Tag: knitting

Posted on

WIP: Shawl and Crochet Tutorial

Reading through some posts from Fiber Arts Friday last week I noticed some questions from folks new to crochet.  The question: How do you hold your work and control tension?

Since I’m still working on my alpaca shawl I thought I’d grab a couple of photos to show how I hold my work.

I like to run the yarn over my index, under my middle and over my ring and pinky.  I found this method works the best for me both knitting continental style and for crochet.  If I tried any other combination I ended up having to take my wedding band off because the yarn would get stuck in it.

For crochet I let the yarn stay far back on my index finger.  I like to reach for the yarn and snag it with the hook.  If I’m continental knitting I’ll move the yarn up past the 1st knuckle so I can control it easier and move my finger back and forth so I can knit and purl without having to change positions.

Starting Chain Tip: If you’re new to crochet and have problem with your initial chain and then attempting the next row try this.  Use a hook 2x as big as what you will be using on your project for the initial chain.  That will prevent you from making the tension in your starting chain too tight and make your 2nd row much easier to complete.

Hope this helps!

Click Here for Link Parties

Posted on

Fiber Arts Friday: New Foal

Welcome back Fiber Arts Friday fans!

Ok, I must admit that I have not being getting much done fiber arts wise this week.  The reason, we have a new baby! 

I present to you DHA Reno’s Southern Belle

DHA Reno's Sothern Belle

The only fiber stuff I’ve done this week was 1) buying new alpacas and 2) dying some alpaca yarn for a customer.  I”ll have 3 new Accoyo Huacayas  joining our herd in a few weeks.  Yeah! My herd is growing, hello more fiber!

As for the dying, here she is cooking away in the crockpot.  I’m not sure why it looks bloody in the photo but the end yarn is a dark cranberry.  It’s currently hanging in the basement drying by our coal stove.  The yarn’s new owner has just gotten into knitting and blogging and with any good luck she’ll join in on the fun.

Alpaca Yarn Dye Pot

This just in at 5:30am!  The yarn is already dry! Isn’t it pretty?  Yarn is off of 2 of our alpaca girls Bella and Vanilla and is OH so soft.

Cranberry Alpaca Yarn

I will not be participating in next week’s FAF as I will be off taking a searing seminar. The farm will be in the trusted hands of the hubba and both our mom’s.  Hope everyone stays in their pastures and doesn’t cause them any troubles!

Don’t worry Fiber Market Monday’s will still be on so come join in the fun and highlight some of your handmade goodies that are for sale!

Click Here to see all the Link Parties I participate in!

Posted on

FAF: Where do you fiddle with fiber?

I’m often asked how I find time to do all that I do.  The key for me is to never have down time.  Even a 15 min break can net you 1-2 rows on a project. As long as I can fit what I’m working on into my jacket pocket I’ll carry it with me and work on it little by little.  I save the night time for bigger projects that have outgrown my pockets. 

I relish the down time I get in the office with a few minutes knitting or crocheting. Sometimes I even bring in a drop spindle and spin on breaks.  I’ve even been known to knit away while on conference calls, which by the way I think helps me remember more on the call.  There’s something about fiber arts that wakes up your brain.  Mind you it must be an easy mindless pattern but having my hands fly away somehow controls my ADD and lets me absorb more that goes on around me.  Ah ha! I knew I saw an article about this before.  At least I’m not the only one.

Anywho! This week my day job had me playing “field tech” and I toured almost all of Western New York without setting foot in the office.  But even as a traveling tech I am allowed lunch breaks! Even the cramp confines of a truck can become a knitting parlor once a day! 

Knitting and Driving

————————————————————————————

Share in your comments:  
Where was the weirdest place you fiddled with fiber?

Pst… Shamless plug… Do you like this blog?
<—Click on “Follow this Blog”  on the left!

————————————————————————————

 

Photobucket
Creative Friday Button>

Posted on

Fiber Arts Friday – Pay It Forward

Welcome back to Fiber Arts Friday.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’re probably aware there was a snow event this week.  I know many of you fiber folks were stuck home and were probably enjoying some down time with your spinning and knitting.

Unfortunately for me, I work for a utility and like the post office, wind, rain nor snow will close my office and I am expected to trek in no matter the road closures. Even with moping around at work and wishing I was home I did manage to get some fiber time in.  Since the week was stressful I found my fiber time very relaxing. 

If you follow Wonder Why Gal or myself on Facebook you know that a while back we offered a fiber pay it forward. For the first 5 people that responded to our posts we would hand make an item for them and in return the recipient should make an item for another 5 people.  For me to make items I need yarn so I’ve been working at spinning away.  I have 3 bobbins going all with different yarn. 

Green/Gold – Superwash Merino / Tencel blend – Hope to make a shawl out of this
Gray – Himalayan Cat / Tencel – Yup, I’m still spinning up even more yarn for my friend
Beige – Alpaca / Mystery Wool / Tencel – Not sure what this will be yet

Fiber Pay It Forward

I’m also working on my first ever knitted scarf.  Just something simple but with some of my spun single ply yarn with some fun colors I used to keep it interesting looking. 

I twisted up some cord and braided a custom dog leash for Wonder Why Gal’s miniature schnauzers which I’m hoping they both enjoy.  I also crochet up a little something for her too since she was one of my hand made gift recipients.  Sorry no photos, I don’t want to ruin the surprise!

Photobucket