tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83501749411311145862024-03-13T17:18:08.490-05:00Dawning Dreams BlogThe many adventure of an eccentric fiber lover!Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-73949254328648787582020-07-28T13:10:00.001-05:002020-07-28T13:14:54.375-05:00Tactile Touching of Minds and HandsSometimes, an event can change your life so drastically that you wonder how you ever lived beforehand. Attending my first fiber festival (Fiber Christmas in July in Kellyville, OK) a couple of years ago was one of those moments that set me on my merry fiber adventures. I spent the day petting all the wools and watching all the wheels spinning in wonder and excitement. I knew instantly that I had found my niche.<br />
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My mother recently shared with me her memories of when I was younger, on how I used to stroke all my blankets and play with me hair. It had never dawned on me until that festival just how tactile I was. In high school, I would visit thrift stores to purchase clothes, firstly, because my mother had horrible tastes in teenage clothes, and secondly, because I was an intensely independent person who wanted nothing more than to prove she could take care of herself. I walked aisle after aisle just brushing my hands across the tops of the fabrics on the hangers until I found something that felt quality. It was never my way to choose the fashion clothing that fell apart after washing it a couple of times. I wanted a durable clothe, be it either satin, cotton, wool, or any other, it had to make me feel comfortable.<br />
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So when I started back into Fiber arts, I found myself using those same techniques. I would walk the yarn aisles just feeling the different yarns. Depending on what I was making, some yarns suited and some not. If you are making a rug for your kitchen, you wouldn't want 100% fluffy angora that slips out from under your feet when you step on it, nor would want to make a baby hat out of scratchy 100% wool (not pointing fingers at any particular brand, but you know what I mean). Knowing the right fiber that works best with the right project is key to making an object that lasts. I have found that many forget this step and just grab a color they like without thinking of it's function. Yes, there are a lot of pretty colors out there, but that's only half the picture. <br />
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Anyway, back to my story, after purchasing my spinning wheel, I immersed myself in all things fiber related. I read books and magazines discussing fibers and through the wonderful efforts of Jessie from Phat Fiber, I got my hands on dozens of varieties from silks to wools to bamboos and so many more that are under-used and under-appreciated. I "played" with them. I did not just simply take for granted that what ever an individual book or magazine said. I tested it. It may be the long way, but without experiencing it for yourself, I feel that you don't truly understand of appreciate them. For example, it's one thing to read stories about sailing the oceans and watching the dolphins play in the waves, but an entirely different matter to get on a boat and swim with them. <br />
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At Fiber Festivals, I feel like I found a wonderful group of people who understood this simple outlook: to experience rather than passively abide. Everyone was touching the fibers and asking questions. I had detailed conversations about the mechanisms of spinning wheels and talked with several women about how their knit items came about. Everyone had an experience with what they made. Sometimes, I fear, that the art of conversation is being lost to use. Sometimes though, in those rare moments, when like minded people come together like at this festival, we actually converse. It's not about me being right or you. It's just the simple joy in exchanging thoughts and ideas to better each other. <div><br /></div>Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-39196602586057257992014-08-10T10:40:00.000-05:002014-08-10T10:40:42.334-05:00Vacation Granny Shrug Pattern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Using classic granny square crochet construction, this simple pattern can be adjusted to any size or use any combination of colors to make a truly unique and beautiful piece. It can be completed in a weekend, or in my case, while on vacation. For the best fit, please refer to the custom fit instructions throughout the pattern.</div>
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Gauge: 2.75 rounds = 4 inches / 10 mm in granny square pattern</div>
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Yarn: Berroco Vintage Chunky, 50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, and 10% Nylon; 130 yd/120 m per 3.5 oz/100 g; 3(3,4,5) hanks for Small (Medium, Large, Extra Large) in 1-4 colors</div>
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Stitches used:<br />
Chain Stitch – ch<br />
Single Crochet - sc<br />
Double Crochet – dc<br />
Slip Stitch – sl st</div>
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You can get a copy of the pattern via the "buy now" link below or on Ravelry. </div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/dawning-dreams-designs/224076">buy now</a><br />
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Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-62952061190132821802014-04-01T11:02:00.001-05:002014-04-01T11:02:23.048-05:00EXPLORE ADA - Dawn Riden: Fiber Artist<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CWqR12bpn5U" width="480"></iframe>Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-62453548707577374852013-11-28T11:44:00.000-06:002013-11-29T08:14:24.773-06:00How to Create Your Own Teeswater Cowl Many knitters have asked me how I created my beautiful Teeswater cowl I posted in my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DawningDreams" target="_blank">Dawning Dreams group</a> on Facebook. So I decided to write it down for you. I want to warn you though, this is not truly a pattern. I'm not out to give you every last detail to how I made mine because it was an invention of the imagination and the fibers. The yarn is my handspun from my friends sheep. It is a one-of-a-kind in an of itself. So, to tell you to use this or that yarn would be like trying to repaint a famous work of art. Don't let that turn you off, however. Instead, look at this as an opportunity to create your own "work of art" using your knowledge and skills. So, if I haven't scared you off by now, let's begin.<br />
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Materials:<br />
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<li>~200 yards of a thick and thin spun, super bulky single (My handspun for the body was Oklahoma-grown Rambouillet fiber from Lowder Colours Farm.) </li>
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4-8 oz of long, (~6-7") Teeswater wool locks (other varieties of locks could include mohair, Wensleydale, or Suri alpaca to name a few.) </li>
<li>Size 15 Circular Knitting needles (mine are Denise Interchangeables)</li>
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Methods Employed:<br />
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<li>The yarn is a thick and thin single, as I said before. The thickest parts are about the width of my thumb. If you don't know how to spin thick and thin check out <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/sit-and-spin-dvd">Jacey Boggs Sit and Spin! DVD</a>.
