Tuesday, 29 July 2025

a bit of bobbin lace

 On Saturday I went to the Nottinghamshire Bobbin Lace summer lace day and didn't take many photos, I was too busy chatting and making lace haha

However here is my lace pillow in Neros before heading down there, weird angle and untidy bobbins.


Once there  I bought a couple more ebony bobbins for the collection, forgot to take a photo so will try to remember once we get back, I did grab photos of the suppliers but that was about it, sorry but I was having an enjoyable day !!


 






 


Monday, 28 July 2025

The end of Tour de fleece

Good Morning

 A slightly early end to the tour, I did spin yesterday but forgot to take a photo and today we are back on a campsite so I will do a full post about what and how much was spun in a weeks or so.

I have my Nano here with me along with my knitting but at the moment I'm just unwinding with some you-tube.



Friday, 25 July 2025

Tour de Fleece day twenty

 Another busy day, headed out to do some shopping and spinning on my nano, I was speaking to a couple of people in the cafe and one of them has asked if I can do a talk/demo on spinning to her over 55 group. We have exchanged details and hope to put something in place later in the year.

We have finalised the campsites for our Scotland trip, a few familiar places and several new ones to explore.

Eventually I had the chance to sit down at my Ashford wheel and spin.

100gm ish of Romney.

I'm nearly at the 1 Kilo mark, I set out with 1.2 kilo prepped in the main bag so not bad progress really given how long we have been away involved in other things.

Thursday, 24 July 2025

Tour de Fleece day , eighteen and nineteen.

 We've been busy since we got back, mainly washing and packing, a few medical appointments for both of us, some shopping and most importantly planning our next tour of Scotland.

In-between all this I grabbed the chance to ply the Shetland and spin the North Country Mule. 



This is looking like the least productive TDF for me for a while but it started by the coast, continued back at the coast las week and the last two days include  a summer bobbin lace day and yet another travel day.

Still, I have plenty of time in August to continue to spin down the stash so I'm not disheartened.


Tuesday, 22 July 2025

Tour de Fleece day fifteen - seventeen, more boats

 Saturday was indeed a wash out, we watched a few boats come in then headed for a trawl round the charity shops.


Henry Frederick Swan motoring into the harbour, built 1918 and looks amazing with all the sails in use.



However sails were soon stored away and we made our way into the boat shed to shelter from the rain.

We eventually decamped to the Spa for coffee.


(did I mention that I managed to get sunburt on the Friday ? the weather is so changeable)

Sunday.

Ian dashed out at around 8 o'clock to meet the boat crews so I had a leisurely breakfast before catching the bus. As I arrived in town, the first of the boats was heading out, the Three Brothers 1912. It was chasing the pirate ship out of the harbour and was soon disappearing into the mist.


I didn't realise at the time that this was the reason why I didn't see Ian for the next couple of hours or so.


Yep, there he is haha. second on the left.


Other boats were soon joining in the fun as I headed down to the boat shed.


local musicians had gathered for the event around the harbour





along with longsword dancers


Back out onto the harbour mouth to watch the cobles return after the afternoon sail.




During the day, I did take time out to spin in the boathouse and chat to several people about the Nano.


and I finished off the bobbin later whilst Ian helped pack the festival down.


Not a lot of spinning in all ( two bobbins of shetland) but a very enjoyable , if slightly wet, weekend. We travelled home on day 17 so I took that as a rest day.


Saturday, 19 July 2025

Tour de Fleece day fourteen, back by the sea

 Beautiful morning, set out to walk into town but didn't realise how humid it was.



Four of the cobles were out in the bay, taking advantage to the quiet sea. They are easily identified by their brown sails.



The first land train of the day went past on its way to Sewerby ( the direction that I had just come from) and by the time it turned around and headed back I was almost in town but actually dripping ! Having chatted with a couple of people on the way one of which told me that the humidity was about 97% I decided to jump on the train for the last stretch and cool down.


 My first shop was the craft shop for a cup of tea and a spin, Shetland once again on the wheel.


Followed by a coffee at the Spa with Ian, as we walked back to the harbour to look at the boats we realised that the sunny day with blue skies was fast disappearing under the sea mist.




Still, the boats had the flags on ready for the weekend but it is sadly looking as if Saturday is going to be a washout.








Thursday, 17 July 2025

Tour de Fleece day twelve and thirteen.....minimal spinning

 I think these may have to count as rest days, On day twelve, after packing and housework, I finally managed to sit at the wheel for a few minutes. North Country Mule, an easy spin and hopefully I will be able to finish it sometime next week.

Day thirteen and we are back on the road again, heading east for the Bridlington Coble Festival.

 More about the Festival in a few days but again in means minimal spinning but tomorrow I will be out and about dodging rain showers with my nano so will have more to report,


But I did briefly get a spindle out and play with some Shetland so technically I did spin both days even if rather minimal amounts.



By the way, a coble is a type of boat ........................


Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Tour de Fleece day eleven, all about the Nano

 Its been another day of meeting friends and spinning on the Nano, continuing with the Shetland and I must admit that I  am running out of fine fibre so may have to make the next nano spin Jacob for a change, just until I have change to comb some more fibre.


This is now plyed and ready for a dunk. I'm not sure how much spinning I will b doing over the next few days as there will be few distractions I may dig out a drop spindle though.


This yarn is quite a bit darker in real life.


Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Tour de Fleece day ten

 Here we go, another day, another skein of yarn. I promise that we will have some different photos by the end of the week.

Day ten spinning, the nano went out for coffee and for Tangled Threads knitting group at our main library.


Coffee, fruit and trying to sort out the tension at breakfast time.

When I got home, I finished the bobbin of Jacob.


and plyed them....this is getting very repetitive to document but I will spin everyday at some point.


Other than this I caught up with my knitty friends, had a good look at my lace books for a simple pattern to go on one of my pillows. I think I've found one that dates back to the 1800's, not many bobbins so should grow quite fast.


Monday, 14 July 2025

Tour de Fleece day nine, spinning and some gentle lace making.

Day nine (Sunday 13 July) was a home alone day. Ian is over in Wales for a couple of days so I was up early as he made an early start.

First challenge was to spin the final bobbin of the Ryeland and ply the four bobbins. Two, two ply skeins completed ahead of some gentle housework and fleece washing.


Sunday also tends to be bobbin lace day as I have a zoom chat in the afternoon with other lace makers. I carried on with my Downton lace strip whilst we decided which patterns to tackle next.


I also spun a bobbin of Jacob ( 55gm) and made a start on the second one




Sunday, 13 July 2025

Tour de Fleece day eight , some spinning but not a lot

 Another warm day but we went out for a drive and ended up at Papplewick Pumping station, a favourite place to while away a couple of hours.


The cloud making machine was working


The brass was gleaming

and there were a lot of steampunks about :-)




 and this is definitely not a Lambretta however at £40 it will be a bargain for someone.

As for the spinning its still Ryeland on the wheel but this is the total so far.