My Spinning Wheel

I have a spinning wheel - I HAVE A SPINNING WHEEL I CAN USE Yippee!!! OK, I know I'm shouting etc but I am so happy : )


My wheel is an Ashford Elizabeth 2 and she has ball bearings in the wheel so treadling is simply, a mere flick of the foot and round she goes. No strain, pain or effort involved. We finally finished sanding, waxing and assembling her last night so today I had a go.


And below is the result:

The wheel came with a £25 fibre vouchers so I bought nearly 2 kgs of undyed shetland tops to practice with. I have her set up for scotch tension at the moment. Having become proficient with a spindle over the last 2 years has really helped with getting my foot and hands co-ordinated I think.

On the walking front, I think I am also making progress. I can now walk half a mile at a time before I need to rest. Yes, it still hurts and is very tiring and I have to get cross with myself to make myself keep going............but I am not giving in and becoming more and more housebound just yet. Where there is life and strength I am keeping and reclaiming my mobility for as long as I can.

PS I now have skirting board and proper electrical sockets at home too - no more extension leads snaking around the floor : )

I hope to have the energy to resume my knitting groups soon instead of flaking out at 7 pm, but walking properly before Winter sets in comes first and everything else (including housework) must take second place. Once I can walk a mile, I can get to the gym and swimming pool and get strong in all my muscles, which can only be a good thing for all other activities.

The Wedding

My eldest daughter got married yesterday at Kenilworth Castle. Here is a photo of yours truly with my 3 beautiful children : )

And the bridge and groom:

It was a lovely sunny day and the venue was breathtaking. The ceremony was held at the gatehouse at 4pm so, by the time we ventured out afterwards, the grounds had closed to the public and we had the whole castle to ourselves for the rest of the evening. Glasses of chilled Pimms at the Elizabethan Knot Garden as the sun goes down is not to be missed!!!

New Spinning Wheel

This photo sums up how I feel right now:

Sort of serene and dreamy and very warm and contented inside. If I were a cat I would be purring now : )

I have just ordered my first spinning wheel - and Ashford Elizabeth 2 from Wingham Wool Works .

The wheel comes with a £25 fibre voucher so I have ordered nearly 2kgs of Shetland white tops to learn with. A very kind friend who lives nearby is going to show me the basics. I am so thrilled because I didnt think this could happen. I tried several at Woolfest and the ball bearings on the Elizabeth made treadling easy for me. I was supposed to wait until December as my birthday and christmas are close together but......well......you understand I just couldnt????

PS The photo was taken by my son at Woolfest. It is the view outside our bedroom window in the B & B on the second night.

Goin' Quilting

I am sooo happy. On Wednesday I am off quilting for 5 days with a group of fellow quilters in Leicester. I will have 5 days of peace, no housework, no phone, no internet - nothing. Just me, my sewing and about 40 other quilters for company.

Bliss!!!

PS This is the link to all the details if anyone fancies coming some time: Quilting retreat

Not Woolfest-ing

This is what DH, DS & I were doing up in Cumbria when we were not browsing around Woolfest or having a great time on the campsite with other fiber-loving people:

The men-folk were canoeing on the local lake whilst I sat in a comfy picnic chair by the lakeside knitting. While I was there I met 3 ladies who were walking past. They saw me knitting and said hello. It turned out that they were from the Medway Guild of WD&S and were here for Woolfest. We had a lovely chat about wooly things and duck calling : )

More Socks & A Cardigan.

I made another pair of socks for DH's size 13 feet. I really enjoy knitting these. There are so many plain rows that they are idea as a project to take anywhere or knit while I am watching TV. DH is also very appreciative of them so that is a plus too : )

I have finished my latest project, a Cardigan in DK for me. I altered this pattern a bit by using 4.5mm needles and changing the shaping of the body. In the pattern there is a shaped body starting with rib but I did double moss stitch for the bottom border and then continued straight to the yoke shaping. I also altered the sleeves to make them taper all the way up instead of straight to the elbow and I put a double moss stitch border at the wrists too.

I used Cascade 220 and found that my tension was too tight on 4mm needles and it didn't drape very well, so I switched to 4.5mm needles and made a smaller size. Iso had to make the body and sleeves 3" shorter than the pattern......small, me????? No way, these patterns are designed for giants LOL

Taking a Break

Normal blogging service will resume after Wimbledon....and the heatwave : )