Getting Back At It!

I've been thinking about my blog recently, or rather my lack of blogging. It's not for lack of things to say, but rather for saying so much all the time in the shop that I tend to forget that you all are not really able to hear me. I really need to work on this.

I've had an interesting past few months. Over the new year, John and I took a bit of time off and reassessed. Every year, we list our goals for the year... all kinds of things, but I especially list out our shop and my fiber goals. Usually, it's fun and inspiring, and we end up patting ourselves on the back, if only for a few moments.

This year was different. We had things like, "make shop repairs, set up online store, finalize and print shop brochure, weave using handspun stash...." the list was long and specific. When we went through it, we found that we had not achieved one, not one, of our goals for this past year! WOW, that was pretty shocking. And then it became somewhat humorous. We know we are busy like crazy people and accomplish a great deal with our time, but what had we done??

Well, for me, I had gotten distracted by each new shiny object, each new pattern, yarn, fiber that came into my vision, and gave up my mind to it. All was not lost... I made some lovely yarns, woven pieces, knitted/crocheted items. I'm pleased that I worked on all of them!

But in view of all this, we decided to reassess. Did the goals make sense? What should we be working on to grow the shop, grow our skills, enrich our lives? And to that end, I made a journal. We listed all those things that we absolutely HAD to work on this year, needed to get done and those things we wanted to learn. It was liberating, in that we were without distractions. The items we listed we wanted to do were specific, fun, meaningful to us!

Now, every day, I write in the journal what we did to advance towards completing our goals (you've read before that I am organized?? lol). funny thing, though, about all this... we have gotten more done towards the things we consider 'important' than in the whole year before. I've gotten weaving done that I've wanted to do 'forever', This will become a summer top out of handspun cotton/silk warp and handspun hemp weft. The yarns have been sitting in a tub for over 12 years.

I've spun nearly every day, gotten a couple of knitted items completed, but mostly just find that the overall 'zen' of lives is where we need it to be because we're not chasing every new shiny object that comes into our pervue. Focus is awesome and I highly recommend it, whether you focus your year on fair isle, lace knitting, weaving with perfect selvedges, spinning a big fluffy yarn. Whatever...

Set your goals, track them, and you will be amazed at what you achieve!

How Did This Happen?

I used to be a very organized, project-oriented person... really I did. I hear people describe me, sometimes, to others, and the 'organized' word nearly always comes up, along with some reference to completing so many projects. For me, being organized means that things have a place and they are there, to be found in that place... it means that when I go to reach for some piece of information, I know just where it is, I can locate it or tell someone how to locate it...it I means that I have an idea of the 5 or 10 things that need to be executed to make something happen and I know what's been done and what hasn't. And, well, completing projects has always just been highly euphoric for me.

These days, I've been doubting my organizational and project completion skills, not that I'm so attached to them or feel like they define me. But, lately, things happen that make me feel like my life must be in chaos without me even realizing. It's like suddenly 'waking up' while driving and wondering where I am... What are these projects and how did they get here?

Take my New Year's anti-UFO initiative. I spent time going through my UFO's, my WIP's, my soon-to-be projects and thoughtfully reviewed them. Why am I stuck? Do I like this or that? What should be done to fix those stuck and move to completion. I frogged some, fixed some, completed some. By Thursday evening, I was so damn proud of myself because I was down to 1 sweater in progress (Emerald), 1 sweater undone and reworked back to where I was and able to happily resume (Central Park Hoodie), and 1 pair of socks (I always have a pair of no-brainer socks going). The list of projects, of which I was sure, came from my certainty that I knew where everything was and how they were organized.

Fast forward to Friday evening... John has misplaced his glasses. We looked in all the normal places, then expand the search to the dining table, the bookcase and beyond. OMG... more projects... how did they get there? I don't even remember putting them there and have no idea why I haven't worked on them. One is a most lovely Helix Scarf with beads. It's not difficult and I'm pretty thrilled to have found it again. But why was it in this random location? Then there is the Scribble Stole out of Claudia's handpainted ribbon yarn and some gorgeous alpaca/tencel handpainted lace yarn. I think it was to be a festive holiday wrap, but for what occasion? And how did it land under the tv console?