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2. The Teeswater locks were about 6-7' long and slightly felted on the cut ends. I purchased mine from <a href="http://www.fiberchristmas.com/?page_id=132" target="_blank">Lowder Colours Farm</a> right here in Oklahoma. This is important! The slightly felted ends allowed my to create a hole, that you will see to add as fringe. The following images show you how to create the hole. </div>
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Once you have all your supplies gathered, we're now onto the "pattern" part.<br />
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<li>Cast on 70 stitches on the size 15 circular knitting needles. Side note here: If you don't like it as large around the neck, decrease the amount of cast on stitches. Keep in mind. though, you will have to increase to get back to the needed number later to get around your shoulders. </li>
<li>Join beginning and end to form circle. Don't twist the stitches! </li>
<li>Work four (4) rounds in purl stitch. This will creating a Stockinette that will roll the collar. </li>
<li>Now, work (2) rounds in knit stitch. This will create a division between this and the next bump.</li>
<li>Work (4) more rounds in purl stitch. </li>
<li>Work 10 rounds of knit stitches. </li>
<li>Increases begin here; make an increase every 7 sts all around. I used Make One Front as seen in the Knitting Help video collection at http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/increases. This will increase your overall number by 10 sts (80 sts)</li>
<li>Knit (5) more rounds. </li>
<li> Increases begin here, make an increase every 8 sts all around. This will increase your overall number by 10 sts (90 sts)</li>
<li>Knit (2) rows. </li>
<li>Now for the shaping... and insertion of locks</li>
<li>We're going to bind off (15) stitches now, but at the same time add locks for the fringe. Using the method above for creating a hole in the tail end of a lock, you will add a lock into the needle before binding off the stitch. As you knit the stitch, you will pull the lock and yarn through as one. It's kind of like thrumming. If you don't know how to do this, check out on the Daily Knitting video at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeCIghU9gT0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeCIghU9gT0</a>. Instead of folding the roving, you'll just add the end through and leave the beautiful tip hanging. </li>
<li>Here's the tricky part because I did not know how much yarn I had so I decided to go until I had enough to bind of. With what I had left, it created a gentle curve, but if you had a lot much yarn, it would eventually come to a point.</li>
<li>From now on, until you run out of yarn, you will bind off (1) one stitch at the beginning and end of each row while adding a lock or two each time. Your method may be different than mine, but I simply K2Tog (knit two together) on the knit rows, and P2Tog (purl two together) on the purl rows.The more locks you add, the fluffier it'll be, but it will also be harder to knit. Find what's comfortable for you. </li>
<li>Keep up this pattern until you have just enough yarn to bind off. (I made another 15 rounds before needing to bind off.) Bind off remainder stitches as mentioned in number 12 above. </li>
<li>Weave in any ends. </li>
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The finished product should have a nice gentle asymmetrical curve from the thinner part to the bottom. This gives you flexibility on wearing it.<br />
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If you like this or any other DIY tutorials, feel free to donate directly to me using the link below. I truly appreciate anything you can offer to keep me creating. <br />
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Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-73451367224934821812013-07-29T11:41:00.000-05:002013-11-24T11:42:56.683-06:00Fiber Christmas in July 2013Oh, what a weekend! As one of the organizers behind Fiber Christmas, I take much pride in offering small fiber businesses a place to come together once a year in a relaxed and supportive environment. Our goal is to connect those who have a fashion for fibers arts whether that be knitting and crochet, spinning and weaving, or even felting. Though each is its own category, there is an invisible connection between them all in which techniques can cross genres. For example, knitters can use certain crochet techniques to finish the edges of objects, or a weaver can change the look of a woven fabric by understanding the bias of the active twist of a yarn when woven.<br />
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The being said, many times a person does not realize that these techniques and tools can be intermixed. This is where a fiber festival like Fiber Christmas steps in. It brings together the different types of fiber arts to share knowledge, tools, and supplies in one location. The joyous part of Fiber Christmas is that the vendors are like a family. We each have our own strengths and weaknesses and will gladly point you in the right direction when you're looking for something specific. By supporting each other, we can a strong and active community filled with continued growth and respect.<br />
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So, what does that mean for those who visit? They become incorporated in our fiber family. They learn through exposure to some of the best artists we can bring in. They are able to purchase things they would normally never see in person. With this added value, I see returning friends year after year with new and exciting projects and ideas that expand our ideas.<br />
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Some photo highlights for you all.<br />
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<br />Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com0Kellyville, OK, USA35.9436968 -96.21361360000003135.8408723 -96.374975100000029 36.046521299999995 -96.052252100000032tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-67840503859889670052013-04-27T12:45:00.000-05:002013-11-26T17:54:16.413-06:00Yellow Rose Fiber Fiesta 2013Oh Yellow Rose! How much I enjoy thee, Yellow Rose. This has quickly become one of my favorite fiber fairs to attend. The location, the people, the fiber... It all works together for a delightful weekend of mayhem.<br />
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First off, my drive time was right about 7 hours from where I am in Oklahoma to Seguin, TX. Ironically, I've gotten pretty good at driving long distances alone. One of my favorite techniques to keep me going an mentally shorten the trip is to listen to an audiobook on the road. This time. I had Across the Universe downloaded from my local library. This sci-fi romance set many years in the future had a lot of twists and turns that kept my interest. I actually started with another book, but it couldn't hold my interest. It would be also a great time to listen and catch up on your favorite Podcasts if you listen to any. (*cough, cough* Must Stash Podcast )<br />
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Lucky for me, my Fiber Party Friends already were checked into the hotel and I simply pulled into the parking lot and walked into my friends waiting hugs. The best welcome ever!<br />
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Saturday morning, I spent setting up my new shelves for display. Let me tell you, I love my new shelves. They are light, easy to travel, and put up in a cinch. It took me all of an hour to get everything up for display with help from my friend Laurel of Spinatude.<br />
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And finally everyone started arriving!!<br />
