Tuesday's Box

 

 

Just a Beakful

Kochi and Sage enjoy their Miner's Lettuce tender and bite-sized.

 

 

 

Not Willy Nilly

The Man spent the weekend in Ventura providing me with uninterrupted time to delve into a new project. I reached for the Mirrix Saffron loom.

 

 

It's been over two years since I started the tapestry sampler on the little loom. I didn't get very far before I stalled so instead of resuming the sampler I put a new warp on and started from scratch.

 

 

It did not take long before I remembered that tapestry weaving requires concentration, thought, and planning. I am glad I warped for a wee sample, only 3" x 3".

 

 

It is slow-going.

 

 

 

Saturday Read

 

Library Audiobook

 

Unboxed

 

 

 

Thursday Read

 

 

SLO Skate Park

Today The Man and I took a stroll through Santa Rosa Park and stopped to watch the skateboarders.

I happened to look up and noticed the public art. Of course, the letters drew me in.

 

 

City of SLO website ~

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday's Box

 

Musty Balls

From a recent Guild Pass-it-Forward event I brought home several bags of old, ahem, vintage wool yarn for Charity knitting.

 

 

 

 

The yarn is clean but musty smelling and in need of a good bath. First, though, the yarn balls and cakes need to be skeined and tied before it can be washed,

 

 

 then in hot soapy water it is carefully soaked so as not to full or felt the wool yarn.

 

 

  

Refreshed: vintage wool yarn,

 

 

good as new.

 

Sunday Read

 

Library e-book

 

Weaver Tip

Today I labeled some of my Weaving yarns. I was following a tip I received from Betty, one of my Guild friends. Betty suggested to write the yarn size on the inside of the yarn cone instead of relying on the sticker label. That sounds like a good idea. It is easy to lose the little not-so-sticky-anymore labels.

I don't have a ton of weaving yarn (compared to my friends) but it would be nice to keep the cones of Cotton 8/2 and Cottolin 8/2 separate and organized from each other.

I started with the Cottolin 8/2 cones and wrote "8/2 CL". (Cottolin is a blend of Cotton and Linen.) Easy peasy.

 

 

While I had the colorful array of Cottolin in front of me I decided to write the yarn info on strips of card stock.

 

 

Then I made a Color Card for the cones of Cottolin yarn I have.

 

 

I didn't get to the Cotton yarn today but at least I won't have to make the Color Cards.

 

 

Friday Read

 

Library Audiobook

 

Take it Outside

Earlier this week we had two days of 85°. Unusually warm for this time of year it seemed like a special treat.

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Read

 

Library Audiobook

 

Tuesday Read

 

Library Audiobook

 

Cup in Hand

We changed our clocks to Daylight Savings Time two weeks ago but my sleep rhythm is still out of sync. Finally, this morning, I was able to wake up early enough to greet the new day.

 

 

Dear Straw Bale Knitters

Finally sent an Update email to the Straw Bale Knitters. It literally took all day to compose. That's probably why I haven't sent one out since November.

"Dear Straw Bale Knitters,

Hello friends and Happy Spring! I hope this email finds you well. It has been awhile since there has been an update and I am sure you are hankering to know the stats and to see pics!

 

The last update was sent out in November and since then we have welcomed a few new members to our charity group of Knitters, Crocheters, and Yarn Donors bringing our group total to 25 wonderful people.

To recap: Our group is primarily made up of CCW Guild Members (along with Carole - the prolific Knitter Extraordinaire - a friend of Nancy W).

 

Yarn kit distribution occurs on Tuesdays at Spinners’ and Little Looms group. I drop off Scarf kits and pick up completed scarves; I bring them home and check the scarves (weave in a missed tail or two), retie the signed gift tags, and then mail them off to Leslye Borden of Handmade Especially For You. Leslye and her group of Volunteers ties a gift ribbon to our scarves and donates them to 70 Shelters (for abused women and their children) throughout CA.

Please read the attached Thank You letter from Leslye and please check Handmade’s website for Thank You Responses from the various Shelters. Also, there is a plethora of information on Handmade’s website."

 

There was more but the salient points are:

 

Generous donations of yarn comes in.

 

 

 

 

 

 I make Scarf Kits and distribute them to the Straw Bale Knitters group.

 

 

 

 Scarves are completed, checked over, and then mailed to Leslye Borden Handmade Especially for You:

 

 

January 2025 50 Scarves, 6 Hats

 

 

March 2025 43 Scarves, 8 Hats

 

 

"To date 263 scarves has been donated from SBK to Handmade (as of April 2024)."

 

 

Artsy Digger

 It is amazing what turns up every day around here.

 

 Sadly, it is not a good place to be making art.

 

 

Two for One

A Guild friend shared some of her goose eggs. They are ginormous.

 

 

Donna said they are good to use for baking, substitute two (chicken) eggs in the recipe with one goose egg.

 

Sweet Spot

The last step of making the 4-ply Cable Yarn was a little tricky.

There is a sweet spot - the right amount of twist - that makes the yarn pop into a cable, giving it a braided appearance.

 

 

Too little twist and the yarn looks like a regular ol' 2-ply (albeit four strands).

 

 

Still not enough twist,

 

 

much better.