Chasing Spindles 5 - Hazy Shade Of Winter

In this week's episode:

 Holidays crept up on me. I was going to decorate, but ran out of time. I figured the holidays would catch me off garde as I'm trying to figure bills and stuff still. This week, I've been nuts on working and fiber arts. 

Monday:

 had the day off and cleaned. Finished some things I’ll talk about later in the show.

Tuesday:

I went to a funeral for someone I didn't know. It was an awkward experience. I felt like I really should not have been there. The crazy thing was, that, through the stories about this person, I kind of got the feeling like I knew him. Still, it was uncomfortable watching strangers grieving.

Wednesday: At work they had Santa for the residents. Their were photos, dogs, gifts, all that wonderful holiday stuff. That night, when I got home, I played monopoly with family. That is one of my favorite things to do with people I love. <3

Thursday:

Went to work, then came back to my parents’ house. I started to get a bit homesick. I was really cranky and just wanted to be left alone.

Friday - After work, caught my train home, and was happily knitting on the train.

Now, onto the show!

Scratched:

Frogging segment:

cotton arm warmers frogged because straight needles are boring to me right now and I cant magic loop.

WIPits:

Casted on a new zebra cowl for my friend for xmas.

WhorlWind:

Sunset is near gone.

FOs:

First Zebra cowl completed. 

Cued up:

Looking forward:

Felicity Hat

free pattern 

Happy Holidays!!

Chasing Spindles Podcast 4 - Where Have You Been?!

Chasing Spindles Episode 4 - Where Have You Been?!





In this weeks episode:

Show notes:

Chasing Spindles: My Life Being Crappy At Everything Crafty
Episode #4
Where Have You Been?

Intro:
It's been 7 months since I did a show and there is LOTS of new stuff to tell you about!! A new house, a new job, and a new computer are just some of the things I covered in the intro to the show.
I also talk about the reasons there has been no show for so long.  Things have done a REAL 180 since last show. If you want to skip the update starts the show at: 13:20.

Craft That WIP
For my works in progress this week, I have lots to show you because I've been a knit whore :) Plus I’ve caught a bit of Cast-onitis.

1. Arm Warmers
     •Crem de la Crem
     •Worsted weight
     •Combed cotton yarn
     •No colourway
     •Needles: size 8 straight
     •Brand: unknown from grandma's stash
     •Garter stitch
     •No pattern
2. Zebra Cowl
     •Lion's brand yarn
     •Can't find the ball band will update when I do :)
     •Worsted weight
     •Needles are size 6 circular
     •brand: unknown from grandma's stash
     •No pattern.
3. Ribbed hat
     •Just casted it on.
     •Yarn from grandma's stash
     •May have to overdye it
     •More info next week!
LESSONS LEARNED :)
When ribbing, bind off ribbed!!!
4. My first hat
     •Paton's Classic wool
     •Worsted weight
     •Wool yarn
     •Needles size 8 circulars
     •Brand: Boye
     •Messed up the bind off.

Whorlwind:
This week, I have lots of spinning to show you! Some is stuff I've been working on for quite a while, but I also have some new stuff as well. I have had my passion for spinning renewed indeed.

1. The dreaded Naked Merino:
     •19.5 microns 6ozs
     •3rd cop
     •Spinning a fine single thus far.
     •Getting about a fingering weight
     •Spun on bottom whorl drop spindle
2. Sunset On Gelfrey by Knitter's Nightmare:
     •100% Wool
     •2ozs
     •About half way done
     •It's coming out finer than I wanted it to.
     •Getting a near sock weight.
     •Spun on top whorl drop spindle

Stashy Stashy:
I have some awesome new acquisitions to show you. I have gotten my hands on lots of colorful goodies which I cannot wait to work with.

1.  A Night At The Genetic Opera by Knitter's Nightmare:
     •100% superwash Merino
     •4ozs
     •www.knittersnightmare.com
2. The Promise by Sockbunny Studios:
     •80% superwash BFL 20% nylon
     •400 Yards 2ply
     •On her miracle sock base
3. Erin Colorway by Maine Wool Yarn & Fiber:
     •%100 wool
     •4ozs
     •Kept on calling it mainewoolyarns, but it was wrong.
     •www.mainewoodsyarn.com/

I Made This:
1. Merino Yarn
     •first two cops of merino made absolutely fabu yarn!!
     •about 100 yards of yarn
     •This yarn came out beautifully balanced
     •Epic pass!

 Cueing it up!:
1. First pattern
     •I am ready to do my first pattern so if you have any ideas, post them in the group at ravelry.com               under the “My first pattern” thread.
2. Things to come
     •Also I talk about the natural dye along and maybe a future contest in the months to come!