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I had so many wonderful conversations with such a variety of people. For instance, one kind woman showed me photos of her various weavings that she created. Another lovely family actually had just returned from my childhood home in Okinawa, Japan. Their children were darlings! They even took the drop spindle class. I also got to chat with Stacie of the <a href="http://muststashpodcast.com/" target="_blank">Must Stash Podcast</a>. Laura aka lala of <a href="http://www.theknitgirllls.com/wordpress/" target="_blank"> The Knit Girllls</a> on Ravelry made an appearance as well! It's always a pleasure to see her smiling face. <br />
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There were so many wonderful vendors of various backgrounds. I spent much of my time chatting up with my new friend and booth neighbor Angela of <a href="http://www.purlandloop.com/" target="_blank">Purl & Loop.</a> She had the cutest needle felt kits. You should go over and see. <br />
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Now for more photos!! Check out all the yummies you missed if you weren't able to make it...<br />
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Laurel had a blast taking photos with her awesome camera. She got some really neato' ones of my treasures. <br />
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And finally, what would going to Texas be without my Fiber Party Friends Andrea, Laurel, and Emily. They make it so much fun to work. As you can see, there are always plenty of hugs and laughs to share when we are together.<br />
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As for goodies for myself. Well, I didn't go overboard, but I returned with fiber, yarns, and a special sheepy necklace. The batts are from my fellow talented batt maker <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/butterflygirldesigns" target="_blank">Butterfly Girl</a> Designs. The super soft yarn is from <a href="http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/BuenaSuerte" target="_blank">BuenaSuerte</a>. and I'm not sure who made the necklace. It was a true impulse buy on my part. <br />
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Whelp, that's it. I packed it all up on Sunday and spent way to many hours back on the road to Oklahoma. Thank you all! I hope you enjoyed the show. I'll see everyone again next year!<br />
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With a plethora of fiber tools out there, I try to save money any way I can by making things myself. In many ways, I feel like I am the antithesis of today's use-it-and-throw-it-away mentality. I love to reuse things in new ways to make them useful again.<br />
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With many tools, I have no problem purchasing them straight from manufactures like spinning wheels and drum carders. However, I love to make the simple tools myself. I have a number of handmade crochet hooks, knitting needles, spindles, and so on. You don't think women of the 1800s ran off to Walmart to buy a set of knitting needles, do you? <br />
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I already have a <a href="http://dawningdreamsblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/diy-7-triangle-loom-or-triloom-for.html" target="_blank">DIY Triangle Loom tutorial</a>. Recently, I decided to buy a blending board to take on the road. My drum carders range from 10 to 60 lbs. No way am I hauling those bulky, babies around while trying to keep them (and me!) safe.<br />
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After looking around through the various blending boards offered from Clemes & Clemes, Howard Brush, and Etsy. I decided the $160-$250 price tag just wasn't for me. So I decided to go the DIY route and make my own.<br />
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SUPPLIES:<br />
1 ea - 12" 72 TPI blending Carding Cloth from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/naturalfiberyarns?ref=pr_shop_more" target="_blank">Natural Fiber Yarns on Etsy</a> ($65)<br />
1 ea - 15" x 22" cutting board from Walmart ($17)<br />
1 ea - can of 3M Super 77 spray on glue from Walmart ($7)<br />
1 ea - medium grit sandpaper ($3) <i>had on hand</i><br />
7 dozen - 1/2" staples for my air compressor nail gun <i>had on hand</i> ($3)<br />
Polyurethane spray can <i>had on hand</i><br />
1 image for transfer (optional)<br />
1 sheet of fabric transfer paper (optional) <i>had on hand</i><br />
1 - DIY attitude<br />
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EQUIPMENT: <br />
Air compressor with nail gun<br />
Iron (optional) <br />
Computer with Inkjet Printer (optional)<br />
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STEP 1:<br />
Sand lightly over entire board. This allows for better bonding with the glue. I choose a larger heavier board, so when I lay it on a table, it doesn't scoot around much. You can have a smaller one of you want or even buy more carding cloth to cover more of the board. It's your choice. <br />
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Optional Image Transfer :<br />
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Print the image you want to transfer onto the special Iron Paper by following the instructions provided with the packaging. A couple of notes on this... Make sure you do not buy the type with either the white or black background. It should be clear. Otherwise, you will have a white block around your image. Also, the transfer is not 100% and has an aged look to it. I choose an image that is all black and simpler in design because I knew this would happen. You can look up other ways to transfer images to wood, but I had these supplies on hand, so it didn't cost me anything.<br />
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I cut around the edge of the image and placed it on the board where I wanted it. With my iron on the "Cotton" setting, I heated up the image until I could easily peel away the backing and all the ink was transferred to the board. <br />
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I repeated this again on the back side with a larger image, so that I have one on the front and one on the back. After cooling, I sanded to left over glue residue around the images off. <br />
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STEP 2:</div>
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Now, for the carding cloth. You have to prepare the cloth before stapling it onto the board. when it is created and cut, they do not remove the staples on the front and back cut edges. You have to pull a row or two out beforehand to give your staples enough room to fit. I used a metal nail file to take these out. It's really quite simple and only takes about 10 minutes to get done. </div>
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See, now there is a nice pile of dead staples. <br />
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I placed my cloth on the upper portion on my board. When you add fiber to the work area, it will hang off the bottom a bit. I rationalized that I should leave some room on the lower edge for this. </div>
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STEP 3:</div>
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Now, it's time to glue. Read and follow directions on the can. I sprayed the back of the cloth and the board itself. (1/18/14 NOTE: I have recently been informed that gluing the entire clothe to the board has been know to disrupt the stability of the tines. If this is an issue for you, please only glue the edges of the clothe down, not the entire surface. I have not had any issues, but it may be better to be safe than sorry.) When they were both tacky, I placed them together for an initial bond and then set a flat medium weight box to add some pressure for better bond. You have to be careful to put enough weight over the entire area to firm hold it together, but not too much to bend the staples. I let this dry overnight. </div>
