SPINNING ON SUNDAY!

I have my spinning station arranged by my bedroom recliner.

(On the left is a cat cushion;  Lena spent a good part of the day there but of course, moved when I tried to get a photo!)

The view is relaxing-even if it is raining out or I can watch a movie on my laptop while I spin.  (Spinning can be a bit messy-see the fuzzy bits attached to the 'neps' or 'noils' that are found in a fleece!)  

The little bits of grass or hay are also picked out as you spin-just part of the process. Yes, most of the debris in a fleece comes out in the washing and carding of the wool but the wool doesn't easily let go of the plant matter!

I managed to spin 3.6 ounces yesterday and will spin another batt today after church to round it out to a full 4 ounce bobbin.  

This Cotswold wool is a joy to spin! 

This spinning is a relaxing way to mark the passing of June!

 

TDF 2024 DAY ONE

The Tour de France  begins today 

and all spinners unite for their own event, the Tour de Fleece!  

I printed out the Tour's schedule to guide my spinning whether it will be easy, rigorous or a day of rest.

The first batt I carded earlier this month is now teased into a roving ready for me to start when the race begins!  

I will enjoy spinning some yarn today!!!

 

COMPANION

Cat perfection.  

Who needs to have weights to keep your pattern pieces in place?!

I have a simple summer dress which I purchased and I thought it would be easy enough to copy the few pieces to make a dress of my own.  I have some vintage fabric that was a more primitive weave-not a quilting cotton quality at all which is a perfect match to the dress.  I will be sewing it together today!  Here's hoping!

 

NEW SCENERY

The large units are built and how much more quickly it went together the second time around! lol  It also helps to have the monster headache back under control so I can think and read directions!

Now to continue building the two sizes of square in a square blocks.  I work on a few at a time and then move on to something else-like the quilting frame!

 

WOOD ON WEDNESDAY

I've started a new bowl from a larger piece of the Brown Birch tree my son brought me.  The shape came out well and the grain is looking good!

A bit of bark is left which I always like on the bowl.  I even started the top of the bowl but had to quit when a big thunder storm rolled in.  I take the threat of lightening seriously and a garage is not enough protection!

When I went out this morning to continue the work, the small crack had expanded to a VERY large one! I've ordered some two-part putty to fill the crack otherwise the bowl can't be made-it would be in two parts too soon into the hollowing!!!  I can be patient.  I can be patient.  I can be patient...

 

SWIMMING!

 The top is completed; 64" x 74".

Now for piecing top number two while it is fresh  in my mind!

And that is what I will be doing 

during quilting group today!

STUFF

Only another 3" to go on the sweater body before ribbing!  The sleeves only get ribbing since it is a summer sweater. 

 Getting there!

We are finally getting our afternoon, rains ending the 5 week drought which wouldn't have been so hard except the temps were at 100* most days, and that means rainbows!!!

The rain means the flowers are just bursting with relief!

This is the Tree Crinem which is 5' tall!  And fragrant! 

 And do you see something in front of the marble border?

We have a young Gopher Tortoise who has decided to burrow under this area which isn't a happy thing!  Their digging skills are robust and building under the garage slab isn't a place we'd like him to set up house!  A few months ago he was under a nearby tree so we are hoping he outgrows this choice of home soon, too!

And weighing in at 1 1/2" are the new lizards which are really anoles!  Sweet little things!  (Thanks for  posting on my son's arm!)

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GUY!

Youngest son and family came to celebrate Bill's 73rd birthday! 

 We spent the day in the pool and ate a ton of food-perfection!
 

PLAYING WITH COLOR

 I worked  on piecing the Sea Travelers quilt yesterday, correcting an incorrectly cut piece that required a bit of ripping out to resew it.    I also loaded a QOV that I am quilting for the group;  this was pieced by someone else, I am just doing the quilting. 

Nice to take part on different levels!

UPRIGHT MORE THAN EVER

Much progress has been attained!  

Each of the elements need to be sewn together

 but all of the parts are in place on the design wall!

I did cut the towels from the loom, hemmed them 

and tossed them right in the wash.  

It makes such a good difference once washed and dried--they shrink just right and become thick and thirsty!  ( 13" x 24")

Work has begun on the spindle building adventure!

