New Spindles!

May 25th, 2008

I’ve been meaning to post about this for a while, but what with the new job I have less time in the evenings to take photos. Plus, the light isn’t very good except during the very middle of the day. This is about the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool festival I went to Mother’s Day weekend, and I thought I’d show you some of what I got. My main goal was to focus on spindles, and I think I did a pretty good job meeting that goal…

This first one is actually the last one I picked up before leaving the festival. It’s made by [Tom Forrester](http://www.the-wheel-thing.com/) out of gonicalo alves(?) and wild cherry wood and is as I would expect quite a good spinner. He makes a lot of really cool [spindles](http://www.the-wheel-thing.com/products/Spindles/forrester.html) with some really unique double whorls. This one is fairly simple but I like it.

It’s quite a light spindle at 0.84oz, but that seems to be how I like them nowadays.

The next one is made by [Jonathan Bosworth](http://www.journeywheel.com/) out of tulipwood at .84oz as well. He makes all his spindles in the same whorl style, but uses all kinds of different woods and has a couple of sizes that change the weight of the spindles. They’re all beautiful in their simplicity and the finish adds a nice shine.

I have one very small problem with this spindle, and that’s the shape of the hook. Only the most picky spindler would notice, and with the way this spindle likes to spin it generally wouldn’t be a problem. The hook is shaped in such a way that the part where the yarn leaves the hook is flat, so there isn’t as much guidance for the yarn to stay in line with the shaft. It comes out just slightly crooked which tends to eat up some of the spin. Give it a good thigh spin though, and I generally don’t notice the difference.

The last spindle I got (which was actually the second I bought) has already become one of my favorites. It’s made by the [Spindlewood Co.](http://www.spindlewoodco.com/) which have some really great looking spindles. I had offhandedly decided some day to try one out at the recommendation of someone in the Ravelry Spindlers group who raved about their square whorl spindle. It seemed like kind of a cool idea, but I picked this one up because as soon as I tried it I knew there was just *something* about it.

It’s a purpleheart shaft and the whorl base is purpleheart, with yellowheart accents. I have no clue how much it weighs because the tag where I bought it was missing, but it’s fairly light. This thing just spins, and spins, and spins like it was made for it. I love the turned detailing on the bottom of the shaft, and the hook is just per-fect. I’ve got some nice romeldale(?) wool spinning up on it that I think I will eventually 3-ply.

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Vintage Lace

May 9th, 2008

After having finished the scarves for this pattern quite a while ago, I’ve finally formalized the pattern and am ready to post it. I’m really happy with how these came out. They’re really simple garter stitch scarves, but the border adds a little detail that keeps them from being boring. I will definitely be knitting more of these in the future for gifts.

I’m publishing this as a free pattern on the blog. You can download it from the link at the bottom. There is no gauge or yarn requirement, which makes this a very flexible pattern. You can make the scarves as long or as wide as you want, and the instructions are very simple to memorize.

Scarf 1 was knit in Rowan Felted Tweed, and has become my default winter scarf. It’s incredibly warm and comfortable.

Scarf 2 was knit with Elsebeth Lavold’s Silky Wool, and given to my mother in law for her birthday.

You can download the PDF of the pattern from this link. The pattern is copyrighted, but I’ve given permission to print and distribute it, as long as you don’t make any alterations. I hope you like it! It’s a simple idea but I really enjoy the scarves.

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Progress as Usual

May 9th, 2008

I’ve been in a bit of a funk for the past week or so, and I think it’s because I’ve yet to find a new job. A few weeks ago I left my job, and after my last day we went on a long planned vacation to visit my in-laws. I came home a little stressed and worried about finding a job, and unsure about what the heck I was going to do with myself. It turns out when I start feeling depressed my motivation and creativity levels drop significantly. It all turns out well in the end because I’ve got a potential opportunity that I hope works out, because I’m really excited about it. So yesterday all my creative energies come flooding back again…

I don’t remember what state you last saw this project in, but this is my modification of Jairlyn Mason’s [Square Cake](http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/PATTsquarecake.html). I’ve put beads in the knit purl columns every four rows, and put a stockinette ground cabled braid instead of the diamond knit/purl pattern. I just couldn’t stand doing too much knit/purl; it just hurts my hands and I sure loves me some braids. The yarn I’m using is a handspun merino, and I must say I’m really pleased with how it’s knitting up. Can’t wait to finish it and carry it around!

I think it’s about time I finally wrote about these. These are my Tofutsies socks, with a bit of lace at the cuff. Unfortunately the lace clashes with the color, but I was too lazy to rip it out and do something more fitting. These were great to work on while on vacation, and I finished them at my mother in laws a few weeks ago. I still love this yarn!

I started this project about a month ago, and man do I need to stop stalling on it. This is for my Mom’s 50th this year, and it’s a simple faroese shawl. The top part of the picture shows one side with the shoulder shaping, and you can see beneath that the center back panel. This is a slightly improved version of the design I used for my [handspun faroese](http://www.crafty.greenkri.com/if-only-it-were-fall) shawl. This one is in garter stitch, the other was in stockinette. It’s knit from the neck outward, and I did a little short-row shaping at the neck band so it would transition smoothly once I started the increases. I’m very pleased so far, and now just need to make the long haul to get it finished by July (6-7 skeins left!).

Keep an eye out for some spinning content in the next week. Saturday I’ll be at the NH Sheep and Wool festival, and I’ll be keeping my eye out for some pretty spindles and new tools.

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