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STEP 4:</div>
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The next day, I pulled out my air compressor and staple gun. Using the 1/2 " staples, since these would not go all the way through the board, I stapled around the edge of the carding cloth, spacing the staples 1" apart. The glue will keep the cloth from shifting and the staples will keep it secure. Remember, this is a tool, we want to to last and only doing glue or stapling is not good in the long run. </div>
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STEP 5: </div>
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I lightly sprayed a polyurethane coat over the exposed wood parts while cover the carding cloth to make sure it didn't get any on it. This seals the wood and protects the images from damage. </div>
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STEP 6:</div>
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Enjoy your new handmade board! I'm not going to go into how to use it in this blogpost. I think you should just play in to beginning and see what happens. It will not replace my drum carder, but its a great tool that I can take to fiber festivals and on the road. </div>
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Also, the cutting board I purchased has these wonderful groves around the edges which work great for placing my dowel rods in so they don't roll away. The only thing I wish it has is a handle and maybe a brace underneath to hold it in my lap like some of the more expensive ones. That's okay though. If you have the tool and gumption, I'm sure you all could do it to your own boards. I sure am happy with the way mine is. </div>
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TOTAL COST: ~$90 since I had some of the things on hand. That's $70 cheaper than the least expensive board online. Actual time I spent on the piece (-drying time) 30 minutes. It's kind of like cooking, if your willing to put some time into it, you can save yourself some money by buying the ingredients and making it yourself.<br />
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If you like this or any other DIY tutorials, feel free to donate
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<br />Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-12932797180785341422012-12-11T17:41:00.002-06:002013-11-26T17:55:46.387-06:00Arkansas Fiberarts Extravaganza 2012Whew! I am totally exhausted. This past week has been an exercise in endurance. With a full-time job, online business, family and the holidays, I've been running a marathon of events all month. It's such a blessing though. I am glad to be surrounded by a family that loves and supports me, friends that inspire me, and customers that make everything they buy special.<br />
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With that being said, I returned to Arkansas Fiberarts Extravaganza for the 4th year. It has grown and changed so much the past couple of years. I just enjoy it all. I truly feel though this quote says it all:<br />
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<i>The
truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are
feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in
such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step
out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.</i></div>
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<i>-M. Scott Peck </i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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I am always looking for<i> </i>ways to improve myself and the products I offer. I had several wonderful discussions this weekend that has left me brimming with ideas. How could you not be inspired when surrounded by such positive and creative people?! </div>
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Friday night was tough, my friend Kate (<a href="http://www.fiberchristmas.com/?page_id=132" target="_blank">Lowder Colours Farms</a>) and I left Oklahoma at 4 am. It's wonderful to have such a friend that you can count on. Kate has always been an inspiration to me. She has one of the largest flocks of fiber sheep in Oklahoma. She is a true Shepherdess who deserves more respect than sometimes given. </div>
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We got to the facility early to set-up our booths. Throughout the years, I have become good friends with several of the other vendors, so it feels like a family reunion when we are together. We discuss past events, new techniques, and stories, whether funny or scary from recent times. We learn from each other, which is how I believe it should be. Though we all are in similar fields (selling yarns and fibers) we each are individuals with different things to offer. </div>
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That night we listened and enjoyed the wonderful musings of the <a href="http://www.masondixonknitting.com/" target="_blank">Mason-Dixon</a> Girls. I think several of the attendees were smitten with getting to meet them. All the registrants got a book and were able to get it signed at the event. </div>
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Saturday was far more leisurely than I expected. It was refreshing to talk with knitters about their purchases and projects planned. I love hearing about what others are planning to create and why. Let's face it, if we are going to spend hours, days, or years creating something, we have a lot of thoughts concerning the project. I think sometimes it is surprising for me, a "competitor", to show interest in another shop's yarn/fiber. Heck, I buy for other vendors too! I'm still lusting to get a LOOP batt to spin some day. </div>
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I had an absolutely lovely afternoon teaching Drop Spindle to several ladies. I made sure to bring lots of fibers to test. They were fantastic! They had open minds and hearts. I know learning to spin can be confusing and frustrating, but they handled it all very well with grace. I'd love to see where they go with the skills I taught them. In the end, they all walked away spinning anywhere from bulky to even lace-weight yarns! I feel satisfied they got what they paid for. : )</div>
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Saturday evening, we wrapped up the show sadly. A few friends offered to buy Kate and I dinner after helping them load up their trailer. We ate at Colton's, who had the best baked sweet potato I've had in a while. Afterwards, Kate and I drove down to Knitting on the Corner, which is maybe a block from the convention center. It was a perfect way to end the evening. I did not have a project, but I gladly sat in the company of several knitters joking and chatting the evening away. It was the calm after the festival storm. I even walked away with some yarn! Thank you for keeping the shop open late that night!</div>
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The next day, Kate and I took the scenic route back to Oklahoma. We visited the Heavener Runestone, which Kate had never seen before. The lady in the gift shop was so warm and passionate about the park. Apparently, the government was going to close the park several years ago, but some locals stepped up to take it over. She even had some handmade jewelry that she made herself to purchase. She told us that it had been hard keeping it going, so I made sure to pick up some items like a necklace and bag, and make a small donation. Share the love right? </div>
