I don't often...

1aaaEaster09 051a
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

... but I do sometimes knit socks. Every time I do I wonder why I don't often :)

Toe up, sewn cast off, Posh Yarn, 60 stitches, heel flap, 2x2 rib.

I have happy feet, how about you?

Next Generation Knitter

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Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

I should have been listening more closely a month or two ago when Myheartexposed on Ravelry started telling me about knitting looms.

I should have picked up on how very addicitve and wonderful they are. But I didn't.

As a treat for being good whilst fabric shopping K and I popped into the adjacent craft shop and found a set. They're great. Great for children (and especially for adults but shush) because there are no needles to drop. She can wrap and pick and it just grows and grows. We've tried needles and didn't get anywhere, too many thumbs!

Remember the Knitting Nancy of your youth, well, put her on steroids and you get one of these babies, circular knitting at it's best.

The only drawback is a lack of chunky yarn, but that can be remedied.

Of course said purchase has led to some book buying, I do like to have a library to go with each new craft venture LOL

Anyone got any recomendations to take us beyond hats?
Where can I buy a sock loom?
How didn't I know how easy and addictive these things are before?
Oh yes, that's right I wasn't paying attention when Myheartexposed was telling me just that a few months ago.

:)

Can you see the concentration? Excuse the make up btw we were having a girly day LOL

Update on those batts

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Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

Work in progress :)

Dees Batts

Click photo for bigness :)
Dees Batts
Originally uploaded by Jam_mam.

Over at Posh Yarn Dee has been learning to spin and Tony has started to dye for batts.

I was waiting for the postman this morning because the Posh Sock Club Yarn is due any day now, instead he brought this lovely surprise. Great, pink/orange/sparkly batt, lovely.

Damsel in Distress
70% Falkland
20% Alpaca
10% Silk and lots of sparkle

the wonderful colours we've come to expect from Posh and beautifully soft. I haven't bought any Posh Batts up until now, but I shall be watching future sales with great interest (it's beautifully soft) for some more subtler colourways like this one, I'm going to try for a laceweight from this batt. For more posh colour therapy try looking at their Flickr set.

I am looking forward to spinning this and it's amazing how pink is coming to me at the moment. From my limited knowledge of colour therapy I seem to remember that pink is the colour of 'unconditional love' and that seems very appropriate and healing as Baby left us a week ago today to go live with her Dad. Bon voyage Baby, I love you xxx

My most recently finished spinning was this batt from picperfic on etsy





which became this, Pink sparkly batts spun into heavy laceweight/4 ply, 2 ply, Pioneer, short forward draw, Shetland & sparkle



Whilst I have really enjoyed spinning and plying and learning how to make a soft yarn by not over spinning the singles I have also been watching all the lovely low twist singles other people have been spinning so, with the Wildcraft Fibre Club fibre, I thought I'd have a go myself. I didn't think I could manage it on the wheel so I went for a spindle to have a little more conrtol and reversibility and this is the result.







Karen's fibre is a beautiful BFL & silk mix, and a lovely colourway called Viola. I think I will make a cowl from it. The spindle is from Wildcraft too and I am happy to recommend them to anyone (no affiliation).

As I haven't blogged for a while here are some more photos to catch you up with some knitting too :)

The Tess d@urberville shawl, finally off the needles, remind me not to knit this much gs ever again in 4 ply yarn. Posh Yarn of course :)

A quick beret for DD1 using this free pattern a quick pallette clenser taking less than 2 days and 2.5 balls of Rowan RYC Cashsoft Chunky.

Lent finished early in my house as I failed miserably not to buy more fibre althogh this was a swap

and this was a gift from the Spunky Angels on Ravelry

I had to try Dee's roving from their first ever fibre sale, well I had to!



and a last bit of spinning, David's polwarth in Teresa colourway

yum yum, still my favourite fibre. Also from Southern Cross Fibre, this months FibreClub colourway was called Spring Forward, beautiful, rather than show you just the 1 fibre I thought you might like to see all the fibre David has on Flickr



Happy spinning everyone, and a little knitting time too. Life goes on, so must we and the kindness of knitty and spinny folk make the path easier. :)