June is over today. June is one of my favorite months. It’s mostly still spring the first part, and summer is still fresh and new and full of potential for the rest. Once July arrives, there are the celebrations of the 4th, there are things in the yard that are past blooming, it’s peak wildflower time in the mountains (and why haven’t we been up there more?!?), and suddenly it’s a downhill race to autumn.
Already I am feeling summer slip by!
I once heard a saying while living in Missouri that went something like ‘fresh as a June morning’, and that clicked for me.
We lived in a small-ish town in Central Missouri, and there was no farmer’s market as such. What we did have was a community of old order Mennonites that would sell produce at their farms. I remember Saturday mornings…in June...driving out to pick up fresh strawberries, tomatoes, and corn, among other things. Among every other thing. The things they grew…including kids. Those were not for sale, but they did help run the cash register, stock the bins, pick the berries, and whatever else was necessary.
The trek out to the particular farm we frequented was peaceful, on less-traveled dirt roads, with wild-flower filled ditches.
June mornings in Kentucky were damp with humidity, as I remember, with dew on spider webs in the field across the drive, and red-winged black birds defending their territories in the field across the road.
These June mornings I have been riding to work. With a jacket on. Probably I will shed that with the advent of July, but I have needed one up to now. I have seen deer, geese, ducks, and cormorants. Glorious mornings, meeting walkers, joggers, and other riders on the trail, and wondering what I could be doing if I wasn’t going to work.
Yeah. Whatever. That’s just June working it’s magic on me.
June 30, 2010
June 26, 2010
Homemade Hiking Socks
Soaked, tossed in the dryer for a bit, then re-shaped.
Worn for a forty minute walk. And a day at work.
new to me...eye of partridge heel
Conclusion → Suh-weet! A most useful pattern that makes a good sock, from an excellent yarn.
Details: Walking in the Maize, by KyleAnn Williams (Crystal Palace Yarns) I simplified and shortened the cuff. I wanted to use just one skein of yarn. Which I did. Regia Silk 4-ply, 200 yards, 55% Wool, 25% Nylon, 20% Silk. A blend that is like buttah to knit!
Next time, I might start the ribbing a bit earlier, and the cuff a bit longer.
I am continuing on Eldest’s February Lady Sweater, and have about 10” of the body complete. So good there.
And I will be starting another pair of socks….exactly like these, with a different yarn blend.
But…
I am feeling the need to start something new and different and challenging. I have been looking over my Ravelry queue and matching up my stash with potential and probable projects.
I don’t know. I just don’t know.
It was mentioned at the spinning workshop that knitting with our handspun is a sure-fire way to become a better spinner. Perhaps I could start there…
Of course. There is the matter of the languishing quilt. But I have A Plan. Oh yes. A Plan with a capital P. And I will carry through with it when I know exactly what it is. And how it is going to work.
June 25, 2010
Wildflowers on Bobcat Ridge
Last Saturday, Wonderful Guy and I took an opportunity offered by our Open Spaces, and joined a Naturalist for a Guided Wildflower Hike along the Bobcat Ridge Open Area.
Starting at 9 AM, and walking an easy 2 miles, it lasted a couple of hours. The morning was a bit cloudy, which was nice, because there is very little shade at Bobcat Ridge. It was very pleasant. There were about 12 or 15 of us along for the talk, and except for a younger couple, most of us were…older.
Lupine
The Naturalist talked as we went, pointing out the flowers, some grasses, a bird or two, and a deer was spied. She was not totally technical and gave lots of ‘folksy’ facts, in addition to interesting tidbits of information that was easy to assimilate.
Thistle (some are native...)
This Saturday? I think we are going to try to make a walk at Horsetooth.
There were a couple of guys with fancy schmancy cameras and lens, and one guy that was very knowledgeable about the local flora. He was constantly spotting blooming things and pointing them out to our fearless leader.
white larkspur!
