Spinning Wheel Help!!

 I have been wanting to learn how to spin for a while, but the cost of a spinning wheel  has always been my biggest road block.

I found this beauty for $60+tax at a 'Antique Mall'.  It will need a drive band, and I am not sure if it needs a flyer whorl or if its bobbin driven.  The treadle and wheel work smoothly but the footman has a small split in it and might possibly crack with extended use but I think I can get it replaced easily and it seems like the pin attaching it to the wheel was replaced at some point with a washer and a bit of wire which I will want to replace. The part that holds the flyer (closes to the wheel not the orifice) is chipped but I assume I can just use a strip of Velcro to ensure it doesn't get jostled off.  

The only mark I could find on it was faded and looked like it said 'MacDonal PA' so does anyone recognize this wheel?  I would like to learn more about it, find out if I should try and get a whorl made before trying to get a drive band so I know if it is a double drive, or bobbin drivin.

I am also unsure what the arm on the side is for but the upright piece on it looks like someone broke it off and tried to glue it back on so I wouldn't trust to use it.

Warm Winter Scarf FINISHED

The weather here is insane.  It was -7 yesterday morning, and my aunt desided she would like me to make her a scarf.  Her only request was the color Teal, so this scarf is a mix of 'Real Teal', 'Macaw', and 'Navy'.

Its far to cold outside and covered in over a foot of snow to get natural light shots outside, so I am doing my best to use the light from the windows so you can get an idea of the actull color of the yarn.

I will try to update with more WIP shots threw out the day.


Here is the finished scarf! its just over 5ft long.

UN-tested Maokai Sapling

Someone asked for a pattern to make a doll for their friend.  I offered to write one up, but I did not test the pattern so it might need adjusting as you work.  IE you might need to add/subtract rounds to get the right shape and length.


Sc=single crochet
MR= Magic ring
st= stitch
R1/R12=round 1/12 ect
Inc=increase (two stitches into one stitch)
Dec=decrease (combinding two stitches together)

So if I write  R3 Sc 2, inc   I want you to keep single crocheting 2 stitches then increasing till the end.

Starting from the bottom up-

You will make two legs then crochet them together to start the body.  Arms, eyebrows, and top horn/branches worked separately and sewed in at end.

You will need green and black felt for mouth/eyes/leaf and brown yarn.  F/G/H hook depending on how large you want the pattern to come out. Yarn/Darning needle. Stitch marker, it can be contrasting color yarn, hair pin, or a store bought marker.

Leg's -make two

Magic Ring 5 sc  (( http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gwoLSojx7VI video showing how to start with a magic ring)) (5)

R1- Sc 2, inc, Sc 2 (6)

R2- SC all (6)

R3- SC2, inc, sc 2, inc (8)

R4- Sc all (8)

R5- Sc 2, inc, sc 2, inc, sc 2 (10)

R6- Sc all (10)

First leg, cut off  6-8in end yarn and slst to finish off, second leg do not cut off yarn it will be the working yarn for the rest of the doll.

Holding the two legs together using the yarn from the first leg, sew 5 stitches together between the legs with the working yarn (starting spot for rounds) on the outside.

R7- SC all (15)  You will be working in the round when you get to where the legs meet start working across in the other leg skipping over the stitches sewn together.

R8- *sc 4, inc* repeat (18)

R9- SC all (18)

R10- Sc 5, inc  repeat (21)

R11- SC all (21)

R12- Sc 3, inc repeat (28)

R13 threw 18- SC all (28)

R 19- Sc 3, dec repeat (21)

R 20 - SC all (21)

R21- sc all (21)

R22- sc all (21)

Leave long tail to sew in top branches to body.

Smaller knob/branch make 2  ((Leave a tail to sew together))

MR-5

R1- Sc 2, inc, Sc 2 (6)

R2- SC all (6)

R3- SC2, inc, sc 2, inc (8)

R4- Sc all (8)

Longer Knob/branch ((Leave a tail to sew together))

MR-5

R1- sc 2, inc (6)

R2&3-sc all (6)

R4- Sc 2, inc (8)

R5&6- Sc all (8)

Sew each of the smaller branches to either side of the large one, by 3 stitches each leaving  20 stitches to sew the top into the body

Arms- make 2

MR 8-

Work for 8 rounds

Leave long tail for sewing into the body.

Brows- make 2

MR-4

R1-3- SC All (4)

R4-  Sc, inc (6)

R5- Sc 2, inc (8)

R6-7- sc all (8)

R8- Sc 2, inc (10)

R9- Here you will make a split, work first  6 stitches then join them to the beging of the round leaving a 4 stitch gap.

