Spun Sky and a Purple Hat

Showing off my latest hand-spun - and the first completely spun on Kevin (my new Majacraft wheel).

Don't you think it looks like the sky - on a sunny day (in Sydney it is getting hard to remember what a sunny sky looks like!) Most of this is going to be a birthday pressie for my mother (it's OK she doesn't read blogs) but I'm keeping a little bit to make something - I don't know what yet.

I'm also showing off my latest millinery, even though it is unfinished because I just love this hat.

Why do I love it?

1. it is purple

2. it is felt and I love working in felt because you sculpt a felt hat over a wooden block and those blocks are often really old

3. it is all curves

4. I got to use one of my favourite old wooden hat blocks for the crown

5. and I've turned that crown back-the-front (I love being subversive)

6. I used another of my fabourite hat blocks for the brim

7. I'm going to use Indian ribbon for the trim, twinkle twinkle, (that's the ribbon draped about Linda's shoulders)

8. it is purple

Oh I do love my purple hat.

Tatting, Scanties. Spinning and drying the Sky

Pumpkin Hour on Sunday night means that it must be time to Blog about all the things I've been making. Also, I'm on a wireless connection - which means that late on a Sunday night is about the only time I can get good download time. So here goes.

The big news is that I have my very own spinning wheel - bought myself a Majacraft Pioneer from Virginia Wool Farm on Saturday, I'm calling the wheel Kevin because his purchase is thanks to Uncle Kev's stimulus package. The Pioneer is a lovely wheel to use - very smooth and easy with the double tredle and everything is central so no kinks in the spine :-) I've been spinning lots more of the red yarn as used for that wire-frame hat ... will be making a jumper or dress to match. Have also decided to spin some yarn as a gift for my mother - she knits too - so - my 1st attempt at dyeing roving. And it worked without turning into felt ! Here it is laid out to dry ... I think it looks like the sky - so here is some sky getting dry "Nothing but Blue Skies from now on ..."



In other news - I've been making little corsages in tatting and have listed 2 in my Etsy shop, this is the larger one, pinned on my favourite vintage jacket (which is NOT for sale). I've also listed a pair of silk scanties - ooo naughty? well, not really - they are so not scanty at all. I hate to think just how many pairs of modern things I could have sewn from the fabric it took to make this one pair of (not)scanties. Used a vintage (1940s) pattern, petal pink silk and a vintage motif that I've had in stash for at least 20yrs waiting for the perfect project - and it is perfect for the yoke of these "scanties".

Knitting & Spinning - it's a good yarn

Knitting - have done some finishing - these two are for my grandchildren.

The mauve jacket is a heavily adapted pattern, I had lots of fun with the lantern sleeves.

The many-buttoned jacket is a Touch Yarns pattern, and in their possum yarn - which is yummy and soft with a halo of fuzz. This jacket took a while to knit as I was bored with all the garter stitch but I'm happy with it now it is done - the buttons are metal. There is to be a little teddy bear who will live in the big pocket of this jacket, the bear is all knitted but I had to tidy my stash-room and now I can't find where I put the toy stuffing! Can't find it anywhere ... grrrr I'm going to have to buy some more ... Moral of this story? Never Tidy your Stash/es.

Spinning - last Saturday we went to Robertson to a show organised by the Black & Coloured Sheep Breeders Assoc. Couldn't believe the really really black sheep they have now. I bought 2 bags full (not quite like the ole nursery rhyme). A 1/2 black fleece which I've started spinning - in the grease VBG spins up a dream and so dark ... just like strong black coffee. The other is Border Leicester, a yummy warm grey, slightly coarse to the touch ... I'll spin it in the grease too.


Spinning cont. - have also been spinning the yarn for that 2nd Wire Hat (see previous post) this is Bendigo Woolen Mills sliver - "redcurrant" - trying to get a soft, lofty thick yarn.