Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Spinnity Spun


What goes good with spinning up some yarn...


Strongbow of course!




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First time using a Niddy Noddy!


590+ yards baby!



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All for this




The Pattern!

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo KAL




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So soft!




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Time out for a bit of cowboy.





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And now we resume for our regularly scheduled yarn obsessions.

Of course I had to do the coin picture! Come on!!!




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This is what's on the wheel now.



Pink and Red Deliciousness


Might even 2 ply for the first time!



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I created these for my Elemental Stitch Marker Swap.


Earth is definitely my Element.


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A bit if "Sky"




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A touch of "Grass"





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Randomosity


Yes, the tadpoles are still alive and thriving. This was a fantastic Boy Scout Merit Badge.



Monday, July 19, 2010

The Dragon

All about the knitting this week!





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Yes, I spent a few hours admiring and posing the roving before I began to spin!





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Halfway done!


I hope it's enough for some socks for the KAL.




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I also spent some time making stitch markers.















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So much fun to make all different kinds.















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Sugar Bears even made some with Mommy!


Pretty good work for a 5 year old!




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Progress on Aeolian after the rip...rip...rip.



At transition again! YAY!




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Very happy that all is right.




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On the reading front



Not at same time though!





Friday, July 16, 2010

Adventures in Wool

I am absolutely in love with dyeing roving.




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I joined a sock KAL that follows the book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo


It has become one of my all time favorite series.




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I decided it would be super cool to make my own colors according to the book cover, but I had never done any dyeing before.


So here we go!



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I unwound the roving to get ready for the soak.





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First you have to soak your roving in hot water mixed with vinegar.


For at least 30 minutes.





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After soaking, I used these directions.

http://keeponknittinginthefreeworld.blogspot.com/2006/11/wiltons-icing-gel-dying-tutorial.html




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I somewhat strayed from the directions, but still used the main concept. I think if I swirled the roving in a pan or large bowl, and then added the coloring, it might have come out a bit differently.


I used a turkey baster to get the colors right.




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I had put the roving in a bowl at first but freaked out when the colors started to blend too much.


I then placed it in a large pie dish and re-squirted some of the yellow on.




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Time to Cook!


It was microwaved on high for 2 minutes.




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Then let it rest for 2 minutes and repeated until the water was clear and soaked up. Watching all the while in case in started to felt.

In total, it took about 6 minutes.



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Steaming hot after being taken out, I let it sit on my faucet for a minute.



At this point, I had thought the colors didn't take.





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But it turned out EXACTLY as I wanted.



If I had done the colors any differently, I don't think I would have gotten the neon effect that I needed.



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Totally in love with the colors! It sooooo matches the book cover.





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I can not wait to spin it up into some soft sock yarn!


Here is the link for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo KAL




http://www.ravelry.com/groups/dragon-knitalong




Happy Happy Dance!!!!!!!!




Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Summer Continues

Knitting and Spinning News


Tour de Fleece BABY!


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I've reconnected with my love of spinning.






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Pretty Purples and Pinks

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Entomology!!!!!


Blocking Process





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Completed




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I've fallen in love with knitting with beads!





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Lace for Wedding Shawl





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Aeolian




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Sugey and I made some stitch markers.





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Me and Sugey





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Stuff we do



Make Pancakes
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And cherry cakes






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Visit the Pool





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Very Hot




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Go on nature hikes through our backyard trails.





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The kids love to make wishes.




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Interesting hole I wanted to explore. But I know better. Darn it!



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The Boy Scout found something poisonous.




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I found a bunny.

Come to me little bunny. Oh how I wanna pet you!!!



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Creepy abandoned dog house.






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Wild Blackberries!




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Wally the Turtle


Sugey seems to have collected another pet.



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Who seems to feel right at home!





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The 4th!!!!

Quiet but fun evening at home
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Let the kids light their own with supervision.




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Fun




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Randomosity!

Skinny and Tiger

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Ziggy at bedtime.


Wonder what adventures will meet us next!