The Hubby Says "A hobby"

So I love my DH.  Though Friday night, I shot daggers from my eyes.  Though not in a serious way.  *laugh*

On a tv show we were watching, they said the person should get a hobby.  He pointed out that the saying is *A* hobby.  I shot my daggers and then laughed.

He says this because I am taking up another hobby.  Fiber related of course.

An awesome lady who I had the pleasure of working with for many years is selling her two weaving looms.  And I am buying the smaller of the two.  It is a Schacht 20" Table Loom.

I confess that if she weren't selling it at such an amazing price, I wouldn't even dream of it.  But it is about the cost of a new rigid heddle loom.  And it is Schacht.  And after having my Ladybug nearly two years, I am in love with the company.  They were awesome about answering questions even *before* I bought the wheel.  And I bought a used wheel at that.  But they answered all sorts of questions.  Awesome.

And I LOVE my Ladybug.  It is an amazing wheel.  I adore spinning on it.  Though I have to confess.  It hasn't been touched since after I finished plying my MASSIVE double Bump Loop madness.  I didn't get it finished for the Tour de Fleece.  But I finished it after getting back from SSK.

Mind you, that was not about the wheel.  That was about me.  I spin tons during the TdF and then STOP for at least 2-4 months afterwards.  So it is my yearly pattern any time I do the Tour de Fleece!  *laugh*

So... I am waiting for my tax refund before I can actually get my new-to-me loom.  Being me, what does that mean?  I start learning all I can.  Researching, reading and with weaving, there are a ton of awesome videos on YouTube that are super helpful.

I started thinking about projects.  I know a simple plain/tabby weave is a great starter project.  But it is me...  So I think about doing that for eons.  In just two colors...

I watched some YouTube videos for weaving.  I am thrilled there are so many good ones available.  It is so helpful.

One guy uses a rigid heddle to weave scarves.  And he can do it relatively fast.  He says about 4 hours for a completed project.  *blink*  He uses some bulker yarns.  They look great.  He uses long color stripe yarns.  And inexpensive ones at that.  He suggested Bernat Mosaic (which is discontinued), something from Red Heart & Lion Brand Landscapes yarn. 

LB is having a sale on Scarfie which is as you would expect, a scarf length of yarn!  Mandala also has long color repeats which could be cool.  So I am thinking that an order might not be the worst idea.  *smile*

But I looked at the yarns and went..."Hey...wait a sec.  Those look like the kind of long colors you get with handspun..."  Which of course inspired me...

See the slippery slope?!  *laugh*

So I wanted something fun & funky. Something where I could just play with colors and not stress too much if all was harmonious.  And if it didn't work out, that was okay too.

I remembered I had the bag of Odds & Ends from Into the Whirled.  That could be perfect.  Lots of fun & a bit of a mystery.

I loved spinning the singles.  I just spun it all & figure I will Navajo ply to keep the colors very sharp.  The warp can work to pull it all together. 

The fibers were fun to spin.  Since it is an odds & ends bag, I don't know what fibers were in it.  But I would swear that at least a third to half had some silk in them.  And I LOVE silk blends.  Mind you, in the same order from Into the Whirled, I had several braids of fiber with silk...  *laugh*  I just checked.  ALL the spinning fiber had silk in the order.  *chuckle*  So heaven knows, given how awesome the folks at ItW are, they may have pull an Odds & Ends bag with silk for me.  I am always confused, but some spinners don't like silk in spinning.  So they may separate them.  Or maybe I just lucked out!  *laugh*

The bag has a lot of green.  But there are bits & bobs of many colors.  I think it will be really interesting to see how it ends up in weaving.  I also figured it was a good way to use the colors.

This is the first time I am using the Akerworks bobbin I got at SSK.  I know...  Embarrassing that I have had it since July, but it only just got on the wheel.  But I haven't spun singles since the end of the Tour de Fleece.  As expected, I am in LLLOOOOVVVVEEE.  I adore seeing through the end of the bobbin!  I can only imagine what that would look like for a Bullseye Bump!

The Odds & Ends say they are between 4-4.3 oz.  And there was still room on bobbin.  I really wonder if I could fit a whole Bump on it.   Not sure...  Of course, may need to try at some point.  *grin*

Here's a pic of the singles finished on the bobbin.

Of course, it makes me want *MORE* of them.  *sigh*  And I actually *have* a lot of bobbins as I got them with my wheel.  So I really don't *need* more.  But WANT!!

We will see between now & when the tax refund arrives what I decide I need.  *laugh*  I want to pick up some weaving yarns as well.  I don't own much in the way of cotton.  And I think some washable cotton placemats could be awesome place to start with weaving.  

The Yarn Barn of Kansas has some weaving kits.  I really think one of their samplers could be great.  Turns out they have one for dish towels which could be great.  Though of course, I love the sampler scarves.  My first knitting project is a scarf I still wear that is a sampler!  So it seems kinda fitting.

Sooo many choices!  The Woolery also has weaving kits.  And then there are tons of patterns & such.  So I could just get the yarn & have at it. 

SOOOO EXCITED!!  I really can't wait for the tax return to come.  Hopefully soon.  We e-filed already.  And they are saying it generally is completed within 4 weeks.  *fingers crossed it comes soon*

Baby Got a Bath

So my Ladybug for a bath.  *smile*

I got my wheel a year ago.  The previous owner had given her a "bath treatment" before I bought her. 

