The English Armchair Abroad

Spinning in colour!

I have been spinning wool which came with the wheel plus a few bits and pieces that kind people have given me but I am getting a little fed up with all that hand carding.  It takes ages and the finished rolags are not that great - full of lumps and bumps! I finally succumbed and bought myself some wool tops from Etsy.  Tops are already carded, combed actually, and just heaven to spin.  Really, no more bits to take out.  And of course it was spinning in colour!  What fun!  Here's my progress from on the bobbin to a 3 ply.  Now I can't decide whether to knit it or sell it!

The three bobbins full of "singles" sitting on my homemade Lazy Kate

The 3 ply on the wheel

And finally, the finished wool! 

Coquilles St Jacques Scarf on Etsy

I'm tempted to tell you to go and look at it over there but I don't think that's very helpful!  Here it is and if you want to buy it (a snip incidentally) just click here

Teenagers and their diet requirements

Well basically there is only one requirement:  lots of food and plenty of seconds.  Followed of course by pudding...

I don't make many puddings as I don't eat them very often.  However, we did have some apple and blackcurrant crumble left over and this is what our 15 year old did with it:

A pancake filled with crumble, topped off with squirty cream (bigtime yuck!) and nutella. 

For those of you about to report me to the ministry of diet in children watchers, I will add that it followed a first course of almost totally home grown produce:  pork, veg galore and rice (ok, I didn't grow the rice!).

My first ETSY sale!

I honestly didn't think it would be so quick but last night when I checked my emails someone had asked a question about one of my wools and this morning I've received payment and the Forest Greens Cashsilk (a lovely lace weight yarn made of cashmere/silk/alpaca) is on its way!  YIPPEEEE!  (And if my customer is reading this, THANK YOU!)

Is it daft to feel such a feeling of satisfaction?  Probably!  Anyway, lots more wool and I'll be dyeing again later this week so look out.

I have been working ... really!

I have finally finished these two chairs and both have now been delivered back to the client.  The first was given to me over a year ago and then there was a delay while the owner chose the fabric.  And then another delay as they weren't quite sure.  Then another as they'd forgotten the measurements, twice.  Anyway, umpteen delays and finally the fabric was sent to me at the beginning of 2009!

I was worried when I saw the spotted fabric (from Toile de Mayenne) on the roll that it wouldn't work with these old French chairs - especially as originally the back was also going to be spotty.  But I like the effect on the finished piece.  I only wish I had a photo of the two side by side but they were given to me separately as the client didn't want to go without both chairs at once!

 

Incidentally, if you ever buy fabric from Toile de Mayenne do check it before you cut (you should always do so anyway).  I have NEVER received the right quantity of fabric from them first time - even 10 cms less than asked for (and PAID FOR!) can make a difference between enough and too little.  But their fabric is lovely.

 

I've been busy dyeing

The last few days have been so lovely and warm that I got busy with the dye pots again and produced these:

You can't see very well here but whilst most of them are sock yarns, two (the paler green and the pink on the end) are a lovely lace weight mix of cashmere/silk/baby alpaca.  I have already made a shawl with this yarn and also two scarves with what was left over - both the scarves will be up for sale in my Etsy Shop as soon as I have blocked them.

Of course, there is a problem:  I do rather like this lace yarn and it's very hard to put it all in the shop...

This isn't the best photo but if you look carefully you can see the mix of greens in the yarn.  Gorgeous!