The great thing about spinning, dyeing, knitting  & other crafts is that you can go anywhere in the world and meet like minded people.  You can also lose yourself totally and forget the time.  This week has been one long dyeing frenzy.  I have dyed a huge amount of yarn for a show I am doing and for orders. 

The kids used to come home from school when they were wee and say 'she's having a dyeing frenzy' that's where the phrase came from.  They would drop school bags and reappear with a motley collection of garments and miscellaneous items to add to the dyepot.  (goose feathers, old socks...) and Dinner would just happen on the hoof.  Husband would come home and find we had all turned blue.  - Especially if it was an Indigo dye vat - you really CAN dye anything with that, including children.

So we developed a repertoire of easy but well balanced meals and got on with having fun.  My kids really didn't care what they ate if they were enjoying themselves so long as it filled them up.  So those of you who want to spend an hour a night cooking a Hot Meal for the little darlings will tut tut here:

Peanut butter sandwiches, milk and an apple.  There we have it - a balanced meal for the having with no cooking involved.   

been a bit knitting crazy at the moment.  Knitting in bed, knitting in the car, knitting in meetings, on the train...

feeling a bit self righteous tho because I am finishing projects as I start them (well almost).  Rashly decided to follow freebie pattern for a pair of socks instead of making them up as I go along like I usually do.  Disastrous result but now started a second pair which are looking sensible and will re-do first pair shortly.

Here is a tip about knitting which you may already know.  You do not need to see what you are doing to do straightforward knitting.  Honestly.  Elizabeth Zimmerman, greatest ever knitting guru had this in one of her earlier books and it is true.  You somehow know if you have gone wrong.  Means you can knit in the dark on long car journeys.   

 

August 2008

am spinning like crazy this month.  I have several fleeces to spin for people who have their own sheep, a knitting design project, plus lots of goodies of my own I want to spin and dye.  Have just created a new hand dyed yarn which is merino and soft as thistle down.  Just knitted a hat with it.  It seems we are to have a Stitch and Bitch in Ayr at Bean Scene so Yippee!  It starts in mid September on Wednesday nights. 

Knitting projects - 3 pair of socks, waistcoat, knitted hand dyed jacket.

spinning projects - fleeces are everywhere I daren't list these but most are projects in waiting and likely to remain so until I get the spinning done for other people.  Have some yummy alpaca though that is destined to be socks.

dyeing projects - OOH! how I love these.  Lopi yarn, merino yarn, cotton yarn and cotton fabric am going to dive in today and do them all.

Reading projects - local library closed for 2 weeks so have stocked up on these.  Am reading Joanne Fluke mysteries based in a Cookie shop and all have recipes through out. 

How do people find the time to watch TV...

...how do they find time to write blog??? I have been too busy doing it!  Amazing time on a knitting design course at Poitiers in France.  came back with the wackiest felted bag.  everyone else's looked er normal must be something about me.  how I love to experiment. pix of the week on www.flikr.com under 'october chateau knitting'. 

since I came back I have crocheted a scarf and finished a pair of socks.  Am also spinning for all I am worth.  I will get things done in time for christmas!