The Rhinebeck Report

Can you say "CROWDED?" I have been going to Rhinebeck for maybe 15 years, and I am blown away by what has happened to the charming 4H event. The parking lot was already very busy at 9am on Saturday, and got progressively worse through the day. By the afternoon, I felt like I was on the Lexington Avenue Subway Line during rush hour. There was a huge line of tour buses. Who would have imagined? That said, it was a cool fall day, the leaves were turning and I was with good company, so I can't complain. I'll cut right to the chase. BadKitten got a blue ribbon for her weaving. Note the large rosette. That would be Best in Show for woven items. Not in the junior class. In the entire show. I will stop bragging now. She also got a fifth for a lovely silk and cotton plaited twill...
On Sunday, we did the Fleece to Shawl event. You can see our sign and team, waiting for the starting bell. BadKitten was weaving.
Here you can see our finished shawl. We didn't place well because we were "short." That means we didn't make 72 inches in length, so we got a huge deduction. I take the blame because I totally under-estimated how much loss in length we would have. We used singles, and the take-up was really crazy. Live and learn! BadKitten was amazing, not only weaving well, but holding up to the fierce pressure of BadCat. We were pretty pleased with our finished piece.

Here you can see dueling Lyras. I am sure you know which is mine! The judges thought I needed to do a better blocking job. Hello? Did you see my blocking job? Did you see LucyFur supervising? I'll shut up now...
Pears came in second in her class.
The Summer Sampler also got a second...
And here is the Best in Show. This is an Estonian sampler. The judges are very impressed with nupps! It was really nice work.

I am almost recovered and I'll be back by the weekend with a materials list for the Autumn BadCat-a-long. Until then, knit on!

I am moving at warp speed!

I am here with a quick post to share my warp progress. You can see, the warp in on the back beam just before I thread the heddles and the reed. For you weavers out there, I like to warp back to front, especially for hand-spun. I will have the finished product to show you after I make it through this weekend! And as promised, my booty from Soar! Two lovely Spindlewood spindles. The square one is Afzelia Burl with an Ebony shaft and weights 24 grams. The other has a purpleheart and ebony whorl with an ebony shaft. It weight 34 grams. The small skein is some natural pale brown Polworth.
And finally, a Golding spindle, made of walnut with a brass ring and insert. She weights 0.8 ounces. The yarn is some white Polworth, spun on this spindle. The guitar pick is to give you a size concept. I think this is some of the nicest fiber I have ever spun, and that is really saying something. I got it from Rovings (at SOAR.)
And here is a close-up. Don't drool on your keyboard...
And for good measure, this insect was on my front door. It was as big as my hand. On that note, I will see you all in Rhinebeck!!

And the beat goes on...

I dyed some of that lovely fleece, using natural stuff...that would be cochineal, turmeric, walnuts and goldenrod.
I dyed some of my hand spun yarn too...
Here you can see the fleece drying...
And the yarn drying, left to right...goldenrod, tint of turmeric and cochineal (3 skeins), tint of walnut, cochineal, turmeric with a hint of cochineal. I just LOVE color.
Darling nephew, playing the accordion and doing a color dance.



And there is more to come...I hope some of you are weavers, because I will share the entire project once I am done. Until then, knit on (or weave on.)

Madness and mayhem...what is she doing?

1000 yards of hand spun yarn from this roving, fingering weight, washed and soaked in alum and cream of tartar. I spun this on my wheel last week. I usually use a drop spindle, but not for this much yardage... Big pot of simmering water and Dawn dish soap...
Little baskets of this fleece (belonging to a sheep named Pretty Girl) from Pitchfork Ranch, soaking in hot, Dawny water...

What in the world am I up to?? More later!