Oh hey! it's 2014!

Another year has gone by, which in and of itself is not surprising. The speed at which the years are going by, however, still seems to astonish me. With that said, I'm making no resolutions this year.  i'm just going to keep going, hoping that life does not throw me so many curve balls. Simple enough.
I'll keep blogging, selling, and doing my class work. And the mothering bits, and the wife-ing bits, and the girl guide-ing bits.  When it all fits in.

Anywho, I do hope 2014 is a wonderful year for everyone.  The best yet! One that tops all the others.

I finished out 2013 by taking a project off the bobbins.  It's 6.6 oz of Canadian grown and prepped Ets D'Laine Merino wool, spun woollen from carded roving, making it a super squishy and wonderful yarn. There's approximately 330 yards of this one. Such a lovely 3 ply.


And I'm starting 2014 by carding up some full sized batts of this llama merino yak blend that went out as samples in the Phat Fiber box! There will be approximately 12 oz (in smaller bits, likely 2oz chunks :) ) in the shop soon!



Don't forget to check out the Etsy Shop! 10% off until the 15th of January! Enter code Spingrand0 (that's a zero, not an 'o')

Happy happy new year to you!

~Kara

Making it official.

Not like it wasn't already.  Spinning is a HUGE part of my life, and as it stands, it will be a long and wonderful part my life. So, why not emblazon it upon my flesh forever?  My lady, on my side. There's more to do, as this is the outline only. There will be yarn, and words and color.  But that all takes time. I'll be sure to update when there's progress.

~Kara

Found it Friday

Oh look! It's a Friday, and there's a Found it Friday! ;)

Spin, it makes the world turn.  And apparently makes tiny 4 macro meter sized spheres vanish? 

This article: http://www.cosmonline.co.uk/blog/2013/09/01/physicists-smash-man-made-spin-speed-record 

explains it succinctly , with enough comedy to make science fun! 

I came across this article through the Spindle Lore group on Ravelry. 
The folks over there are having a pretty deep conversation about spinning and 
zen and why spinning seems so inherently centring.  I don't know about you all,

 but sometimes I feel like I 'vanish' when I'm in the spin zone. 

Happy reading!

~Kara

Master Spinner Level 2 Final Project

So, I left you all hanging.  It's like a really juicy season finale and you had to wait far to long to find out  just what happened!  Suspense!  Mystery! Did she or didn't she? dun dun dunnnnnnnn.....

I frogged it.  I frogged that damn scarf. It was surprisingly satisfying. In a way.  And then that tiny little ball of yarn sat for a while, lonely and beckoning.  I started carding rolags from some lovely merino fleece from Natchwoolie to distract me from my lingering frustration.  And I spun up 2 of the 3 bobbins of the merino, but something stopped me from spinning the 3rd.... It was likely the date, the fact that Fibre Week was only 3 weeks away and my husband was about to go on a week long fishing trip.  Or the thought:  "You know, you went through all that effort on that shetland silk blend.  And you are pretty proud of it.  Just use it. Make that little scarf.  DO IT".
So I did. I used a crochet cast on as the provisional cast on. I knit twisted stitches, I yarned over, I purled and knit two together. I bound off to "top' part, picked up the provisional cast on with ease and bound that baby off.  I cut through my knitting at the appropriate place ( talk about scary! cutting my haandspun in the middle of a project!!) I blocked that scarf, and when it was dry I held it up and smilled.  The yarn I lovingly spun from junk wool and silk, knit and frogged, and knit again, held up sooooo well to that abused. So well. I was happy to turn it in as my final project.

And because this post is nothing without a picture....  TaDa! pretty scarf!

It's been through the scrutiny of my wonderful teacher, and got a pretty good mark.  But the mark isn't the big thing with this one, in the end.  I'm proud of this dinky little scarf.  It's soft, it drapes nicely, it's light and airy. And I'll actually wear it. 

~Kara

Fibre Week 2012 Journey PART 1

Where ever to start? I suppose at the beginning is best.  This will be a long post, so grab a cuppa, and find a cozy place to sit.

Friday June 22, 2012
  I woke up, friday morning at 4 am, from a nightmare that I'd lost my children in a Costco.  What a terrible way to start off a day that should be fun and exciting!  I could tell my Mother Guilt at leaving the Family for 9 days was starting to get to me... I'd been wondering all month if I should drop the two extra courses I'd signed up for, but it was far to late for that.  I woke up, had a some coffee, and got the kids ready for thier day and dropped the oldest off at school.  Then it was my turn to go to school.  Although it took me a heck of a lot longer to get to school then it took me to take the kids!
Along the way I stoped in at The Fat Ewe Bed and Breakfast to pick up some wool.  Oh my goodness. This place is my dream retirement!  There's this gorgeous home, filled with antiques and 4 rooms for the guests to use.  Besides the gorgeous accomodations there is a big barn and a bunch of small coops for chickens and ducks and geese of all sorts, and pigs and goats and SHEEEEEEEP!  Gosh, the sheep are certainly the cutest critters.


