels that fit on each side of the back of the base for easy transporting) and started to wonder if that would tilt the wheel more toward me and make the treadle angle better. I went to the Schacht group on Ravelry and asked whether it's possible to spin on the Matchless with the wheels attached and learned that it is and that the wheels lift the wheel about 2 inches up at the back. So I ordered the wheels as well as enough poly cord to make a stretchy drive band to replace the cotton string band. I had to wait for a couple of weeks for Cal to get them from the US but they came on Friday.

You can see that the wheel is tilted forward a bit with them on.

But my legs are much happier with the Matchless now.

And it's very easy to move the wheel around the house by using the drive band tension knob as a handle. The Matchless is not a light wheel.

Now there's smooth spinning on the Matchless. It did need some tweaks and lots of oil at the start but now it is a lovely wheel and I can declare love for it. It is also a completely silent wheel and I have great appreciation for that. I've thought about getting a WooLee Winder for it but that would mean a bit of noise from the gears as I spin so I'm happy with it as is.

I've almost finished the second bobbin of singles using my hand-dyed spotted merino/nylon top. I am so pleased with the soft denim effect!

I sent the Elizabeth for a sleepover at my sister Darcie's place to see if she would like to provide a new home. The single treadle and the flyer on the left hand side of her saxony styling still cause me trouble and it would be best for her to find a new home where she will be properly appreciated. The wheel that is, not my sister. She's already in a home where she is properly appreciated, at least as much as any mom of kids is appreciated.

so much for accountability

Remember these New Year's Resolutions that I made? I was aiming for more exercise and reduced internet spending.

I'm here today to tell that you that I have totally fallen off the resolution wagon and have been for quite a while. It actually all fell apart when I got pneumonia in February. I quit using the Wii Fit for obvious reasons (i.e. a total inability to sit upright, never mind exercising) and I haven't stepped on it since. It was also about that time that I started shopping on the internet too, probably because I was unable to move and was bored while I was recuperating.

I have had moments of guilt about it, especially the exercising stuff, but they are fleeting moments and easily ignored. So much for stick-to-it-iveness. Then I put things into perspective the other day when I overheard Dan talking to his Nintendo DS. He got it for Christmas too and is trying to keep his brain young with Brain Age. Anyway, he muttered in frustration, "I don't want to draw pictures!" at the machine twice in the last few days (that I overheard, so it may well be more times that I didn't).

Now I've developed a theory: we like advancing ourselves in areas that we feel competent. For Dan, it's sports and activity, math games, etc. For me, it's all about fine-motor skills and creative pursuits like spinning and knitting, and word games and writing. I am not good at gross-motor activities so I hate them, and that includes any form of physical exercise. Dan never was much for art or, for that matter, handwriting. He happily goes off to hockey and comes home stiff and tired, with bruises. But he doesn't want to draw pictures on the DS because he doesn't like drawing pictures. He has always excelled at sports and put a ball, bat, or hockey stick in his hands and he's a happy camper. If anyone puts a ball, bat, or hockey stick in my hands, I'll be looking for the nearest exit before I get hurt. But stick knitting needles, fiber, a spindle, or any other tool requiring fine-motor skills, in my hands and I can use them to produce beautiful
results. (That sounds self-serving but I think it's true.) In the same vein of this argument, Dan watches reality TV shows and I can tell that he would relish the opportunity to test his metal against the elements and other insane members of these contests. Me, I wouldn't last 5 minutes before I would be reduced to begging to get voted off the island (or whatever) so I could get a hotel bed and shower, not to mention food of my choice. I will never willingly eat bugs or raw fish and I don't care how much money is on the line.

So I'm using this theory to rationalize why I'm not exercising and why I'm okay with that. It's my story and I'm sticking to it. Yes, I may be weak and pathetic but I can rationalize my way out of a cardboard box if necessary.

In other news, both Austin and Bentley are recovering nicely from the neuter surgery. Our weather finally shaped up and I think it is now safe to declare that we have Spring. I've been going to a spinning class at Golden Willow on Wednesday nights and having a blast.

I've been spinning:
2-ply merino,

3-ply BFL and the little skein is leftover singles spun 2-ply, spun with BFL from Zebisis in the Moonflower colorway,

more sheltie/cormo yarn,

and the start of singles for socks using Spunky Eclectic Fiber Club April shipment of brown BFL as the base fiber. The colorway is Myrtle. (One of my internet purchases, for which I have no guilt - see above.)

