Spinning Tools

I got a couple gadgets in the last few days:

The first is a Niddy Noddy.  Really cool thing to have when you’re spinning, or well, when you’re done spinning!  You wind the yarn that is ready to be soak-set onto the Niddy Noddy.  This accomplishes a couple things: 1) you’ll know how much yardage you have but multiplying the number of wraps by the length of one wrap around the Niddy Noddy. (for example, mine is 2 yards around, so if I’ve wrapped it 100 times, I have 200yards of yarn). 2) it allows you to tie your skein in a few places before putting it in water to soak.  If you don’t tie it, you’re gonna have a huge, wet, tangled mess on your hands!

PVC Niddy Noddy

The other is a WPI tool, or a Wraps Per Inch measurement tool.  This is used to figure out how thick, or what weight, your yarn is after you’ve finished setting the twist.  There is some controversy about how accurate it is, but I’m going with it…. honestly, I’m not selling my yarn, and it’s just for me, so it don’t really matter.

WPI Tool

My Newest Yarn a.k.a. my second try at spinning

I finished my second ever yarn the other day…I was pretty pleased with myself.

I spun the singles on Sophie and Navajo plyed them on this lovely lovely lady….

Lindsey's Kromski Symphony (Saxony Style)

I LOVE this wheel….She’s beautiful and spins wonderfully…she’s easy to treadle too… She is my dream wheel.  I told Lindsey if she ever wants to sell her, to let me know first!!

Anyway, back to my yarn.  I navajo plyed it and it’s 100% carded wool, but it turned out nice and I have about 83yards of it.

In the skein after soaking and drying

Wound into a centre-pull ball

Close up of colours

Pretty uniform I think

I’m not sure what I’m going to knit it into yet since it’s not very much yardage, but I’m sure it will be something pretty.  I was thinking maybe a headband, but we’ll see.

On The Go!

I working on a sweater for Sydney right now.  It’s a pretty simply pattern and I had the yarn already so it’s only really costing me my time.  I plan to make one for each of the kids and Moose too.

My Little Model

I think it’s looking great and I’m actually really proud of myself for picking up stitches on the front and joining the yarn back on…I’m very desperately trying to do this on my own so I don’t get stuck and have to wait for Knit Night to ask for help!!!

My gauge is a little off from what it should be, but it’s still going to fit her!! I know for the other kids though that I have to go a size bigger so that I have room for my tight knitting and also for them to wear a tshirt underneath if they want to.

My First Yarn…from start to finish (almost)

My Spindolyn and the first roving (Merino)

The two singles on my make-shift lazy kate

Newly plied yarn still on the spindolyn

Wrapped around a Triscuit box to measure length.

Tied up and ready for a bath

Off the box, it was all sproingy.

Having a bath

After the bath, all wrung out, but pre-whacking

Whacked and drying

Dry and ready to be knit with

Yarn Swift

…and this is why I need one!

Cody pretending to be a Swift!

I HAD to finally finish winding this yarn, and I don’t own a swift, so poor Cody got suckered into holding it.  Before I started winding the yarn, it weighed almost 4 pounds….it was a lot of work to ball it all up, and my hands are sore, but not nearly has sore as Cody’s arms are!

Christmas Knitting

I knitted and crocheted gifts for the family this year!

Ryan's Hat

Charly's Hat

Cordell's Hat

My Fingerless Mittens

Mom's and Charly's Fingerless Mittens

Cody's Puff

Mia's Puff

Sydney's Puff

Ethan's Puff

I made 8 of these for Mom and Charly's Christmas Tree

Welcome Sofie!!

I’d like to introduce Sofie! She came into the family this morning at 1030am.  Weighing a whopping 9lbs 2oz!!  She is beautiful!  I can’t wait to play with her and show her off.

Sofie

Peaceful Knitting

I’m working on my shawl, the Forget Me Not shawl that I started on dad’s anniversary and I hope to finish on Mick’s anniversary…except for one little fact, I’m going to be in Newfoundland on Mick’s anniversary so I want to finish it before AND have it blocked so that I can take it with me to show mom….

It’s so relaxing to be working on something like this…it’s not a hard pattern but it’s beautiful.  It’s just getting really long to do each row.  Right now I’m 21 days behind, which means 42 rows and when the shortest row is almost 150 stitches, it’s getting huge.  Anyway…I can’t wait to have it done!!

I’m going to soon take some pictures, maybe on the weekend….

Lewis’ New Coat and My New Spindolyn

By the time you guys are reading this, most of you have seen Lewis’ new coat either on Twitter or on Ravelry…well I’m posting pics anyway.  I like the coat, it’s easy to get on and off and Lewis doesn’t hate it either.  Unfortunately, I still haven’t put the elastic in the neck, but I will.

My new toy is my Spindolyn…there is a website/shop where you can see what they are Knitting Anyway.  There’s a video at the bottom if you want to see it in action.  But here’s what mine looks like:

I’ve done some spinning on it now, and I love it….it’s so easy to work with and I can such fine weight yarn on it that I would never be able to make using my spindle.  The roving in the picture is some yummy Merino that my friend Johanna gave me on my birthday.  I have to take some more pictures with that actual spun yarn, but I just haven’t had time!

Speaking of time…I’m running out…I have to finish presents for my mom and Charly and Cordell yet and the box was supposed to be sent on Saturday, I’m getting antsy now worrying if it’s going to make it there before Christmas.  After I get all this last minute knitting and crocheting done, I swear I’m just going to work on my Rocky Shores Shawl until January…just as a way to unwind, and maybe actually get some of my WIPs done eventually too.

Knitting and Spinning and Crochet…OH MY!!

I have been busy this week…..

Lewis' Coat

Knitting Lewis a new coat for the cold since he outgrew his old one.  This pattern is from the I Can’t Believe I’m Knitting book I bought many years ago.  It’s interesting, I’ve actually learned some new things I didn’t know how to do before.  It’s actually a really fast pattern…I only started it on Friday and it’s now Monday afternoon, and I’m already at the shaping section, should be done later this week!

Merino spund on Spindle

100% wool from Wellinton Fibres

I finished spinning the Merino on Friday and started the wool on Saturday…I plan to ply them together to make “Blue CandyCanes” to use for a special project…not sure what yet though.

Sydney's Puff

Cody's Puff

I’ve got Cody and Sydney’s shower puffs done for Christmas, I just have do finish Mia’s and make one for Ethan and Ryan…they’re really super easy to make!!

Star for Guild Ornament Exchange

The KW Knitter’s Guild is having an ornament exchange at the next meeting on Dec 8.  You take a handmade ornament and you get a ticket…then they call the number on the ticket and you get to pick one to take home.  These little stars are really fast to make and it works out nice since I’m using scraps to make them.  The one in the picture I made with a 4.5mm hook, but I think I’m going to make them with a 5mm hook from now on, they seem to be really squished.