Oh my heart is heavy. Have you ever met someone that was hard to talk to? I know a guy like that. I met him about 15 years ago and over the years we’ve become good friends. On the outside he is large, awkward and appears to be uncomfortable. On the inside he is brilliant, warm and sensitive. I received word yesterday that he has terminal cancer. I will miss wandering down to his office to swap stories and try to figure out what to do. I’m so sorry my friend.
Well, I realized that I forgot to update you on the proof of concept project. There is good news and there is bad news. The good news is that I LOVE the yarn. It has a wonder feel and drape so I will continue the spinning. The bad news is that I HATE the dye painting. It just looks ugly. Maybe I picked a bad color. I was trying to highlight the knit pattern with dye and it just didn’t work. Well, have a look and see what you think.
So, it starts on the blending hackle. 50% cashmere and 50% silk … YUM!
After spinning and knitting, I laid the swatch out on saran wrap …
I painted the dye onto the swatch with a tiny little paintbrush …
Rolled it into a log and cooked it in the microwave …
After washing, blocking and drying … YUK!
Well, at least my Triinu scarf turned out nicely. You can’t see it, but there are tiny little sparkly beads throughout. So pretty!
A close up. If you look VERY closely you can see the beads …
Oh, I didn’t spin this one, but I did dye it 
OK. So the proof of concept is underway but more about that later. Today I decided it’s time to block the finished scarves I have laying around.
It’s a snowy day today so I thought I’d let the bunnies run around in their pen for a while. They had so much fun it was tough to catch them and put them back for the night LOL!
Then I decided that a nice big pot of green chilli was in order … Shhhhhh … don’t tell the kids that mom’s cooking … yum!
So, by day I am an IT geek. At work, before we dive into a project or if someone comes up with a new idea of how to solve a problem, we perform what is called a “Proof of Concept” project. Basically, it’s a miniaturized project that proves whether or not the idea will work.
I’ve got some silk/cashmere on my wheel right now. I’m trying to spin a lace-weight yarn and was searching for a special pattern for it. I saw somewhere where someone had hand-painted their knitted item to dye it AFTER it was knit. So I got my new book Haapsalu Shawl last week and immediately fell in love with the Lilac Leaf pattern 1 on page 83. My idea is to finish my spinning, knit a shawl up in this pattern, soak the shawl up real good and then paint the dye on the ridges of the leaves and let the dye leach where it may.
I think a proof of concept project is in order this weekend. I’ll be sure to post pictures too.
I’ve got to do some blocking too. I lost one of my handspun, dyed and knit scarves to a bet with my hubby. DANG-IT! He’s sending it to his sister who is ill.
OK. I’m off to get some stuff done …
Well, I’ve always lusted after it so I finally started. I’ve always loved the Forest Path shawl so I decided to just get it out of my system. After getting to the second tier, I didn’t like the looks of the right triangle and decided that the size 1 needles were too small so I started over with size 2. This time I made sure to pay strict attention as I knit the side triangles and I am going on faith that it will all work out. Pictures will follow.
If you are looking for a good book, have some spare cash and love lace, you really should order the Haapsalu Shawl. It’s big and soooo beautiful! I can’t wait to finish the huge project I JUST started (Forest Path) so I can start another one using the gorgeous patterns in my new book. I think I might have an addiction? LOL!
Well, I got through the Beyers Bunte 2007 book and added all the Niebling patterns I was able to identify. I have a whole bunch of patterns I was not able to identify as Nieblings. I’d like to add them on a page of their own so you all can help me identify them, but I am struggling with adding a new page. GEEEZ! I’ll keep working on it LOL!
So, I had a doctors appointment in Boulder, CO yesterday and my daughter Sarah, my pseudo-daughter Melissa, and my grandson, Zildjian decided to tag along. I suggested that since we were going to Boulder anyway, I always wanted to stop by the Schacht factory just to see what there was to see.
Upon arriving, a very sweet receptionist seemed excited that we stopped by, equipped all of us with safety glasses and started the tour. It is interesting that they do not have an inventory of wheels and looms sitting around, but rather parts. Equipment is assembled as orders come in.
Before we left, my shirt was soaked from all the drooling and mark my words, I will have a Schacht Reeves 30-inch cherry wheel before I die. Hope you like the pictures and if you are ever in Boulder, by all means stop and take a quick tour!
Sanding Belts
A very special loom they were building while we were there. The biggest they make ... for rugs.
Three Lady Bugs all in a row ... they are so cute!
Hey, I need one of those!
My next wheel 
OK. I am dedicated to getting all my Niebling patterns indexed and updated. I added two more patterns this morning. I’ve always know this one as Quadratische Decke, but this particular magazine calls it Spitzendecke. That’s one of the problems with Niebling patterns … they morph themselves … with new names. Aye-Aye-Aye!
Anna 0484/13 Blaugraue Spitzenstola Shawl
Quadratische Decke Anna 04/1984 0484/14
OK. I got one more Niebling pattern indexed. It is named Silberstern and in my Byers Bunte Band 2036. I could not find this one specifically credited to Niebling, but it is so close to Sibella, it’s good enough for me
Well, here we go. I just love the weekends. It’s hard to know how to spend my precious time off. The to-do list includes:
Update the Nieblings
Block the scarves
Finish the spinning
Finish the knitting
Poker night
Did you notice the lack of domestic chores? As I age (I’m 51) I’ve decided that life is just too short for things like cleaning. I’ve turned to paying my college-age children to clean my house. A match made in heaven LOL!
Hang in there with me. I’m learning how to set this all up. I know you probably stopped by looking for my Niebling patterns. I think I’ve got the link working. Crossing my fingers.
