Fiber made from milk? Well, it’s actually made from milk protein, casein to be exact. Although it’s a protein fiber, same as the animal fibers wool and silk – it’s made in a similar manner as bamboo and tencel. The raw product is broken down in a chemical bath, then extruded into fiber. And a lovely fiber it is too - smooth and silky to …read more
A fun new friend came to live at my house! She arrived in this over sized box. My new Schacht Ladybug Spinning Wheel! 
I impatiently pulled her out of the box in parts and got to work putting her together. In the process, I ran across my own sweet little ladybug mascot perched on the side. After a few false starts, I hammered out the …read more
Planning a new project is one of my favorite activities. Starting is often way more fun than the actual knitting. Starting is exciting and full of promise – uncomplicated by reality, the project lives within my mind as perfect. This might explain the number of projects I start compared to the number I actually finish. Planning a new pair of mitts …read more
I took a few moments to admire the Ravelry projects for our free Tumbling Bunnies pattern this week and was so impressed with the creativity and skill of the knitters out there. I wish I could share them all, but here’s a selection of those who were kind enough to allow me to use their photos: It’s always fun for me to see the unique …read more
Good Gravy! After finishing my latest spin, my first on the turkish spindle, I looked back to see when I’d begun and saw that I’ve been nursing this spin along for nearly 6 months! I am powerfully happy to have it off my spindle! And yes – I learned a valuable lesson I can share with you regarding a turkish spindle. The fiber was merino …read more
Cover your hard boiled or refillable plastic eggs in sleeves that resemble popular knit sock patterns. Stuff them with jelly beans to fill your baskets, or stitch markers and mini skeins to treat your knitting BFFs! Abbreviations: dd = double decrease = slip 2 stitches knitwise. Knit next stitch, then pass slipped stitches over knitted stitch. k2tog …read more
Instead of the egg toss, juggle floppy little bunnies this year! These bunnies are tumbly, acrobatic little beanbags to toss into spring baskets for your little, (and not so little), ones. I made them with dk weight cotton, but they’ll work up well in sock and worsted weight also. Gauge is not important for this project, but the knitted fabric …read more
If it’s not enough to spin your own yarn in order to knit your own sweater, how about going even further – making your own personalized buttons to put on it? I started playing with clay – to make a shawl pin for a swap partner, actually – and once I got started, I got all sorts of ideas of what I could do with this great, mold-able …read more
These sweethearts met 56 years ago. James W. was an army private on leave and Barbara Jean, a high school student. They met at her hometown skating rink and were a couple from that day on. Barbara Jean is my Mom and after many years of marriage, she became Dad’s caretaker for the last few years of his life until it was over in 2010. They …read more
Each time I finish a hand spun knit, I roll up all those leftover pieces and display them in one of the pretty little bowls I collect in my craft room. When it gets too full and starts spilling over the sides, I start thinking about making some little scrappy project with them. Hand spun, especially on a drop spindle, is truly a labor of love, …read more