The treadles were getting a bit grimmy.  And I thought she could do with a good rub down.

Of course, being me, I did reading & watching.  Ordered supplies.  And finally did it this morning.

I watched this video:

https://youtu.be/IthA-_4SMMU

It is very useful. 

I followed it with mods of course, being me.

Schacht recommends Danish oil.  And I felt that she could use that.  It gives it a slight tougher finish.

So, here's what I did - mostly followed the video except adding the Danish oil.

- Water wipe down

Barely damp, just to get the dust & grime off

- Murphy's "wash"

I used the Clean & Shine Spray.  It is at the dilution needed for cleaning.

- Brasso for metal bits

I think next time, I would do the wash & Brasso in reverse order.  So that way it would just wash off if it got on the wood.

- Danish oil

I took a look at http://wooltherapy.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-babies.html who used Danish oil.  I followed her instructions.  Rub oil in.  Let it sit for 30 minutes.  Buff.  Repeat, but let sit for 15 minutes.  Funny part.  After doing that, I realized those are the instructions on the Danish oil.  *laugh*

- Wood Beams

I am going to let the Danish oil sit for the 8-10 hours recommended on the tin.  So either tonight or tomorrow, I will rub her down with some Wood Beams.  I have done a lot of reading on the forums.  It seems some people swear by only one or the other.  But some say they do the Danish oil every 2-3 years.  But on a more frequent basis, they use Wood Beams.

I think that is the best plan.  Especially with the treadles.  My feet aren't perfect.  I live in an urban area.  So they do get grimy sometimes.  Probably doesn't help that I have Mary Jane style shoes.  So some dirt is probably getting into them when I am out & about.

I am hoping this helps.  I confess that I was spoiled with my Babe.  It was really no maintenance.  I think I cleaned it once or twice the eight years I have had it.  It is PVC for the most part.  The treadles are wood, but not finished.  So I don't even have a guess what would help them.  So I just leave them be. 

I am hoping the Wood Beams will really make her glow.  A lot of people say that happens with the Danish oil.  But I don't really see that.  So either she was better off than I thought or I didn't buff enough...  Not sure honestly.

I should try to take pics.  Though I should have done before & after shots.

BTW, here is the link to Wood Beams:

http://www.goodiesunlimited.com/woodbeam.html

Stash Dash 2015

The Knit Girllls have been putting forth this idea of a Stash Dash for several years now.  The idea is to use up your stash.  The Empress is Laura (aka Lala on Ravelry.)  She decides on the rules.  *grin*

This year, they had three options.  Either 3K, 5K or 10K.  I decided to go for the 5K this year. 

I made a lame attempt last summer.  And didn't get anywhere close.  I figure with the 5K, it will push me to finish the sweater I started in 2012!  Also inspired by a podcaster.  That was Carin from Round the Twist's year of the sweater.  Though she also got crazy busy and didn't meet her own goals. 

DH's sweater is 1700 yards.  So if I don't finish it, I won't be able to finish the 5K.  All it needs is the button band & pockets.  That is it.  Yet it lingers...  But I have been watching the Craftsy class on Button Bands & Buttonholes.  I think once I sit down and pick up the stitches, it should be really easy to finish it.  We shall see.

So far for Stash Dash, it is all spinning!

There is the The First Draft SW Merino in the Blood Moon colorway.

http://ravel.me/akasha/sm6

It came in at 540.5 yards for 4 oz.!  That is the finest I have spun a three-ply! 

Pretty happy with it.  The only thing is I didn't put enough twist in the ply.  So I don't think I can use it for sock yarn which was the original intention...

Second was the ply that never ends...  *groan*  I kid you not.  A WEEK of plying.  Oof!  But at 1060 yards!  It is a monster!  DH says it looks like something out of Star Trek.  So I named it the Purple Trible.

http://ravel.me/akasha/dcsfmsb81

This is the pre-bath pic.  Seemed to fit the name.  It actually balanced out more, though not perfectly.  There are some overspun bits. 

Next was the Dreams in Fiber Superwash Merino Pencil Roving in the Rose colorway.  Super soft & squishy.  Love the fiber.  Beautiful to spin & after the bath, it was sooo softy & squish!

http://ravel.me/akasha/smpr

381.5 yards.  Bit heavier than fingering.  But fat and soft and sweet.  Love it.  Definitely want to have it close to the skin. 

The pic isn't great.  I think I overcompensated for the lighting & pumped up the saturation too much.  But it is a wonderful yarn.

So all in all, three yarns and over 1982 yards.  1813 meters for those of us who are American & need it figured out.  Like me!   

That puts me at over 3000 meters to go.  But if I finish the sweater I started for my hubby, the Catkin Shawl (which is about 2/3rds done) and the socks on my needles, that puts me at only about 700 yards/636 meters left.  With the Tour de Fleece coming, I shouldn't miss the mark *if* I focus on the WIPs and finish them.

I don't want to count my chickens...  But I really think I have a shot this year.  It is all about finishing that sweater though.  I could make up the other yardage with spinning.  But given the amount of time it took to finish the Tribble, that isn't just churning out another before the end of the summer... 

Stash Dash ends August 14th.  So almost two months.  But time flies.  And I am not taking vacation until the *end* of August.  I will take a day here or there.  But mostly to do stuff with the Littles.  So not so much knitting time!  But fingers crossed.  I can get make it!