Knitting with Silk Hankies featured in Interweave this month

Hi everyone,

Ever wish you could just knit or crochet with silk, but don't know how to spin?  Here is a link to my video on how to use silk hankies to knit or crochet with out spinning. 

 It is fun and amazing to knit and crochet with. In fact this seasons Interweave has featured them, but if you happen to be in CO stop by the Longmont Yarn Shoppe and you can pick some up or go to

 https://www.etsy.com/shop/KnitSpinEnchantment?ref=si_shop

 I would be happy to send them to you in whatever colors you would like.

 Just click on the link to see the video.  Hope this video helps let me know.  Enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_lXqmgtrfA

Tis the Season to Knit and Spin

Hi everyone!!  I know it has been a while, but I have been trying to put together a great shop on Etsy.  It has been opened since October and nothing has sold!  Any ideas??  Speak up please, what am I missing.  I value everyone's opinion.  Calling all crafters!!  What are you making for the season?  Here are some things in my store please tell me what you think!

Knitting and spinning with a little enchantment

If you don't see something you like please let me know I do special orders.



 



Please visit my store and tell me what you think

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/KnitSpinEnchantment?ref=si_shop

From Fiber to Fairy

Okay, so I started with the cards pictured below.  The rules of the game were to create one project incorporating all the cards.  Anyone willing to accept this challenge? Please post what you come up with.

Next, I spun and dyed the following yarns and fiber

Finally, the end result was a beautiful spring time Colorado fairy I like to call Sekip Kaep (Pikes Peak).  She is very special and I am happy with the results.  I used Fiona Mc Donald's book Knitted Fairies to cherish and charm.  Sekip is a variety of patterns, but that is what is so cool about this book because you can let you can create your own fairies for all occasions, moods, or needs.  What would you create?  Challenge yourself and let your imagination go wild.

Let me know what you think.  Happy spinning and knitting!!!

Dieing to Dye

Alpaca Bath

It is almost spring and what could be better than adding some color to your life.  I went to an Alpaca Extravaganza at the Boulder county fairgrounds and picked up some tips about dyeing roving.  I have dyed fleeces without too many problems, but roving freaked me out.  I was worried about felting.  Anyone else ever have that concern?  How did you overcome your fear?  I know microwave dyeing could come into play, but I had trouble donating a microwave to the dyeing cause.  I discovered steaming in my old rice cooker does the trick.  I love making my own colors and having more control.  The weather has also been prime to hang my roving outside to dry.  I wait about an hour and it is ready for spinning.  What are your tips and tricks for dyeing?  Afraid, don't be!  Let's share and help people get over their fear of dyeing.  Here are a few rovings I did and I would love to see others stuff.  I love the book Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece by Gail Callahan it has some great information.


Bright Violet and Sun Yellow



Peacock Blue and Fire Engine Red





It's in the cards

Here is one of my guild challenges.  We drew some cards and have to create a project using all the cards we drew.  We had to have at least two.  These are the cards I drew.  What would you create?

What ever I decide to make should be lucky since I got 21

Here's where I started, I spun this yarn to do something with, not quite sure what, but the colors are close to the middle card. Any ideas?

Now, I am working with this Jacob fleece. 

I dyed it using sky blue.





Then carded it to create some rolags and am thinking I will spin a DK weight yarn.  I have an idea where I am going with this project, but how would you interpret the cards?

Spinning Winter

I just finished spinning a pound of Teeswater/Wensleydale/Rambouillet for a Rock Day celebration.  While I was spinning the fleece my daughter said, "Mommy, it looks like you are spinning winter!!"  I added some Firestar acrylic white for a bit of bling.  Her words fit the handspun so perfectly, I decided to call it Spinning Winter and knitted a hat for winter.  Part of it I hand dyed using sky blue, emerald green, and a bit of pink.  The projects represented CO winter perfectly at least this year.

90 inch scarf

Spinning Winter

The winter in CO is very different than other places, so I would really like to see other people's spin on winter.  Here is the challenge spin winter from your state or country and show me how different or similar the handspuns might be.  What would you spin for your winter?  What project would you choose? 

Spin with the massess

Okay, so to create a blog that no one might read lets see,  I guess it is just as easy to talk to possibly no one as it is to talk to my husband or daughter.  I want to talk about spinning and knitting.  I have told myself I will spin each day in the year 2012.  Thanks to this wonderful Raverly group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/a-year-of-spinning-dangerously
  Anyone with me???  I need time for myself and that is my spinning time.  After I have spun, then comes my knitting time.
     You see I am  a full time teacher of fourth graders and I come home to be a mom of a four year old and a wife.  I have discovered I need my sanity (only took me 39 years to discover this).  Spinning is soothing for me, but since I have only spun for about a I have discovered a few things.

 1)  Only spin art yarn when you are angry, frustrated, or the Broncos have lost (better luck next year) because each piece will have an artistic flair (I find thick and thin with crazy colors works well for me at this time provided it doesn't keep breaking)  I am new to art yarn and I think all handspun yarn has an artistic flair.  There are some great books out about art yarn maybe someday I will master it.  My point is, my yarn takes on my feelings, how about yours?  Who would ever want angry yarn unless you were knitting for someone you disliked (not likely).

 2) Disney music helps me spin surprisingly well, not sure why maybe because I can sing every song, or because it is what my four year old wants to hear when she works with me in our craft room. Some recommendations are: anything from Lilo and Stitch, The Little Mermaid, The Frog Princess, Tangled (personally my new favorite), but then of course there's the Chipmunks as well.  I find my tension depends on the beat of the music how weird right?

3) Always let your child (if you have one) name your yarn.  They come up with pure and amazing names.

4) Challenge yourself in Ravelry groups, guilds and just get your voice out there.  I just want to talk about the crafts I love with others so we can guide each other or just laugh about mutual frustrations, and of course share the work we have done.
another inspiring group on Ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/picto-create

What is your advice to a new spinner?  What music inspires you?  Do you find one type of music promotes a certain type of yarn?
I am sure I will come up with more things along this journey which I would love for as many spinners and knitters to be a part of please tell me what projects you have going and any helpful advice is more than welcome.  Unleash your spinning voice.

Spin long and prosper

Craftycass