R10-12 Sc all (6)

R10-11(B) Sc all (4)  work the reaming 4 stitches

You will want to stuff the body, attach the top portion to the body sew it to the body stuffing as you do so the top is also full stiffly.  Stuff and attach arms to sides around round 11.  For the brows you might not want to stuff the full brow , I would suggest stuffing the start of the brow lightly then sewing it shut at round 4 so you can firmly stuff the ends of the brows and sew them shut and attach to the body.

From here you will need to cut felt for eyes, mouth, and leaf to attach to the body.

Christmas Hual

I don't know what you all celebrate but we do Christmas in my family.  This Christmas I got a big haul of yarn from my family.  My grandma gifted with with all the yarn left over from her stash.  My Brother-in-law and sister got me the yarn on my wish list from Iceyarns.com.
I think one of the top gifts I revived with from my husband.  It is a project organizer for yarn, it is a bag that has sections, one side of the section of spaces where you can place 6 skeins of yarn in individual pockets and pull the ends threw the top of the  bag ensuring your skeins don't get tangled up or roll around on the floor/couch. The other size has enough space for a full size blanket worth of skeins.

I have already put it to  work, stitching up a blanket for my brother-in-law.  We picked out this yarn off the web site but I did not realize it bobbled from lace weight to worst weight so the blanket is looking very rustic.

I have been wanting for a long time to try out some of this ice yarn and it works up nicely.  I know there was yarn snobs out there who turn there nose up at 'cheap' yarn, thinking if its cheap the yarn has to be trash.  Well I have been working with it for a few days and it holds up nicely compared to the more expensive stuff that I eventually shelled out a load of money for its just as easy to work with and feel great.

Lastly, yes that is a rubber band loom.  Its really fun to play with, but if you want to make adult sized bracelets you need multiple looms.  For the original price of the name brand loom I got 4 of this loom.  It works just the same way except they connect together by the side and not from underneath so you can have them side by side or staggered like in the image.   My friends got there oldest boy the name brand loom and I can not see a difference between bracelets made on his, and ones made on mine.

Ice yarn

granny yarn

Hubbys gifts

rubberband loom

Christmas Gift Pattern-ish

I was wrapping gifts today, and I was thinking of all the yarn I had and if I had it in me to squeeze out one more thing before christmas.

So here it is took me about 3 hours give or take as I was working on it on and off.

The close up is more true to the color of the yarn, I just have not had any luck with lighting lately.


This worked up fairly quick, I used 2 skeins of Twilight Merino Wool, 1 skein of Grape Crush Angora, 1 skein of Acrylic/Nylon blend Silver.

To make this I just held all 4 yarns together and working with a Q hook (16mm) I chained 62 stitches made sure not to twist my chain I slipped into the starting stitch and worked in the round for 12 rounds, then I ran out of the Angora I switched over to a N (10mm) hook with the remaining 3 strands I put two single crochet into each stitch for one round to finish it off.

I am not sure who I am going to give this to.  I am tempted to keep it for myself but I dont think I would put it to good use, I already forget the blue wavy cowl I made last year every  time I go out.  Its a nice thick cowl that would be verry warm, and since its very cold out now I hope who ever ends up with it uses it and loves it.

By the way it is long enough that it can be twisted and doubled up to add extra warmth and  coverage on the head.

Dragon Finished

So I am finished with the dragon for my nephew. he wanted a green and black dragon so I hope he loves it.

It is just over two feet long from nose to tail.  I hand stitched  a running chain along his head and neck then did a row of staggered single and double crochet along the neck.  I used a fine tooth comb to tease the yarn out making it soft and fluffy.   I wasnt able to find a way to make the wings posable with out a wire of some kind and I was asked not to use wire in him.

I think I might make an other dragon for myself later.  I searously need to make a light box for taking pictures in its winter here and there has not been a nice sunny day in a while so all my photo shoots have been indoors and the lighting does no justice to the work.

Giveaway Winner!! -- Update

Since only 5 people entered the contest I am choosing to only do 1 winner.

The first number pulled was 5, which is someone who posted as Anonymous. I would love to congratulat them and sent them a gift but I asked for people to use a name for a reason as anyone can claim to be the Anonymous poster.

So I had the numbers repicked

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Congratulations*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Fair Rabbit

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Congratulations*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

 Please pick out which bunny you would like, or have me pick one randomly for you.  Then send me an email at the address shown to the left.  Please make sure to make the subject line Giveaway Winner  and included the bunny you would like, an address for me to ship the prize to.  


Fair Rabbit has failed to contact me, so I am drawing a new winner.

Congratulations Linda! You can pick out a Unicorn, and since I know I will see you on Christmas I don't need to ship it.