Rakestraw or Mayan Spinner

The Rakestraw Spinner is certainly an interesting spinning companion.  There are simple means to spin besides the drop spindle, that started out as a rock on the end of a stick--this is one of those ways.

These Mayan Spinner-style spinners are great for anyone who struggles to use a drop spindle or who is learning to spin. If you suffer from arthritis, fibromyalgia, or tendonitis, you can carry on spinning with the Rakestraw Spinner. Wonderful for children, who pick it up straight away, for the elderly, and for everyone and anyone! It almost spins itself and can be more productive than a drop spindle.

Spin on!  

Coloring Like A Youngster

Recently I wrote a blog post about this pattern that I found (as if it was lost!)

in my UFO pile.  It was time to get it out and begin work--why is it sometimes,

we just can't get motivated to do some patterns and there are others

we spend so much time on?  Oh, well, moving on.............

I copied off the pattern before we went on an extensive trip--got out my box

of crayons and begin to color and giggling all the time I

was coloring with my brand new box of Crayons!

So much fun!  Then the other day, I found a tutorial on what steps to

take for coloring this exact pattern.

I think I'll darken my boot more and maybe add more color to my

pumpkin, but overall

coloring on fabric is a hoot!!

I know that I'll have a completed quilt by October rolls around.........

IF I make the surrounding blocks!

12 Months of Techniques?

Okay--I need to stay off the internet!  Should do no more searching,

browsing, reading, cruising, exploring, adventuring............... 

Why?  I get into so much trouble--take a look at this......................

I stumbled upon a bag of techniques--Oh, golly, gee whiz, when can

I open it?  March 1st is what I've been told...

that's a while away--can I keep my patience steady and under wraps--

of course NOT!

Look at all these cool designers you too can enjoy!

Okay, so I'm an enabler, but I enjoy having company on

this exploration of knitting a year of different techniques--

and some of my favorite designers are adding to the pot of

knowledge; then there are others who just could be added

to my list of favorites!

With credit card in hand, I ordered that bag of techniques...

Hope it arrives soon--because, my curiosity is worse than a cat's! 

Bleeding Fabrics

Yesterday morning I was browsing through my Facebook page--sometimes good information crops up

occasionally!

Well, THIS was quite worth the read--

Someone posted they had hand quilted (!) a charity quilt that

was to be donated and horrors of horrors--when washing the quilt,

even with fabric catchers and other precautions, some of the

fabrics bled!  I can't imagine what I would have done in this

situation.  Of course, you post about this tragic and you receive lots of

helpful information.  This was the best information anyone would like

to receive--

Here's a sample of what products will do to reduce that

fabric fading and bleeding--

Good information for anyone who works with fabric!

or anyone who wears colored clothing!

Save The Date..................

The West Houston Quilt Guild is hosting their biennial

Quilt Show March 3-4, 2017!  They put on a great show and

exhibit. Featured Artist, Paula Barnes, of Red Crinoline Quilts

Take a look at this fabulous donation quilt!  It could be yours just

for a small donation--I'm going to take my chance!

There will be vendors and over 200 quilts.

Silent Auction Basket and Quilt Bonanza Guild Boutique Quilt Appraisals 

Admission is $10 per adult--free parking

Y'all Come!

The West Houston Quilter’s Guild is a 501(C)(3) non–profit organization founded in 1993 with the purpose of developing and nurturing appreciation for the art of quilting and its history. Simply put, we are a group of people who love quilts!

Progress on WIP...........

I know this isn't the best photo of my knitting progress--month two in

Estonian Scarf designed by Elizabeth Ravenwood (love her designs!)

And A Big Comfy Doghouse Ravelry group

Since this is fine handspun wool, and I'm adding beads 

(well, should be doing nupps!  but me and nupps

don't get along very well!) 

Here is the handspun yarn in all it's glory--I really like how

it is striping--still have more to spin, but so far knitting is a breeze, except

I wanted to use lace needles and I love, absolutely love

Hiya HiYa needles--interchangeable on cables--

and I treated myself!!

Why lace needles you ask?  Well, these needles have sharp points to make

it easier to pick up stitches, do SSK or K2tog--love them!

I Find This Fascinating!

I'm not a computer geek by any means--but I do knit, and this presentation is fascinating to me!

Right on!!  Granny was a Hacker!!