I feel like an idiot, walking into hardware store after hardware store and asking for a simple pulley wheel, only to discover the pulleys are a) too small and b) fused so as to make it impossible to remove wheel from casing. I need pulley wheels to build a homemade chakrha - an Indian spinning wheel run by hand and favored by Gandhi. There are various online plans for building such a wheel, and mine come from a 1996 Spin Off magazine article, which is now available for free online.
I'll try to take pictures as I go, to document the progress of my little wheel!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
WIP: Handspun Citron
Right now I'm near to casting off a handspun Citron shawl from the online knitting magazine, Knitty. Citron is one of those viral knits - it seems like everyone is knitting it. At first, I wasn't too fond of the little shawl. It seemed too frilly for me. But then... I made the right yarn.
This.
The African Sunset colorway of Three Waters Farm BFL fiber, purchased from the yarn store where I work. I spun singles to keep the integrity of the colors and boy am I happy I did.
Because that is becoming this:
Yum.
This.
The African Sunset colorway of Three Waters Farm BFL fiber, purchased from the yarn store where I work. I spun singles to keep the integrity of the colors and boy am I happy I did.
Because that is becoming this:
Yum.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Yak, day three
Been spinning up more yak while on vacation. Back now, so I'll move on to my other projects, but I'm gonna keep on working on the yak on the side. It's sooo soft.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Spinning Yak
Today I started a new project for the Tour de Fleece (even though I haven't quite finished the singles I worked on yesterday). Yak. 100% yak, purchased at MDSW, from Bijou Spun.
Now, I like to try to spin thinly. Sometimes the fiber likes it, sometimes it doesn't. This yak, well... I don't think I've ever managed to spin so finely. I'm glad I decided to do this on the spindle, because spinning yak is harder than I thought! It is SO fine and SO short staple that if I'm not careful, the roving simply slips apart in my hand before I even draft it. I'm sure the humidity here isn't helping, as yak sticks to my hands, but it's been a real treat to try out. I've only got an ounce, so I suppose the fact that it HAS to be laceweight is a boon. I think I'll be plying with some nice silk thread or something.
A peek at the first tiny bit:
Now, I like to try to spin thinly. Sometimes the fiber likes it, sometimes it doesn't. This yak, well... I don't think I've ever managed to spin so finely. I'm glad I decided to do this on the spindle, because spinning yak is harder than I thought! It is SO fine and SO short staple that if I'm not careful, the roving simply slips apart in my hand before I even draft it. I'm sure the humidity here isn't helping, as yak sticks to my hands, but it's been a real treat to try out. I've only got an ounce, so I suppose the fact that it HAS to be laceweight is a boon. I think I'll be plying with some nice silk thread or something.
A peek at the first tiny bit:
Monday, July 12, 2010
Tour de Fleece 2010 - "Rest" day?
Today is supposed to be a rest day for this year's tour de fleece but, as I'll be away Wednesday, I'm spinning today and resting then.
Today's obsession:
This is 2oz. of "African Sunset" BFL fiber by Three Waters Farm. I've got another 2oz. to spin up, as well. These will remain singles and are likely destined to become a Citron shawl. I'm awfully proud - I spun all 2oz. today, plus put them onto the Niddy Noddy, all while Durham Knits Jr. napped. It may not seem like much of a triumph to many, but it is with a 4 month old.
Today's obsession:
This is 2oz. of "African Sunset" BFL fiber by Three Waters Farm. I've got another 2oz. to spin up, as well. These will remain singles and are likely destined to become a Citron shawl. I'm awfully proud - I spun all 2oz. today, plus put them onto the Niddy Noddy, all while Durham Knits Jr. napped. It may not seem like much of a triumph to many, but it is with a 4 month old.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Tour de Fleece 2010
Whoever thought I would swell with pride when watching a kid grab a rattle? But my son has been working on his hand-eye coordination now, at 4 whole months, and the way his face lights up when he manages to actually touch what he wants is beyond amazing. I love that kid.
In other news, it's Tour de Fleece time again. I've been spinning my butt off, trying new things, like spinning with sparkles.
See?
Off to buy buttons for my new sweater...
In other news, it's Tour de Fleece time again. I've been spinning my butt off, trying new things, like spinning with sparkles.
See?
Off to buy buttons for my new sweater...
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