"Every night, just when the dark was softest and sleep was deepest, there came a loud noise from the end of the great room. It came from the place where the loom and spindle stood, where by day the grandmother spun and the mother wove."

from "The Spindle Imp" by Alida Sims Malkus

Monday 23 March 2009

Caesia - the Silver Princess

I would be lying if I didn't say how delighted I am with the way this little beauty has turned out. Now my battle is to keep it away from stray puss cat claws.


She is soooo silky and drapey and glittery.

see also:
Eucalyptus Silk
and
Eucalyptus Silk Update



Sunday 22 March 2009

Silk Preview

Remember this? My handspun "Eucalyptus Silk", spun from hand dyed silk caps?


It has now become this:


Will post more pics when the shawl has finished blocking.

Thursday 19 March 2009

and Cotton Dishcloths

Some pretty cotton dishcloths. "Moss" stitch border; "fern" stitch centre; 4ply cotton (blue and cream cloths), and combinations of leftover candle wicking cotton. The candle wicking cotton is about a 2ply so I knitted two strands together. This enabled me to make cloths in co-ordinating colours. I really enjoyed knitting these; easy; mindless; rhythmic. Am considering doing matching ones with a "feather and fan" stitch middle. Well you can never have too many cotton dishcloths.

And my favourite teapot and cup!


Friday 13 March 2009

Getting back on track

I think I'm in recovery stage....am certainly feeling better than I was although I'm expecting it to take a while for me to get back to being ME.

Have been doing some "easy" things, some fun things.....the first being some silk spinning for a Ravelry swap. My swap partner in the UK has received this so it's now safe for me to post here. I had so much fun doing this that I think I may have to spin some for myself.

So.....Mulberry silk tops became an 8ply yarn (11wpi); 237 metres; acid dyed in tomato and tangerine both before, and over-dyed after spinning. It turned out really soft and luscious....I was very pleased with the result. Have called the colourway "bushfire red" in light of the bushfires here in Victoria over the last few weeks.