Category Archive: spinning

2015
08/20

Category:
charity
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

It’s difficult to take a good photo of the area under the stairs that I use as a storage closet. But I certainly did get a lot of items stored in there. And since I did most of it about 10-12 years ago, I didn’t know for sure what was there. So Mary came over and we took everything out – EVERYTHING! We spent the day going through mostly fibers, but some other things. made a big stack for “freecycle”, another for Goodwill, a third for trash, another to work on in the immediate future and the last is fibers that I will do eventually, but there is no real rush . The wool, I took samples of and put in a notebook along with a number on the tote, the alpaca, mohair, and angora are noted as such. Though it’s difficult to tell from photos, this is now organized. I know what is in each tote, and

this is part of what is going to freecycle. There was also a stack like this of items going to a nursing home, trash and Goodwill

And I found the missing dremmel and table. And we uncovered an extra spinning wheel, which I will sell. So the totes with organized fibers and all the totes with decorations for each of the holidays now are in that closet. And stacked so I can easily get to the one I want. I am so happy to have this done.

2015
08/17

Category:
farming
food
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

My cousin has been cleaning out items she thinks she no longer needs and has sent me several doll clothes books. Interestingly enough not a one of them has been a duplicate of what I have. Now I need to get busy and trace patterns so I can make clothes. Christmas will soon be here and I want some little girls to be happy.

Today, the plan was to go to Seattle (an hour drive) to get some organic peaches. I got about 5 miles from home when the car shuddered, started shaking, and sounded horrible. So I called DH – cell phones are wonderful – and he came to my rescue. We took it to our mechanic fearing the worst. However, a spark plug had worked loose and that bill was only $70. As long as the car was there, we had the annual service done, so now I’m ready for the winter and nothing should go wrong. I do like to have the car trustworthy as there is no other service here in case of emergency.

We did get the peaches while the car was being serviced. After coming home, we took my computer in for a new hard drive. The technician argued that he didn’t think it was a hard drive problem, even though the Geek squad did think so. He talked me into leaving it there for a week so they can check it out. I nearly had a heart attack over being without it for a week I have this little laptop, but if I save any messages on here, I can’t get them into the proper folders when the desktop comes back.

We went to Panera’s for lunch after taking the computer in. This was the first time they really scrambled our orders. When I asked the manager if they had new help, he said several were new and offered us a free meal next time we come in.

My days always seems so full and I wonder why. Maybe it’s just all these little interferences. I was able to do a bit of sewing and spinning which I find relaxing. But nothing was finished. I’ll get some photos tomorrow when I figure out how to load them on this computer. I have some really terrific sticky stuff to show you – stay tuned.

2015
08/16

Category:
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

If you don’t raise your own fiber and you want to spin, you can purchase wool this way. It is called roving and is the top 1% of Merino wool, which makes it very soft.

It is so collapsed when you purchase it, that it must be opened and then

the fibers pulled apart from top to bottom – so they separate somewhat, but are not pulled apart.

Then I elongate them so that I have a fairly small diameter in my hand while spinning.

A two foot piece of roving can keep me spinning for a long time. I did not measure before I started, but I bought a pound which is enough for a sweater. I’ve been spinning on this in odd moments and have about 6 feet of roving left to spin. Then it all needs to be plied. At some point, I will be choosing a sweater pattern.

The news had a bit of weather forecast from the Old Farmer’s Almanac. In the PNW, I’m supposed to gear up for snow from mid Dec through mid January and then again mid February until the end. I so hope it is wrong. But I find that it is usually more on than off. For the rest of the country it is forecasting a lot of snow and cold unless you are in California. Then you get early bad weather followed by drought again. I really think the weather for most of you could be improved upon.

IMPORTANT

This computer is going in to get a new hard drive tomorrow. I’m hoping to be up and running by tomorrow night, but if not, that is the reason. I spent about 6 hours today, making sure that everything was backed up and it is possible I still missed some.

2015
08/12

Category:
food
Garden
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
3 Comments »

Lisa, who is very thoughtful, brought these beautiful roses and lilies when she and Christian came to visit yesterday.

Today Mary and I drove him to a half way point, which was about an hour and a half drive, so Lisa wouldn’t have to come so far. We let his mother take him south to lunch and we went north to Subway. That way we could all get on with our day. He complained that the child’s menu just wasn’t enough food. Maybe at 11, it is time to move up menu wise.

When we got home we took a look through the greenhouse and somehow missed these.

