A trip to Rochester November 24, 2008

Purple Roving and spindle

I braved the winter storm and headed to Rochester this weekend.  It is not so bad as one might think.  My immediate neighborhood had 8-10 inches of snow and there were a few snowy spots on the way but it wasn’t bad.  There are no fiber shops in Syracuse and Binghampton and Rochester are the only cities nearby that do have fiber shops.  I am more familar with Rochester and actually used to work for a business whose main office was (18 years ago) just across the street from this The Village Yarn and Fiber Store in East Rochester.  I went in and actually walked past the yarns and headed to the fibers, I headed back to the main desk after only a moment.  Showed them what I thought was my pathetic first attempt and was pleased to discover my fiber was difficult to work with and that I had done okay!  The proprieters were lovely and helpful and I bought this gorgeous indigo-purple wool roving.

Two purses sold November 9, 2008

two purses sold

 

Michelle and I sold two purses today, one of hers and one of mine.  This is awesome.

Drop spindle and the JOY of fiber November 8, 2008

First attempt at yarn

I would love to see other people’s first drop spindle attempts, can it possibly look as bad as mine?  I am desperate to get more roving to see if i can improve my skills (because at this point I have “mad skills” on the drop spindle).  I should not feel too badly, I remember tearing knots out of my embroidery for hours as a child.  I still rip out knitted items, only now I view these tear outs as part and parcel of the process of knitting, but alas with no one to show me the error of my ways I am left to fumble with it by myself.  Isn’t it a glorious thing to behold, mistakes that you can laugh at without fear of critcism.  “What a horror!” you say as you look at your bumpy and weak strands of yarn.  And laugh because you know it is just the beginning and someday your yarn will be as beautiful as your best painting, your most intricate embroidery or the warmest fuzziest and most comfortable sweater you ever made.  HEHE the joy of fiber is in my soul…now there is no going back.

A knitted hat November 6, 2008

Knitted hat with ear flaps

About 4 months ago, my daughter showed me a hat that she liked and I knitted it up for her, from the photo she showed me.  One of her friends admired it so I knitted her one too.  It is not at all the same as far as color or pattern but the general shape is the same.  It knit up fast and I love working with color so much, it is really fun for me to do something like this.