I shouldn't leave out the Peak's Island Hood Scarf I rediscovered that needs reworking one end, and the woven jacket that still needs to have the finishing done, both tucked away on low bookcase shelf (well, behind some other things!).

All this brings me to the realization that I love to start things, but have become a lousy finisher, even when I think I'm highly motivated. And, apparently, I put them out of sight, out of mind, in pure and total avoidance. So, this week, I'm going to finish at least one of these newly rediscovered projects and maybe, maybe, well maybe, not start something new! This didn't use to be so challenging, but then again, I never had so many things to entice me!!

It's been too long

Well, we're on the eve of a new year and I am reflective, as often happens at the end of a year/beginning of a new one. It's been too long since I've blogged and not for lack of things to say. We have had a very busy year and, by active decision, I let the blogging lapse to make sure I was taking care of in-shop business. But now it's time to get back to blogging.

This has been a year of transition in lots of ways.

For the shop, we've grown and grown and grown, to the point that I realized I needed more than volunteer help. That led to hiring Carol, who is a gem of a knitter, learner, teacher, beginning spinner and all round wonderful, caring human being. She has made all the difference in my being able to maintain my sanity when the UPS boxes mount up, the phone is ringing off the hook, wonderful customers are needing help and we NEED coffee! God bless her!!

Also, we've started giving lots more lessons in knitting, crochet, spinning and weaving, and renting of weaving and spinning studio space. Each class needs lots of prep and each student brings us new things we need to address, so it's all good. This has led us to think about and plan for a broader range of classes that go beyond the basics and help you all build skills that keep you going, a goal for 2011. Look for loads of skill-building classes this new year.

I've started focusing on building some weaving kits, too, so new and intermediate weavers can have all they need in order to be successful, while learning about a particular weaving structure. As much as I love color, there will be some really awesome handdyed kits to keep the excitement alive.

All the input from you has given me the opportunity to think about publishing more materials that answer all those nagging questions we get asked on a weekly basis. In 2011, look for us to start publishing some 'how to' materials, along with classes that will really help you continue to build your skills.

This all leads me to our most important evolving change, and that is our own online store where we'll sell kits, our handdyed yarns and fibers, including our colorway of the month offerings, and some new, exciting items, coming in Feburary. We'll announce when it's ready and hope your will provide your feedback!

Stay tuned and come love fiber with us!
Happy New Year,
Susan

Stasher or Collector?

I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks, off and on. Am I a stasher or collector? Who cares? Does it make a difference?

I've decided that a stasher has the intent of using some of the items s/he acquires one day and often feels guilty when the stash grows beyond a certain personal limit, while a collector could really care less if the stuff is ever used, because appreciating the beauty of it in the moment is all important. 

In thinking about this, I realized that I have some true stash, some guilty stash and some collection...

Since I have a thing about having 'no guilt' in my life, I decided to work through the categories to see what was what and maybe clean house a little, so to speak.

For years and years, I've purchased yarns and fibers that I love, with the idea that one day I will make something wonderful out of them. These are items that have a beauty that is indisputable... everyone who sees them feels that intrinsic 'Ohhhhhhhahhhhhh' (you know what I'm talking about, right?). They stand on their own, no project needed. I never get to have enough time to make something out of most of them... truth be told, I rarely find a project worthy of their beauty. They sit on shelves and in cabinets and bins, lovingly fondled from time to time and they always give pleasure to all who partake of them in those flitting moments. These will be with me, remain with me until I find a worthy project or they outlive me. There is no doubt in my mind that I will collect much more in this category over my lifetime.