One last note: after spending quite a bit of time plying these skeins on the Elizabeth, I was hurting. So I had a stern talk with myself and convinced me to put her up for sale again. See this info if you're interested. The asking price is not carved in stone so I'm sure we can work something out if you want this great wheel package. I am also willing to take it apart to ship it if necessary.

more stinkin' snow

This is what we woke up to today. Snow at the end of April is just cruel.

A much brighter and cuter picture....

this is Jayda wearing her bright Tulips cardi that I knit for her last fall. Those happy colors really suit her with her dark hair and big brown eyes.


I've been spinning.
Here is a completed skein of Rambouillet. It's nice and squooshy and will make comfy socks (for me).

Both Austin and Bentley are spending the day at the vet. They were neutered this morning. It's official, I have no more show dogs. Just as well as I'm too tired to travel to shows. I got a call from JoAnn (friend and vet extraordinaire!) that they are just fine and I will pick them up this afternoon.

Is there a Wheel Junkies Anonymous group?

Yeah, I got another wheel. I know, I know, I didn't need another wheel. But I was so impressed with the Schacht Ladybug that I wanted to experience the Schacht Matchless too. I decided that the Ladybug could do double duty as my travel wheel instead of the Majacraft Little Gem because the Ladybug is easier for me to treadle than the Gem. So I found another home for the Gem and bought the Matchless (from Shuttleworks, of course). Schacht is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a limited edition cherry Matchless. I could have placed an order for one of those but decided that I didn't care enough about the cherry wood to spend the extra money.

Austin seemed to approve - the more spinning wheels, the more mom hangs around the house with the dogs.

And here it is all set up.
I will do a bit of a review when I've had a chance to spin more on it. It's funny that I'm referring to the Matchless as "it" rather than "she". This is my first wheel that doesn't seem feminine to me. Weird, I know. It's a very sturdy wheel with a heavy drive wheel that really gets going when treadled. Maybe that's why it seems masculine.

I was reading the Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook the other day and decided to try dyeing some merino/nylon fiber using the spot method to spin up on the new wheel. Here it is drying on the sweater dryer.

And hand-crocheted after drying.

Here's a bit that I pulled off to show you how the colors look so much softer when it's predrafted a bit.

And the first bit spun on the Matchless. I love the effect of the random white spots mixed into the colors. It's going to be a fun project!

edited to add:

Speaking of masculine...

Right after I posted about the Matchless, I was getting my daily bowl of Bran Buds ready and discovered this strawberry. Too funny! Congratulations Mrs. Strawberry, it's a boy!

(Dan says that I need to get out of the house more often. Apparently I am easily entertained these days.)

dearly beloved....

Dearly beloved,
We are gathered here to today to say farewell to Bentley's Skunk who finally succumbed to a slow death from being vigorously shaken while the dog dishes were filled twice daily, methodically eviscerated, and finally, decapitated.

In his youth, Skunk was a fine specimen of a stuffed animal. He was plump and fluffy, and made wonderful squeaks and screaming noises before his noisemakers were disemboweled. He was Bentley's favorite animal to kill. His long tail snapped about delightfully when he was shaken.

He leaves to mourn his passing his doggy and human family, and his friends, especially Chippy the Chipmunk, the Octopus, and the Spotted Puppy, all of whom are also suffering from various stages of evisceration and face mutilation but are also much loved by Bentley.
As a final act of selflessness, Skunk generously donated what's left of his body to be subjected to continued mealtime shaking. However, his head has now left this life to serve a higher purpose, perhaps as a favored toy for another dear pet in Heaven.

Rest in Peace.

spinning, spinning

I rigged up the double drive option on the Ladybug to try it out.

I decided I liked spinning on this wheel using the Scotch tension instead. I'm not sure why, really. It just seemed a little "slippy" with the plastic wheel so I put the stretchy single drive band back on. This wheel just seems to work better that way and I felt I had more control of my spinning.

I've got to say that I am in love with this wheel. It's sturdy and the rim-weighted wheel makes treadling effortless. I also really like the wide treadles; I can find a place for my feet while leaving my legs and knees in a comfortable, not cramped, position. Although I'm not a huge fan of hooks on the flyer, this flyer has the hooks offset on either side of the bobbin and allows you to fill the bobbin quite evenly.

