finally friday!

It’s about time I start checking some things off my to-do list.  Making a to-do list should be the first priority, don’t you think?  Mailed the taxes off this morning, so that’s a big check – both written on my account and DONE from the list!  I only hope they spend it wisely.  Ha. I’m [...]

Monkey see,

Monkey do, apparently.  Last week, Maryse posted a tutorial on jar dyeing.  Now, I’ve dyed in Mason jars before, but I used dye already dissolved in water, not sprinkled on the fiber and then steamed.  So of course I had to try it. I got old school with it, using an enameled pot and a [...]

It’s Monday…can I rest now?

If your weekends are packed-full of fun and productivity, returning to work on Monday is *almost* a relief!  Okay, not really.  I’d rather be doing the fun stuff.  Scrubbing countertops?  Not so much.  During the month of December, Martha Stewart embeds herself into my brain and I CANNOT bring the Christmas tree home or put [...]

spin knit dye

This is what I’ve been doing lately. Last Saturday during the fleece washing, I finished spinning the Louet pencil roving and plied it up.  I have no idea what this will become, but it was very easy to spin and I really loved seeing the colors after spinning all that brown wool for my sweater. [...]

The ugliest yarn in the whole USA

Remember these merino singles? Making a two-ply was a bad idea.  The colors muddied and a good portion of the roving was already muddy-colored so the resulting yarn just looked like … well …. see for yourself. Blech.  It looks like some sort of sick spaghetti.  What’s worse is that I overdyed it last night [...]

I have a whole new respect for hand dyers

Before I show my mediocre results, here are some lessons I’ve learned in the past few days: 1.  Dollar Tree ROCKS!  Need a bucket for soaking your yarn?  $1.  Plastic measuring cups for custom mixed colors?  That’ll be $1, please.  Turkey baster for squirting on dye?  One buck.  $100,000 bar to keep your energy up?  [...]

Weights and measurements

Thanks for the nice comments about the one skein Koigu footies!  I’ve written up the pattern and it’s on the right sidebar under “YMMV footies.”  If anyone decides to knit it, please let me know how your socks come out! Onto the title of this post.  Today was our last day of Boot Camp!  Hallelujah!!!  [...]

Bloggers are the nicest people!

Thank you guys, for all the kind words and encouragement!  I know a lot of snarkiness has been going around Blogland and I have to say I’m really happy not to have experienced it.  Everyone who comments here has always been super-nice and I really, really appreciate that.  I mean, I can’t believe anyone reads [...]

Well butter my niblets!

  Part I:  Quite some time ago, I spun up some Ashland Bay roving on my spindle and the finished mini-skein reminded me of olives.  So I got out my camera, martini glasses and the multitude of vodka bottles we happen to possess (when you have a Stock the Bar party for your engagement, everyone [...]

Two down

one to go! At this rate, I won’t have finished yarn until next week, but it’ll be well worth the wait, I suspect. Meanwhile, check out the pretty roving I dyed on Sunday! 8 oz. Corriedale, a GIFT from Mary, the woman I bought Rosalita from.  It just arrived in the mail one day.  How [...]

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