Anyway, I figured I'd grab a couple of the fleeces, and share with the master spinners.  I took off with two Karakul, a goodly handful of short shetland, and a HUGE bag (25lbs worth?) of East Friesian.  My trunk was FULL of unprocessed wool.   I spent some time talking to Eileen (who served the most interesting drink, Rhubarb juice.  It's very good, try it if you have the chance!) and then went on merry way.
And then promptly got lost.  I ended up zigzagging my way to the #2 highway, on back roads and secondary highways.  I did end up finding my way, mind you.  Not before I got very worried I'd miss meeting the person I'd promised to meet, so we could get groceries.  I messaged her, telling her that's I'd be late, and ended up in Olds with plenty of time to spare anyway!  Getting lost didn't take as long I'd thought it would.
Then I went shopping.  At the Fibre Week Market.  Blew over 200$ in less then 30 minutes, I'm sure.  A new spindle, a whole bunch of pottery (By Heather), and a weaving book for my Mom.
It was a long day, but a good one!


Saturday June 23, 2012
 First day of class!  I took Getting Even with Michelle Boyd.  This was an extra course I opted to take, as who doesn't want to be able to make amazingly even yarn?   The kind that makes people go: 'You spun that?! It looks like a machine made it!'  Then you can blow them away with your amazing skilllz.  Don't get me wrong, funky cool, textured yarns are also amazing.  I love creating things that just beg to be touched, stared at and loved.  But that perfect singles, incredibly even ply....  Perfection at it's best.  I know to some, that seems an insult, but to me it means I've become master of the fibre, and can dictate what I want a fibre to become (to a point, of course.  You aren't going to get a lace weight yarn out of Scottish Blackface, but you can make it perfectly into a suitable warp for rugs.)  I went from pretty bumpy in the morning, to really quite amazingly even by the end of the day.  And all with just a few nifty little tricks.
Woolen spun before class and after class:


Worsted spun before class and after class:


Saturday night was the Kick off Social.  The Keynote Speaker was Karen Workman who presented the topic "How I sold my Landskin for 2000$"  A landskin is a gorgeous piece of fabric stitched, and layered and dyed and felted. I took from this two things: 1- Never undervalue your work.  And 2- If you make something beautiful, it will be priceless to someone.



Sunday June 24, 2012
 Sunday I had chosen a knitting class.  I'm an alright knitter, but there are a few things I'd like to improve upon, like wonky edges, diferent cast ons, and such.  Those tiny details that give that finese to a garment.  The knitting class was called Beginnings, Endings, Edges and Joins, with  Jani Meyers.  We covered a few cast on's that I was unfamiliar with, including the provisional and a circle cast on.  Those were the most intriguing and kind of fiddly.  But I feel like I could confidently do them again, should the need arise.   One really cool edge/cast off is something I'm not sure if there is a name for.  It involves casting on at the edge and a series of k and k2tog's that give you a really nice perpendicular garter stitch. I'm sure you could alter the garter stitch to be any stitch, but it's really quite nice, all things considered.  One other thing I thought was really really cool, that we squeeeeeezed in at the very end was the i-cord cast on.  There are sooo many uses for it!  I've got to try it again and again and again, just to be sure I'm getting it right.  It would look very lovely on a circular vest, or a toque, or sleeves,  or hems....  Anything with an edge!  Sadly, we didn't get to the Joins part.  I think it was because the class was slightly larger then it should have been.  Though truth be told, had those same 6-8 people with all the questions and difficulties (and yes, I was one of them!  some of those things were tricky to get off the start!) been in a smaller class, we'd have only gotten so much covered anyway.  It was still a valuable lesson in knitting.
Sunday night was the Spin in, and unfortunately, I'm not really sure what it was, but something kept me from it...


Okay, I'm starting to realize this is going to take a lot of words to get through the whole 9 days away.  So I'm going to do it in parts.   And I think this is the only part with decent pictures... Perhaps I will take a few shots of the samples we did in the Level 2 class before I start on the next post.
Hopefully it won't take to long to get the next post up, but we've gone camping, and theres no service up there. Maybe I'll be able to make a draft in my "free time"(like one gets much more then a minute of free time at a time camping with small children) and post when we get back.

~Kara

Fun I've been up to

So yesterday was the bazaar in town!  I'll have to say I had a really good day, despite it being quite slow.  But I had fun.  And the folks who did come got to see me in action, as I took my spinning wheel with me.  I gave mini history lessons on spinning and how the world wouldn't be what it was today had someone not noticed you could make wool into thread.  And of course I was asked (a few times) "You know you can buy yarn from a store, right?"  ::)  Where is the fun in that though? Truth is I much prefer the making of the yarn then using it.  I can, and I do, but it's so much more fun to spin!  I was happy to see some men take interest in the wheel too, though I think they were more interested in its mechanics, then the yarn that came out of it!

