Muse Breaks

I've really dived (dove?) headfirst into this spinning stuff.  I turned my 4 ounces of undyed kid mohair into a chunky single and crocheted it into half a hat.  Sooner or later I'll get around to picking up some more and finishing it, heh.

Then I wound my very first skein with, oh I have no idea, 2 or 3?  ounces of 2-ply bamboo silk that was my fiance's fiber...but he wasn't using it anyways.  It came out a little wavey thanks to not quite getting it perfectly even (at all), but it looks gorgeous:

Then I soaked it and set it aside to set, and because I didn't want to make mittens for my fiance out of it just yet.  It's about 76 or so yards if I calculated it right.  More on that in a sec.

Now I'm working on making thinner, more consistent yarn out of the same bamboo silk.  Right now it looks like thread, but I'm not sure if I'll ply it or not.  It takes so much twist to make it that thin and still hold together that I might ply it simply to keep it from tangling too much to use.  We'll see.  I have a ton of it so far but no good pictures because...well, because I don't want to go take one right now.

It's great to make it so thin because it takes me longer to work my way through the fiber.  I'm really getting faster at spinning, though, which is awesome!



Okay, so about plying, the internet REALLY had to help me out with this one.  I had one length of yarn because I couldn't wrap my brain (punny) around how to get two equal lengths of yarn in order to ply them without wasting any.  I found this video on youtube that really helped me out a TON:



I first wound it off the spindle into a ball.  No, not a center-pull ball (still haven't looked up how to do that), just around my fingers a few times then around itself over and over in a ballish fashion:

It looks adorable as a ball.  Ripe for kitten-torture.

Then I did as the video commanded and made myself an Andean bracelet:

When I had my two-ply length of yarn on my spindle all pretty and twisted (don't even talk to me about plying consistently, I got nothin', but it seems easier to do on an insanely expensive spinning wheel than on a spindle) I made myself a skein.  It took me a zillion tries.  I don't have a niddy noddy (a ridiculously simple-looking contraption that makes wrapping easier than what I'm about to confess), so I first wrapped it around a book.  Too small.  Then a box.  Still too small.  My skein looked laughably short and didn't have enough to fold on itself once twisted.

Finally I wrapped my skein around a BIGGER box.  Then I tied little strips of sheer ribbon I had on hand loosely around it in several places, pulled it off the box, twisted it and folded it into a skein.  I guessed that the length around the box to be about 4 feet, so I counted up the number of circles of yarn I had created and multiplied it by 4 - much easier than laying the yarn down the street and walking down it with a ruler.  MUCH.

I'm waaaay looking forward to heading to the fiber shop tomorrow with my new paycheck and trying out a couple of different types of fibers.  I'm ashamed to admit I'm already hooked on luxury fibers - mohair, angora, cashmere, milk top (SO FREAKIN' COOL), bamboo rayon, blah blah blah.  So.  Pretty.  One of these days I'd like to have enough yarn spun up that I can convince myself I won't use all of it and can start selling skeins on Etsy.  Wouldn't that be nice?  Looks like the average going price is around 10 cents a yard.  It'd be nice to have a little pocket cash to fund...the purchasing of even more fiber.  Yay for self-sustainable hobbies?  :)

I haven't dyed any yarns yet but I am SUPER excited about trying it out eventually.  Sure the nice dyes at the shop are dreamy, but what I'm really excited about is Kool Aid.

Yah.  That's right.  Kool Aid.

Awesome, no?

I'm also looking wayyy forward to the fiber festival in mid-April.  I don't have any idea if I'll have the money to go to it or to buy anything, but can you imagine being able to touch, feel, and mess with fiber, yarn, and spindles from some 20 or 30 LOCAL producers and artisans?

So excited!

I promise one day I'll have a normal house again, and then I can come back to talk to you about something besides spinning and yarn crafts.  Like home making, art, gardening, cooking, e-t-c.  In the meantime it's just about the only hobby I have the time for, sorry guys!

-MM

No, you don't need a spinning wheel.  Those things are expensive!

You can start out spinning your own yarn very inexpensively and quickly, actually.  How do I know this?  I totally just made some today.  Let me tell you - it's insanely addictive!  Now I have to brag about it show you how, too!

I started out with four valuable tools:

Some fiber (free-$10 or more)
A drop spindle (more on this in a sec)
A book on spinning (check your library)
Youtube!

