Feeling Like a Third Wheel



When I first decided to start looking for a spinning wheel 3 years ago, I mentioned to a group of friend that I wanted it to be beautiful, double treadle and portable. My friend Vanessa e mailed me back and said "I have two words for you...Wee Robin".









Wee Robin wheels are the creation of Gilbert Gonsalves. He downsized his Robin wheels (named after his wife) to a small version that folds up small enough to fit in the overhead bin of an airplane. As I was attending Rheinbeck that year, I was able to test drive one and immediately got on the waiting list. I eventually got my Schacht DT Matchless and my Kromski Sonata which I classify as "stay put and portable" respectively. I almost forgot that I was on the Wee Robin waiting list until about a month ago Gilbert called me to say that he had one for me and would be in my neck of the woods at the Finger Lakes Fiber festival in late September.








I had a lovely drive through the Finger Lakes region of New York state and arrived at the festival without incident. Going home was another matter...(note to self - make sure husband hasn't set the GPS to avoid toll roads when in unfamiliar territory). I had two Wee Robins to choose from. One had delicate birds eye maple and one had birds eye maple and what's called spalting which creates this tiger-stripe effect. I initially didn't care for the spalting but within about fifteen minutes, came to really love the effect. It was a hard choice but the tiger wheel came home with me.









I also got a denim bag (made by the Bag Lady) which holds my Wee Robin beautifully. It clocks in around 10 lbs which is light enough to carry as a back pack (which the bag is designed to do) but sturdy enough to make the spinning experience nice and solid. The lining of the bag is beautiful too.





I spent all last week getting acquainted with my wheel. I spun and plied some Shetland roving I had from my BC trip. I've not measured the wraps per inch yet but I'm guessing it's around a sport weight. I'm very pleased with the consistency.

Wheel specs from the Robin site are:

The orfice is 22" high, when ready to spin. When folded the wheel isonly 17" high, 15.5" wide and 8" deep. The wheel, using cherry, weighs alittle over 8lbs. and comes with 3 bobbins that hold 6oz. of fiber each.The time required between fold up and ready is about 30 seconds. Standard ratios: 4,5,6-1/4 and 7-3/4 to 1. Ratios available to 15.5 to 1.

The Wee Robin tiger is truly a piece of functional art. I suppose all spinning wheels are but this one is special. It's a nano second to set up and I find the pull (a criticism of the bobbin lead tension) to be just perfect to my taste.

I truly feel that this one fills a gap in my wheel repertoire - in other words "Robin, you complete me".

Making a Splash

I've been a bad blogger.

I've got good reasons.

This blog is based on a kind of "wine meets technology" premise. That sentiment was brought to life literally when I knocked a glass of Private Reserve Muscat directly into the side of my computer tower. Mother boards don't like wine so in this tale of woe lies my first excuse.

Secondly, I had to get my Diamond Fantasy shawl done for the Five Counties competition. I ran out of yarn twice and had to spin more. Throw in a few unforeseen life events and this baby came down much closer to the wire than I'd hoped. I finished it last Wednesday and blocked it immediately.

I'd also (one month ago) offered to knit a second item for the display. Since we were assigned various anniversaries to represent, I got 50th which is gold. I had some Lisa Souza BFL roving spun up in her jonquil colourway. It was to become the Koolhaus hat by Jared Flood since it's such a cool pattern and the diamond design nods to our guild's 60th anniversary.

I stayed up until 1:00 am Friday night attempting to finish it. I had to get up at 5:15 am to meet my partners for the display set up so the damn thing was completed in the car on the way up to the competition. No I wasn't driving...

The display looked really nice. My guild associate who takes the lead on this display every year painted the ladies to make them look like wedding guests and the centre piece is designed to mimic a tiered wedding cake.

Our guild didn't win best display. I was hoping Diamond Fantasy would win for best knitted item by a novice - it didn't win that either.

I was surprised to learn it won (by one vote) the people's choice award. My prize was a beautiful hand carved weaving shuttle.

I don't weave

I will not start weaving

I will not start weaving

I will not start weaving

I don't need another hobby

Where's the wine?