I did some measuring of treadles last night to compare the Ladybug's with the Rose's. They are very similar; the only differences are that the Ladybug's are a bit higher off of the floor at the front and, at its lowest point, one is parallel to the floor. At the lowest treadle point on the Rose, my toes are about an inch higher than my heel so my foot is still slightly flexed. That gives the comfort edge to Rose by a hair. However, the Ladybug's drive wheel has more momentum once it gets going than the Rose's so there is likely a slightly edge in treadling to the Ladybug there. All said, both are very comfortable.

I also wound off of one bobbin on the attached kate to one on the wheel just to see how the kate worked. It was fine for this bit of winding but I think a full-size kate with adjustable tension would be much better for plying.

I finished up the merino/silk from Zebisis Designs. Here are the singles on the Nancy's Knit Knacks lazy kate.* (And Harrison thoroughly enjoying being able to sit in his favorite chair in the sunroom.)

While being plied...

And after a nice hot bath.

I didn't measure wraps per inch as it's somewhat thick and thin. It's between a heavy fingering and light sport weight. I'm not sure what I will use it for. It would be lovely for socks but I have about twice as much as I'd need for socks. We'll see.

*Plying causes me pain because I twist my body. The Nancy's Knit Knacks Katie a-Go Go is very handy and portable (and super for plying from spindle cops) but I have trouble keeping the singles from twisting together after they are fed through the single guide so I end up contorting my upper body even more to stretch my arms out to keep the twist controlled. I just got a Majacraft Lazy Kate from Cal at Shuttleworks. It is very sturdy and guides the singles through their own guides. Cal got the brass rods custom made for me so that the longer Schacht and WooLee Winder bobbins would also fit on it. I'm sure glad that I didn't just order the kate from another online seller as only the shorter Majacraft bobbins fit it properly. When I called Cal, he told me of the problem, tried out other bobbins on it to make sure, phoned Majacraft for advice, and contacted a supplier of brass rods in Calgary to cut some longer ones so the kate would work for me. How's that for customer service! Here's how it looks now - the rods are plenty long enough for all of the bobbins. I wish I had some plying to do so I could try it out properly. I'll be able to report back with a better review after giving it a workout.

I can't do it after all

I woke up in the middle of the night in a panic about selling the Elizabeth. I guess my subconscious knew what the rest of me didn't. I can't do it and I'm glad that no one has contacted me about buying her. I just know that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I did.

This really makes no logical sense. It seems silly to keep a wheel that's causing me pain. But I love her dearly and she will stay after all.

Come to think of it, there are other things that I love that cause or have caused me pain and I keep them....
offspring, some memories, my house, my garden, the exercise equipment (okay, so I don't love the exercise equipment but it causes me pain and I'm still keeping it)...
you get the drift.

my body is saying no

Elizabeth basking in the warmth of the sunroom this afternoon.

My aching body is dictating the need to find a new home for my beloved Ashford Elizabeth 2 spinning wheel. Spinning on the saxony wheel is causing me pain. I have been dithering about selling her for a while now but I really didn't want to because she is my dream fairy-tale wheel. However, after spinning on her yesterday, I know I should stick to castle style wheels. There's just something about the different styles that change the ergonomics for me.

Elizabeth spins beautifully and I have taken very good care of her. She is like new and comes with 4 bobbins, regular flyer, lazy kate, WooLee Winder flyer, and 7 WW bobbins, as well as the instructions from Ashford and instructions and tools from WooLee winder.

I did a quick tally and came up with the following prices for all of these items new (not including tax and shipping, in Canadian funds as of today's market):

Elizabeth 2 ST, lacquered, lazy kate, 4 bobbins = $913.00
WooLee Winder with 1 bobbin = $229.46
6 WooLee Winder bobbins = $230.76

Total = $1373.22 CDN.

I'm asking $1000.00 CDN. I take Pay Pal.

At this point, I don't want to take her apart to ship her so I would prefer selling locally. I'm willing to drive a reasonable distance to deliver or meet up with someone outside of the city of Regina. I don't want to sell the WooLee Winder separately unless someone buys the wheel without it.

(edited to add that the Elizabeth is not for sale after all - see April 4th post)

(edited again on May 3 to post it for sale again - it's just not sensible to keep a wheel that is not a good fit for my aching body - and I am willing to take it apart to ship it - also, the cost is not carved in stone)