Thank You!
I just wanted to say thank you to the people who have been so supportive throughout the life of the show!
Renecia
Christina
ChaoticHooker

Exit Strategy:
1. Find me as Spinpixy on:
     •Instagram
     •Ravelry
     •Plurk
     •Facebook
2. You can find the show at:
     •chasingspindles.blogsopt.com
     •www.youtube.com/chasingspindles
3. Get interactive with the show:
     •www.facebook.com/chasingspindles
     •http://www.ravelry.com/groups/chasing-spindles

Photo update:
Pictures from the past 7 months including a fire I TOTALLY forgot to tell you all about.
Music:
Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap

Aloe vera juice recipe

Aloe vera juice


Note: if you are using store-bought lemons in a net bag. You may need more lemons than if you use homegrown lemons. Also, try to avoid using lemon juice bought from the store. It may have other chemicals in it, and may change the taste of the juice. Finally, this recipe can be altered to make as much or as little juice as you'd like simply blend ingredients to taste for smaller amounts.
Be safe while cutting, and enjoy!!

Ingredients:
5-7 Lemons
3-4 small Aloe leafs, or two large.
3 bags of Celestial Seasonings fruit tea
I used country peach passion.
1 one gallon pitcher filled with 1 gallon purified water.
1/4 Cup honey

Instructions:
1. Steep: start by steeping 3 bags of Celestial Seasonings fruit tea in 1 gallon of cold water and set aside in refrigerator.
2. Harvest lemons and aloe vera.
3. Prepare the aloe vera: To prepare your aloe vera, first start by taking a very sharp knife and slicing off the spine ends. Be careful not to prick yourself on the thorny bits. Now thoroughly wash your aloe vera in cold water.
4. Cutting the aloe vera: Take your freshly washed aloe vera leaf, and place it on a cutting board or clean working surface. Slice to leaf fillet style to remove the skin. Once the skin is removed take a spoon and scrape the aloe vera into a bowl or directly into blender.
5. Preparing lemon juice: to prepare the lemon juice, slice each lemon in half once then run through your juicer.
6. Blend: blend aloe vera and lemon juice together for 30 seconds to a minute.
7. Combine: combine lemon-aloe mixture to steeped tea, and mix thoroughly.
8. Sweeten: Take 1/4 cup honey and add honey to taste.

Variations:
I have heard of some people leaving the skin on the aloe vera plant but blending it very very thoroughly. One lady swears this is helping her son who has cancer. Be warned, some of the compounds in the aloe vera may cause a laxative like effect if the skin is left on.

Chasing Spindles Podcast 3 - A Beginner's Whorld

Chasing Spindles Episode 3 - A Beginner's Whorld 

Show notes to come...

Chasing Spindles Podcast 2 - Dyeing Of Natural Causes

Episode 2 - Dyeing Of Natural Causes

In this weeks Episode: 

Show Note:

-LOUD NOISES watch your ears! so sorry! I                didn't know my mic would pick up my drink being sat down.

-High school kids getting out apologies for city noise.

 -I am dehydrated, just walked home and it's hot outside, so I'm drinking a lot again… Sorry

Week Speak: 

 1. Changing the name of this segment to on the Decks! 

 2. Hurt my knee on the bus BOO it hurts@

 3. Talk of natural dyeing with Amber ChaoticHooker

  a- Tools used:

     -Turkey Tin

     -Paper Plates

     -Bowls for every color

     -Saucepan

     -Tongs

     -Rags/towels

     -Spoon

     -Yarn (bought and handspun)

     -Spaghetti Jars

  

  b- Mordents used:

     -Cream of Tar Tar

     -Distilled Vinegar 

  c- Elements/colors used:

     -Beets - Red

     -Grapes - Blue

     -Onions - Orange

     -Wilton Cake Dye (just in case)

  d- Processes:

     -Mordent bath

     -Chopped/mashed/peeled produce 

     -Boiled water

     -Made produce into tea

     -Let yarn set in tea as it steeped

     -Strained tea into 3 spaghitti sauce jars 

     -filed saucepan with 2cups of water

     -set jars in pan with the water

     -set yarn in the jars

     -let boil

e- Result!

     Yarn was colored at follows:

          Grape section - pale pale blue

          Beet Section - pale rose pink

          Onion section - dingy brown

f- Phase 2 for darker color: 

     -Removed yarn from jars

     -Added cake dye to natural tea as follows:

          Grape - Blue 2drops

          Beets - Red 3-4drops

          Onion - Orange 5drops

     -Set to boil 

  g- Result!

     Yarn was colored as follows:

          Grape section - Dark to sky blue

          Beet section - Dark red to pail rose pink

          Orange section - did not change

     Note: white sections were over-dyed in the blue tea, and produced a terquoise blue to purple.  

If you would like more information on our processes, a full in depth description will be posted soon, including photos, as well as boiling and setting time.

Craft that WIP! 

 1. Red Barron Cowl 

      -Has seen NO progress (but bad progress) 

      -Wonky stitch on the needle  

      -Huge hole on the side

      -has a dropped stitch

      -Cannot frog/must fix  

      -Taking a break until I can fix all problems.

