Another new toy!

But I can't use it yet! Apparently, the silicon goo won't be set for another 48 hours! As you can see, the DH has started on the woodwork surround, but that has to be finished. Still, as soon as it's water tight, let the dyeing commence!

I visited Texere Yarns last week, just looking for some knitting needles, but ended up with some silk yarn which is calling out to be dyed in shades of blue to weave into a scarf, and some ready dyed silk to use to ply with my boucle yarn spun from this! It is a merino and silk blend and the colours are anything but subtle. Why did I buy it?

Well it was a bit of an impulse buy from Whingham Wools, regretted and pondered over until I remembered that there is more than one way to spin from a roving! How many of us just spilt it long ways, which is fine, but with something as unsubtle as this, the yarn would probably not be very pretty. However, I remembered that I had learned how to spin from the fold on the spinning course last summer so that's what I did. So from this

rather out of focus single, we get this

Not very good photos, but the yarn is much more subtle than I had expected and I am going to use it to make a scarf.

I will continue with the fluffy mohair as soon as we have been able to get the Kromski wheel to hang properly, and this is also destined for a scarf in due course.

It's all go !!!

A chair is a piece of furniture

So, apparently it's official and I have been duly elected (alternatively given no choice) to be the Chairman of the Bradford Guild for the coming year. There has always been a huge controversy about this title due to some members being PC mad, but I am not a chair, so I am reverting to Chairman for my term of office! Anyway, do I mind being it? Well I'm not sure I am a suitable candidate, or that I know enough about what is going on to make my mark, but here goes!!! Everyone seems to be impressed by the programme I've put together for the coming year, so lets hope it comes up to expectations! As for the AGM itself, it was heartening to see lots of young and new members who weren't totally put off by some of the nit picking and I hope that we can continue to grow and prosper.

The best thing about the AGM is the lunch. Even though noone knows what anyone else is bringing, there always seems to be a wide range of dishes both savoury and sweet. I think I detected a little less quiche and slightly more rice this year. I was so full after the first course, that I couldn't face the puddings.

My fluffy mohair yarn is progressing, but I'm not sure what to ply it with. I fancy a very fine silk thread, but will have to take advice when I've got to the end of it.

As the Kromski wheel is proving hard to get adjusted correctly, I've finally bitten the bullet and bought Tina's Timbertops wheel. I know it only has one treadle and one of the uprights is broken, but now that Timbertops have sold their business on and the wheels are going to be made again, I thought I would be able to get it sorted. The DH has offered to try to mend it, so it would be good if he can.

The plumber will be calling to plumb in the belfast sink later this week, so I will now be able to shut myself in the work room and get some dyeing done.

Picking the child up from school tomorrow, so will probably be ready for bed at 7pm!

Ice skating with the ducks

Much as we love having Isobel to stay overnight, it's always a bit of a lottery as to whether she actually goes to sleep without a lot of fuss!!! Friday night went well and for a change there was no last minute tearful request to go home. All was quiet until 5 am when she decided she'd had enough sleep!! There was a full moon and at that stage, too dark to see the hard frost!

Later in the day we visited Golden Acre Park to feed the ducks. The large lake was frozen and Isobel was thrilled to see the ducks trying to get a foothold on the ice and skidding all over the place. The Black headed gulls are really adept at catching the pieces of bread in the air and Isobel loves trying to throw her bread high enough for them to catch. But oh, it was so cold. We did not linger and set off for home as soon as the bread had gone!

So having taken Isobel home, and done our shopping, we came home and collapsed! A lovely heart warming meal of belly pork roasted with potatoes and pears and baked red cabbage perked us up no end!

The knitted hat has been handed over to the DD and she was pleased with it! So only the scarf and gloves to go now and she has the full set!!! I still have the pink swallowtail shawl on the needles but am leaving it alone for the time.

The next task is to spin the mohair tops I bought from Freyalyn. I am going to try to make a fine fluffy yarn by following Mable Ross's instructions, but my poor fingers are not finding it easy!! Still, practice is the answer and I will crack it!!!

There's a lot of chat on Ravelry and on various blogs about spinning fancy yarns, but very little mention of Mabel Ross. Mabel was a scientist herself, and so it is not really surprising that she took such a mathmatical approach to spinning! Even though this was a criticism I hear of her from time to time, she did have a great sense of humour and for all the precision of her instructions, in reality she had a very intuitive approach to the craft. Her books are out of print now, but Wingham Wools were hoping to republish them on line. I hope they do it, although the books may need to be revised to make them more acceptable to the modern audience!

No photos for the present as I am trying to concentrate to getting things done!

Long time no blog

Where does the time go? It doesn't seem five minutes ago that I was worried about not getting my Christmas cards written and posted, getting presents bought and wrapped and getting ready for the trip to Cornwall. Now it's all over and January is marching along and I don't seem to have achieved much.

Well the cards did get written and posted, family was duly visited and presents exchanged. We did not over eat or drink too much and apart from getting whatever virus is doing the rounds, were fairly well.

Our journeys to and from Cornwall were pretty uneventful and traffic was light both ways. Lunch at the Anchor in Olbury on Severn was excellent as usual and apart from a very grey Christmas day, the sun shone for us. Although it was very cold we managed to get out for some walks by the sea and DH was able to indulge his hobby of impromptu cairn building! Thus.......

So what has been happening on the fibre front? The camel and silk blend has been spun and plied and is ready to knit up into a scarf. The silk yarn given to me for my birthday has made a nice scarf and just waiting for the finishing touches. The hat for DD is on the needles.

Spinning at Armley starts again tomorrow so the wheel is due for an overhaul and I will have to decide what to spin. Try the mohair perhaps?