Nice Weekend

  Not a bad weekend, though I didn't over exert myself. I got some blending done on the Saturday and I spun some of the batts on both days. I finished the slip stitch two tone blue and green Iphone sock. I closed the Iphone sock with kitchener stitch and it went well but I don't like the corners, there a bit too sticky out. Oh well, another thing for the pile.

  I was bidding for a book on ebay, weaving and spinning, but lost the auction at around £18. Had a quick google and found the book through abebooks for £0.62p so I'm happy about that, I'll have to look here more often.

  The weathers getting cold again but no snow for me, just rain and more rain. I was sort of hoping for a little bit more snow before spring, its the kid in me. I do love the snow, but not too much. 
   I need to start thinking of getting the garden started, think another week and I should start some seeds indoors and maybe set up the poly tunnel. I need to get some more potting compost, seed potatoes and some big pots. I turned my own compost yesterday and its looking really nice, think I will have enough for all my needs this year.

  Going to start a bookmark today I think, just not sure on the design yet. I might keep it simple but complicated looking and do the five fold cable with moss/seed stitch back ground, or do a moss/seed stitch border with reverse stocking stitch background with a five fold cable in the center though that might make the book mark a little too wide. I'll let you know what I come up with, no idea what yarn I'll be using yet either.

  Hope you all had a great weekend, have a happy Monday and take care folks.

Another book

    I've bought another book on carding,spinning and dyeing. "Carding, Spinning, Dyeing: Introduction to the Traditional Wool and Flax Crafts (Elisabeth Hoppe & Ragnar Edberg)" This one looks interesting with more details on what I need, though I haven't read it yet. Its an older book published in 1975 that I picked up second hand on ebay. I really need to stop buying books and start buying more yarns and roving's. I do want a book on cable stitches and theres another book I have my eye on and a book on basic weaving would be nice and and and.........

   I only got a tiny bit of spinning done yesterday, my heart wasn't in it. I know you shouldn't blame your tools but I'm going to blame this oatmeal bfl roving. Its been a pain from day one and I'll be glad to see the back of it. I do have two top whorl drop spindles and a kick spindle that takes reels(2)(bobbins???) so I could ignore the oatmeal and start on the white bfl I have.

    No weaving done but did a little knitting for the Iphone sock cosy, already planned another one in my head pretty much based on this one but different. Found a scarf pattern that I like and might make a start on that this week, or even today. Christmas fast approaches and I have nothing done apart from the double basket weave scarf.

   Its lovely and sunny out and pretty warm too so I may sit in the garden and read this new book this afternoon. I'll try and get some spinning done and will do more knitting on the Iphone sock cosy too. Probably finish the Iphone sock by tomorrow.

Darn Postman

  I've missed the postman again, I was only out for 15 mins. I swear they wait until I'm out then run around as fast as they can. I think he was trying to deliver a book, the card said too big for letterbox and the kick spindle needs to be signed for. The book I'm waiting on was an impulse buy, The Ashford Book of Carding. I think I'll be glad I bought this one though.

  Popped over to asda to buy a crock pot/slow cooker for £8 but they have none left. Been wondering whether to buy one or not to use for dyeing and decided last night that I would. Oh well, I'll have to look for a cheap one on ebay. I could use my old one and buy myself a new one for food cooking, a better one than I already have.

  Did a bit more weaving yesterday, set up the spear's loom from scratch again and was much faster this time. I weaved the right way around too so when it came time to wind the work up it worked. I think I really need a heddle for my bigger frame loom though, the spear's loom is great but the work is done really fast and needs winding up all the time. I could use the heddle from the spear's loom or maybe make one out of some cardboard or plastic, I do have some plexi glass that might work well. Next time I'll try and do some vertical lines, maybe today.

  Tiny bit of knitting done on the ex Iphone sock cosy thingy last night, will finish that off today then I can start another one. I also really need to start another double basket weave scarf for my friend in the states. Still haven't finished off the backpack and I haven't started any Christmas presents yet, no surprises there really. I might buy some yarn instead of the crock pot, only need a little to get the fingerless gloves done.

Good book

   I really enjoyed this book, "Spinning, Dyeing & weaving. Self- Sufficiency", by Penny Walsh. Reading it straight through only stopping once for a cup of coffee to take the chill off. Any of the ideas in the book would take more study on there own but all round this was a great inspirational read. From keeping your own silk worms in a fish tank to how to prepare plant fibers for spinning and weaving and how to dye them all using natural dyes. It also covered what fleeces to use, how to pick them then how to prepare them ready for spinning. For the price its well worth adding to the collection.

   Did some more spinning yesterday, still having trouble with this oatmeal bfl. I've nearly finished it off so will buy some more bfl from another seller and see how that is. My new kick spindle should be here by the weekend, if it comes tomorrow I hope I catch the postman otherwise it will probably be Monday/Tuesday.

   A friend from the States wants me to knit her a double basket weave scarf so I'll get onto that today, or tomorrow. Not sure when I'll have the time to fit it all in. I'm going to use the same yarn as last time, its the only suitable yarn I have. I still have a fair amount left, can't really keep using it for my family though and I think its too dark already to over dye.

  Moving slowly on with the Iphone sock cosy thing though I'm sure it will be finished during the weekend so I can play with the loom some. I'm not sure what picture post will be up on Saturday, I'm getting low on picture finished projects. Might do the first Iphone sock cosy thing, or might not. You'll all have to wait and see.