Cast your eyes away from the shiny new projects

Thanks so much for all of your kind comments about Echo. We're still adjusting to her absence and keeping busy with preparations for the new school year. I always think of September as the real new year anyway. It's also a very busy month in the fibre world with several fairs and events to attend. As the September 20th 5 Counties event looms (pardon the pun), I'm slogging through the third period of Diamond Fantasy. It'll be touch and go as to whether or not I have to spin more yarn but I'm on the eighth repeat with two more to go until the end. I've enjoyed the shetland/silk blend so much that I'm going to get more to hopefully spin a sweater's worth. This year Michele has blended the natural shetland with the copper shots of silk and Pygora. Pygora is a goat which is a Pygmy and Angora cross. The roving is super soft with a bit of an angora halo but not much memory. The Shetland gives the bounce - the Pygora gives the halo. I understand that Spin-Off will be featuring Pygora in their Fall issue so perhaps this is the new "in fibre"?

Michele Ginty from Hopeful Shetlands sent me a sample which I spun and chain plied into a 3 ply yarn. Here's the little sample I spun - much softer and whiter than the blend I'm using for the shawl. I'm scooping 2.5 lbs to get a sweater's worth. I calculated this by weighing the small sample I had then measuring its length. I then compared it to similar commercial yarns of similar gauge so I'm pretty sure I'm in the ball park.

Now that the end is in sight for the shawl - I can think about fall projects. After lace weight natural yarn - I'm jonesing for some colour. I've got the Yorshire Tweed Aran in Claret and the Kaffe colourscape in ghost to make Lantern from the new fall VK. It's a nice chunky weight so hopefully it'll be a fast knit.

Also from the new VK is the lovely Greenland by Robin Melanson. The BSA Melange is a bit spendy and I figure Lisa Souza's Baby Alpaca Silk will sub beautifully. I debated over colour choice but in the end got the mother of pearl colourway. At first glance it looks alabaster but there is a definite light wash of pinks, turquoise, and orange. It's so subtle - you think you're imagining it.

No use drooling over projects that'll have to wait until I'm done the DFS.

Guess I'd better get back to the shawl...are we there yet?

Exit Stage Left

We decided to get a puppy eleven years ago - a somewhat obscure breed known as the Flatcoated Retriever. My DH wanted a male and I (being the only woman in a house of men) wanted a female. When the litter came it was only one puppy, a female. The deal was sealed when she fell asleep in his arms. I finally had my "daughter".

We called her Echo after a Rush album titled "Test for Echo". I'd wax poetic about her cute habits or even about how she was the bestest dog in the whole dang world but if you're reading this and have a dog yourself, you'll know that's bullshit because your dog is the best in the world.

These pictures were taken just at the exact last moment in time before my little boys suddenly became men. From the time they were six years old until now, she's been my "wing girl" watching over Butch and Sundance with all the patience in the world. She never knew a world that didn't include having peanut butter and jam in her ear hair from sticky little fingers.

Yesterday started like any other day and ended with a frantic search for a vet not experiencing a power outage as the years finally caught up with our sweet pet. We were there for her when she needed us to do right by her. No regrets.

Unplanned holes suck. In our knitting and in our lives. As the old saying goes - I truly hope to someday become the person my dog thinks I am.

Fish Story

We've just spent a glorious week on Vancouver Island. Here we are after awaking @ 6:00 am (who am I kidding - I never slept all night out of fear of sleeping in) and arriving at the airport in Victoria.

I took every opportunity to sneak in a wee bit of knitting time. Here I am on a fishing charter thinking "Would it be in poor taste to bring out my knitting?" Given I was on a fishing boat with a bunch of sweaty smelly guys - I decided they wouldn't care so, Evie got a fair bit of air play. Actually, she got about 4 hours of focus so I was able to get a fair bit done.

Did you know that knitting on a boat brings fishermen good luck???? Here is Butch Cassidy with his prize for the day. This was one of two bites we got and it paid off. A 27 pound (ok Dad, ok - 26.5 pounds...sue me I round up) Chinook Salmon. Twenty two pounds of it came home on the plane with us. Look how far up the side of the guy who owns the charter boat it goes.

