Spin me right round baby right round!

I love that song… Anyways … I think I had mentioned before that I was interested in Spinning ever since the workshop I was in at the Creativ Festival.  Well, a few weeks ago I went to spun and purchased some VIBRANT roving.

I am still on the hunt for a drop spindle, the homemade one did not really work.  Note:  If any bloggers have a Drop Spindle that you are no longer using - please let me know!!

Any how I was bored so I played with some of the roving and made a little bit of 2 ply yarn (by twisting it by hand).  I am so proud of the little bit I made!

Also I would love to get some input about which is better an Ashford Spindle or a Louette?

Little Miss MIA

Yes!! I have been MIA for sometime now… Just the hassle of work and taking a few classes this summer!  It can be rather stressful!

I have been knitting… I have taught my self how to do the Magic Cast On for a toe up sock.  I used the Knitty Magic Cast on for Toe up socks.  I was slightly confused and well I frogged it twice which is good.  I also was working on Increases for the toe aswell.  Ohh new skills!

Well about the sock - I am making the socks for my tiny sister.  I am using the KnitPicks Harmony US 2 needles and the KnitPicks Essential Yarn in Peacock.  I have about 1″ knit so far.  As you all know I dont like patterns I tend to make them up as I go… I have done that so far with this 1″ of knitted toe.  I am looking for some inspiration for the socks, as I dont want to knit it entirely in Stockinette like her sweater!

As you can see from the progress shot, that I do need to work on my toe portion… I need to improve my skill of increasing, yet credit is due; on that I (as always) manage to teach my self how to do things.  I think this may be a sock tester, in that I will make only one sock as a reference for the others I intend to make.  I am still honing all my skills!

About the needles - THANK YOU KELLY!! They are great.  I am so glad I did purchase these needles!  The cables are so squishy (flexible) in comparison to other which are SUPER rigid (Boye Circs).

FO: The Earthy Cowl

Earthy Cowl

Pattern: Improvised based on all the great Cowls out there

Yarn: Vanna’s Choice (Taupe)

Needles: 6.5mm

I really like knitting this. I used two strands to work this. It went very quick!  I intend to make more of these!  The wonders of burning excess yarn I have…

Oooo Awwww

I went out today to help my girlfriend move and I came home to find a package!!!

It was my KnitPicks Stuff…

I am so happy that the needles and yarn are here… Just in time for me to show them off at my Pub Knit tonight!  Thank you Kelly Petkun for making such a beautiful set of needles.  I got the Harmony Wood Circs which are fixed.  I got the US 2 & 3 in the 32″ lenght.  I cannot wait to cast on and give them a whirl! *You can see more photos in my Flickr!

I will post more about the great needles later tonight or tomorrow!

Everyone is Spinning…

I did mention in my post about the Creativ Festival that I attended a workshop about Creative Spinning. The workshop was put on by, Cindy Cole. She had alot of handspun yarn and fibre with her. Many of her yarns had themes, or had items sewn or spun into them. She had two wheels with her: the Ashford Country and the Ashford Joy.

Cindy showed us how to spin yarn on the wheels, she used 100% superwash merino (white) and then plyed it with thread. Cindy said that you spin the fibre and then add thread to make it stronger. She demonstated how to coil the yarn. Cindy mentioned that the yarn was 109 yards and when she was done coiling it was 9 yards. She also demonstrated how to make a 2 ply with two different coloured handspuns.

It was all very neat and I think I might make myself a drop spindle. Then I can be just like all my favourite knitters out in the blogosphere who have the most beautifull Handspun yarns. I do know that they all use wheels and not drop spindles but we all have to start somewhere.

(This is one of Plucky Knitter’s handspun’s I love)

When I was at the Creativ Festival I met Shannon Okey the author of many books but one in particular Spin to Knit. I picked it up today from our local library. I will let you all know what I think when I read it!

Tips are always welcome when it come to my new endevors - so if you know a good tutorial to make a drop spindle, great place to purchase fibre in Ontario or just have tips from your own experience I would love to hear them.

You can leave a comment or send me an email at: littlemisscrafty (at) yahoo (dot) com. (I do it that funny way so the bots cant get my email to spam).

Mystery Package Solved!

Well I had mentioned on Friday that there was a UPS sticky note on my door indicating I had a package I was to sign for (but I was not here).  So I looked up the info number and it said the package weight 11lbs and started in IA, US.  So I was mighty confused as to WHAT IT WAS!

Today (being Monday) the UPS guy came back and gave me a giant box… Which said Greenies on it!  I then clued in as to where it was from.  It is from head office of one of my many jobs.  I do promos for pet food.  It was a giant box full of greenies products.

Then 10 minutes later Canada Post showed up with……

My books from Chapters! I am so excited I can make up some new stitch patterns in my designs and go sew up a storm!

Creativ Festival

I went to the Creativ Festival today. I know I could have gone to the Knitters Frolic but I didn’t really want to just go to a show about knitting (as much as I love it). So I went to the Creativ Festival and the Food Networks Good Food Festival.

I got to the International Center at 1045ish and stood in line and chit chatted with some lovely crafters. A mother and daugther who sew and another woman who is a budding Entprenure with her scrapbook company. I had a great time in line for the 10minutes with the ladies. Did I mention that I did go to this by myself? I ran to one of the free workshops. It was all about Creative Spinning. I have to say I learned ALOT in the 40 minute session. I now understand 2 plys (which are the yarns I find the most attractive). Who knows maybe I will become a spinner. I would love to make my own Yarns!

I stopped and purchased some lovely sock yarn, Jitterbug. I am going to make my little sister a pair of socks (or two if I have enough).

I stopped at the MacFab booth and bought an Amy Butler pattern The Frenchy Bag. One of the employees was very helpful and aided me in choosing some Fabric. Amy Butler fabric of course! So that will be something I will dust off the sewing machine for.

I headed over to the Good Food festival and INDULGED in some great food! I have to say I had a really good day! Plus it ended excellently with a Salmon, Lobster and Shrimp dinner I made for my hubbie and my girlfriend.

Surprise Note on my Front Door

I came home from a funeral today to find this sticky note on my door. It did take some time for me to clue in as to what it may be. I looked up the Info number on UPS.com and found out it started in the US and I am assuming that it is my new Knitpicks Needles and Yarn.

I picked the 32″ harmony wood needles in US 2 and 3. I also am getting some of the Knitpicks Essential Sock yarn.

I cannot wait until Monday when UPS comes back… I will let you all know if this is what arrives on Monday.

Should I Etsy?

Well I have an Etsy account as a buyer right now. I am hoping that when I get my two funky sewing books and some experience under my belt I would like to sell my items on Etsy. I just don’t know what I would want to sell.

I have seen some food items such as Jams and spreads which I can make! Plus they are might good! Although I also see pretty sewn items that I want to make too. I just don’t want to step on anyone eles toes.

This was making Jam last summer - Note I would not do this if I were to sell the Jam! It was such an awesome picture. Everyone thought I actually licked the potato masher.

Sewing is in the Horizon

I feel that the sewing machine has collected enough dust sitting on the kitchen table (not to mention it is kind of in the way). So today (well yesterday) I started considering what items I need to start sewing. A while back I borrowed many books from the local library on sewing - except none were what I wanted to sew.

So…. I had eyed a few books at Chapters and well… I ordered them. I ordered 2 sewing pattern books and a knitting book.

I cannot wait to get:

Lotta Jansdotter - Simple Sewing

Amy Butler - In Stitches

and well I will keep the knitting book a secret for now!