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.

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.

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!!!

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!

Clemes and Clemes, Veggies and Knitting

Soooo sad... I got a new (to me) Clemes and Clemes Traditional Spinning wheel yesterday. It was shipped via Postal Service. Luckily the shipper had insurance on the package because, here's what the flyer came looking like:



I've filled out the claim form for the Post Office. Wonder how long this will take???!

On a happier note, look what's for lunch today....
Yep, some more veggies from MY first EVER garden... can you believe it? The stuff is actually growing! I am not having a whole lotta luck with my peppers yet though. **Crosses fingers **



On the knitting front, I have been knitting some of my handspun using this pattern (from video I found on YouTube). I am not sure I'm gonna like it though.. .it is soooo loose. The directions say to knit two rows in between the YO rows. I have been knitting SIX to try to give the scarf a bit more substance.

I'm eating high on the hog today! ;)

Yep, it's true. Today I picked my first EVER vegetable that I grew MYSELF! It is a Japanese eggplant and it is YUMMY!!

I'm pretty pumped up LOL.

For those of you who have not read my blog for any length of time, I am a 'city-slicker' wannabee farmer. In the spring I posted a picture of my garden (yep, small 4' x 4' garden) and dontchaknow, someone in MAINE (I'm in SC) kindly said.. um.. PattyAnne, I think you may have your tomato cages on upside-down. Talk about feeling D.U.M.B.

Well, i corrected the dang cages and the tomatoes are doing well (none quite ready yet though). BUT, this little eggplant was ripe for pickin! Wish I had taken a picture of him BEFORE I sliced him up and threw him in the WOK.

Oh well... with out further adieu, here 'he' is!

Double Dip by Three Bags Full

Last week I purchased some roving from TheBellWether. The GORGEOUS roving blend is a merino cross wool with hand-dyed tencel and hand-dyed silk noil. It is sooo smooth and soft and spins like a dream.

I'm spinning it on my Golding Tsunami. I was going to tell you the wraps per inch BUT LibbyLou (my pooch) gnawed on my wooden WPI tool and I don't see a ruler or yardstick nearby. (If I spot one later I may update this post.)

Here are two shots of the roving and some spun yarn inside of a bowl-type thingy that I knitted and felted last week.

Here's What's for Dinner?

I dyed up some silk waste and some mohair today in my flea market crockpot. YUM.

The Cushing's Perfection Dyes colors used were Buttercup Yellow, Turquoise and Jade Green.

Gonna add this 'stuff' to some batts (not necessarily together LOL).

Tomorrow will be a FUN day of dyeing at my LYS -- can't wait!!

Targhee Top

I got some really pretty 100% Targhee Top from my local yarn store - colorway = Northern Lights.





Here's a little info on Targhee from, 'In Sheep's Clothing' by Nola Fournier and Jane Fournier.




The Targhee was developed by the US Department of Agriculture as a dual purpose sheep adapted tot he dry western range lands.

The foundation of the breed was a cross of Rambouilett rams and Corriedale x Lincoln/Rambouillet ewes.

The fleece is fine and dense with very good loft, indistinct but well-developed crimp and short staple length. The staples are blocky in shape with almost no luster.

The extraordinary loft and elasticity of Targhee make it particularly suitable for fine, light, knitted and woven fabrics with good shape retention and crease resistance. In blends with other short fibers, Targhee adds loft and elasticity.

Staple length: 3 - 4 1/2 inches

LOTS of Spinning!

I got some gorgeous Dorset roving the other day from Kris' Etsy shop (stseraphinaknits).
The roving is called, PAINTED DESERT. I absolutely LOVE the colors!!!

I've also ordered some fiber from TheBellwether. I hope it comes tomorrow!

Anyhooo, I have had a ball spinning the roving (see below). Can't wait to knit it up into a bag for my new camera!! (Oh, I'm gonna knit it and then felt it!) Stay tuned. Since it's knit night tomorrow night at StarBucks I'll probably get started on it then!

Ain't it purty!? (The spun wool is still drying. I wish the colors showed up better online!)

McMorran Balance DVD Kits have shipped

The first several McMorran Balance Kits have been sent out!

I have had a few people ask what is included in the kit.

The kit includes the following:

McMorran Balance
Instructional DVD on using the balance (and using a Skein Winder and Niddy Noddy)
A small card with some helpful fraction info in case you've forgotten your fractions!:)
A flyer with complete instructions including a helpful worksheet to figure out yards per pound) and yards per ounce. (Below is a small sample of the flyer. You can click on it to see a larger version.)

McMorran Balance Instructions

Here is a preview that shows how to use the McMorran Balance. (Please note that this is NOT a clip from the DVD.)

DVD Instructional Video - Using a McMorran Balance

Ok, I gotta tell ya... I LOVE this tool and I betcha all of you spinners/weavers/knitters/crocheters out there will too!!