I've also completed the spinning of my breed study!  Yay!!  That means I can spend a little time with the dye today, after I make a cheesecake tho.  I will get this cheesecake thing right eventually..... Especially for the sake of my husband.  He did clean and de-clutter the kitchen.

~Kara

What's been up..

I've been having fun spinning and crocheting and making a doll (most specifically a poppet)  So here are far to many pictures of wonderful things!!!!!!!!!

These yarns were inspired by a picture posted by Pluckyfluff on her facebook page.  She was plying a core spun with vintage chenille.    I had odd singles and eyelash yarn.  These were my results.





And since spinning the pink one, I've made this hat for my Daughter.   It has a whole bunch of odd singles in it.  I love it!


A friend of mine saw this roving I painted, and said she needed a scarf made out of it.  Here's the whole process.  I spun it "fractally".   Though I didn't split my roving quite right, as the shorter color runs ran out before I ran out of the longer ones!  Oh well, this yarn is still beautiful, and it makes a wonderful scarf :)









And I was in the Fiber Swap on craftster.org and received this wonderful fiber from Zombie Queen.  I spun it up slubby, and it's been turned into Poppet hair and a free form crochet cowlette.







I think for now, I'll leave it at that.    I don't want to explode your computers with to much yarn and craft!!!


~Kara

How to Tease wool locks

This video was prompted by question by someone on Ravelry.  "I received some Leicester locks, but how do I spin them?"    I searched the web for something that would illustrate my confusing words (I at least found them confusing)  but couldnt' find anything.  So, I'm filling the void with this video shot by my almost 4 year old!

How to tease wool in preparation for spinning


 Enjoy!

 ~Kara

Thankful.

Up here in Canada, it is Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving means Turkey, stuffing, smashed potatoes and gravy and a heaping helping of cranberry sauce.  And don't forget the pumpkin pie!  We had a fabulous meal last night with friends, who after I kept pulling food out of every nook and cranny of the fridge, told me I shouldn't have gone to such an extent.  But it's thanksgiving!  A full meal with far to many options is the only way to do it!

Thanksgiving also (and truly more importantly) means that it is time to reflect on all the things you are thankful for.  Here's my great big list!

I am thankful for my Family.  My Mother, who taught me how to sew, and cook, and bake like a fiend.  My Father, who took us camping as kids and let us eat doughnuts and runts (candies) for breakfast.  My Sister and Brother, whom I both love unconditionally and fully.  Life wouldn't be nearly as fun without them.  I'm especially thankful that my sis kicked cancers ass at the tender age of 5.  She's my best friend, and I'd be lost without her.  My nieces and nephews, who are all a joy to be around.  Of course, my loving Husband, who is my rock.  My beautiful children, whom I live for, my reason to to keep going.
I'm also thankful for my In-laws, who have become family over time.
 
I'm thankful for Friends, and although they are few, all you really need is one or two really great friends.

I'm thankful for the roof over my head and the great yard behind it.

I'm thankful for the beautiful view from my front window.

I'm thankful for my ability to spin.

I'm thankful for my creativity, and the fact that it keeps me grounded (and busy :) )

I'm thankful for the giant stash (not as giant as some, but giant none the less) that keeps my creativity flowing.

I'm thankful that I stumbled on Craftster.org, because it reignite the flame of creativity that had I had lost.

And mostly I'm thankful for my blessed life.

What are you thankful for?

~Kara

I'm still here

Seems to me I tend to blog in spurts, don't you think?  I'm still here though, and still spinning. And still washing.   I planned to make a vow to wash wool at least once a day this week.  It's happened twice.  And only enough to make my 10 yard samples for the sections of a sheep homework.  But at least it's progress on the homework front!  Yay progress!

I've also joined the Fibre swap on Craftster.org.  The wonderful organizer of that swap has allowed us to pair our selves and the awesome Zombie Queen has invited me to spin with her!  ( I just sat there in the corner with my knees and toes together, head down fiddling with the hem of my dress.  Knowing I really wanted to dance with her, but couldn't work up the courage to ask!  even though I knew she wanted to. )  So I've got yarn spun for her, but I know she reads this, so I wont be able to share any of that spinning until nearly the end of November!

So that's my update.  I'm still here, still spinning, still washing (sigh....) still alive :)

~Kara

I AM in love!

