The Guild

I got all brave and ventured out last Saturday. I visited the local weavers and spinners guild monthly meeting.

It’s scary for me to go to places alone where I know no one, but I figured that those who practiced the fiber arts probably would not be all crazy threatening…

And, indeed, they weren’t. In fact, I had a good time, and have already marked the rest of this year’s meeting on my calendar. I intend to join the guild this fall.

They are a numerous group, with probably 40 or 50 in attendance at this meeting, and I was not the oldest, nor the youngest. There was a lot of energy in the group. I would not use the word stodgy to describe them. At all. Very active in community education, they work a children’s education tent at the wool market in Estes, and a demonstration of weaving and spinning at the Scottish Festival (same place), too.

Even though they make visitors stand up and introduce themselves. That sort of action causes me to just die a little bit. But I forged onward. I had on my February Lady Sweater, and when I rose, someone asked if I had made my sweater!

‘Why, yes! Yes, I did, and thank you for asking…’

(Did I mention how what an intuitive and intelligent group they seem to be?)

So. The program for the day was presented on rigid heddle looms by someone from Schacht (whose name eludes me at this time…). Very inspiring. I found myself thinking, you know. I think I could learn how to do that…but ...just step away from the loom, ma'am, just step away from the loom... Not on this year’s things to do. I am sure that I could, you know, learn to weave. But really. I do not need another hobby. I don’t.

(Did I mention the guild rents equipment? Drum carders, wheels….and looms?)

Oh. And there was knitting, spindling, and crocheting going on, the whole while! during the meeting.

Seriously, I felt like I had come home.

End Of Quarter

And time for a check in. What was I hoping to accomplish by the end of the year? And are there deletions, corrections, or additions to be made to the list? Well, let’s have a look see….Back on the 5th of January, I wrote:

• Finish Grandbebe Bean’s quilt, for one. Pending. Still.

• Knit sweaters (in particular Feb Lady Sweater and EZ’s Green Sweater). Check, and 2 others on the needles. That’s right. Another FLS, and Peasy!

• Knit more socks (2 3 4 pair). 2 adult and a couple for the bebes, but I am only counting the two adult pairs.

• Go to Philly (week penciled in). Done! Spectacularly!!

• Go to Yellowstone (reservations made).

• Take a photography class (scheduled). Done! Still practicing.

• Learn to dye? (maybe) Actually. Yeah.

• Commute by bike (starting in May) at least 600 miles. One month out from starting!

• Hike 40 miles.

• Snowshoe. Uh. Didn’t happen this year.

• Brush off the soap making skilz.

• Learn some different spinning skilz. Navajo! New wheel! Taking the workshop at the Wool Market!

• Improve photoshop skilz.

• Paint upstairs rooms.

• Rail fence section in the yard.

• Sew some.

• Stay honest. Be open. Remember the lessons that brought me here. Now what were they again?  Kidding!


So I am feeling pretty good about all this.

Also, I am really glad I didn’t have anything in there about stashy commitments. You know, because I have been finding really good deals is all.

So PO’d

Why does the stupidest spam get through, trying to sell me insurance, tell me about jobs at home that will earn my $15k a month, even a Nigerian money scam, and other…more perplexing vendings…

And NONE of my comments for 3 days can make it through???

Probably something I tweaked and have NO idea what I did.

That is all. Nothing more to see here…move along….

(If your comment hasn't been posted lately…Sorry! It’s hasn’t been an intentional rejection on my part!)

Scenes From A Sunday Walk

After taking care of business on Sunday, where business meant getting all ready for a cook-out later in the day honoring Miss Grandbebe Girl's Third Birthday! The Guy, The Dog, The Camera, and I went for a walk.

It was a nice day, but there was a brisk wind that added a chill to the sunny day.  Nonetheless, the masses were out once again.

And here they are.

Squirrel?!

We heard this one before we saw him.  I love the Meadowlark's song.

Kites were flying.

Ducks were swimming on ponds sprinkled with diamonds...

An egg before the hunt

Squirrel?!

Also?  For a gift, not having anything handmade (it happens!), we opted for some Fisher-Price toys.  We bought some little grand-parent people...grand-daddy with a cell phone and grand-mama with knitting!

Too Much Fun

Friday, I stopped by the thrift store on my way. You know, just to see if there was a steamer. I’ve been reading again, you see.  This time about the handpaint dyeing technique. Steaming is required, and to me (again with the dedicated apparatus) to save my microwave and brand new stove, I opted to chance a thrift store find.

Which I did. Doesn’t have a lid, but some aluminum foil works dandy. For the price!

I got out my white wool top seconds and weighed a known quantity, tied it (with the suggested figure-8 technique to prevent tie-dye effects) (see how she learns!) and set it to soak. In gathering up the rest of the paraphanelia, I realized I didn’t have the foam brushes I thought I did. So off I tripped to the beauty supply place.

Again. I have been there now for a wig head (for blocking hats), hair picks ( for the DIY hackle), and now, applicator bottles. This time she asked if I wanted a frequent purchaser card.  I declined.  For now....

I mixed three colors of dye, and organized 'a protected area' (technical term) using an old shower curtain, laid out my saran wrap, the soaked roving on top of the wrap, and started squirting the dye. Wearing gloves, I pressed the dyes through the roving to make sure it got through the whole thickness.

When I was convinced the wool top was colorful enough, I wrapped it up in the saran wrap, making a big jelly roll, and placed it in the steamer for 35 minutes. After cooling, I removed the roll to the sink, unwrapped it, and rinsed in soapy water, followed by clear.  The colorful roving was allowed to dry.

The process didn’t go perfectly, but I learned some things. So...on the whole, a successful exercise.

• I will use a smaller amount of roving for the width of wrap I used.
• I know now to blot up the excess dye after ‘painting’.
• I understand what the soaking bath needs to be.

However, it turned out sort of pretty. The steamer worked. The kitchen didn’t end up dyed. So Wonderful Guy was amused by it all.

 

And. And! Not wanting to waste anything…

 

After a quick and dirty spin job, I had a bobbin of single ply ready to try my hand at Navajo plying. A quick check of my resources, and by that I mean I watched this again.

I had some leftover BFL single ply that I took off the bobbin trying to follow Miss Sara. She makes it looks so easy…

 

The resulting effort.  It's...not...immediately easy...

Then I watched it again.

And again. And again.

I loaded up the handpainted on Molly and went to it, and just kept at it. After some spits and starts, I filled a bobbin more or less. Then walked away and left it for a bit.

 

1st effort

The next day I wrapped that off, and looked at it. It was a practice exercise, certainly, and I was ready for my second attempt. I am getting much closer. Part of it will be getting the wheel tension dialed in, but of course, most of it is getting me dialed in! (Who am I kidding!)

 

2nd effort

But. But! I am loaded with ideas to try the handpainting again…

So there will be more with which to practice the Navajo plying.

See. It’s all good.