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I'm still working on inventorying and relisting everything on Esty. I'm sore and tired, but truly feel great inside. Nothing like a great weekend with friends and fiber to lift the spirits. </div>
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Sorry, most of the pictures I put up on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DawningDreams" target="_blank">Dawning Dreams Facebook Page</a> and Kate has the rest on her camera. </div>
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for such a great and memorable weekend. </div>
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Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-84115533856076719182012-11-18T08:50:00.002-06:002013-11-26T17:55:30.882-06:00Kid N Ewe 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjLiYcnSKKw/UKjxvVwUBzI/AAAAAAAABrs/OVpYgKEZjA8/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjLiYcnSKKw/UKjxvVwUBzI/AAAAAAAABrs/OVpYgKEZjA8/s400/IMG_3790.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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Ah, the joys of friends and fiber! I'm still reeling from the fantastic
weekend at Kid N Ewe in Boerne, TX. My friends, Andrea of Natural
Obsessions, Laurel of Spinatude, Emily of BuenaSuetre, and I, spent
three incredible days visiting with friends, making rugs, and creating
general mayhem. It's always such a pleasure to help customers choose
fibers and colors for projects, but to have such a fun group of ladies
makes it an experience!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UfFXaOFk4HM/UKjw90TXR5I/AAAAAAAABrQ/IatIV-Bdkp4/s1600/IMG_3775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UfFXaOFk4HM/UKjw90TXR5I/AAAAAAAABrQ/IatIV-Bdkp4/s320/IMG_3775.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting the Fiber Party Rug laid out. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Vendor Building.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlkzcwHhNWs/UKjxP0fiijI/AAAAAAAABrc/OfMvh8I5tfo/s1600/IMG_3787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlkzcwHhNWs/UKjxP0fiijI/AAAAAAAABrc/OfMvh8I5tfo/s320/IMG_3787.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone brought Angora Goats! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTlrc1vqNWQ/UKjx9QLSbxI/AAAAAAAABr4/fTi03ED6n8Y/s1600/IMG_3791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTlrc1vqNWQ/UKjx9QLSbxI/AAAAAAAABr4/fTi03ED6n8Y/s320/IMG_3791.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Okie Friends in another building. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3QcNJGIvvko/UKjyRiYH8ZI/AAAAAAAABsA/gy-N7qJ7x-E/s1600/IMG_3804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3QcNJGIvvko/UKjyRiYH8ZI/AAAAAAAABsA/gy-N7qJ7x-E/s320/IMG_3804.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out Dawning Dreams Batts. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jmg49IPtOdc/UKjyhyShd2I/AAAAAAAABsI/Bd0qFay1ADo/s1600/IMG_3809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jmg49IPtOdc/UKjyhyShd2I/AAAAAAAABsI/Bd0qFay1ADo/s320/IMG_3809.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, the fun shopping! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The Fiber Party group includes:</h2>
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Spinatude:<br />
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Natural Obsessions<br />
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Dawning Dreams<br />
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BuenaSuetre:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ror9BgxB1f4/UKjzR1MuJpI/AAAAAAAABss/LX1Jfv52RQ8/s1600/IMG_3827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ror9BgxB1f4/UKjzR1MuJpI/AAAAAAAABss/LX1Jfv52RQ8/s320/IMG_3827.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
Onto the rug... I decided to make my own rug on the second day using one of my batts and lots of locks I had stashed away. Laurel and I did most of the work. We have several stop in with a helping hand. It became a group project, which was wonderful for me. I always love doing projects with others. Also, if you stop in to see the rug, try to find the Tardis time machine we added at the last moment. It'll be our little secret...<br />
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Laying out the rug:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HG7RS9Ncxt8/UKjzhCg0U2I/AAAAAAAABs4/7kGhf5q6Sqw/s1600/IMG_3840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HG7RS9Ncxt8/UKjzhCg0U2I/AAAAAAAABs4/7kGhf5q6Sqw/s320/IMG_3840.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had some helpers, especially Laurel. It makes it more special!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2YSz1GoWEeY/UKjzuwWgX-I/AAAAAAAABtA/9jg6fIuhX2c/s1600/IMG_3845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2YSz1GoWEeY/UKjzuwWgX-I/AAAAAAAABtA/9jg6fIuhX2c/s320/IMG_3845.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, we were having a lot of fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NqguroZbks0/UKjqAv2r15I/AAAAAAAABqg/L2KTiC6wzEg/s1600/IMG_3841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NqguroZbks0/UKjqAv2r15I/AAAAAAAABqg/L2KTiC6wzEg/s320/IMG_3841.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though you can't tell since I stopped a lot to take photos, I actually did work on it mostly. </td></tr>
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<span id="goog_2016220672"></span><span id="goog_2016220673"></span><br />Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-49312872904987192842012-08-16T18:00:00.001-05:002012-08-16T18:00:55.202-05:00Math of the Granny SquareI'm a nerd, there, I admit it. (Though it never was truly a secret, but only we know that.) I love Sci-fi Novels, my favorite being "Fahrenheit 451" by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury" target="_blank">Ray Bradbury</a>, of whom just recently passed away. I love to figure things out. One of my friends nicknamed my "DIY Dawn" a couple of years ago. I found it so true. I don't just want to know the end result, but the process of how it is achieved.<br />
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For the past year, I have been working on the most glorious afghan. It a simple Granny Square, really. Start with four stitches of three double chains, and add an extra group to turn each corner. I've taken it across the United States to various Fiber Festivals and friends homes to work on (and show off on occasion, since I love it so much). It started out as a way to use up all those 20 yards sock yarn Phat Fibers samples I had been gathering from the various participants. I had a basketful of tiny hanks of bright and plain yarn love. I decided to make a mammoth project of these tidbits. Heck, the artists worked so hard to bring me a sample of their colors and fibers from the shops, I had to pay homage somehow. Thus, the Great Granny Blanket began.<br />