I've, also, purchased yarns that I found on sale or bargain or other enticement, where the mass excitement of the deal performed it's magic and pulled me into it's web of project possibilities with the idea that I could 'make the yarn work' and transform it into gold, just like Rapunzel. Dang, I always know that the project will never materialize, once I leave the scene of the crime, and I may as well just turn the stuff over to someone who sees it as a beauty to behold, as in my first example. I've purchased tons of yarn in this category... probably thousands of dollars' worth over my lifetime just so far! (Interestingly, I can't think of a single unspun fiber that I have that falls into this category. wondering why...) This yarn just needs to leave my personal living space. Pronto!!

Finally, I've purchased and 'stashed' yarns that I use regularly... I call these 'utility yarns'. those staples that I know I will always need... weaving cottons and wools/blends, linens and blends, and a few oddball things, like mohair boucle. I sit at night and plan projects sometimes, and go to my 'stash of staples' and just am able to get started with something I know will work and I'll be happy with because it's exactly what is required... No guilt, no remorse, just my personal store. Is that a stash? I guess it is, in the truest sense.

So, there I have it...

• I collect and admire beautiful yarns and fibers that stand on their own... for me, they can stay thay way forever, being their final state, without any guilt, just pleasure in fondling them at will
• I stash junk... the gods know I need to stop this and get rid of what I have... (junk being only in the eye of the beholder, as it may be beautiful and admired in it's own right by someone else, or at least viewed as utilitarian)
• I stash utility yarns, those that are workhorse staples... I stash them, then remove them from stash for projects. They are like my personal store of things like salt and pepper. I know I'll use them, just not all at once. My stash rotates.

When I look at who I am, overall, I'm a collector. I will get rid of those yarns I've 'stashed' but can't imagine using in real life, but feel no guilt acquiring my utility yarns or my beauteous array of yarns on which I love and fondle and qet exquisite pleasure in the textures, taking in the colors and harmonies and loving the feel. It feels liberating to be clear so I can get rid of all my 'non-utility stash'.

Are you a stasher or a collector?

Carded Batts to Finished Project

Remember those carded batts from the May Colorway of the Month, "Under the Big Top"? Well, I've been having more fun transforming them into a finished project than I've had in some time.

I began spinning them as a very lofty fine singles with the idea that I would ply them with something else. But then I fell in love with how airy the yarn was as a 2-ply, so created another set of batts following the same progression, from brighter, deeper colors to lighter ones, spun them on a second bobbin and plied the 2 together. Normally, I'd have to split the plied yarns onto two bobbins, but I used my new Schacht Bulky Flyer/bobbin and got the full 8.2 oz onto it, no sweat. 843 yards total of 2-ply. Very cool!! made me sooo happy as I envisioned no extra ends to weave into my project.

I choose to knit a little short sleeve cardi called "Tappan Zee" from the latest Knitty.com patterns. It seemed perfect for this yarn as it's worked all in one piece from the top down. I envisioned the progression working it's way from darker to lighter, which is just what happened. Here is a progress pic:

The color transition worked out really well, I think. The yarn is super soft BFL superwash, light and airy. Knitting was quite the pleasure... so much so that I abandoned nearly all other projects while I worked on this baby.

It was all so worth it in the end. Here she is after being blocked. I added a few extra rows to the sleeves for added length and have made some Sculpey buttons that are curing and will add a little more whimsy to this.

I just love how it turned out and how it looks on, too. I may have to make another of these. I know I will definitely have to do more carding of progression batts! Yet another way to transform the handpainted tops... gotta love it! Oh, and yardage was perfect! I have 2 yards left, so no odd bits to add to my stash. Hooray for that...

When Good Knitting Goes Bad...

I've been working on the Liesl top by Cocoknits. It's cute, it's a tunic style and something I'm sure I'll wear. I'm making it out of Allhemp from Hemp for Knitting, which is a 100% hemp sportsweight yarn, similar in feel to Euroflax linen, in an orangy color I like and it's a fiber that I'm really fond of, too. With all that love, this should be an easy project. But it's not going so well...