I also managed to get a lot done on Diamond Fantasy. I'm about 30% of the way there. I'm in love with this Shetland roving and found a shepherdess not far from my dad who had some loving Shetland roving. I'm looking forward to spinning it and remembering my trip.

With two strong backs in the house it made sense to put them to work on some gardening chores. Here they are enjoying a laugh with grandpa.

A lovely day in Victoria yielded a skein of Hand Maiden Silk. Isn't this an amazing colourway. I plan to make the Sea Scape shawl with this baby.

I also started the Koolhaas hat by Jared Flood in my own handspun. This is BFL roving from Lisa Souza in her jonquil colourway. It's so soft - I'm really enjoying the pattern.

All in all it was the perfect vacation. Great hosts (thanks dad and Shirley), amazing sunny weather and lots of time to knit. Do I have to come back to reality?

Knitting Narcisism

This post will be a brief one because I'm preparing to leave for B.C. early Friday morning. I have of course packed every project I own barely leaving room for a tooth brush. I seem to envision finishing them all. I'm converting Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Workshop video to my iPod using PQ DVD to iPod so I can take advantage of quiet time on the plane to truly enjoy seeing this for the first time. This is a great program to convert your DVDs to an iTunes friendly format. I may just take along one of her books to complement the video.

I have been working away on Evie and this is a front-burner project! I'm dying to wear it this fall. I'm also eager to see the new Rowan-Kim Hargreaves colours in person (instead of tiny swatches). There are some lovely felted tweed shades she's developed and a couple of books rumoured.

I'll write a proper review of Rowan 44 when I have more time but for now I'm plugging away on my Diamond Fantasy shawl. Here's where I'm at so far. I'm really pleased with how the clear beads are sparkling like diamonds in the centre of the diamond design. This will be entered into the Five Counties guild display in September. With August being almost here, I'd better get knitting. I must admit - the fact that this is yarn I spun myself means that I'm drawn to it more than many other projects right now. Even though it's still not technically perfect yarn (being over spun in many spots) - the fact that I made the yarn makes me a wee bit fonder of the project. I guess it's my ego showing. Heaven help me if I'd actually shorn the sheep!

The Understudy Makes Good


I've got to admit that I've got a real soft spot for Knit Scene magazine. Launched about 2 years ago, this little publication has flown a bit under the radar. It positions itself as Interweave Knit's younger, hipper sister but the designs still manage to be beautiful, fashion forward and totally wearable at the same time. If IK were Jennifer Aniston then Knit Scene is Ellen Page.



The Fall 2008 issue landed in my mail box this week and has been thumbed to death already. Editor Lisa Shroyer (she of Road to Golden fame) points out in her editorial that it's the simpler, classic knits she tends to wear more often though the artist in us might be drawn to the extreme designs. She reminds us that our projects are meant to be worn. I do find my tastes have changed as I've aged and I'm drawn to the simpler lines - the beautifully tailored pieces. In this issue are many projects I'm drawn to for various reasons.



Big Ivy Scarf

This scarf on the cover rocks! The lacy pattern kissed by bands of fair isle mix two of my favourite techniques. Though I love the tweedy nub of the yarn used here - I think left over shades of Rowan Calmer would be perfect too. O Wool Balance also would give a nice effect.



Big Thaw Pullover

Every project name seems to start with "Big". This one is shaping up to be this year's Cobblestone Pullover which is great because clearly there's a need for handsome, simple guy sweaters. Make this one for your own Mr. Big.

Riding to Avalon:

Connie Chang Chinchio has a talent for striking that perfect balance between classic and trendy. This is my favourite design in the magazine and today's Knitting Daily Gallery shows it on several different models. Her designs also tend to look great on all kinds of body shapes which is the hallmark of true design talent. I'll admit it - I've ordered the Lorna's Laces Swirl DK from Julie in Pewter to make this one. Be forewarned that the colour listed in the magazine (as Tahoe) appears to be incorrect. Tahoe which is a brighter blue but the website now says Pewter which makes more sense based on the photograph.



Matryoshka Stole






Another Beautiful stole adorned with painted wooden beads. Its to mimic those Russian Dolls. I won't put this on the short list to make soon (simply due to queue overload) but it's very distinctive and an exciting submission from another emerging young designer.

