Silk

                                 For years, my trusty lollipop spindle has been spinning yards and yards of tiny silk threads!

When the bobbin is full, I wind the yarn off into small balls and place them in a jar.  Not knowing what to do with all these small bits of yarn, they sat to age--aging is good thing, especially for fiber that has no purpose at the time you spin. Spinning with a drop spindle is the oldest way yarn was twisted for years..  This makes a great demonstration for the public.  Spinning is easy to explain when your hands move slowly and the thread is drawn from a handful of fibers.  Even though I've been spinning for years, this process is always a joy to see and do!

I have dyed singles with natural dye to give a friend who worked at plantation.  She made embroidery pieces to display as handwork that would be accomplished in 1800’s.  So, that, is one way to use single silk yarns.

                                

                                        most of the threads are single ply.  Here are some that have been two plied--no thoughts on colors mixed.  at one point in my life, several instructors were placed in front of me for instruction and knowledge of fiber preparation.  I can't count on my hands, how many workshops were taken to advance encouragement of fibers.  At one time, we had an 'expert' on silk spinning.  to me, she knew more than I did at the time.  At every workshop or class, you can always learn at least one new thing that can be added to your bag of tricks.  At this workshop, our instructor informed us that if three or more single silk yarns are plied together, you have an interesting yarn.  It didn't matter the colors of each single ply yarn.   Maybe, now, is the time to experiment.

So many little bits of single silk threads

a view inside the jar where the fibers are stored.

Three ply yarn 

I'll keep exploring how to use these singles.  Wonder if these would work for knitted socks? Or a simple scarf? 

Warm Hands= Warm Hugs

After warming up the feet with Socktober, it is time warm the hands with challenge from Jen Yard (Instagram)   I love knitting fingerless gloves, so that challenge is right up my alley.

too many choices to knit though.  How will I find that perfect pattern?  

\I would like something funky--something colorful,  and unusual,

searching, searching, searching.....................

These are unusual for sure--knit on straight needles

these should be fun to knit if I can find my straight needles; will

need to use circulars as straight!

These are great one skein, cabled mitts designed by Sweater Babe

Maybe, I'll choose these to knit

Very simple and easy to knit is always a winner!

Whimsical

I took a look at the challenger's finglerss glove patterns and found

THIS

Book Lovers Mitts!  for the win!  You can find Jen Yard's patterns on Instagram and Ravelry.

Everything November Mitts also a win!  Yes, I purchased both patterns!  Love her designs and what a way to use your little bits of stash!  Of course, you could use a plain color as well.

Will you warm your hands in November with this challenge?

I 

 

A Look Back

I've been digging through my handwoven items.  There are many interesting pieces in that basket.  Many I've forgotten completely about.  I pulled out these pieces-- some examples of my first attempt at spinning cotton.  

These fibers were spun when I worked at a Louisiana plantation.  My job was to demo spinning, hand carding and sometimes weaving on the loom.  I also did natural dyed yarns, using indigo, as the plantation had indigo and cotton crops.  The blue fibers are dyed with indigo during weekend plantation festival days.  

The brown cotton was used in the summer day camps or school historical times with students who attended to learn the aspects of plantation living.  Students could try their skill at ginning cotton.  Brown cotton was brought to Louisiana by Acadian people who settled in the area.  Brown cotton seeds are easily ginned by hand as the short fibers don't cling to the seeds.  But, since the fibers are so short, it takes a different approach to sett the twist, More treading to put that twist into brown cotton fiber.

Certainly, not the greatest spinning!!  But, it was a way to learn-- of course, "practice, practice, practice!"  Makes for a more perfect yarn as you tell by my single silk yarns from an upcoming post.  

Today, after 35 years spinning, my hand spun fibers look like commercial!  Wish I could get that lumpy, bumpy fiber back.  

Definitely, reminders of my early days of spinning--great memories!

 

Socktober!

 Loving October!  Not only is October my birth—day month, it is Socktober month!!  How exciting!!  

It’s been awhile since socks were cast on my needles—exactly, one year -last October!  

I’m on the bandwagon now!  More info Here 

Casting on; ready for cooler weather to wear my comfy 

Birch shortie—first shortie sock—we’ll see if I like short socks! 

I like to knit both socks at the same time—finish at the same time

So many patterns to choose from—I joined Jane Austen sock club—this the first pattern released—looking for that special yarn to cast on

This sock will be perfect for all those small bits and pieces. 

What socks will you knit for Socktober?? 

And another one bites the dust!!

 Another UFO!  Bites the dust!  So happy to have finished  N UFO—really did enjoy knitting this one plus a small amount of yarns were used in a great way!  

Here is the journey of my latest Musselburgh hat designed by Yosalda

One side of hat

Inner side of hat— yes!  This is a doubleheader hat!  

We cast on 8, increase to the size you need—think I’ve finally figured out number of stitches needed to make a comfortable fitting hat for average size head.  

The fun part is using up odds and ends of yarns

Length of hat—think it could be longer to give a bigger brim—noted on my pattern

Before the hat is closed, best to pull the inside out and sew in the ends. 

Getting close to finishing up!  

There are more bits and pieces of yarn, ready to cast on for another masterpiece!  

. 

UFO Finish!!

 For months I wove away on the red warp on my loom.

Finally, after weeks of languishing on the loom, I figured no little weaving elves were coming to finish off the towels!  Sit yourself down and do it, me said to myself!!

Just throw the shuttle!  And yes!! You can see the end of the warp—what a great feeling. 

Pull off the warp—measure, cut, sew the ends to prevent raveling,  throw in washer and agitate.  If these are going to fall apart, I want it to happen in my washer.  Alas. Ten Beautiful cotton towels were ready to be hemmed. 

These little clips come in handy.  I had always used straight pins but clips is the way to go.  No pin sticking you! 

This one towel had a broken warp thread.  Using a needle to weave this warp thread back in place. 

The towels are all hemmed ready for gift gifting!  

Oh happy day!  

And the loom is ready for another warp. 

mystery dinner?

 The weather is turning cooler--ah, I think it could be Autumn in our area soon!  There are necessary chores to complete, Projects to work on.  And, of course, meals to be planned--the least favorite thing I have to do each and every day!!

let/s play a game--solve a mystery!  This is a mystery dinner but not the one where you play different roles to solve the murder--no, the one where we pull a frozen package out of the freezer and try to guess what it contains!  There are so many times when I chuck leftovers into a container and shove it into the freezer--no marking on the contents --that would be too easy!  Just put in the freezer and wait till you pull it out several days or weeks later.  

Once, you pull the mystery container from the freezer and thawed, you can see the fruit of your labors---okay, let's see what we have here................................tonight it was chicken with pieces of  tomatoes dotted over the meat.  We have solved one of the pieces of the mystery.  Now, to decide what to do with this chicken covered with tomatoes.

Thumbing throught dozens of recipes, the decision is made--an easy casserole--#tayinstyles posted her version.  I'll go with the basics but will add other items to make it just a little more spicy.  I found some chopped onions; small jalapeño and zucchini ( looks like on its last legs)in refrigerator. Added these to the mixture. There wasn’t quite 2 cups of chicken; for more protein, half a can of black beans was mixed in. 

Finished dish!  was delish!  loved the simplicity of assembly and taste of #taco Tuesday!

Thank you #tayinstyles for your delicious recipe to apply to my mystery freezer container.

Wonder what mystery abounds tomorrow night?