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For months I worked on this blanket. First it was big enough to make a pillow. Okay, that was great, but I wanted bigger! Then, it was a baby blanket size. No way in heck was I giving this beauty away! Soon, I ran out of samples. Okay. . . I looked in my scrap pile from various projects and pulled out all those left over bits. 50 yards leftover from the shawl I knit last Fall. . . another 100 yards from the socks I knit my mom for Christmas. This blanket kept growing and growing. I finally had to halt all production since I didn't have any more yarn. Gasp! How can that happen? It sat in a basket for several months before I purchased a special hank of yarn at a fiber festival from a friend. It's the only hank so far that I've bought for it. I finally gathered enough samples to work on it again on my 12 hour drive to visit my Grandmother. Yay! <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PwsGugh8Ic/T_jXWlXKLXI/AAAAAAAABn4/XicXn_Am_Zk/s1600/P4040307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PwsGugh8Ic/T_jXWlXKLXI/AAAAAAAABn4/XicXn_Am_Zk/s320/P4040307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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While busily hooking away on my baby. I start thinking about how much time I actually put into this. I hadn't been keeping a log or anything. It's that project that you pick up whenever you have a few extra minutes. So, I started pondering about an equation to figure out the estimated time. (Did I mention, I'm a geek?) For the life of me, I couldn't figure it out. I knew with the simplicity of the math (starting with four groupings, and adding four on every row) a solution was possible. I looked everywhere online for the solution to come up empty. There might be an answer somewhere, but not where I could find it. So, in my infinite wisdom <i>(insert laugh here) </i>I posed the question to my father. Now, this could be unusual for some, but my Daddy has an Engineering Degree and was a Captain/Pilot in the Air Force. He loves math and thinks very logically. He and I played around for about a half and hour discussing different equations. It was always that first increase from 4 to 8 bunches that got us off kilter. I actually even started writing down what the total stitches would be for each row completed by simply adding four each time. Let me tell you, that took 15 minutes, in and of itself!<br />
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Here's the basic Granny square diagram:<br />
<img height="292" id="il_fi" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--_7GKVXARoY/TaHmxk8fu4I/AAAAAAAABCA/m0XmO8Kld6Q/s1600/granny.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="300" /><br />
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Finally, though, we figured it out.<br />
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You want to know the answer? Here it is...<br />
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The answer is:<br />
1/2 (4X+4) x X = total groups<br />
X = the amount of rows. <br />
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Yep, that's it. To me it's like God finally answering, "What is the meaning of life?". Now, here's how to figure out, roughly, the amount of time you put into your simple Granny Square.<br />
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So, if you plug what row you just finished as x. You will be able to figure out how many groups of three you get. Remember, simple granny squares start with 4 groups of 3, then go to 8 groups of three, then 12 groups of 3, and so on. <br />
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With this number, all you need to estimate the amount of time you've put into a blanket is to time how long it takes you to do a bunch of groups.<br />
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For example, I was on row 95 when I figured this out.<br />
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1/2 (4X+4) x X<br />
1/2 ([4x95]+4) x 95<br />
1/2 (380+4) x 95 <br />
1/2 (384) x 95<br />
192 x 95 = 18,240<br />
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Then, let's say, I can complete 6 groups in a minute.<br />
18240 divided by 6 = 3040 total minutes<br />
3040 minutes divided by 60 (minutes per hour) = 50.66666 hours total time<br />
So, it roughly took me 50 hours to complete the afghan to row 95.<br />
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ALSO, you could also use the total groups number to estimate yardage. Let's say it take one yard of fingering yarn for two groups.<br />
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Divide 18,240 groups by 2 (groups per yard) = 9,120 total yards. <br />
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Of course, this would be an estimate since joins would add some more yards that don't contribute to the groups or if I were falling asleep and slowing down, my time would increase. At least, though, you can know get an idea of how much time it takes to make a simple granny blanket.<br />
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Who said Algebra would never come be handy in the real world? Now, grab your calculators and get to work! <br />
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Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-88192499464746779502012-07-30T20:39:00.001-05:002013-11-26T17:55:30.884-06:006th Annual Fiber Christmas in July 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.fiberchristmas.com/" target="_blank">Fiber Christmas in July</a> has a special place in my heart. It was the first Fiber Festival I had ever attended, and the friends I made have grown into lifelong friendships. We gather, discuss, promote, and generally make fiber mayhem for everyone to enjoy year after year.<br />
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Now, that means a full year of planning that you all don't see see from creating advertising, handing and mailing fliers, setting up the buildings, and finally managing the chaos that is the festival. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eokF4F-80K0/UBcpSOXE7FI/AAAAAAAABpk/_G5qzs44Gxw/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eokF4F-80K0/UBcpSOXE7FI/AAAAAAAABpk/_G5qzs44Gxw/s320/IMG_1752.JPG" width="320" /></a>This year, we wanted to do some new things. We had two contests: handspun and chemo hat. One was to promote your skills as spinners; the other to gather hats for charity. Both wonderful in their own rights. The variety and quality of entries blew me away! I swear there was one particular handspun yarn that was so perfect, it looked machine made.<br />
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Another was the Passport Card, in which we handed out sheets with all the vendors names had to be marked to be put into a drawing. I loved seeing just how excited everyone got when they were looking for vendors. We were surprised by just how many finished getting their papers all signed. <br />
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Classes were a huge hit! We had several classes, some new, some repeats. We asked several months ago what classes everyone would like and found teachers for what we could. Each class wound up being filled to the brim with eager students.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqyIoRKLS7w/UBco2Xws-gI/AAAAAAAABpM/tiXP7PQqBww/s1600/IMG_1701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BqyIoRKLS7w/UBco2Xws-gI/AAAAAAAABpM/tiXP7PQqBww/s320/IMG_1701.JPG" width="320" /></a>I actually was able to take two myself. First was a soap making class. I had been asking for this particular class for a year or two now. I learned so much as to the hot process of making soap. The mistakes we made were nicely trouble-shot, so I know what to do the next time I make soap. I came home with 12 bars of handmade lavender soap that should be hardened and ready to go by Christmas. Aren't they lovely?<br />
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I taught a class on Solar Dyeing. A technique I use every summer to get deep, rich colors using natural heat. I always worry about not giving enough info, but am always pleasantly surprised by just how thankful and open the students are. We went through several techniques and tips. They enthusiastically absorbed all the info and left with mason jars full of fibers and dye. <br />
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I also was excited to run some projects through a Felt Loom. This ingenious machine can needlefelt fabric into fleece fabric to make the most beautiful sheets of color. This first is a two sided tree with a rainbow background. It took no time at all to finish. </div>
