Saturday is Dye Day

I have signed up for Rebecca Metzoff's on line tapestry class which starts on Monday.  She recommends using Harrisville Highland for weft.  Unfortunately The Mannings did not have a wide selection of colors in the skein and I did not want to buy several cones.  I bought two cones of white and purchased a Greener Shades organic dye starter kit at MDSW.

First step was to wind off 50 yard skeins.

Next, I washed the nine small skeins in Synthrapol.

Drying in the sun.

Because I wanted to do nine small skeins I used mason jars set in the dye pot.

The Greener Shades dye instruction sheet was very clear and concise.  For the majority of the colors I used only 1/8 teaspoon of dye.  For the reds, black and orange I used 1/4 teaspoon.  I used bamboo skewers to stir the dye and wool gently.  After the temperature of the water inside the jar reached 175, I added 1/2 teaspoon of citric acid to each jar.  I let the temperature get close to 200degrees and then turned off the heat and let the jars cool.

The yarn was dumped out of the jar into a strainer and the washed in Soak.

Drying in the sun.

Spinning with Friends

 

Today was the quarterly  Saturday meeting of the Carolina Handspinners.  The group meets monthly at the community center in Lowell on the second Tuesday of the month.  Quarterly however we meet on  Saturday at a member's home.  This allows us poor working stiffs to attend.

Nora was a wonderful host.

 

 

Beth, Will and Christina settling into to spin.  Nora showed us the stack of quilts her mother made during her lifetime.  They now have pride of place in Nora's home.



Pam, Ann, Chris and Will.  Will and Ann used their drop spindles.  You can see we spin some, chat some and of
course eat some.

Shirley "vogueing" for the camera.



Nora, Shirley and Burgl discuss our food options.  Nora made a really delicious ham and bean soup and homemade bread.
Everyone else brought additional treats.  We never lack for food.

Nora got some spinning in with her hosting duties.

See there was actually some spinning accomplished, the two Pams and Ann.

Jan and Shirley spinning and knitting.

I always forget how much I enjoy spinning and knitting in the company of friends.  It is relaxing but also reignites the desire to spin more and better.

This my tapestry sampler.  The yarn is some random scraps of needlepoint yarn that I scrounged up.  The color combo leaves a lot to be desired but I am focusing on becoming familiar  with the process.

Anything Fiber Sale

One of my favorite things is the Anything Fiber Sale in Black Mountain.  Every August fiber folks have the opportunity to  buy and sell fiber tools, yarn, fleece and all things fiber.  I vended last year and had fun but this year as a shopper was even better.

These ladies were laying out fleece for prospective buyers to check out.

Maurice checking out the crowd.

Sally, Nora and Maurice taking a break from shopping.  After we left the fiber sale we headed for lunch in Black Mountain.  There was also a stop at the yarn store there.

 

My haul.  The best find for me was a Hanne Falkenberg sweater kit
at an embarrassing low price.

On the way home, Nora and I stopped in Morganton at a new to me yarn store.
  OSuzanna, is at 130West Union Street and is lovely.

Nora visits with Susan McRae the owner

It is a lovely store with weaving, knitting and spinning fiber.

Beautiful stuff.

It is a very well curated space.  I loved seeing Susan's fiber art.
Susan is very warm and welcoming as is her shop.  I will definitely make it a point to stop in when heading west.

 

Find X Designs

A spot of fun on a side trip to Sanford to visit my doctor.  I remember when Find X Designs opened, I was so excited that Sanford had a yarn shop.  The owner is a former math teacher hence the name. The yarn selection has expanded to it's own building next door to the quilt store. 

 



A good selection of yarns and needles.

I love this beautiful antique swift.

 

 

Of course, I did not need yarn but found some anyway.  This is some gorgeous organic cotton.  I have a friend who loves spa cloths and I plan to knit her some for Christmas.  I also bought an interchangeable size 7 Knitter's Pride needle.  I want to try this brand and compare to my Knitpick Harmony.

Many Splendored Things

Sunday, we went on a drive and ended up going to Seagrove.  We checked out some pottery studios and then found a very cool little store called "Many Splendored Things".  This is a delightful store owned by Vicki Merritt.  Vickie carries lots of yarns, including her own hand dyed alpaca from High Meadows Farms.  She also has quilting supplies, rug hooking supplies and classes as well as local pottery and jewelry.

Vicki is as warm and welcoming as her shop.  There is even a shop dog, Belle.  check out the pictures below.  I will definitely be going back.

Vicki

Belle

Beautiful, hand dyed alpaca

The store front, wouldn't you love to sit and knit here?

Yarn and fabric, oh my.  This is only one of many rooms to explore.

Knitting Addiction

There is a fabulous yarn store in the Outer Banks.  Knitting Addiction moved into a new store and now is even more special.  It combines great inventory, friendly owner and staff and a spacious store with comfy areas to sit and knit.  We have been here four days and I have been there twice.  I think I may have to go back tomorrow!

The shop cat Purrl.

Mile marker 4.5, do not miss this shop!

 

 

SAFF

I attended SAFF with dear friends Roxie and Susan.  We had a wonderful weekend.  The organizers do a good job of making sure SAFF gets better every year!

 

Next year, I hope to enter the skein and garment competition.

 

 

I volunteered at the wool show and learned so much. 

                                               I also bought a 6.5 pound Corriedale fleece.

 

                                                      There were some adorable alpacas.

 

                                                                 Some beautiful sheep.

                                                              Not to mention the goats.

                                                                   Here are my purchases.

                                                                         Until next year....