When I went back out to water, I found 7 cukes. I brought in these 4 and left the other 3 near the top to grow a bit more.

Then back into the house as it was time to finish mixing up the dyes. There were 9 powder packages which must be opened underwater and then simmered for 30 minutes. So it takes about an hour to process each of them. I managed to make that take 3 days by doing a bit each day. However, they are now ready to be used to dye the wool. Sometimes, I can just make something drag out.

2015
07/19

Category:
Life
machine embroidery
quilts
spinning

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

The last bear and pattern trouble

This is the last of the bear blocks. So I cut out and put together as directed all the connecting units. Here’s where the pattern is wrong. The kit has 6 fabrics which are to be cut into 2 x 2 squares, which I did.

As you can see, 5 – 2″ squares do not equal 10″ The squares are to be cut 10 x 10. So next sewing time I will have to find a coordinating fabric to add to each of these pieces. And just when I was so ready to put the top mostly together and sit it to the side until baby is born. One block will have her name, birthday, etc on it, so can’t finish until she arrives. However do you think they got the idea that if I cut 5 – 2 squares that I would end up with 10″ after 1/2″ seam on each piece. If I had figured it out to begin with, I could have cut the pieces 1.5″ and it would have come out perfect. Then again, if a mistake had to be made, at least this is one I can fix by just adding another piece. 6 x 2 = 12 – 3 for seams will be 9 and I need 10. I’ll have to think on this overnight.

Meanwhile the fleece that didn’t get clean Friday is in the washing machine soaking – I’ll take it out so it doesn’t get agitated. But I think it can soak overnight and see if it can get cleaner. Tomorrow is another good day for drying a fleece. I may have to card it to get the ends open and then rewash.

I did finish spinning some wool that I purchased in roving years ago. Now I’m not sure if I want to ply it on itself or with another color. I’m really leaning to another color.

2015
07/14

Category:
farming
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Fleece to clean

The morning was spent looking for a cooler large enough to wash the fleece. I had one for washing and needed one for rinsing. That took longer than expected because some of the stores were sold out. I finally found one and came home.

This is a very dirty “white” fleece from which I shook loose seconds cuts and took apart

to fit into these bags to keep it from felting while it is being washed and dried. By the time, I had accomplished this, it was too hot to be outside washing it. However, now that the parts are assembled and ready to go, I can do this on another warm day.

2015
06/20

Category:
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

New red yarn

Remember this pile of fluffy red fiber? It was bits and pieces of several different fibers carded with a main fiber. So it has some angora, various types of wool and various colors. I don’t know what else since I purchased it. I’ve been spinning it – a bit at a time.

First step was these singles plus more not shown.

Then this 3 plied yarn.

And now I have 250 plus yards of soft yarn which I hope will be sufficient for a scarf.

2015
05/15

Category:
Garden
Life
Sewing
spinning

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Yeah – it’s Friday!

This lap quilt is only 40 x 44 because that is the size of left over batting that I had. I just love it when something gets totally used.

This afternoon Mary came over and we worked on getting this ancient industrial Singer sewing machine in working order. We needed it to sew very heavy thread. After a couple of hours of us talking kindly and messing with knobs – even downloaded an instruction manual, it now works beautifully. We now have a dog collar finished of which I forgot to take a photo. I also learned that I need to buy special oil as it has an oil tray, needles and a zipper foot. So Monday I’ll drive up to Renton and acquire those items.

Remember the red fluff I showed awhile back? It is slowly becoming yarn.

And we finally found a few minutes to start removing the maple tree forest that finds our berry and grape area just the perfect place to grow.

2015
05/10

Category:
Garden
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Mother’s day. 2015

I took the day off for enjoyment and relaxing. I tired of doing rather colorless dog hair,

so brought out this luscious color.

Since I spent time on it, I did get this much spun and I’m liking how it spins up.

Just so I wouldn’t feel totally lazy, I went out to the hoop house and spent some time with this little fellow.

We put in 100 onions, then I went back to spinning.

2015
05/06

Category:
food
Garden
gluten-free cookng
Life
Shopping
spinning

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Around and around we go

In more ways than one we circle.

I spend those little waiting minutes spinning – still working on the dog hair.

I have made some progress, but still more spool to fill.

