Archives for February 2007

I plyed my first hand spun yarn today. 

It was magical seeing it twist together and become, in my eyes at least, beautiful yarn.  In this yarn are my first attempts at spinning.  It is from the roving that I bought at Rhinebeck along with my spindle.   When I brought it home I just jumped in.  I didn’t know anything about what I was doing.  I didn’t even know what it meant to draft the wool.  The results range from very thick to sewing thread thin.  Plyed together though, it is mostly a chunky weight yarn.  Someday it will become a hat.  For now though, I will admire it.

I’ve discovered that winding the yarn off my spindle onto the back of one of my kitchen chairs, gives me a nice consistent tension to set my spin.  I leave it on the back of the chair and spray it with a water bottle until it is soaked through.  (The furniture is secondary to process, the chair will survive the occasional drenching.  The floors?  They are brick and indestructible.)  Once it is dry I wind it off the back of the chair.  So far this has worked out pretty well for me and it makes an interesting decorating accent.

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post and told me about your socks in progress.  It is nice to know that I am not alone in having so many going at a time.  The only sock not in the current rotation is Embossed Leaves in the Cabin Cove yarn.  I love the pattern and the yarn.  It just got stashed away last fall when something more pressing presented itself, and I never got back to it.  The winner of the contest is Jennie.  I chose her name using the latest high tech tools.

How many pairs do you have on the needles?

Embossed Leaves
Yarn: Cabin Cove Mercantile

Embossed Leaves
Yarn: My own hand painted

Slipped Stitch Pattern of my own design
Yarn: Sundara given to me by Keohinani

Simple Cable
Yarn: STR Chanticleer

Chevron Mitt (okay, not technically a sock) inspired by at their Superbowl Sunday Sale)
Needles:  Lantern Moon US size 7 circulars
Buttons:  From M&J Trimming – I’ll be going back tomorrow to buy one more

Comments:  This pattern, as with all EZ patterns was very logical and straight forward.  I would absolutely make one again.  Especially after seeing Jared’s.

A few weeks ago Megan, the Knitting Philistine, and I arranged a swap.  I had some Rowan Scottish Tweed and a bit of Sweet Georgia yarn that she admired.  She had her beautiful soaps and some Yarn Pirate that she offered.  Yesterday my package arrived.  I wish I could let you smell these soaps.  They are amazing.  The good news is that you can order some of Megan’s soaps yourself from her Etsy shop.

My parents are in the process of moving out of the home I grew up in.  There are years of family history there, along with countless boxes brought in when each of my parent’s families moved out of their homes.  I have been going down help my mom pack as much as I can.  My dad isn’t well enough to do any of the work.

On each trip another memory is rekindled. 

Last week it was the rich family history I have of art and craft.  There were many who came before me, on both sides of my family, who were artists or dedicated crafters.  The most amazing box we discovered was filled with my Great Aunt Teresa’s weaving supplies.

There were spools of glorious threads and yarns.

Her shuttles and books.

My Aunt Teresa never married.  She and her sisters, Mary and Dorothy, never left their family home, they cared for both of their parents until the end. 

Once their parents were gone, my Aunts lived together on the old farm, filled with antiques.  They were the heart of the extended family.  Everyone loved to visit the "Farm".  There was always lively conversation, laughter, a passing on of family history, wonderful food, and creativity of every kind.  These women were  intellectuals, college educated – rare for their generation.  In 1925, my grandmother the oldest daughter in the family, graduated from Pembroke, which later became a part of Brown University.  She earned a degree in biology. 

My Aunts’ interests reflected their active minds.  They became experts in antiques and horticulture.  They were painters, and knitters and crocheters.  As I discovered last week, Teresa also became an accomplished weaver.  My mother remembers the blankets, tablecloths and placemats Teresa used to make.  I loved and admired these women.   They had a huge impact on the person I am today.  The box filled with spools means much more to me than just the yarns it contains.  It represents the passion three great women had for everything they did.  It is a treasure.

These beautiful yarns have been in the box since the mid 1950’s.

The colors and textures look fresh enough to be from 2007.