  

 2. Mindless knitting

     -Technique scarf

     -Practicing the stitches I am learning

     - yarn is an acrylic/wool blend (bulky yarn)

     -Boye size 10 needles

 3. Leg Warmers

     -Donated yarn sport weight

     -Boye (not Clover as I stated in the show)

     -Size 4 circular needles 19inch cord

4. Triangle Shawl

     -I can't show it to you

     -It will be a pattern up for free download soon

    

Whorl Wind: 

1. Top whorl: 

     -Spinning combed top Merino fiber 

     -8oz 19.5microns 

     -Spinning 6 or 8oz

     -Spinning like a dream

     -Thin pre-draft

     -Spins itself

     -Trying for a worsted weight

Fiber Frenzy: 

1. Nothing because I don't know what I want to spin.

BYOB (Bought Yarn Or Beads): 

1. Gala mixed Fiber yarns

     -4 skeins 

     -2 colorways 

     -Nylon, acrylic blend

     -bulky yarn

I MADE IT/Epic Pass Epic Fail: 

1. Dye Pots Finished Items

     -Yarn Alpaca

     -Yarn Mystery Fiber

     -Dyed fiber project bag

 Future Plans: 

-Trip to Portland in May!!!!

-More natural dyeing

End Note:

1. Yes, I know there was fiber fluff on my shirt :-)

2. Apologies again for the loud noised I really didn't think it would be picked up that loud (as it was on a table next to me opposite my mic)

3. Forgot to say microfiber bag will be redyed in grapes as soon as I can get to it. I'm trying for a tie-dyed look.

Chasing Spindles Podcast 1 - It Starts

Episode 1 - It Starts...

 




  In this weeks Episode: 
Intro:
 -Who is this Crappy Crafter?
 -Why am I doing this podcast?
 -All questions answered.

Week Speak: 
1. Grandma's stash raided...Kinda :)

  a- Clover bamboo circular Takumi needles 

     -size 11US or 8.0mm 

     -36inch cable 

  b- Red Heart Skein HUGE 

2. Trip to Michael's:

  a- Clover bamboo Takumi straight needles 

     - size 11US or 8.0mm 

     -14 inches long 

3. Found Fun stuff: 

  a- Naked fiber bag 

Craft that WIP! 

1. Triangle Shawl 

      -On 43rd increase 

      -Done in garter stitch 

      -Done on Boye size 10 straight needles 

      -Done in Peria yarn in the Hawaii Colorway (97%acrylic 3%Polymid 

2. Red Barron Cowl 

      -Named for my Grandmother 

      -Casted on 40 stitches 

      -Done in garter stitch 

      -Done on Clover circulars and moved to new clover straits. 

      -Done in Red Heart yarn 

Whorl Wind: 

1. Bottom whorl: 

     -playing with scraps :) 

2. Top whorl: 

     -Spinning combed top Merino fiber 

     -8oz 19.5microns 

     -first fiber ever purchased. 

     -Gave half to ChaoticHooker 

     -Had a fiber fiasco made me MAD panda. 

3. On the bobbin: 

     -Type O Negative by Unwind Yarn Co. 

     -LOVE it and want MORE 

Fiber Frenzy: 

1. Merino! 

     -8oz Comed top 

     -SOFT 

     -19.5microns. 

     -Naked for a reason :)

BYOB (Bought Yarn Or Beads): 

NOTHING!!! what is up? I will have something next week because I am having some yarn dyed for me by SockBunny of SockBunnyStudios on Etsy. Will have Beads as well. 

I MADE IT/Epic Pass Epic Fail: 

1. Garter stitch scarf  (pass)

     -Calling it Frogger scarf

     -I'm turning it into a cowl 

     -Made from donated yarn 

     -Very short 

     -ugly stitch work

2. Yarns: 

  a- Coridale handspun (fail) 

     -first yarn I ever spun 

     -Bulky and over spun 

     -Broke whilst setting it re-spun it and reset it. 

  b- Alpaca handspun (PASS) 

     -Donated by another friend 

     -Mostly consistant 

     -Great fun for beginners 

     -Set nicely 

  c- Mystery Fiber #1 (kind of pass) 

     -Donated by Amber ChaoticHooker

     -Mostly consistant thick/thin

     -Fun to spin

     -Set nicely

  d- Mystery fiber #2 (Pass)

     -Donated by Amber ChaoticHooker

     -Consistant!!! 

     -DIFFICULT TO SPIN 

 Future Plans: 

Natural Dye along with chaotic & Crafty

Here we go!

Welcome to my blog for the Chasing Spindles Podcast. You can find my podcast on Youtube right now. I hope to have my podcast up on blip soon, but I need to work out some kinks. It's been a long process to get even to where I am now, so I hope I can make some real big changes soon. Anyway, about the podcast...This podcast is dedicated to my journey into knitting, spinning fiber, and crochet. It is serving as a video blog of my progress as I learn. Please check out my podcast on Youtube every Monday! Also, you can join the group on Ravelry and you can follow my Plurks as well. Thanks for reading my blog, and I hope you'll add me to your blog feed.