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The second is a landscape of a mountain by a lake.We had to work carefully as to not move the fibers around too much. I have so much more detail to add, but it's on its way!</div>
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Finally, I took a wonderful class from <a href="http://www.fiberchristmas.com/?page_id=132" target="_blank">Kate Lowder of Lowder Colours Farm</a>. She is an expert on sheep and fleece. I could sit and pick her brain for hours. We all discussed a variety of sheep breeds, their history, and how that changed the way the fleeces are. It was very informative. Though I have a baggies full of fleece to sample and write down my findings. We hope to discuss them next year in a follow-up class and to cover new breeds of sheep.<br />
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All in all, I am joyously, exhausted. The whirlwind weekend of friends and fibers have me thinking ahead for new things to plan for next year. There are more photos on the<a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/fiberchristmasinjuly/" target="_blank"> Flickr Group</a> if you want to see. We may have some exciting news on the horizon if all goes as planned, but you will have to stay tuned to see. <br />
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<br />Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-85215098368042960342012-06-10T10:44:00.000-05:002013-11-26T17:47:16.237-06:00DIY Giant Spinning Wheel Sewing Bobbin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is a new one for you. I'm always looking for fun and interesting ways to show off my favorite hobby, spinning yarn. I also love over-sized, jumbo creations such as pillows that look like buttons or knitting needles the size of your arm. Recently, I can across these big cable bobbins from my friends' husband who works for a cable company. For $5 a piece, I couldn't pass them up! So with a little bit of imagination and elbow grease, here is how to turn that ugly roll into a giant bobbin.<br />
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<b>Materials:</b><br />
Empty Cable Bobbin <i>(comes in many sizes so the choice is up to you)</i><br />
Sandpaper<br />
Wood Conditioner<br />
Wood Stain<br />
Soft towels or rags for staining <br />
Polyurethane<br />
Yarn/Roving <i>(the bigger, the better to give a more accurate visual)</i><br />
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1. Take your bobbin and clean it up. For mine, I had to remove the stickers and clean it with a little soap and water. I also sand the rough edges to keep them from snagging on the yarn. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDQpHDsbeYE/T9OnI8hYQwI/AAAAAAAABl0/CrQ3zvEGt6c/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDQpHDsbeYE/T9OnI8hYQwI/AAAAAAAABl0/CrQ3zvEGt6c/s320/IMG_0641.JPG" width="320" /></a>2. Condition the wood. Unless you want to stain to appear muddy and antiqued, this will make the plywood stain better.<br />
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3. After drying the appropriate amount of time, take a soft cloth and apply stain as directed on the can. I choose a dark stain to completely change the look and feel. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIWbSfqIVWo/T9OnhPBbP6I/AAAAAAAABmE/8C3MMt4KHA8/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIWbSfqIVWo/T9OnhPBbP6I/AAAAAAAABmE/8C3MMt4KHA8/s320/IMG_0657.JPG" width="320" /></a>4. Seal all the stained pieces with Polyurethane. This will protect the wood as well as keep the stain from getting on the yarn, you, or the other things. <br />
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5. Allow it to completely dry overnight. Yes, please remember to be patient. Nothing like fingerprint all over your project. : )<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ix9hAl6Ju3A/T9S9KlT56tI/AAAAAAAABmk/h7pymC1ay64/s1600/IMG_0675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ix9hAl6Ju3A/T9S9KlT56tI/AAAAAAAABmk/h7pymC1ay64/s400/IMG_0675.JPG" width="266" /></a>6. Wrap yarn around the center. I used a super-bulky hand spun yarn that I spun up just for this purpose. You could also use a roving instead if you don't have anything else on hand. As you can see the smaller super-bulky looks like thread, whereas the giant bulky (1 inch wide) looks more like a 2-ply yarn. <br />
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7. Enjoy! Sit back and appreciate your ingenuity and creative endeavor. Most will never imagine or even attempt such a project. <br />
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Whether you want to make one to add a little whimsy to you creative environment or a a display stand for a craft fair, these make your space a little more unique. I can imagine these for a Cinderella themed little girls playroom. Can't you just see the little mice rolling these out to sew her dress before the ball? <br />
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Thank you for reading!<br />
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If you like this or any other DIY tutorials, feel free to donate
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<br />Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-36458478452222336452012-04-25T11:19:00.003-05:002012-04-25T11:20:00.839-05:00Recap of Yellow Rose Fiber Producers Fiesta 2012Whew! What a whirlwind weekend! I've been hard at work getting reorganized after the wonderful weekend in Seguin, Texas. If you have never been to a festival before, this would have been an excellent one to start with.<br />
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My mother actually came with me for the first time. I have been doing festivals for several years, but she had never attended with me before. Being retired now, it was the perfect opportunity to join in the fun! Besides, having someone there to help is always wonderful. Even if it is just watching the booth for a minute. I believe she was blown away by just how many people love fiber as much as I do. I've included some random shots of everything so you can get an idea of what was available. A pictures worth a thousand words!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gritty Knits</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Oak Alpacas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dawning Dreams</td></tr>
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Oh, and we were in for a treat! Sheri of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/withthesehands444" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/withthesehands444 </a>brought one of her goats for a visit. For some who have never seen an angora goat, it was a big eye opener as the where this fiber comes from. That poor little guy was so worn out by the time they left. I truly appreciate them bringing him though. <br />
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Of course, the best time I had was with my fiber friends such as Emily of <a href="http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/BuenaSuerte" target="_blank">BuenaSuerte</a>, Andrea of <a href="http://naturalobsessionsfiber.com/blog/" target="_blank">Natural Obsessions</a>, and Laurel of<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/spinatude" target="_blank"> Spinatude</a> as show below. We all met at the Phat Fiber Reunion last year and were lucky enough to get together this weekend to share stories, jokes, and ideas over dinner. Nest year we have plan to create an awesome booth for everyone to join in the hilarity that is us! You can see more on Ravelry at <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-fiber-party">http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-fiber-party</a>. <br />
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On Sunday I had the pleasure of using the Felt Loom machine to create something<br />