SOFT AND SMOOTH

I couldn't wait to sample a bit of the newly carded wool by using my favorite drop spindle.  Since it had been a few years since I used the spindle, a lot of dropping occurred but soon enough I had it spinning and not slipping from my fingers!  

The Cotswold wool is spinning up beautifully! 

 I think I want to try and make a spindle whorl on the lathe.

The last row of weaving has taken place;  the shuttle won't get through any more so I stitched the last rows together so cutting can take place and today I will be hemming and then washing the towels!

 

STITCHING

Round and round now until the ribbing at the hem. 

 The sleeves only have some ribbing 

so this will be a very summery knit.

I am done with the edging and will work on 10" of the center pattern next before I repeat this much on the other side of the shawl.  

Off to the lab today for some blood work.  

Too much excitement.

 

IT'S ALL GOOD

While I was sitting in the dentist's chair, in between doing work on replacing my cap, I unraveled the shawl!  I left the beginning row-15".

And last night, I began working through the pattern once again!  

 

TRY IT AGAIN

 I have run out of yarn to finish this shawl

 (Delicate Shells Shawl by Yarnspirations). 

 It is also longer than it needs to be so I am going to rip it out....I know, I think I make most things twice but only have half as many completed items! Groan. 

80" long without blocking.  Since I am 66" tall, I would at most round up the shawl to 70" long so this is 10"-12" too long.

 I do like the pattern enough to give it another go. 

 The yarn isn't a thrill to work with but the drape and weight of the shawl is promising! Today, I have a dentist appointment so I will bring it along to rip out.  Here goes!

PIECEFUL SUNDAY

The piecing has begun!  It was off to a bit of a rough start but I soon got my mind wrapped around the differences between a 3" and 3 1/2" square....I at least have a bit of a plan for now! lol

Isn't this amazing?  

           The Passion fruit Vine is so alien yet glorious!

 

QUIET PURSUITS

If your grand daughter asks for a watercolor cell phone insert, then of course, it gets made! lol Those are dolphins dancing in the ocean--she is still in love all things dolphin, so I will include the love!

I made several pairs of dishcloths; 

 I'm still not tired of making this pattern pairs!

And I found this yarn while looking for some more dishcloth cotton!  There is enough for this summer T-shirt even though it is the pattern I just finished, the yarn is so different, it is like a new sweater all over again!  It is going much more confidently this time around!

 I hope to spend a bit of time in the studio today, 

putting a start to the Sea Traveler quilts.

 

A SWEATER IS OFF THE NEEDLES!!

A sweater finish! 

 The pattern is Derecho by Berroco, Size 5 needles, 

Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball yarn held together with Jubilee Yarn Minnesota Delightfully Fine Yarn. 

 I made several alterations to the pattern-mainly I changed the hem from a high low, rounded hem to a standard hem making the ribbing with the same needles as the body so that the ribbing wouldn't pull in at the hem.  I also made the sleeves a bit longer.  

A very good knit!

LOOKING FORWARD TO DIVING IN...

During quilt group, I began the work of cutting out two new quilts!  Things went well but since I am still trying to think through

 'the miserable headache that never ends', 

I read everything four times 

and checked and rechecked to avoid mistakes.!

  I am cutting out all of the pieces before I begin the piecing on these two quilts.  I don't always do that but since I am making two,

 I thought it would be a good idea to have them both cut out. 

 Do you have a preference for cutting out--everything at once 

or enough for a block at a time?

I also picked up some more jute cord to add to the leaves.  

These are the colors I want to add; 

 I will also vary the sizes of the leaves.  

I've picked out another branch 

to begin a more traditional wall hanging out of a thicker jute cord.  

 

WOOD ON WEDNESDAY

The Brown Birch branch has become a live edge bowl.  

The evidence of the many branches in this crotch piece makes some very interesting grain lines!

The papery bark sanded down to a lovely brown bark

 which is very attractive..

The bowl is 6" wide and 4 1/2" high. 

 I have the next project all picked out already!

 

FINALLY SOME PIECING PEACE

The top is completed and ready for some quilting!

The crazy pieced borders are completed and the next set of borders will be some red/white piano keys.

I did some wonky free-hand diagonal stitching on the cat table runner.  It was liberating to be inaccurate and just stitch.  (I can't find the foot that goes on my machine to do ruler work.  I've looked everywhere and so I just gave up and stitched!)