It's here! It's here! Okay, so It's been here for nearly 3 weeks. I keep getting distracted with life (mostly the kidlettes right now) But I definitely want to post my review of Flannelberry Fibre. The shipping was very reasonable, the fiber inexpensive and gorgeous. This is what I bought:

There's the Canadian fiber sampler, which is 6 types of different fiber. And 8oz of hemp fiber, which I'll probably wait to spin, since the project I need it for isn't something I need through the winter. And 8oz of each of the blue, purple and maroon wool, which is actually for the International day of Felt! I've started felting a few things in this years colors, but am no where near finished, and hope to make something to wear to.

I was so very happy with Flannelberry Fibre, and will be placing another order when I can justify more wool!

~Kara

I put the Pro in Procraftination

Right, so I was lamenting my procraftination last post.  So now that I have pics, I thought I'd share.

This first one was a beautiful Superwash BFL Hand painted Roving from Cordova Studios  It evolved on it's own into this yarn, complete with little eyelashes, just for that extra bit of ohlala.


And this one was intially inspired by the little bumble bees you see in it.  The kick in the butt to actually make the yarn, however, was this months challenge over at Crafster.org Make something inspired by nature.  Well this most definitely fits that bill.  Art batt I purchased at Fibre Week, needle felted flowers and leaves, some tail spun locks(to look like grass) and some beads, and a bit of the leftover from the above yarn turned in to coil beehives. All spun on a core of crochet cotton.




I hope to turn it into a little shrug in time for posting it in the challenge.  Because that is what I need, more procraftination.

~Kara

Making progress.

Part of becoming a Master Spinner is homework.  And for a while there, I was avoiding it.  Just because I could.  I don't necessarily have to have it in any time soon, but I'd like to have it in before next years classes.  I was full of cocky confidence thinking it could be done in a matter of a few months, but the more I looked at it, the more it freaked me out, and it was to daunting to even start. So I started doing things I wanted to be doing.  Spinning for fun. Crocheting Miss J's blanky.  Solar dyeing scarves.  Fun things!

But then I started.  And while I've made a small dent in it, I've made a bigger dent in the pile of things I was doing for fun.  But I started and that's the point.   So far I've spun a few sample skeins for my wash exercise. (Not washed the way I bulk wash, washed the way the teach wants it done.  And she  might be right.... This way might be better..) A sample skein for my parts of the fleece exercise, and another part washed.  And what I worked on today.  Part of my breed study.  Poly pay fleece Carded into rolags and slivers. yay! Here's proof:


It's a dent.  But I'm happy it's there, just like Mater (from Cars... like he says in Cars 2.... When Holly Shiftwell wants to fix it....  You mean you haven't seen it yet?  get to the theater!  it's great!)

~Kara

Spin heart, spin.

This. This picture. Does it make your fingers move, just so slightly?  Does it make your foot tap out a perfect, steady rhythm? Was the first thing you noticed the pile of lovely dyed fleece on the floor?  Or was it one of the wheels?  Maybe you even noticed the pile of mini skeins natured dyed into fabulous 1970's colours sitting on the back counter.  If you encountered any of these things, then you get it. 
This picture is the Master spinner level 1, taught my Marj Sojstrom, class room.
Master spinner?
yes! Master spinner!
Wait, what are you talking about? there are no bikes.
Okay, lets reverse a bit.  

Once upon a story… One day while cruising Crafster.org -which I happened to stumble upon through a post on diaperswappers.com- clicking through most recent post thumbnails, I see this yarn.  And I think to myself 'Ooh what pretty yarn! I wonder where they bought it, and what did they make with it?!' *click*  *scroll scroll* wait.  WAIT.  WHAT?!?!!!! You MADE that YARN?!!!?!!!  I didn't know you could make yarn!!! I wanna make yarn!!  Honey look look!! This person MADE YARN.  MADE it!  But how??  Searching and a few 100 questions later, I discovered it was as simple as a dowel with a disc on it, and some wool.  So the first chance I got I went out and bought myself a heavy drop spindle (the fancy term for the dowel/disc thingy) and about 2oz of what I think was merino roving.  From that first finger flick I was hooked.  I still have that yarn.  I dyed it with koolaid.  It's been felted.  It's a pretty sorry mess to be honest, but it was my first.  I love that yarn.  And just to still your curiosity, here it is:

Okay so fast forward two and a half years, and here we are. Two and half years of spinning, not on a bike, but on a spinning wheel.  Making yarn for the sake of making yarn.  Putting wool to the wheel and letting my heart guide me. Nearly two years ago, I learned of a place where people who love fibre, who love to spin, who love yarn, get together and for just over 1 week, they learn and teach and socialize with people who get it.  This year, I finally got to go.  I took the Master Spinner level 1 course.  And this blog is my journey.  And I thought that, maybe, if I shared it with the world, someone out there will stumble upon it and discover that they too can create yarn, with their own two hands.  And fall in love, find themselves, find something that moves them.  The way I found myself, fell in love with my wheel, and found something that moves me.

~Kara