The other spinning area was spinning car wheels. We started out with a scheduled doctor visit, then to the sewing center, then to AT&T to find out if they could get my Fitbit to work again. No, but they had an idea we could try at home. Meanwhile, they had them on sale for $20. off until Mother’s day and we had 14 days to return, if the other idea worked. Ok, we went for that idea. Then off to Costco for a few groceries. As we walked in their door, they had a better deal on the Fitbit and longer to return it if we could make the first one work, so we bought one there. After Costco, we returned the one to AT&T, gassed up the car and went home, just afraid one of the sheep had lambed and might need help. No, but we are still watching that “pot”.

So we had lunch* and headed back out to the grocery store and to get a few more tomato plants that someone recommended. They also had alyssum, so must have some of that to put in front of house that is half weeded. Home again, I collapsed on the bed for a bit of a nap. Today was one of those days that I woke up at 3.30, so told myself I deserved a rest. Afterwards. I went back out and finished the tomato bed in the hoop house. Tomorrow morning, the plan is to plant the tomatoes.

Please tell me this sounds like some of your days? If so, know you are not alone. We can certainly empathize. Oh, and after we came home the last time, the dentist called and said they had a cancellation for teeth cleaning tomorrow afternoon. Could I take that slot. And that is why the tomatoes have to go into the ground in the morning.

* Quickie bean soup. Because I guess on a lot of ingredients, these aren’t exact. Also I cook my beans and then can them, which make them very soft, but you could achieve the same thing by cooking until really done. I opened a pint of red beans (could be another type), into the blender with a pint of hot water, some Brewer’s yeast, chicken-like seasoning, garlic and onion powder and salt. Using a high-speed blender, I blended them for about 2 minutes. Meanwhile I opened another jar and heated the contents one minute in the microwave. I put 2 tablespoons of beans in each bowl of soup. It was so very good and it was fast. I had salad ingredients prepped and so lunch was on the table in 5 minutes.

Category Archive: spinning

this is part of what is going to freecycle. There was also a stack like this of items going to a nursing home, trash and Goodwill

We went to Panera’s for lunch after taking the computer in. This was the first time they really scrambled our orders. When I asked the manager if they had new help, he said several were new and offered us a free meal next time we come in.

If you don’t raise your own fiber and you want to spin, you can purchase wool this way. It is called roving and is the top 1% of Merino wool, which makes it very soft.

It is so collapsed when you purchase it, that it must be opened and then

the fibers pulled apart from top to bottom – so they separate somewhat, but are not pulled apart.

Then I elongate them so that I have a fairly small diameter in my hand while spinning.

IMPORTANT

This computer is going in to get a new hard drive tomorrow. I’m hoping to be up and running by tomorrow night, but if not, that is the reason. I spent about 6 hours today, making sure that everything was backed up and it is possible I still missed some.

Lisa, who is very thoughtful, brought these beautiful roses and lilies when she and Christian came to visit yesterday.

When we got home we took a look through the greenhouse and somehow missed these.

When I went back out to water, I found 7 cukes. I brought in these 4 and left the other 3 near the top to grow a bit more.

The morning was spent looking for a cooler large enough to wash the fleece. I had one for washing and needed one for rinsing. That took longer than expected because some of the stores were sold out. I finally found one and came home.

This is a very dirty “white” fleece from which I shook loose seconds cuts and took apart

to fit into these bags to keep it from felting while it is being washed and dried. By the time, I had accomplished this, it was too hot to be outside washing it. However, now that the parts are assembled and ready to go, I can do this on another warm day.

Remember this pile of fluffy red fiber? It was bits and pieces of several different fibers carded with a main fiber. So it has some angora, various types of wool and various colors. I don’t know what else since I purchased it. I’ve been spinning it – a bit at a time.

First step was these singles plus more not shown.

Then this 3 plied yarn.

And now I have 250 plus yards of soft yarn which I hope will be sufficient for a scarf.

This lap quilt is only 40 x 44 because that is the size of left over batting that I had. I just love it when something gets totally used.

Remember the red fluff I showed awhile back? It is slowly becoming yarn.

And we finally found a few minutes to start removing the maple tree forest that finds our berry and grape area just the perfect place to grow.

I took the day off for enjoyment and relaxing. I tired of doing rather colorless dog hair,

so brought out this luscious color.

Since I spent time on it, I did get this much spun and I’m liking how it spins up.

Just so I wouldn’t feel totally lazy, I went out to the hoop house and spent some time with this little fellow.

We put in 100 onions, then I went back to spinning.

In more ways than one we circle.

I spend those little waiting minutes spinning – still working on the dog hair.

I have made some progress, but still more spool to fill.

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