This is the second project using this yarn... actually the second project using this very ball of yarn. It started as a shapely tee that called exactly for this yarn. Still, it took me forever to get the right gauge. After I started on the second skein, I realized that I didn't like the feel of the fabric... wayyyyy too still and firm. So, after some confirmation with others, this top was frogged.

I had the Liesl in my queue with some linen in mind for it, and decided that I'd start it with the allhemp. Gauge is good, hand is good, or so I'm hoping if I can ever get past row 5! 3 times, I've miscounted my stitches in my cast on row or dropped a cast on stitch and had to start over. Now, on row 5, dear Finley decided he needed love and pushed my knitting, just enough for a stitch to come off the needle... I set it aside to love him and he sat on the piece. By the time he had wiggled little cat self off of it, the stitch was no more, run all the way to the cast on row again!!

So, this project needs a timeout! or I need a timeout from it.

Spinning, on the other hand, made me happy. I finished spinning up 4 ozs of superfine merino on my new-to-me Rick Reeves wheel. I had painted it in Easter colors and spun it nice and fine, just the way the wheel likes it. Then I navaho plied it on my new-to-me American Traveler, using the bulky flyer and bobbin. What a dream wheel!!

Here is the result: 408 yds, 3.95 oz. Soon to be the Heart-to-Heart Scarf, with beads and all.

Knitting may have gone bad, but the spinning is ohhh, so good!!

Off for some more spinning for me :)

handpainted tops vs. carded batts

Tops or batts, batts or tops... I find myself in a luxury position of getting to choose my favorite fiber prep for any given fiber any day. It's a new experience for me.

I used to seek tops because I felt they were the most versatile. You can create worsted  or semi-wortsted yarns, thick or thin or any combination from them. In the case of handpainted tops, the choices and yarn results can vary even more just based on how the top is separated or spun up.

I've carded some tops and enjoyed the results, though it's lots of work to get a nicely blended product, particularly when I add in other things like silk brick or sparkles. I'm not a fan of the clumped silk or angelina batts, and so spend maybe too much time working to even out the luxury/sparkles so that a little bit shines through throughout the batt. In my mind, there is a difference between art batts where lots of different fibers and textures are thoughtfully blended and combined, and those that are sometimes called that but are merely the result of lack of skill or control over the end product.

For many years, my very favorite workhorse carder has been my Clemes and Clemes. Everything goes through it and blends nicely. From the shop perspective, the batts are wide enough to meet the expectations of most people when they seek a batt. It has been my 'go to' carder when things needed blending.

Then I got to try the Louet roving carder and I've loved the results. The batts are narrower but thicker and the results are spectacular! I have been a happy girl! When I need thick layers of color or a single fiber or fibers blended together well for myself, this is the one I go to. And because I've loved it so much, this past week, I got in the Louet Elite carder, a full-sized carder with more functionality than I've had time to try yet. And, OMG!!! I'm so in love! I wish I had had this available to me years ago.

Truly, I'm not trying to sound like an infomercial and I'm not a drum carder neophyte... I have been to workshops and conferences where I had the opportunity to try several of the leading brands. So I can't put my finger quite on why this carder has me so over the top excited! Except that the tops card with a minimal of effort, the drum carder's large circumference seems to help create large batts with the colors well dispersed, the cleanup is a Breeze, and the batts are so light, airy and without neps that I want to spend all my time spinning them.

I had a couple of COM tops that fell apart out of the dyepot and I would not sell as braids. With the new carder, I decided to divide them and spin them up. Here is how the 'Under the Big Top' looks carded as batts... can you see how light and fluffy they are??

I carded them in a sort of progression, from lighter to more colorful and have already spun one up. All this (plus one more) from one 4oz handpainted braid. The resulting yarn will be heathered, contrasted to the wide expanses of color that happens when spinning directly from the dyed tops. Heathered yarns are so comforting to me. They are so huggable! Why are there not more heathered yarns, huh?

It will be fun to see how they come out. I'm thinking of using a different fiber to ply them, maybe something like a fine bamboo or soy thread.  What do you think I should do?