Phew! I hate blog posts that are mostly apologies for not posting, but I’ve finally earned the indulgence. To make a long story short, new drugs started about a month ago have knocked me flat on my proverbial arse, and just the idea of going to get my camera, let alone writing a coherent blog … More Lazy Days
Yesterday, Old Economy Village was open for free for a big antique car rally. I don’t care much about antique cars, but any chance to see Old Economy for free is a treat I try to take. The place is full of inspiration, a living testament to the potential power of human community, and reeking … More On Community
It’s nearly July in a leap year, which means that my favorite bi-annual event is just around the corner. Formerly known as Ravelympics, now changed to Ravellenic Games,* this event will always be known to me by its original title, dreamed up by the Yarn Harlot: The Knitting Olympics. What? What is this insanity, ask … More Training Camp
Exactly one day too late, I finished Mithril. One day too late, that is, to participate in Susan Pandorf’s lovely KAL giveaway; it’s not like the yarn went bad. Although you might suspect it from how it looked when it came off the needles. Like anything lace, it would take some water and pins to … More Freedom and Irresponsibility
The Holy Spirit – or, since it’s a name, you can leave off the article and call the third person of the Trinity “Holy Spirit” – is, by definition, very hard to pin down. Mom used to say to us, when we were kids, that if we got a really good idea, and we … More On the Spirit
After the disappointments recounted yesterday, I want to end the review of our little spin weekend on a high note. Yarn with beads in it is mega cool stuff, almost universally expensive, and gorgeous nigh unto irrisistability. Tilli Thomas and Art Yarns are among the most mainstream producers of such goodies, and they are on … More Spin Retreat ’12: Bead Away
What would a weekend of experimentation be if we didn’t have any let-downs? I already told you about my least favorite, the color combo turning my first tailspun yarn into a bucket of weird. Mom had a doozie too. It started with a felted, unlikeable top. It had come with her wheel when she bought … More Spin Retreat ’12 – Success, Failure, and Compensation
Even though I’m taking forever to wash the silver fleece, both Mom and I opted for the speedy route when it came to washing our Cormo cross. And during our spinning retreat, Mom showed me up close and personal how she uses her new combs to process this fine, short-stapled fiber into perfectly spinnable top. … More Spin Retreat ’12: Cormolicious Combing
When Mom washed and dyed her half of the silver fleece a few weeks ago, she was unsatisfied with the still-very-grey wool that came out of the dyebath. But, having dyed grey fleece with black beans myself, quite a while ago, I knew that her silver locks had turned bluer than she realized. Of course, … More Spin Retreat ’12: Proof and Progress
So on Thursday, I wrote a bit about core spinning. An even more basic way to core spin is to just hold some fiber perpendicular to your core, and as it spins, it will grab ahold of it and create a wonderful light fuzzy something of a yarn. You can also do this with locks. … More Spin Retreat ’12: Locked on Target
Osborn Fiber Studio 