Inari Skirt

I was ambivalent about the red/green colour combo at first. I thought "too Christmassy". Then the latest e newsletter from Anthropologie dropped and this outfit reminded me of this skirt. It might be fun to pair it with a pink blouse and red jewelry to mimic the Anthropologie look. Hmmmmmm -






I could go on, waxing poetic about several other designs from this issue but these are the favs for now. If you're trying to get a copy yourself - don't wait. I hear they're selling like hot cakes.

Finding Bliss

Once upon a time - I wanted to make this (Ravelry link).

So, I went to my LYS who had just announced they were closing to retire to Northern Ontario.

I scored 10 balls of yummy Debbie Bliss Cathay in peacock blue.

I still do want to make it. It seems to look vunderbar on everyone who knits it.

The problem is that when the spring/summer Debbie Bliss book came out I fell in love with this.

Upon quick reference to the pattern it became clear that I needed 12 balls of the Cathay.

DANG - 2 short. No problem, I happen to know that all of the inventory from the yarn store is still sitting in the locked up store. So, I called their sister store (which sells beads) and asked. Very nicely

"please oh yarn prison matron - may I have more?"

I was told politely that they didn't know what the owners wanted to do with the left over yarn. On another occasion (I'm not stupid I went back several times hoping my stalking would wear them down) that the owner was taking all the left over inventory to her new home up North to weave with. Apparently she's making a blanket that would cover Timbuk Three cause there was a motherload of stuff left!

After checking several other area stores (sometimes they get the same dye lots) - I was still at a loss. I was dying - knowing that those extra balls in my dye lot were sitting in the dark shuttered store.

I considered this

I considered this

I even considered this.

Then, a year later - the newsletter message I yearned for. Come to the bead store, we're clearing out the rest of the yarn.

I went.

It wasn't there. There was a lady with 5 boxes of eye lash yarn ...with sparkles. I don't even want to think about what she's making.

Finally, the owner came in.

I "splained"

She went to see if it was there.

It WAS there!!!!

5 balls for $10 and the same dye lot.

Of course, this all transpires just before the much awaited fall Debbie Bliss magazine which is dropping soon apparently. Judging from the cover - it looks good.

Please tell me there's not a design in there calling for 16 balls of Debbie Bliss Cathay!

No Cigar

Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. I spun and spun and spun and then spun some more. I made two whole bobbins of single ply thread to be plied as a two ply lace weight. I plied and plied and (you get the drift). This has been my main project for several months now. I'll be making the Diamond Fantasy Shawl for the Fair this September. I need 750 yards to make the shawl.

I washed, rinsed swung it by the tail round and round and left it to dry. I'm very pleased with the results - it's a pale wheat colour with stains of gold and Rosy copper. I wound it into two centre pull balls and then got out the old McMorran balance. 340m per 100g according to my calculations - between the two balls I apparently have 640 m. There are 1.09 metres per yard so a little kitchen math says...duh 699.91 yards. So close but cutting it too close I fear.

I'm eager to put some colourful roving on my wheel after so many days of "au natural" so I think I'll start with this and see how close I come to finishing then I'll truly know how much more to spin. On the up side - I did buy enough extra to spin more if I need it.

Speaking of natural hand spun - I'd like to highly recommend the new book A Fine Fleece. It's a lovely publication of classic cabled and textured designs created to show case one's hand spun. Each design is also shown in a commercial yarn in the event you just want to cut to the chase. I adore this book and it has me pondering what sort of natural roving I would want to spin to make an entire sweater. I do love the Blue Faced Leicester so if anyone knows of a good source for some pretty BFL - let me know. I love this cardigan.

It reminds me of the Elizabeth Bennett cardigan from Stephanie Japel's book Fitted Knits.

This woven patterned cardigan called Amanda is my current fav

and finally this pullover called Two Hearts is a show stopper.

There's nothing like knitting with your own hand spun and although I've knitted a scarf from hand spun - I've yet to make a garment with my own stuff. The best part is that if you need more - you just dip into the roving bag and voila, problem solved. If there isn't enough roving then as long as you're close - there's always a nice vest.