I've completed these yarns in the past month or so. Probably past 2 months. It's been a whorlwind year! Not much time for spinning or creating, yet I feel like I've done a lot, craft wise. Maybe it's all the travelling in the van. And getting a lot of knitting done. Anyway, YARN!
"Bear Poop in the Blueberry Bush" - Core spun corridale with lumps of brown merino. I'm not sure how I didn't see the poo factor until I pulled it off the bobbin, but ya know... it happens I guess? Recent spins by SpinHeartSpin, on Flickr
Long color runs. So pretty. Not sure of content, but it's corespun, and sparkly! Recent spins by SpinHeartSpin, on Flickr
take 2, so you can see how the colors will stripe. It's over spun, so I'm considering running back through the wheel to fix that so when knit it doesn't skew. I thought about plying, but then that woudl muddy the striping I was going for. Recent spins by SpinHeartSpin, on Flickr
This ones all natural. Shetland, Mohair and hemp! super squishy, spun woolen. Recent spins by SpinHeartSpin, on Flickr
And some Neked Yarn! Shetland, not quite, but almost 250 yards, 8oz. so it's squishy and thick. Spun worsted, from a commercial top. So it's true worsted, technically speaking. Neked Shetland by SpinHeartSpin, on Flickr
I didn't really need pillow cases.... But I made some anyway, because I do need to get rid of some fabric, and I'd way rather sew it then send it off to a thrift store! And someone in the Destash Along made one, so I'm following suit I just traced a pillow case, and did some math to figure out how big to make the case part and how big to make the trim part. Cut cut sew sew! simple, straight lines, and I guess I could always gift them... or keep them!
All 4, folded up pretty! (I even ironed them! It will be the only time they are ironed, I'm sure!)
2 of each, kind of matchy matchy, but not.
That's a good 2.5 or so yards (maybe even 3!) out of my craft closet, and into my linen closet!
My sister is Seriously Cold. I mean, she'll wrap up in a blanket with a sweater in 25'C weather. She's Seriously Cold. All.The.Time. So I made her this!!
It's oddly shaped... in that it's more of a square, then a rectangle... I added a few extra stitches to the sides. Shouldn't have.
But it's okay, because she fits under it quite nicely!
Even if she flips it so the stripes run vertical, it will reach from her neck to her toes, because of the stretch of the 2x2 ribbing. But this will be my last blanket for quite a while.... It was cumbersome to knit, and not being a seriously cold person, once the blanket gets long, it get's really hot to knit under....
I've really wanted to get rid of some of my stash lately, and I've also recently cleaned up my craft room, so I can actually use it! It's far more functional then it has been in over a year. It's also been ages since I drafted a pattern from scratch, but I did on these pants. I hate buying patterns, since I know what I'm doing (or did know... ) My kids are nearly the same size, so I made the pattern to fit the bigger one. Well, I'm glad I sewed the littler ones pair first, because they *just* fit her. I added the strips to the legs on the bigger ones pants, and they fit him nicely! Both pairs have an elastic in the back of the waist band to keep the pants up.
The littler one:
The bigger one:
I'm glad I did these pants before I went and drafted and cut the dress I may actually make myself this year... I will remember to add a good amount of ease (since I didn't add enough obviously on these pants... I may even get some muslin and do a test cut and sew too... Don't want to screw up the dress! LOL
Born out of the need (want) for baked goods, no desire to find a recipe and it has become a go to recipe when those bananas are ripe.
Gluten Free Muffin Top Cookies
2 ripe bananas 1 egg 1/4c honey 1 1/2 c certified gluten free quick oats* 1/2 coconut 1 cup arrowroot starch 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 c cocoa nibs (you could use chocolate chips if you wanted to. I'm trying to avoid refined sugars)
Preheat oven to 350'F. Mix wet ingredients, add the oats and coconut and then the arrowroot with the baking soda and powder and cinnamon mixed in. Then lastly add the cocoa nibs and mix just to incorporate. Plop on a baking sheet by the heaping tablespoonful. Bake for 12 minutes.
These are just sweet enough, tasty and awesomely quick. I'd eaten 2 before taking the picture, so I got 10 large muffin top cookies. They are much more muffin-ish then cookie like. But they are filling and delicious.
*If you are making these for someone else, please check that you oats are GF, and please ask if them if GF oats are okay. I know some people wont want to eat oats for fear of cross contamination and such.
The fibre boards have never had a Featured Member! But it's time we give a little extra attention to those who help to make these boards really really awesome!
