spinning, quick bfl / texel cross update

 Much of my spinning recently has been on the Nano but the Ashford E-spinner has been in use behind the scenes.

Anyone else had a problem with the foot control? I'm now about to start using my third one !! in six years.

Sill, the dye bag is filling up, ready for a run of reasonable weather.

This is 600 plus gm of the bfl x texel

and this is 200gm border leicester cross and 100gm ish of ryeland sitting in the middle.

I have a lot more washed fleece to work through and hopefully by the beginning of March I will have it all dyed up.

what's in the bag? part two Elephants

 Past adventures with a needle

Some elephant stitching..........

I know that there are more elephants around, I must have had a thing about this pattern :-)

what's in the bag? part one

 As the destash continues, I'm discovering old projects from when I was at college.

I pulled out this bag.

The bag itself was part of a prize from Sewing World back in 2007 when they asked people to design and embroider a heart. You may have seen the heart hanging in my workroom photos. I was a runner up in the competition.

I don't often win things !

These days, the bag holds many treasure, some are just starting ideas and some are completed projects. I've posted some of these before but a good few years ago now.

edited to add, I posted about this in 2008 and in the same post I mentioned six unimportant things about myself.

SIX UNIMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT ME

This has been really difficult to work out but I finally came up with these.

When I was about 11, I won 1st, 2nd and third prize in a photography competition because I was the only contestant.

We have not had a TV for nearly 20 years although the purchase of a computer 8 years ago means we do watch DVDs. 

 (Still no TV in 2024)

I loathed Domestic Science at school ( needlework and cookery) and gave it up as soon as possible

I have never made anything that I can wear other than the occasional piece of fabric jewellery. 

( now knit hats etc)

We used to have an arcade pinball machine in our 17th floor flat.

First rode pillion ( on a scooter) at around 6 years old.

( final ride as pillion was around the age of 56/57 when I realised that getting on and off the bike was getting difficult due to mobility issues)

Here's a sneak peak at the bag contents.

A day of weaving ends and finishing tasks.

 My first job yesterday was to make a start on weaving in the ends on my knitwear. I generally do this over a coffee and yesterday was no exception. I headed down to Waterstones, grabbed a latte and a pulled pork something and sat down to make a start.

After a while I noticed that a lady on a nearby table was paying a lot of attention to what I was doing. She introduced herself explaining that was Norwegian and has recognised some of the designs. She was also a knitter and knitted jumpers for her family. I mentioned that we had visited Norway a couple of times in the past and it turns out that we had stayed very close to the area where she had been bought up.

My new stop off was unexpected, I was heading to the bus stop when I noticed a coffee shop sign pointing up  a road that I rarely use. I followed the sign and yes, there was a coffee shop called vibe with a rather complicated menu of coffees and preparation's. Fortunately I spotted a much simpler menu and ventured in. Asking for a latte I realised that everyone else in the shop was possibly Chinese ? I heard the gentleman making the drinks mention that they had been back to Hong Kong.

I was warmly welcomed and I was heartened to see a young girl sat knitting, she explained that it was a scarf for the boyfriend. I should explain that we have a lot of Chinese students at Nottingham University  and one of the girls was wearing a university sweatshirt.

The coffee was lovely, smooth and very attractive.

I knitted a few rows before I had to dash for the bus.

I have finally finished the tiresome hat, still not totally happy but it will fit someone, somewhere :-)

a quick update before I fall asleep

 This stupid flu bug thing has left me exhausted, I've done a little stitching so week six is now complete.

You won't believe how many times I've ripped this hat back !!

and I'm still not happy with it.

The big deatash has stalled slightly but I'm making some progress...slowly Today I have uncovered a scissor sharpener

and rediscovered an old embroidery book

I'm now going to settle down and finish watching the Gilmore Girls :-)

more workshop clearout and some fleece to prep

 This is my workroom near the end of last year, today I have been sorting out some shelves, getting rid of yet more books and re-finding one or two treasures.

now looks like this, more to sort out but definitely better.

Followed this up with some fibre prep, Border Leicester cross, as I want to empty as many of the pillowslips of fleece as possible.

I'm now going to pop my feet up and watch some nonsense on catch up tv :-) As it looks like we are no longer heading to the coast for our usual dose of January fresh air, the room sort out will continue, shelf by shelf.

A frosty start

 The temperatures have plummeted this morning leaving the frost on car looking very impressive.

I ventured out to buy some fresh veg and make some lace in a favourite coffee shop

and wrapped up the trip by watching the workmen dismantle the big wheel on the Christmas fair.

new years day

 Since I'm still feeling under par, today has been a gentle day of yarn winding, Blackwork embroidery and a little knitting.

I need to venture out tomorrow but our planned trip away is on hold, partly due to me and partly due to the weather forecast of snow at the weekend.

Final spin of 2024

 Saxon Merino' dyed in the fleece by Babylonglegs, Spun over the last couple of days, washed and dried today.

I picked out the blues and greens and ended up with 50gm of this.

Its slightly darker and more peacock colour in real life. This will be the next knit, probably a couple of headbands, once I've finished the hat that is one the needles at the moment.