knit.spin.sew.

Fun with ruffles

Here is a nice and quick project, only one skein of yummy and soft yarn with and one simple pattern.

Yarn: One skein Misti Alpaca Handpainted
Pattern: Ruffles Chunky Scarf (free pattern)
Needles: Denise (13US)

Here, kitty, kitty.....

Yesterday, DD called from school
DD: DAD i found this cat and he's friendly, and it's really hungry and dirty

DH: Where is it?

DD: Here, can you come pick it up and can we take it home?

Me in the background: NO WAY! we don't need a cat, what about Ollie (our 2 yr. old pug)?

DH: I'll be there as soon as I can.

DD: I love you daddy.

Poor cat, it's dirty and super hungry, we fed it and gave it water, DH and I agree that we are not taking it to the pound, we "know" what happens there. We called a rescue and maybe we can get him a home, he's really sweet and comes to you, he's been sleeping a lot, that just goes to show you how tired and hungry he must have been.
I'll keep posting and see what happens, it's already after 3pm on Friday and we have not heard from the rescue yet.
And hey! look he likes the old wool blanket. (grin)

October in January

One down, one to go. Roving from the Fiber Fiend.
Merino/Tencel, My handspun.
Colorway: October
It feels great to be using my own yarn for knitting.

Jamaican Carnival

7.7 oz. of 100% Falkand Wool
454 yards
Navajo ply
Roving purchased here

Back behind the wheel

So, recently I took pictures of all the roving I have, 2008 is going to be the year were I use what I have and not spend more, I want to save $$$ and be a good girl. OMG Stitches West is coming in a month.. never mind!
But seriously, I have the goal of spinning all the roving I have before I buy anything else; and to make this possible I'm sitting behind my beloved wheel for at least 20 minutes everyday.
I've already started with this:
7.7 oz of Falkland roving from this Etsy seller.
I'm planning on Navajo ply.

Bummer...

Yesterday was a sad day for me, I found out that the shop where I learned to spin was closing, I went there to say good bye and Karen the owner was packing up stuff.
I'm so sad to see her business fold, it's a lot of hard work to keep a business going (I know this because I own my business too)
Karen (the owner) is such a generous and good woman, she works a full time job during the week and afterwards and on weekends she was at the shop.
This place was in business for a long time, long before all the new and trendy yarn shops we have around now, I took my spinning class there and learned about fleeces, carding, all the different fibers and also dyeing.
She will still do shows and teach workshops, but I'm sad, really sad she doesn't have a retail space any more.
I wish her well and hope she can continue to be in business even if it is at a very small scale.
Life goes on...
I'll leave you with some handspun fresh off the wheel.
Fiber from Fat Cat Knits an Etsy shop.
4 oz. Colorway Field and Stream

Mitten Obsessions

By now you probably have figure out that Ravelry is the coolest thing right now. Although I don't post a lot of comments to blogs or forums, I have been looking and getting a lot of ideas on what to do with my stash.
First with all the cold weather I became obsessed with mittens, lots and lots of mittens; but there was a problem, I had no idea how to knit with 2 colors at once or fair isle or stranded knitting, whatever you call it I knew I had to learn and fast! I googled and watched a couple of videos and the one that helped me the most was the one at Philosopher's Wool site, it's pretty basic but clear,(beware for some odd reason it does not play on firefox).
So I've learned and practiced, I made The Center Square hat  from Knitty

and now I'm knitting this.
Here is the first one.  Maybe there is hope after all.

Handmade Christmas

Today, I spent the day finishing up little Christmas gifts to the kids to give out at school, we saved money and they turned out pretty cute, times are hard right now and I loved making the gifts, little wallets for the boys, wristlets for the girls, scarves for the teachers and a couple of heating packs for my knitting friends.
I love to sew, spin and knit.
This will be truly a homemade Christmas. I'm so homesick.

time flies..

when you're having fun, with ravelry I have been a very lazy blogger, that place it's just sooo addictive, it's like eating popcorn or peanuts, you can't just have one.
I've finished a few things and got a woolie winder for the spinning wheel. My life is busy and I wish I had more time to knit.

the wool festival

Yes this is an angora rabbit being sheared by this guy at the Ca. Wool and fiber festival in Boonville last weekend, It was a nice and relaxing weekend and my wallet didn't suffer too much,
I did come out with some fiber, a spindle and finally a yard meter!
But the nicest thing was meeting some really nice people like:
Maia, Margit and the folks at the booth form the Sacramento spinning and weaving guild.

Here are some more pics (my camera is pretty crappy,sorry

and how about this WOMAN shearing a sheep