Let's start with the fiber.
Because I'm interested in keeping goats, I started with mohair.  I recommend starting with any kind of wool, from sheep or goat, so long as it's been carded/combed or whatever it is they do to it to form it into big ropes.  It will be easiest to begin on something where the fibers are already going the same direction, rather than beginning with something raw or locks.  Definitely ask the fiber/yarn store person - they'll be able to help you find a good beginner yarn!  Fibers that are longer will be easier to draft, so stay away from short fibers like dog hair in your first project.

The spindle.
The spindle does NOT have to be fancy.  You can buy a simple one for about $5-7, or you can make one out of a wooden dowel and something round like an old cd.  Google instructions to make your own, or start with one like this or this.  I'm actually not learning on the one my book recommends and I haven't seen it used before, so that just goes to show that spinning is NOT that hard, and you can pick it up no matter what your resources may be.  Get creative!

A book on spinning.
The book I used was Spin It: Making Yarn from Scratch by Lee Raven.  You don't have to buy one, though, go ask your public library if they have any books already!  In fact, even if they don't, many libraries nowadays share books among networks of other libraries, and might be able to request one for you to rent.  In fact, you can skip the book completely if you're good at finding what you need on the internet!

Youtube.
Youtube and other video services have some tutorials by skilled fiber artists to show beginners like us just how to use the tools available to us to make yarn from raw fiber.  Just go search for spinning tutorials!  :)


I wish I could give a full run-down on how spinning works, but I'm definitely not skilled enough yet to share anything of much use, heh.  What I can do, however, is point you in the right direction if you're interested in spinning and give you some of the bare basics.

There are several sources for fibers, both synthetic and natural.  Animal fibers include those from sheep, goats, rabbits, dogs, alpaca, llamas, etc.  There are also fibers from silk, cotton, bamboo, and of course, blends of anything you can think of!  You probably already know about synthetic fibers, but I'll be skipping over these since they seem to be unfavored in yarn shops.

Once you have fiber that is ready to be spun, that is, at least facing the same direction, the first thing to do is separate the fibers out as evenly as you can.  Slide a small amount out from the group of fibers (this is called drafting) and spin them between your fingers - pay attention to the direction you spin, as this is the same direction you'll be spinning the rest of the yarn.  VOILA!  You have yarn.  Pull on the twisted portion, separating it from the bulk of the fiber as though you were going to pull it right out, but stop when you have enough fibers separated to about match what you began with, and - you guessed it - twist!  You're going to continue this until you have about 8 inches or so, then attach it to whatever weapon you decide to use.

The rest depends on the tool you're using, but long story short, you use the tool/spindle/stick to do the twisting for you.  In my case I twisted what was coming off the spindle tightly, stopped, then drafted out one small portion at a time, letting the twist work itself into the drafted section until I ran out of twist to carry up.  Then, I'd spin the spindle again, stop it, draft out some more fiber and release my hand from the first section of yarn, letting it twist up the drafted part.

I'll try and get a video of that up soon, as it's WAY easier to show someone than to explain it (but my book does a pretty darned good job!), but in the meantime I recommend checking out online videos to figure it out based on the tool you have available to you.

Here's my before-and-after:

4 ounces was PLENTY for me to learn on!

This is the only picture I have so far, but 4 ounces makes TONS more than this!  Isn't it pretty?  Itzopretty!

If you get the chance, I highly recommend a spinning class.  Some can get pretty expensive, but look around!  There's one this weekend nearby for $30 I'm hoping to get into if I can afford it.  I'll report back if I can!  :)

-MM



Oh P.S. - recent projects:

Modified pattern from here.

Slightly modified pattern from here.

Yay - productivity!  :D

Well,

I just got back from Christmas in Iowa, where I got to donate my table runner to the dinner table.   Here's a photo of how it looked, complete and beneath a gorgeous centerpiece:


I definitely recommend giving that one a go if you're looking for some wintery charm around the house.  The link to the pattern is right here.  I also promised ages ago that I'd post the picture of the completed lace doily I did as my first lace project, so here that is:



I've also been crocheting like mad lately to get several projects done for other people, as well as to fundraise for my dog's upcoming leg surgery.  So far I've completed four cowls, six dog sweaters (with a seventh and eighth on the way, and a ninth promised upon receiving measurements), two beanie hats.....and I think that's it.  I've also got to finish a piece of cover art for a local company, so I've been a really busy bee!