White Larkspur was found which surprised both the Smart Guy and the Naturalist. Very, very indeed. So there was a special sighting.
scarlet gaura
I also learned about Scarlet Gaura. A native to the area, and I have some in my yard, but of the nursery type. After they were pointed out to me, as is often the case, I saw them every where.
prickly pear
After the walking and talking and looking and photo ops, Wonderful Guy and I shared a picnic of cheese, crackers, tuna, jerky, water, and Hershey’s. Mmmm….nutricious, delicious, and easy to carry!
A good time was had by all, and by all, I am referring to the Guy and myself, at least. Therefore, I am checking out other such chances to observe and learn. Because. I am all about observing. And learning.
larkspur
This Saturday? I think we are going to try to make a walk at Horsetooth.
June 24, 2010
No Time A-Wastin’
While the fleeces were doing their soaking thing, I kept myself busy working on a project I have been putting together in my head for some time.
On New Year’s Eve 2008, I made a needle holder for my straight needles, and recently ‘finished’ it with some seam binding. I have come to realize how handy this is, and how much I just plain like it. I am often flummoxed in finding the size of circular needle I want, and have been thinking maybe I need to make something similar for my circs.
My circular needle collection is a bit motley. When I cranked back up the knitting, after giving away previous collection of needles (I know!), I bought a couple sets of bamboo needles off Ebay. They are…adequate.
My sock journey using the Loop of Magickness required different circs, however, and I bought some skinny and long corded Knitpicks. Oh. Now those were sweet, when compared to the bamboo! But KP doesn’t make their nickel plated needles past a size 3. They think beyond that, that’s what their interchangeables are for.
Not me. I struggled on with the cheap bamboo, and their uneven joins and thick cords.
Then I figured out while I may not want a set of interchangeables, all I really need is one of each size circ with a long cord. With Magic Loop, I can knit anything of any diameter! So freeing the Loops of Magickness are!Slowly but surely, I have been buying Addis, here, there, on sale, with a discount, on the equipment destash forums on Ravelry. I have almost one pair of Addis (or Knitpicks) of each size.
Well, those fancy-pants Addis sure as heck need a home, now, don’t you know
So…while the fleeces soaked….
I cut and trimmed and patched and sewed and matched and hemmed and bound and stamped.
Yes. Stamped.
Then I crocheted. I used plies of yarn from waaaa-ay back when my first spinning lessons. I took two, unrelated plies and single chained them together for a tie. Chic, eh? Well…certainly functional. And memorable...ever reminding me of how far I have come on the spinning scale...as it were...
It’s not perfect, but better than what was, which was Ziplocs, other plastic containing things, and shopping bags. And I like it. We will see how well it works.
Now the dpns and hooks are jonesin’ for their own place, but I don’t know. I am out of scrap quilt, and I really don’t use those implements at all.
On New Year’s Eve 2008, I made a needle holder for my straight needles, and recently ‘finished’ it with some seam binding. I have come to realize how handy this is, and how much I just plain like it. I am often flummoxed in finding the size of circular needle I want, and have been thinking maybe I need to make something similar for my circs.
My circular needle collection is a bit motley. When I cranked back up the knitting, after giving away previous collection of needles (I know!), I bought a couple sets of bamboo needles off Ebay. They are…adequate.
My sock journey using the Loop of Magickness required different circs, however, and I bought some skinny and long corded Knitpicks. Oh. Now those were sweet, when compared to the bamboo! But KP doesn’t make their nickel plated needles past a size 3. They think beyond that, that’s what their interchangeables are for.
Not me. I struggled on with the cheap bamboo, and their uneven joins and thick cords.
Then I figured out while I may not want a set of interchangeables, all I really need is one of each size circ with a long cord. With Magic Loop, I can knit anything of any diameter! So freeing the Loops of Magickness are!Slowly but surely, I have been buying Addis, here, there, on sale, with a discount, on the equipment destash forums on Ravelry. I have almost one pair of Addis (or Knitpicks) of each size.
Well, those fancy-pants Addis sure as heck need a home, now, don’t you know
So…while the fleeces soaked….
I cut and trimmed and patched and sewed and matched and hemmed and bound and stamped.
Yes. Stamped.