With the help of the "This Rocks" button, I was able to find out who was one of our boards most "Rocked" members. This time around it's Harlan! Harlan has been a member of Craftster since February 22, 2011. Since joining she has shared a number of absolutely beautiful needle felted creation, and has shared tips and advice. She is the author of Needle Felting - To the Point, and the maker of beautiful Prittens, among other things as well.
I asked a few questions of Harlan, and the answers are as follows:
1. How were you introduced to needlefelting? And how long have you been creating felt pieces?
I first became aware of needle felting after looking at a book called “Fleece Dog”. I remember looking at the photos and instructions and thinking “I can do that.” That must have been in 2007.
2. What was the first needle felted item you made?
After having looked at “Fleece Dog” I came home and looked for needle felting kits on the internet. I found a kit for making mice. When the kit arrived, I read through the instructions, threw them away and proceeded to teach myself. I’m still teaching myself.
3. Which FO of yours is your most favorite? My most favorite of my needle felting pieces would probably have to be Wixie. Wixie is a black and white cat that I made for my husband.
4. Who are some Felters that inspire you?
I have many felting contacts on Flickr and other locations and I enjoy their work, but I try not to look to other felters for inspiration. That may sound odd, but basically it is the process of keeping my own artistic “voice” in my work.
5. Outside of felting, where do you gain your inspiration?
Outside of felting I draw inspiration from a huge number of sources. Just about anything can be a source of inspiration – a child’s toy, an illustrated book, Pantone’s seasonal color trends, or the squirrel outside the window. I did a very stylized bull sculpture last year that was the result of researching what one might call “tribal” color schemes and wound up looking through a lot of ancient cave paintings. You never quite know where you will find inspiration, but as an artist you can never wait for inspiration.
6. Do you have a favorite Craftster Project?
No, I really don’t. I’m the sort of artist who takes a basket making class and makes a hat.
7. If you could tell your young self one thing, what would it be?
The magical time machine question…ignoring the philosophical debate over how such pre-knowledge would forever change the outcome, I guess I would tell myself to work harder.
Thank you Harlan, for taking the time to answer my questions, and Congratulations for being our first Featured member on the Fiber Boards!
Okay, here we go, discuss your projects and post pics when you can! Participation is not mandatory. And you don't even necessarily need to finish in the month, but sometimes it's fun to see how we all interpret the same theme!
Untitled by SpinHeartSpin, on Flickr This was woven from my spun summer skien that I spun two summers ago. I had a tiny bit left over from the shrug I knitted. I love that bee!
Untitled by SpinHeartSpin, on Flickr This was woven with a variety of scrap hand spun and commercial yarns, and the clouds are bits of BFL fleece, unspun and just woven in in lock form.
They are both roughly 4x6, one being a bit wider and the other being a bit more narrow.
I've finally got up the courage to try llama! ( for those that don't know, I'm really allergic to alpaca, and seeing as llama is a close relative, well, I was hesitant.)
First the one that went awry in the wash.... (I did not agitate. I set it in the water gently) Suri llama gone wrong by SpinHeartSpin, on Flickr
I have no idea what happened. To much ply? To little ply? To much spin in the singles? Sould I have let the bobbins rest before plying? I do eventually need to find the answer to these question, this is master spinner homework after all.
I mean, it's lovely, but I can't possibly turn this in...
Then there is the short llama fluff too. I really like this stuff. I blended it with Corriedale wool, for a bit of memory, and anti static properties. Llama fluff and Corriedale rolags by SpinHeartSpin, on Flickr I spun it woollen, with a point of contact long draw (mostly,. I did have to do some double drafting) its a 3 ply. This I can turn in. It's pretty. Llama fluff and corridale blend by SpinHeartSpin, on Flickr The color is an in between shade of each picture. The first was taken in full sunlight, and the other just minutes ago under a fluorescent bulb.
So anyway. That's part of my adventure with llama fibre. I sure hope I can fix the first, though I do love the little loops, none the less.
525 yards of merino/bamboo/silk, 3oz on the nose. It's really really thin on one end, and there is a section that is a bit heavier, but over all it's a lovely weight, that would probably work up nice on a size 1 or 2 knitting needle. I started this yarn, intending it to be 3 ply, but 3 ply yarns are good for stitch definition, like when you are knitting cables, where 2 ply is best for nice open stitch patterns that lace knitting provides. So 2 ply it is. I've got 3 more oz to go, and considering this 3 oz took me the better part of 2012 to complete (mostly it just sat on the bobbin lonely, waiting to be plied) I might manage to complete it by new years day 2014!
Show Topics
But I made some anyway, because I do need to get rid of some fabric, and I'd way rather sew it then send it off to a thrift store! And someone in the Destash Along made one, so I'm following suit 