BUT!

Not too busy to post pictures, patterns, or recipes!



The dog sweaters are too complicated and varied to really give instructions on, but here are some of my faves:





All made either from free patterns on the web or improvised designs based on what I learned from practicing those free patterns.  Once you get the hang of how the sweater fits, it becomes a lot simpler and faster!

Hats are just about the easiest thing to make, though.  All yarns are different, so you really have to improvise your hat and constantly fit it to make sure you make the right size.  For the two hats I made over the break, I just increased in every stitch to keep the top flat until it started to ruffle, then increased less and less until the top of the head was done.  Then you just work the sides in rounds (I did the whole main piece in double crochet, one color) without increasing until you get to the brim, which I worked in alternating front post and back post double crochets for 2 or 3 rows.  Voila!  You have a beanie.  Here's how my first one looked:


The cowls are even easier.  Just chain the width you want (slip it over your head - it can be SUPER loose, or super snug, it's just up to you!), slip stitch to join, chain two, turn, and double crochet back across (don't twist the chain!).  Turn if you want, or work in the round - it's all up to you.  You can keep it all one width or decrease toward the top to keep it up on your nose like a scarf.  You can pretty much do whatever you want with it.  Here's a couple photos of one I made for myself and one for my fiance:

All one width, made with scraps of lion brand ruffly yarn.  Homespun, maybe?

This one decreased slowly and steadily from bottom to top so it would stay up on the nose in the cold.

Both yarns are wool and alpaca blends, if I remember correctly.  Very soft and warm.  Remember not to throw wool in the washer - it will felt!

You don't have to be too picky about the shape - cowls are meant to be carefree, loose, and cozy.

There you go - a ton of crochet stuff.



What about a recipe?  Here's one for kringla, a Norwegian type of cookie, passed down generations in my fiance's family (the Henrysons):

Ingredients:
2 c. sour cream
1 c. buttermilk
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 t. salt
1/4 c. butter, melted
4 1/2 c. flour
3 t. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
about 1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix dough and chill.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  You may have to add more flour until the dough is workable - then layout some flour on the counter and put a small bit of dough on that.  Pull off a small section and roll it out into a long tube (about 8 inches or so), then fold it on a baking sheet into a figure eight.  Fill pan in the same fashion, then bake at 400 until VERY lightly browned (about 9 minutes in my oven).  The browner, the crispier - which is fine unless you love tender, soft kringla like me!

Extra dough or cookies will freeze just fine - but fresh kringla is best shared with as many people as you can!


-MM

Tonight my fiance decided to make pasta, but wasn't sure what to do about the sauce.  I tried to give him a recipe for one, but wound up experimenting over the stove instead.  Here's what I came up with - a very simple white sauce with a citrusy flavor that goes great over angel hair:

Ingredients:
1/4 stick salted butter
1 cup or so whole milk (depending on how thin you want it)
1 egg
1-2 tbsp flour (play with it)
1/4 cup parmesan
Artichoke hearts
Capers
Lemon juice
Powdered garlic
Parsley (fresh or dried)
Salt

Directions:
1.  Melt butter in small pot over medium heat.
2.  Add milk and heat through.
3.  Add flour and parmesan, stir constantly from this point on to avoid cooking the egg.
4.  Add milk or reduce as needed to maintain consistency you desire.  Add in the artichoke hearts and capers so they can start mixing in their flavors.
5.  Once you have the thickness you want, season with lemon juice, garlic, parsley, and salt, all to taste.  That's it!  You have sauce now.

I'm sorry I didn't measure specifics, but honestly, it's whatever tastes right to you.  The salt will counteract any leftover flour tastes (which you should try to work out before you put in the artichokes, or they'll catch all the flour.  I freaking hate using flour in sauces.) and will bring out the lemon, the lemon will compliment the garlic (don't ask me how), and the parsley adds nice color and garnish.  I always have trouble melting the parmesan fully, which is why it's added early on, and using grated over shredded helps, too.



By the way - I'm SO close to finishing that lace doily I started ages ago, have several tiny glass doilies I ought to get around to posting photos of, and I completed the snowflake table runner but haven't sewn in the ends yet or blocked it.  Pics soon, I promise!

-MM

Hiya!

