The New Toy

...like I needed any more stuff to do.

This loom isn't really mine, (yet)...I'm loom-sitting it for three months while it's owner goes to organic farm. However, she is interested in selling it, so it may end up mine yet! This loom is HUGE-- it's a twelve harness floor loom, that can weave sixty inches wide. That's a lot of loom! It pretty much takes up my entire studio apartment--- and I'm so excited! I wove in college, and I miss it so much. This is how it first arrived in my apartment yesterday:


um, yeah. a little intimidating. But I got the bit between my teeth and decided to assemble it back together by myself. I've started to warp it with a narrow little warp, just to experiment with. My shoulder muscles feel like they're made of really, really sore and twitchy stone today, and I'm a bit bemused by this behemoth in my living space, but I'm happy.

(and thinking of a weaving stash...oh boy.)

NAUTILUS SOCKS FO

Anna Bell's Nautilus socks are finally done. And I feel...just okay about them. The problem wasn't with the pattern, or the yarn-- the pattern was well written, and fun to knit, and I loved the yarn (Pigeonroof Studios ORIGINAL sock, colourway Quietude), but they're too big! And a little too short. Damn. Still, they're pretty.

Sigh. Oh, well. I really should realise that anything with lace needs to be knit on size 0 needles, for me, at least-- I knit pretty loosely, and although I have large feet, they're fairly narrow, as are my ankles. Actually, my sock mojo has been sadly in abeyance lately-- this probably has something to do with it being winter-- I feel like I should be knitting sweaters and scarves and hats-- warm wooly things. Socks are good summer weather projects, even though they don't get worn until winter.

Atticus decided he needed to have his picture taken, too:


Say hi, Atticus!

OW.

The Etsy Shopis updated. and I am now completely exhausted, and am typing from bed. There's still a bunch of stuff left, so go check it out! The above picture is some yummy alpaca.

I dohave some FOs-- a finished pair of socks, and a lovely simple scarf...but i guess those will have to wait until I am no longer prostrate in my bed mumbling incoherently.

For the love of handspun

I can't get over how much I love my new wheel. To say it has revolutionized my spinning output would be an understatement. So, I'm showing off some of my recent handspun that was up in my Etsy shop- the above skein is "Bitter Orange" BFL.

"Hydrangea" Blue-Faced Leicester yarn.

I'm giving my old wheel to my assistant, because I don't have room for it, and, I like passing on the good karma. My old wheel was given to me, and it seems only right to pass it on.

Now that it's 2008, I, like probably most other knitters, am considering the state of my stash. I'm thinking about trying to go (again) on a yarn diet, or at least restrict my yarn. I don't buy THAT much, but the destash areas of Ravelry has been pretty inflatory to my stash. sigh.

Meet Carla.

Meet Carla. She is my new wheel. No, I have no idea why I named her Carla, only that the wheel seemed to demand it. The wheel is a brand new Schacht Matchless double treadle, the best Christmas gift ever. I have been wanting this wheel forever, and now that it is here, I love it thoroughly. Carolina Homespun delivered it the Sunday before Christmas, and I have been spinning on it since.

This wheel is amazing. It's incredibly fast and versatile, and gives me the control I've been wanting. My spinning has improved one hundredfold! So... I will be updating my Etsy shop (www.pigeonroofstudios.etsy.com) with new handspun every Saturday, or at least I will try. Spinning on this wheel is so much fun!

To anyone who is thinking about getting this wheel: Get it! It's a little expensive, but oh-so-worth it. Especially if you like to spin fairly fine, like I do. It came with a tensioned lazy kate and four bobbins-- although I might have to order some more bobbins soon.

Happy new year everyone! This new year marks a change for me-- I am now working full time for myself. It just sort of happened-- it's terrifying, but also thrilling. Thanks to everyone who buys my yarn and fibre-- I couldn't do it without you guys. Over this next coming year, I plan to start offering heavier-weight, sweater worthy yarn-- plus fibre, fibre, fibre. And lots of handspun! Also, I want to start working towards selling at shows, like Stitches West eventually. Any advice?

Also, I would love to hear from YOU, my customers. What are you looking for? Colours, yarns...tell me!