by carmen | May 13, 2010 | Uncategorized
The most beautiful BFL takes a bath. I spun a lot of fibre yesterday. I love my giant sink at the studio that hold such huge amounts of wool. Euclan Lavender bath, hell I wanted to jump in.
This was almost two pounds of hand spun fibre, spun thick and thin and meant to be left as singles.
It was all I could do to contain myself and thank goodness I had one skein aside to attempt this…
Top down design is the easiest way to knit, no seams, no fuss, just grab some circulars and go for it. Unfortunately with the twist going in one direction and the energized yarn (even though it is a low twist single) is slanting the neckline and eventually the whole garment. I am going to find a way to work this into the design. I have seen a lot of design using energized yarns on purpose so I’m going to see how I can make this work in the overall sweater.
This will be my mannequin cover for the season when all is said and done.
And since this post is looking kind of gray …here’s something else spun up last night…
Before the twist is set, 285 grams of hand dyed BFL. This one might be a keeper. I think I have a plan. The studio is a mass of drying yarn so I’m staying far away today. Off to Whistler. It looks like it’s going to be a good drive and I have a knitting project, so today is a perfect day.
There is yarn and gelato in Squamish (best reason for a pit stop on the road).
by carmen | May 13, 2010 | Uncategorized
I love when the yarn looks so cozy in it’s new home and sends me photos!!!
Hey Barb, do I still have visiting rights until it’s all knit up?
by carmen | May 12, 2010 | Uncategorized
I feel strongly about the work I do, from the smallest pirate or apple hat to the largest free form piece. From one string of yarn I have hand spun to the largest pile of carded fibre, the work is uniquely mine. I do not find copying the sincerest form of flattery, but rather a sad comment on a life lacking in imagination and authenticity.
I have always believed that if your work is organically derived (if you feel it deeply) the work will speak to someone and be appreciated. Everything I do has my own personal stamp on it and it is distasteful to me that there are poorly constructed imitations out there that might be mistaken as mine.
I realize it is hard for a “maker” of things to find the balance between creativity and knocking out inventory, but really, cultivated consumers will look for quality. I would rather make less, and make it perfect than vomit up a booth full of “stuff” for sale.
Now saying this, I realize that what I make is not to everyone’s taste. I make things that resonate with me and I hope that I find like minded people who appreciate the work. However there is no one that can say that the execution of my work is not held to an incredibly high standard.
So here I sit, doomed to a life of making things I love, designing and executing them with the full inspiration and passion that evolved them in the first place and hoping that I am not alone in my respect for well constructed, inspired and elegant things.
Oh and I finished my hat and not so matchy scarf yesterday.
by carmen | May 11, 2010 | Uncategorized
I spend a lot of time spinning small samples of the hand dyed wool, for myself, for students, just so we can all see if it lives up to expectations. Selling rovings without knowing how they will spin up is something I just wouldn’t do.
I took one roving and spun it as a single, then plied it, then three plied it and navajho plied it as well and ended up with a beautiful sampler. I carried it around it my purse, played with it, stared at it, wondering why out of all the fibre I had I wanted to work this little bit so badly…
I think this is why.
I’m working on a not too matchy scarf now. There’s just enough of all my little bits to make it happen. It doesn’t seem like such a bad thing, carrying all that fibre around.
Note to self: Need a bigger purse……oh Jordana Paige, when will you start shipping to Canada?
by carmen | May 10, 2010 | Uncategorized
Sailing and knitting pirate hats……yippee and sunny days and warm breezes and what a great kick off to a great year of outdoor activities. I am definitely inclined to revisit my danger knitting of two years ago and make sure to be outdoors with my knitting and spinning as much as possible (weather permitting)
Jan, if you are reading this, when can we fit in the paragliding?
I won’t bore you with pics of the knitting as you have all seen the pirate hat before. However this is just the cutest ever….Roger, keeping an eye on the shoreline.
I will not be in the studio much this week. I am working on inventory and intending to enjoy this sunshine as much as I can.
by carmen | May 5, 2010 | Uncategorized
It’s been so long since I’ve spun singles and I don’t know why I don’t do it more often. One and done. Other than setting the twist (which is something I don’t always do on a plied yarn when it lands the right way). But it felt good and it occurred during much Buffy, StarTrek TNG and Deep Space Nine–at this point and time, the best way to spend an afternoon.
This morning I was keenly aware of the right side of my body and a gentle throbbing radiating from my tailbone up through my fingertips. At this point I concede –you can spend too many hours a day spinning. However, had I been paying attention, more long draw = less pain. Definitely a shift in the spinning today.
It’s a long day at the studio today, lots of organizing, fibre to put away and an armload of visitors coming in. Oh, and batts to be carded….I have some new colours that are demanding to be turned into pretty spring batts.
Oh, and not everything stayed single…
In answer to the few that knew my large fibre order was coming in…..No, I did not roll around in the order or in any way try to dive into the boxes…it was tempting, but I restrained myself.
This was almost two pounds of hand spun fibre, spun thick and thin and meant to be left as singles.
Top down design is the easiest way to knit, no seams, no fuss, just grab some circulars and go for it. Unfortunately with the twist going in one direction and the energized yarn (even though it is a low twist single) is slanting the neckline and eventually the whole garment. I am going to find a way to work this into the design. I have seen a lot of design using energized yarns on purpose so I’m going to see how I can make this work in the overall sweater.
Before the twist is set, 285 grams of hand dyed BFL. This one might be a keeper. I think I have a plan. The studio is a mass of drying yarn so I’m staying far away today. Off to Whistler. It looks like it’s going to be a good drive and I have a knitting project, so today is a perfect day.