I injured my hand a short while ago, leaving a lace project of mine sitting on the table unfinished.  In the meantime, I decided to pick up a big hook again and do a project with actual yarn for the first time in quite a while.  I settled on a table runner that will eventually look like this:


Nifty, isn't it?  I thought it would be the perfect thing to bring to Christmas dinner in Iowa, when my fiance's family get together.  It's working up very quickly, is a very simple pattern, and is really easy on my hand.

You can probably knock it out in a day of crocheting, but I'm moving a bit slower than normal.  I'll post a photo when it's complete and blocked out.  I'm making it with a 5.5 mm hook in white Bernat Softee yarn, which will hopefully be able to handle stains and washings provided it's done so gently.

The pattern is available for free PDF download here.  I might be making a more delicate, lacy version if I get bored of making lace doilies once my hand heals up.

Enjoy the early burst of Christmas!  I normally don't get started this early, but the pattern was just so cute I couldn't help it.  Fall is my absolute favorite time of year, though, so you can bet the coming weeks will be full of fun autumnal inspiration.  :)

-Miss Mouse

I've been having the most frustrating run-ins with plant problems lately.  Just when you think everything is going perfectly, your peppers start curling over themselves.

It's only happening to my red chili peppers.  They're coming in curled and wonky, seamed and lopsided.  It looks like they took LSD.  The best I can figure is that they've hybridized with my cayennes, much to my dismay (thank you, fruit flies, now get the heck outta my house and stay out), and the worst I can figure is some sort of disease of which I'm totally unaware.  I'll cut one open at some point and see if I can glean any information from its insides, or perhaps from the interwebs.

The good news is someone told me they heard deformed shapes meant hotter peppers.  Not totally sure if I can trust that or not, but would it really be so bad if it were true, or if they had hybridized?  They'll likely never leave my kitchen, so they aren't a risk for other peppers.  Meh.  At the very, super, absolute least, it's frustrating.

My basil also took on spider mites, and my organic pesticide does not seem to have the oomph needed to run the little guys outta town.  Good news?  I can fight them by keeping the plant watered frequently (something I have slacked off on these past two weeks unfortunately).  This, and these bizarre and to this day unidentified yellow-white spots on my parsley kept a perfectly excellent harvest from hanging up to dry.  I'm disappointed, but I look forward to turning my little kitchen garden around again.

The best part about indoor gardening is not having to end the seasons when the weather feels like it!

On a happier note, I've gotten back to lace at last after crocheting a baby blanket for a friend's shower.  I'll post a picture of the blanket if I think of it later on, and the lace when I've finished it.  I'm making a collection of glass doilies to experiment with some 30 and 40 weight lace I picked up a month or so ago.  :)

Alrighty, I've got to get back to business.  See you around!

-MM

I'm using a different yarn than called for, since the total price was a little hefty originally.  I'm using Eco-Ways by Red Heart, and I'm really pleased with it.  It's 30% recycled, very soft and constant, washes well, works up smoothly, and has a wonderful color right between olive green and goldish brown.  The color name is Fern, and this is the best picture I have to demonstrate it's gorgeous color:The coolest part of it for me so far has been learning how to do a "no-chain" foundation.  Chains are pretty convenient, but they're never as stretchy as the rest of the material, so I find they really limit the end proportions.

The no-chain foundation basically forms the "chain" row and the first row all in one, and since it's explained really well on the Lion Brand CAL blog, here's a link.

So far, I have the body and one and a half sleeves complete.  This is about what it looks like now:I learned two important things here - first, since this pattern doesn't close in the front, the circumference should match what you need when relaxed and not stretched.  This, along with an incorrect gauge (which I knew about but elected to not correct for based on the small amount I calculated it would affect my final measurements).  Second, stretch REALLY needs to be accounted for in the length.  I made mine to stop at the mid-thigh, but the weight of the material carries it all the way down to my knees!

The latter doesn't bother me so much, because the length is really arbitrary.  The circumference being too small though is really getting to me, so I'm going to be crocheting a separate, lacy little strip to attach to each side to bring it a bit more around before I block it for good.

Anyhoo, it's been a lot of fun to do so far, and I can't wait to have it finished!  I know several groups put on crochet-alongs or knit-alongs, so if you haven't tried one before I'd definitely recommend it!

I'll post a picture up when it's finally finished!  :)



-MM



P.S. - I'm thinking about crocheting up something real quick for Mother's Day, anyone have any ideas?  It's for a science teacher.  :)