Spindles--Oh, Yeah!

Are you as crazy about spindles as I am?!  I love my spindles!  They come in various sizes and shapes; weigh little and spin wonderfully!  Easy to travel with and easy to store, and sometimes, easy to make!  Need more information on spindles, then check this out Ask The Bellwether

I have several of these 'wheel' spindles--these can be made to give as door prizes or

gifts.  In fact, the price is small too!  It takes only a toy wooden wheel, a cup hook and

a short piece of dowel rod (over time, I have come to favor 6" length on the dowel)

Some of the spindles are painted, some left plain--I also have couple clay spindles. 

I've even made spindles from old CD's, using a grommet to secure on dowel--it came be a

top or bottom whorl

In this photo you can see the rubber grommet on the dowel--I've also been known to

use a door knob for spindle top.  But, on the other hand, I've purchased some

expensive spindles by fine wood makers

These are my storage containers for my fine expensive spindles--

saves many a broken spindle

And here is what is inside--

This is my most expensive spindle--Golding--the weight is just perfect for spinning silk!

Oh, yes, you can never have too many spindles!

Knitting For Cooler Weather--HAT!

I'm hoping, just hoping, by writing this blog about cooler weather--it will arrive---soon!  So, I'm preparing my fall (cool weather) wardrobe by knitting some cooler weather items.  First up, A HAT!

But, WAIT! Which HAT should I knit?

Picacho Peak

by Alyssa Latuchie

Oh, so cute!  and I have the right yarn too! Picacho Peak is a lightweight, all-over lace hat. It is great for those cool mornings or evenings when you want just a little something to break the chill.

Or should I knit Sea Folk by Jennifer Lysen

The Sea Folk hat is a modern take on the fisherman style. Featuring an asymmetrical twisted rib brim and a three needle bind off on top, this slouchy cap is suitable for both men and women and will keep you warm on blustery, salty days. It requires just one skein of Worsted yarn and knits up quickly 

Okay, I'll knit both of them!  

Pumpkins! Pumpkins! Pumpkins!

Yipee!  A free pattern from Debby Kratovil!  Pumpkins!

and a quick make too!  This is one of her most popular patterns featuring pumpkins and you have enough time before October 31 to make it. And it doesn't have to be for Halloween. Pumpkins are perfect for Thanksgiving or anything Fall related.

It's all laid out there for you in a great tutorial!.

Here are my setting for the above pumpkins.  I still haven't decided on the border.

Our friend, Judy, had this super duper pumpkin candle mat on her table.

This is from Bits And Pieces By Joan.  Well, needless to say, I couldn't find the

pattern on her website--so, I'll just look for something similar.

I found this on Fave Quilts!  

Holy Smokes!  More patterns from Quiltin Inspiration

Socktaober!

What better way to begin October?

Carolina Fiber Girls podcast is hosting this knit along for interesting socks! check it out!

This sock features a little bit of colorwork, a lot of texture and the wonderful double gusset heel by turtlegirl76 on Ravelry .  Lilliput Yarn is offering kits in her etsy shop that are available now. There are five color options!

The sock is written for one size, but if you have very small feet, you can switch to US 1 (2.25mm) after the colorwork section to snug it up.

Scrappie by  Adrienne Fong

Mystery pattern for SOCKtober for the Carefree KAL group on Ravelry. Uses left-over sock yarn. Pattern will be released in its entirety on October 1, 2016. Pattern includes both written instructions and charts.

Do YOu Double Knit?

Do you double knit?  I don't!  In fact, I think I have a Craftsy class on double knitting

that I haven't watched.  Well, here is another video on double knitting.  And just might

learn how to do this technique!

Here is the pattern you can practice with--a beginner's pattern, it is called! 

TPHPE - The Prettiest Hot Pad Ever! by Heather Zoppetti-

You'll find this pattern on Ravelry!

This hot pad uses the double knitting technique. Just like magic, it makes a positive image of the pattern on one side and a negative image on the other – there is no ‘wrong’ side. The fabric it makes is double thickness, so it’s perfect for a hot pad.

Texas Hill Country Yarn Crawl!

Howdy, y'all!  It's time to put this event on your calendar--

saddle up and get your passport and join in this roundup of exciting

yarn shops--It's the Hill Country Yarn Crawl!

Join us for ten fun-filled days crawling your way through 19 yarn shops around and about central Texas! Bring family, meet up with friends, make new ones, and see all the great things each shop has to offer. To add to the fun, you will have lots of chances to win PRIZES! Along the way, we hope you discover new ways to fuel your fiber passion and meet local fiber artists up close and delight in their wares. Best of all, rekindle your love for all the yarn and fibers the Hill Country has to offer.

Pay an entry fee of $15, which entitles you to: 1) Yarn Crawl Passport and Passport Stamp Page,and a commemorative stitch marker. 2) two exclusive, specially-designed patterns at each shop you visit, 3) a 25% discount on 2 yarns highlighted for the patterns at each of those shops, and 4) a super cool commemorative yarn crawl bag to the first 1000 participants.

How to Win?

Each yarn shop will be giving prizes away daily! The more shops you visit, the better your chances of winning cool prizes. Turn in your passport card at the last shop you visit because this year we are having three grand prizes!  This provides more opportunities to win.  In addition to the daily prizes, will be having grand prizes for those who make it to at least 8, 13 and all 19 shops.

Rules of Engagement: We’re easy! Each participant must:

• have their own passport card
• fill out the contact information on the passport card (having pre-printed labels with this information will help speed you through this process)
• be present at each yarn shop to get your passport card stamped (i.e., no proxy crawling)
• be at least 10 years of age

All passport cards must be turned in by end of business on Sunday, October 16th. Remember to print clearly on your passport card – we need this information to contact you!

Winners will be posted here and will be contacted by the shop they have chosen to hold their prize*.

Grand Prize winners will be drawn on Oct. 28th, 2016.

September--To & Fro

I love Fall!  There are so many wonderful things about Fall weather--and so many wonderful quilt patterns to sew up!

Here we have fall presented in a different way--This pattern comes from

The Quilt Block Cookbook by Amy Gibson

Here is how it looks in a quilt

Love! Love! These Maple Leaves, "Maple Sky" by A Quilting Life

There are so many Fall-Autumn Quilt patterns just fit for the working!

Happy Fall!