Time for Heritage Knitting

Time is getting close for the Heritage Knitting Retreat in Petersburg, IL, in June.  If you've been interested in the the retreat, you'll want to get your registration in soon.  We've got a very full, very fun program planned so come join us.  You can find more information and a downloadable registration form at the link above.

Lest you think all I've been doing is crocheting, I wanted to post some pictures of a spinning project I've also got going. 

It's Blue-faced Leicester roving hand dyed by frabjous fibers in Vermont.  The colorway is Potash.  This is the second batch I've spun from frabjous fibers - beautiful colors and spins like a dream.  Boy, that link is dangerous.  I got a little lost there - but I'm back now.

I'm spinning part of it on my new Fricke spinning wheel.

Since I haven't had time to share some pictures of my wonderful new wheel, here's a view of the whorls.  Very industrial, right?  I like it.

And that's a view from the front.

And part of the fiber, I'm spinning on my Ashford drop spindle. 

Of all the spindles I've got, I always go back to my Ashfords.  My very first spindle, and in fact my very first contact with fiber, was with an Ashford drop spindle.  I always go back to it.

I can't tell you how much I love this fiber.  I saw it and immediately could visualize a shawl.  I wanted to do the test to see how different the yarn would come out depending on the method of spinning.  As you can see, I've got one bobbin done with the spindle; with the wheel, I've almost finished the first bobbin and will start on the second bobbin. 

In case you're wondering where I got the bobbin, it's a noodle bobbin.  Noodle, you know the things you use in the pool?  Cost a couple of bucks?  They make great bobbins - just cut them to length and trim down the middle.  It already has a hole in the middle for the lazy kate so it's ideal for storage and plying.  And that's our top tip for the day.

Days Like This

Mother told me there'd be days like this.  Or weeks like this.  About all I've had energy for is staring at the wall and crocheting.  I did get 8 doilies out of it and the friend who'd asked for them seemed very pleased.  Although I said I'd try to get a picture of all of them, I forgot and they're away now.

But all is not lost.  Tonight at knit night a very generous person gave me:

Crochet and vintage.  How could life be better?  I feel a whole new round coming on!

There was a new addition to the household this week. 

It's my new Fricke spinning wheel.  I've been researching travel wheels, trying them out in different places for a wheel that I could easily carry with me for events and meetings.  I was always scared that I was going to do damage to my Kromski.  Of all the wheels I tried, this one had the features that I wanted - multiple whorls, easy bobbin changing, smooth treadling, scotch tension and a adjustable hook for advancing the yarn.  It's absolutely gorgeous to spin on and I've got a project started on it already.  This is Blue Faced Leicester that I'm spinning to very, very light lace weight.  I've done part of it on a drop spindle and now I"m finishing it on the wheel.  I wanted to see how the 2 different processes would compare.  I've got this on the middle whorl and on the lightest possible tension on the Scotch tension and it's probably the lightest weight I've ever managed.  I even got to break it in last week meeting with some other spinners in the local park for a very windy session.  Spun like a dream.