Of spindle classes and free patterns

The spindle class I taught went super well. I had 4 students and they all picked it up very quickly. I am such a numbscull tho and totally forgot to take a photo of everyone's 1st skein. This is a pic of the spindle I like to use to teach.

I like that is it just a toy wheel spindle that I made. It shows people that you don't need to spend a lot of money to spin yarn. It works just the same as any fancy spindle.

Now for the freebie.

I tried to upload my fingerless mitts pattern on Ravelry but hit a roadblock. I'm not the most technically savvy person. I'm pretty sure I just need to try again but in the meantime here it is:


MARIE’S FINGERLESS MITTS

I made this by tweaking my mothers basic mitten pattern.

Needs: 4 double pointed needles, 1 stitch holder, darning needle for finishing your ends.

I usually use size 4 DPN's for womens mitts using lambs pride worsted (shown in purple) or cascade baby alpaca chunky. (shown in pink below)  Or you can use handspun of your own making.

Cast on 12 sts to each needle (3 needles) to work cuff.  (36 sts total)
I use a version of the cable cast on so it is stretchy.
Join and....      

K2 P2 for 20-30 rds for cuff size. (to preference)

K8 straight for rds.

Begin thumb gusset as follows:

(note: my increases are knit into the back of the next stitch (what I call the purl bobble part)
to prevent holes but any increase will work)

K2, inc 1, K1, inc 1, finish rd. K 2 more rds.

K2, inc 1, K3, inc 1, finish rd. K 2 more rds.

K2, inc 1, K5, inc 1, finish rd. K 2 more rds.

K2, inc 1, K7, inc 1, finish rd. K 2 more rds.

K2, slide 11 sts onto stitch holder, cast on 3 sts, join and finish rd.

K 15 or 20 rds (more or less to preference/size) for length of hand.
(remember to factor in about ½ inch for end of hand ribbing)

K2, P2 for 4 rounds.

Bind off.

THUMB:

Transfer 11 sts from holder onto two needles, K across stitches.
Pick up 5 sts and finish rd. K 4 rds for size. (more or less to preference/size)

K2,P2 for 4 rounds.

Bind off. Finish ends.

**To make this even easier you can skip knitting the complete thumb. After knitting the thumb gusset, instead of slipping stitches onto a holder bind them off instead. (JUST those 11 stitches!) Continue the rest of the pattern as written. **

Pattern by Marie Finnegan, Whorled Fleece

I knit a lot of these because they seem to be a hit with people that work outside but need their fingers free. Any mitten pattern you love can be adjusted as well.

Wordless Wednesday

The 5 year hat.....

is finished!!!! As promised here are the photos of it being modeled.

                                           

I am so excited to have finished it in time for this winter. Now I just need to keep it from being stolen by my daughter. That might be a challenge since she tried it on and it fit her. 

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Again it is the Basket Lattice Cap pattern by http://www.o-wool.com/ The band is knit on two needles, sewn up and then you pick up stitches for the top. I even learned a new (and easier) technique than I was using to pick up the stitches thanks to my new local yarn shop. If I knit this again I will pick a lighter color. Overall I am quite pleased with it though. 

Decisions, decisions & an exciting announcement!

The players......

From left to right: A high whorl Golding Ring Spindle in Celtic knotwork. The middle one I can't remember anything about. It belongs to my daughter and I think is Zebra wood. Unsure of the maker but I love it. It is a solid worker and beautiful to boot. The left is the fancy rabbit spindle by Woolly Designs. (Don't tell the others but Rabbit is my favorite of these 3.) I have to decide how think I will spin the yarn since these are all different weights. The Golding spindle weighs the most so if I use that it will be a thicker yarn. These are the only spindles that don't already have something started on them.

The Fiber......

The fiber is a 50/50 blend of superwash merino and tencel called "Dragonfly" by Highland Handmades. Isn't it beautiful? The photo doesn't show it well but it has a fabulous luster. I have no idea what I will make with it once spun but most of my spinning happens that way. Sometimes an idea comes to me once I start working with it. Sometimes it needs to be yarn before the idea comes. I got it from the new local yarn shop WHERE I AM GOING TO BE TEACHING DROP SPINDLE SPINNING!!! I am VERY excited to addict, um teach new people how to spin. You can see the details on the calendar here: http://www.overtherainbowyarn.com/  It will be a Sunday afternoon class for anyone interested.
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Not spindle related but knitting related which I figure is close enough. Check out the progress on a hat I have been trying to finish the band on for at least 3 years. I know this because the yarn store I bought the yarn and pattern at has been closed for at least 3 years. (and I miss it immensely even though the new local store is awesome) I think I have probably been working on it for 5 years according to my calculations. Yes I am that kind of knitter. At least I am finally finishing it. It turns out if you just knit a few rows each day you eventually reach the end. Who knew?

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It is the Basket Lattice Cap pattern by Vermont Wool Company: http://www.o-wool.com/ I will post a photo of it modeled once it is completed. I have decided I am going to try to not begin new knitting projects until I complete at least one old project. We shall see how that plan works in the long term. I figure spindling doesn't count. I can only do as many as I have spindles after all. (Tho that would be a good excuse to buy more spindles. Hmmmm) Wish me luck!

From the vault

I was going through some old photos this morning and found a few of these. By old I mean the kind you took and then had to get developed before you could see the photo. I remember being at an event with my kids and taking a picture with my 35mm camera. They asked to "see" the photo right then. With a digital camera that is possible, with the 35mm of my day not so much. The first is me with my pet sheep as a kid. His name was Nicko. I will have to look for the photos I have of him grown with his full fleece. He was a hampshire cross. I would kill to have that fleece to spin today. We kept it immaculate. Sadly back then we just sold it to the man who did his shearing each year.

Theses are some of yarns I did on my spindle years ago. Some skeins I still have, others went into projects.

The skein on the far left went into this pair of socks. I still have them. I don't wear them much because they are very heavy and overly warm. They make my feet sweat like mad. I spun the yarn quite thickly and it has a bit of a mohair feel to it as well. It is the typically "itchy" wool which gives all wool a bad wrap. (Not all wool is itchy FYI.) It sure is pretty though and has a great sheen to it, even now. These were also the first pair of socks I have ever knit.

And this one is me with my children at a Union Maine founders day event many years ago. Union has the cutest common area. They are both in high school now and tower over me. I remember that I was spinning an angora rabbit and wool blend on my wheel of the time, a Country Craftsman.

Well I'm off to work on some projects waiting to be finished. I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend!

Under Resurrection

After a long hiatus from blogging about my fiber pursuits, I have decided to resurrect my blog. Thanks to the addition of a new fabulous yarn store in my area I am finally getting my fibery groove back. Having a place to share my musings and projects helps keep me on task to actually finish some of those projects as well. I tend to get sidetracked at times. Not to mention it is a great outlet since my family doesn't get quite as excited about these things as I do. Please be patient as I re-design the blog and add information for other spindler fans. Thank you!