SPINNERS:

Have you ever been spinning yarn on either a spindle or a spinning wheel and wondered how much yarn you had spun OR if you had spun enough for a particular pattern or project?

Well, you could wind your yarn off the spindle or bobbin onto a niddy-noddy or skein winder BUT you could also use a McMorran Balance!! If you use a McMorran Balance you would know immediately (well, almost!) how many yards you'd spun without winding off! You would know if you needed to keep spinning because you didn't have enough yarn by simply measuring a length of yarn on the McMorran balance!

KNITTERS, WEAVERS, CROCHETERS:

Do you have leftover balls of yarn and wonder if there is enough in the ball for a certain project? The McMorran Balance helps you know this info in a skinny minute!

Have you seen a pattern on Ravelry that you have the 'perfect' yarn for but aren't sure you have enough yarn on the label-less ball of wool? Use the McMorran Balance! :)

******************

This DVD shows (and leads you through) a hands-on lesson measuring yarn yardage using the McMorran balance.
The DVD also shows how to use a niddy-noddy and a skein winder.

McMorran Balance Kit includes:
A McMorran Balance
Yarn samples to use as you watch the DVD
A handy card with printed directions

Check out my ETSY store for more info!

Novelty Yarn - Love these happy colors!!

I love the way this novelty yarn turned out. It's a great one for beginners to practice!!
First spin a thin singles yarn and then a thick singles yarn. Ply them together. Voila!

Spin Control by Amy King

Yep, it's true.

I just got a brand new wonderful book which I wish I had had in time to add to the resources section of my, "Spinning with PattyAnne" DVD.

"Spin Control" by Amy King is an excellent book! You should check it out! )

Weaving on a Potholder Loom

Someone posted these videos on Ravelry. I can't wait to try using the potholder loom with my handspun!!

OK, I'm excited.... DVDs in mail TODAY!

The first DVD sets of "Spinning with PattyAnne" are shipping TODAY (6/24) -- almost a week ahead of schedule! Oh, did you hear??? There are TWO dvds in each set! Soo much fibery goodness!!

Oh, hey, you first spinners to get the DVD set....please LMK if the roving I use as packing material is useful. I'm hoping y'all will be able to use it for some practice!

I hope everyone enjoys and learns a little something from the DVDs. I sure loved sharing what I know on them!

I would love your feedback on Ravelry and Etsy if you've got a minute!

Psssttt... do you listen to podcasts? Tune in to the barknknit podcast. Natalie is going to review "Spinning with PattyAnne". Thanks Natalie!!

Part Two of DVD (small sample)

I hope you find this useful! LMK.

You can read more about the video in my previous post OR go to www.pattyanne.etsy.com

Can't wait to hear your feedback!

xoxoxo
PattyAnne



PS. Remember, reserve your copy today. Shipping starts on July 1.

Some of my friends needed some help learning to spin... sooo...

I made a spinning DVD!!! CLICK HERE to go to my ETSY shop!


I've been having a blast recording the video - getting my teaching 'fix'. Hmmmm I guess you can take the teacher (me) outta the Middle School but you can't take the Middle School TEACHER outta me --- or something like that LOL. And, yes, I am a former middle school teacher!

Anyhooo, if you're new to spinning, this video could be just what you need to help you get started!! I know when I was new, I did searches all the time for YouTube spinning videos. I just couldn't get enough of them!! Well, this new DVD of mine has a bunch of really cool teachings all in one spot.

Here's what's on the SIX part Beginner Spinner DVD:

1. Let's Get This Party Started (Setting up)

2. C'mon Baby, Let's Do the Twist (We'll explore twist "S" and "Z". We'll also discuss too much and/or too little twist and simple adjustments you can make so that your twist is -- just right!)

3. Eenie Meenie Minee Moe - Fiber Prep (Combing locks, carding/rolling rolags, and using a diz to create rovings. Also blending colors with handcards and spinning from handcards!)

4. Spinning Wheel - Got to Go 'Round (Woolen and worsted preps.)

5. Plying Yarn and Finishing Yarn (Palm plying, plying from a center pull ball, plying from two bobbins in buckets and plying from a lazy kate.)

6. Novelty Yarns

Hope you like it! :)

Want the rest of the videos in the series? Click HERE!

PLEASE send me your feedback... as comments. If you don't want your comment posted just let me know!!

I got this comment on Ravelry:

PattyAnne, this is BRILLIANT!!! perfectly clear, lovely to watch, thank you so much for doing this. The new camera angle works just so well, and I learned several new things just in the space of that one brief video! thank you so much for doing this.

I love your reassuring tone, too – every time you say, oh that’s fine, that’s okay, it’s so good to hear! because as a beginner there’s that feeling that it’s important to get everything right,immediately, hah. As if that were possible without a lot of practice.


Thank you, thank you!!