Monday, August 31, 2009

Double Knitting and a GREAT Movie

This past weekend my friend, Robbie, and I went to see a movie. I can't remember the last time I went to the theater and enjoyed a movie as much as I did this one AND I wasn't the only one enjoying it!! Folks in the nearly packed theater were laughing and clapping throughout the show.

The Movie: Julie and Julia

The Plot: Julia Child and Julie Powell - both of whom wrote memoirs - find their lives intertwined. Though separated by time and space, both women are at loose ends... until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.

One line made me really laugh during the show -- not only was the line funny but I loved the delivery of it. Anyway, the line was spoken by "Julia Child". She says, "If no one's in the kitchen, who's to see?"

Yeah, you're right...the line really isn't funny unless you see/hear it in context! ;)




This weekend I also learned a new knitting technique. I'm not really a fan of SunBonnet Sue (the pattern used for learning the technique) BUT I am a fan of this double knitting!! Lots of fun and turns out a really cool double-sided design.
You can get the free pattern HERE.

Here is a video I made showing how to cast on and get started on the potholder. Some of the video may be cut off here so you may want to click HERE to see the larger version.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Dyeing, Carding, Spindling and Spinning

Here's the yarn I was working on this weekend up at the Black Mountain Fiber Swap.

It is a combination of corriedale, merino, mohair and silk waste. I purposely dyed and added the silk waste for texture and I love how it turned out. I spun the singles on my Golding Tsunami and plied it on my Ashford Traditional.




Now I have to decide what I'm going to do with it. I think I may weave it (with some other yarns that I've spun) into an interesting "art" scarf sort of like the technique used on the blanket in my previous post. (See the video.)

For the warp I may use the cone of unidentified fiber (maybe wool) that I got this weekend at the swap for $1.00. Pretty isn't it?

Doesn't THIS make you wanna play with your rigid heddle loom!!!

Sure makes me want to!!! Now I know what I can do with all the yarn I've been spinning!!!

Anyhooooo.... I saw this online and had to share!!! Enjoy! Here is a note from the weaver, "I did two 14 ft warps. Then I cut them into 6 ft sections so that I had 4 rectangles, sewed the opened woven ends shut, assembled and sewed, and then covered the machine stitches with handstitching with– you guessed it– more handspun." She also said her warp was commercial 2 ply shetland that she got from her LYS.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Shrek... a sheep on the lam for six years

A few years ago.....


A renegade New Zealand sheep that managed to evade shearers for six years has gotten a haircut!

Shrek, the 10-year-old wether, had managed to roam freely on New Zealand's South Island for more than six years before being finally rounded up. (He was living in mountain caves after escaping from his domestic flock.)

Shrek's giant fleece - possibly the largest ever - was auctioned off for children's medical charities. (Former world champion blade shearer Peter Casserly clipped 60 pounds of fine merino wool from the Shrek.)

Wow! That's a lota merino!!!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

HUGE sale in Black Mtn. NC

I'm hoping to find some great GOODIES here!!

If you live in the area, you may wanna check this out!