Ross spinning day part 1

I am a little behind the time but in Jan. the hand weavers, spinners and dyers guild had their annual spinning day at ross. Ross being about the middle of this state. The weather was fantastic and it was a fantastic and relaxing day under the trees. I dont think we really wanted to go home at all.

Belle of the Ball Podcast V2

advent calendar scarf Knit along 2011

During december I have been doing a knit along through ravelry. The pattern is the advent calendar scarf 2011 by Kristin Benecken. Each day of december a new lace pattern is put up on the site and off we knit. I had thought this would be a great idea to have a new lace pattern to knit each day, but I forgott to factor in how busy the month has become.

I started two days late, then i thought I would be able to catch up but it has not happened. But I still live in hope of catching up. I have learnt some new stitches and love knitting lace, even though some of the patterns have been a learning curve and I have learnt that I do need quiet to knit lace.

I will post more photos as I go. So far I am up to day 14 and I will just continue slowely. I wont have it finished by christmas but that is OK with me.

last years fleece.

I have been having a bit of a tidy up around my place and decided to have a look at some of my fleeces from last year, before we get around to shearing again. This fleece gave me a big surprise as I opened it out again. It is from my neighbours sheep. It is such a bright yellow colour at the cut edge that I was a little unsure what to do with it.

I took samples from different parts of the sheep and washed them to see how the washed fleece would look. Eventhough I used hot as water and tried different types of soaps and washes I was still left with a slight yellowness in the wool. In some places it was only a patch that stayed yellow, but in others it was the entire staple. I am still undecided as to whether to keep the fleece and spend hours washing it or throw it out. One one hand I know I have lots of other fleece but then again I dont like to throw out what may be an okish fleece even if the thought of so many hours of washing does not appeal when it is a fairly coarse fleece.
Ithink I will hold on to it for a bit and then decide.

kids, dogs and the beach

We have been lucky enough to have had some really warm days, and a few of them in a row. The best way to spend these are with a walk along the dog beach and splashing around in the water.

The boys had a great time colapsing the bank of the river and swimming with the dogs. Eventhough the children have been in swimming a few times already this year I have not braved the cold water, I think I'll just wait until the water is slightly warmer.

Pendulum Wheel

I was so fasinated by this whell and at the ease at which the lady is able to spin on it. This is a pendulum wheel and is one of the earlier styles of wheels after the great wheel. The great wheel needed to have the spinner standing up and at times walking as they drafted the wool. This looks a lot more comfortable and enjoyable. I would love to have a go but am not sure there would be any space in my house to put one of these huge wheels.

This is halloween 2011