Then I crocheted. I used plies of yarn from waaaa-ay back when my first spinning lessons. I took two, unrelated plies and single chained them together for a tie. Chic, eh? Well…certainly functional. And memorable...ever reminding me of how far I have come on the spinning scale...as it were...
It’s not perfect, but better than what was, which was Ziplocs, other plastic containing things, and shopping bags. And I like it. We will see how well it works.
Now the dpns and hooks are jonesin’ for their own place, but I don’t know. I am out of scrap quilt, and I really don’t use those implements at all.
June 23, 2010
Fleeced
But in a good way.
I cleaned the Jacob’s fleece (bought from a weaving/spinng Guild member in May) and the CVM/Corriedale fleece I bought at the wool market this weekend. I also had 8 oz of an alpaca fleece that I needed to clean, too. I am not telling how long that’s been around.
Well. That was a job and a half.
I did some things differently from before. No soup pot this time. I cranked up the temperature on the hot water heater and used the bathtub, considering the quantity. I have been assured that the soapy lanolin water won’t plug up the drain. It didn’t.
Hasn’t.
Yet.
I was able to lay the fleeces out on the patio after towel drying for some nice, airy, drying in the sun. The Cat Who Is Queen watched them carefully. Best Dog Ever protected them from the squirrels.
I used lingerie bags, which worked very well, but think before I do this again, I will get some medium sized plastic baskets to keep the locks intact and prevent the little matting that occurred.
So. The alpaca was exceptionally clean, and is almost ready for carding. The Jacob is now mostly teased and I was a bit surprised with it. The last Jacob I had must have been very well skirted. I am still learning from my experiences. They are sheep after all, and barnyard animals!
The difference between the Jacob and CVM/Corriedale fleeces in texture and staple and feel is remarkable. I know about both from reading. The C/C is a ‘fine wool’, while the Jacob usually falls under the heading of ‘other’. But I have spun Jacob roving, and prepped 2 bs of Jacobs before. I know Jacob better.
I can’t wait to get to know the CVM/Corriedale better. I think I will have about five pounds to do so. I hope we get along.
The plan is to card by hand, practicing the technique learned at the workshop at the wool market. And when bored with that, I may rent a drum carder from the Weaver's/Spinner's Guild. But again, there is something to be said about getting to know wool by working with it.
It feels good to have all the raw fleeces cleaned. It was a lot of work.
Seriously.
I cleaned the Jacob’s fleece (bought from a weaving/spinng Guild member in May) and the CVM/Corriedale fleece I bought at the wool market this weekend. I also had 8 oz of an alpaca fleece that I needed to clean, too. I am not telling how long that’s been around.
Well. That was a job and a half.
I did some things differently from before. No soup pot this time. I cranked up the temperature on the hot water heater and used the bathtub, considering the quantity. I have been assured that the soapy lanolin water won’t plug up the drain. It didn’t.
Hasn’t.
Yet.
I was able to lay the fleeces out on the patio after towel drying for some nice, airy, drying in the sun. The Cat Who Is Queen watched them carefully. Best Dog Ever protected them from the squirrels.
I used lingerie bags, which worked very well, but think before I do this again, I will get some medium sized plastic baskets to keep the locks intact and prevent the little matting that occurred.
So. The alpaca was exceptionally clean, and is almost ready for carding. The Jacob is now mostly teased and I was a bit surprised with it. The last Jacob I had must have been very well skirted. I am still learning from my experiences. They are sheep after all, and barnyard animals!
The difference between the Jacob and CVM/Corriedale fleeces in texture and staple and feel is remarkable. I know about both from reading. The C/C is a ‘fine wool’, while the Jacob usually falls under the heading of ‘other’. But I have spun Jacob roving, and prepped 2 bs of Jacobs before. I know Jacob better.
I can’t wait to get to know the CVM/Corriedale better. I think I will have about five pounds to do so. I hope we get along.
The plan is to card by hand, practicing the technique learned at the workshop at the wool market. And when bored with that, I may rent a drum carder from the Weaver's/Spinner's Guild. But again, there is something to be said about getting to know wool by working with it.
It feels good to have all the raw fleeces cleaned. It was a lot of work.
Seriously.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Needles of Iron
