Exploring the world of fiber, one draft at a time

My posting can be as frequent or infrequent as my spinning, so be as patient as that fiber, sitting in my stash.

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Everyone needs a sock knitting box


Cigar box outside



Inside cigar box purse

I had read the occasional comment about cigar box purses, but had never seen any in real life. I was curious because in going through the stamp stash from my Dad, I now have a dozen empty cigar boxes. I had planned to make a purse just off of the top of my head, I figured I'd come up with something usable. However, when I went to the flea market yesterday, I saw this and decided I would buy it, because I love the 'kitsch' of it, and it gives me a good example to copy when I make some more.

Oh, not that I would copy the design idea, I have plenty of other designs in my mind, quilting themes, stamps themes, yarn themes...No I just liked having this example for the finishing details, and what hardware to look for.

Meanwhile, until I find the time to make some more, this cigar box purse will hold my current sock knitting project. It can slip into a larger bag, if I am traveling, or just be grabbed for a Sunday knitting group.

CW

Thursday, July 14, 2005

I bow to free advertising

I will not 'push' my fibers for sale on this front blog, but if you look to the right I have added a link to a blog I created for what I currently have for sale. Right now, there are dyed rovings, but I think of this new blog as a constant ongoing crafts garage sale. You never know what will be listed next because my crafting does not take over just a closet, but two rooms of my house. Check back now and then to see if there is anything you just gotta have.

Thanks!

CW

Monday, July 11, 2005

Spindle Yarn

Here is the yarn finally from a rambo fleece I washed almost two years ago. I took the very best part of the fleece, and combed it with my small hand held combs. And then I spun the top with a drop spindle. The spinning took more than a year, but that is because I rarely spindle spin at home. I have fond memories of the many places I did work on spinning this yarn. There were many odd Tuesday night gatherings at Barnes and Nobles, several evenings of listening to music and drinking wine at local wineries, and also one big gathering of dear spinning friends across the country called our Center of the Fiber Universe Picnic. I am sure there are many other places that have just slipped my mind. Next time I do a long term spindle project like this, I think I will slip a notebook in the bag and just jot down where and when I did some spinning.

The yardage is a few inches short of 200 yards 2 ply and the skein weighs 2.5 oz. It has been washed and put up into a 2 yard skein. That skein size is a requirement for the State Fair as I plan to enter this skein in the fair this year.

In other fiber news, I have finally been spinning every day, or washing and combing a Jacob fleece. The rush of spring outside work is over, and the hot summer heat and humidity have me glad to be inside in the A/C working with fiber again.

CW

Spindle spun rambo yarn