I would say its been a long while since I have had my knitting needles and yarn… Curly and I last friday went and cleaned up my storage unit.  I was looking through some of the stuff and things I didn’t need I tossed.  But in the unorganized jumble I found my yarn, needles, roving and my spindle.

I picked up my KnitPick circular needles and some  yarn and just stared at it.  It was unknown to me.  I felt like all the yarn-y things I had taught myself had gotten pushed out or  filed somewhere deep in my brain.  I will be doing my best to look for it.  I know that before my knitting hiatus I had wanted to make a pair of socks.  Or atleast one sock… so that is my current knitting goal.

I will get back to photographing my ideas and progress soon.  I always like

Well Little Miss has embarked on a new crafty venture… Today my Mom, Sister, Curly and I went out to a friends farm.  They have 10+ sheep and they were recently sheared.

We picked up 5 bags of raw fleece from the sheared sheep.  Mom, Curly and I sat up in the garage and cleaned it up.  I went over to the Black Lamb and got some tips from Laurie.  She also pointed out to me what I was doing wrong when spinning with my drop spindle.  She said that when cleaning sheep it is called Skirting.  Also she said for us to get it cleaned carded and spun it was better to go to a mill.  So we have begun to skirt the wool and clean the crap (literaly) out of it.

There are some good sites out there for this:

- How to take wool from a sheep to the needles

- How to Skirt a Fleece

Pictures:

Raw Unskirted Fleece

Working with Mom!

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?

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).

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…

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!

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).

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.

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.

Well today has been pretty good… I went over to Yarnopolis today with Kiki. We were talking to FoxyandCrafty (the shop keeper), she is a cool chicklet! We chatted about yarn and knitting of course.

I purchased some Manos del Uruguay Wool, colour Wildflower (109). I am going to use this to make my Cowl! Yes I have decieded to jump on the cowl band wagon. I fell in love with the cowl, when I saw the Six One Seven Dolores Park Cowl!

Since it is a nice sunny afternoon I am outside with Kiki, we are taking photos of the projects and yarn. I worked a few rounds yesterday in the Tiny Sweater for my baby sister. My fetching gloves have slightly been on hold due to Finals! But they are DONE!! So life can be a bit more relaxed.