that has been in my head for years. One of my local alpaca farms purchased one of these machines, but I haven't had the chance to use it. Luckily, I had some time to run over and create this beauty before the masses hit. It's massive at about a yard wide and two long. I enjoyed laying out the fiber and creating my logo. Several of us employed the machine. I know Gritty Knits made an awesome textural piece and someone else did a giant dragon fly. I just love sharing in the creativity of the moment. <br />
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There was such a variety of vendors spanning from knitwear designers,
independent yarn dyers, and farms, I was blown away by the variety. If
it had to do with fiber, it was there. I chatted and hugged with just about everyone that I could. In the end, I walked away with a bag full of goodies from Natural Obsessions, BuenaSuerte, KCL Woods, Spinatude, and Gritty Knits. <br />
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Alrighty, the fun is over and now it's time to get back to work. Batts to card, spindles to photograph. . . Thank you to anyone that attended and made the weekend outstanding. I will see you all next year there!Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-46095383604680917542012-02-21T11:51:00.000-06:002012-02-21T11:51:09.751-06:00Sometimes I Just Go For It<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XhuIM64cEeA/T0PYhnLY-zI/AAAAAAAABdo/PX6xSz5A-b4/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XhuIM64cEeA/T0PYhnLY-zI/AAAAAAAABdo/PX6xSz5A-b4/s400/IMG_0112.JPG" width="300" /></a>There's this great song I ran into many years ago named "Sometimes I
Just Go For It" by The Used. The passion behind the strokes of the piano
make me stop and breathe. It doesn't have any words, nor does it need
any. The amazing thing is that it's not a composed or written piece,
just a man who sat at the piano and hit record. <br /><br /> That is the
exact way I feel about all the art I make. I don't always have a plan in
place or pattern in mind. I don't read through magazines and blogs to
see what's in style or the color palette of the year. For me, it's not
about making something to sell, though I love it when you do purchase
them because without you, I wouldn't be able to make more. So, please,
keep those orders coming! <br /><br /> This is my art. This is my hand
and imagination at work. This glimpse of my interpretation of the world
around me culminates into these pieces of art. I paint my collections
with wool and a hook (or knitting needle in some cases). <br />
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<span>So when you see one of my creations, feel the passion and intent I put into each piece. </span>They take lots of inspiration, hours of concentration, and days of hard work to create and bring to you. <br />
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<span>Sometimes I just go for it</span>. Maybe you should too. <br /><span></span><br />
<br /><span></span>Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-87540624755066206692012-01-11T14:13:00.000-06:002012-02-08T14:05:33.618-06:00Shawl Display Via PinterestI figured since I work and live at home, I can make it a bit more inspiration and joyful to be in. I'm under a strict monetary limit however. I never buy full retail and often make things myself. This is the story of one of those projects. <br />
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First off, I saw <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/staciespics/3935197470/in/faves-8814478@N02/" target="_blank">this</a> image of hanging shawls. I have a lot of shawls. Getting them out of the closet and displayed has been on my list for some time. It was simple, too simple for my style, but it inspired me to try something similar.<br />
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I have this wonderful antique store in my town. It's filled to the rafters with awesome and reasonably priced treasures just begging to be sifted through. If you're OCD or claustrophobic, you wouldn't be able to handle it. There is not much rhyme or reason to the layout, which makes it great. I always find something new and interesting when I visit, from antique hats and gloves, to old tools, jewelry, dishes, and more! This time I went in with a mission, to find something appropriate to display my handspun and handknit shawls.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UITynbZ7IQ0/TwHvkDQwn0I/AAAAAAAABNg/fCAQYIVDNfk/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UITynbZ7IQ0/TwHvkDQwn0I/AAAAAAAABNg/fCAQYIVDNfk/s320/IMG_0249.JPG" width="320" /></a>After perusing for near an hour. I found a simple piece of wood that had white knobs on it. It wasn't fancy, but since it was ready to hang and had the holes in it, it was a perfect start. It was really funny because when I asked the owner about it, she said she just purchased it for the knobs. Well, since I didn't want the knobs, I took them off and gave them to her. Then, going back to the far end of the shop, I found a shelf full of old mix and match dresser pulls. After getting an assortment together, I asked her how much she wanted for the knobs and wood. For 20 knobs, I paid $12 and she threw in the wood for free since she didn't want it in the first place. I said she was reasonable right? The white ones were the original knobs that I couldn't remove at the shop. I figured they added to the allure anyway, so I left them. <br />
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This has become a favorite place of mine to look at. I forgotten just how much work I've done and what I've accomplished with my craft. It's great to look there and remind myself every once in a while. <br />
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</div>Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-41810334761825594802012-01-06T12:54:00.001-06:002013-11-26T17:55:30.878-06:00A Look at Fiber Festival Preparations and Booth Design<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5QxZFLo0iEE/TrgNkatHzhI/AAAAAAAABLM/4-FhUqzmJw0/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
This month I wanted to give you all an inside look at what happens at my homebase before a fiber festival. I do not simply load up the car and head out. I wish it were that simple. With a majority of my income from face-to-face sells, I put a lot of thought behind every detail, from what inventory to bring, to how to set-up my displays and even tagging everything. <br />
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Having participated in many festivals now, I have a better idea of what works well for me and what doesn't. However, no two festivals are the same. The people visiting aren't the same. What I have in stock isn't the same. You get the picture. Besides, if I went to various fiber festivals and saw the same set-up and inventory every time from a vendor, I probably wouldn't keep visiting them because I would already know what they have and if I were interested. Now, that's not to say there is a certain stock that I take every time like batts and roving. I just like to add something new to tempt you. <br />
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For example, at my next Fiber Festival, Arkansas Fiberarts Extravaganza in December, I plan to bring hand-dyed silks and my new drop spindles. On one hand, I'm delighted to bring them because I am so proud of getting these finally out for sale. I've been working on the drop spindle designs for nearly a year now, testing weights, hook shapes, shafts, etc. . . To finally be able to put them in spinners hands will be rewarding. On the other hand, that means I need to figure out a way to display them in a booth that's attractive and accessible.<br />
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To begin with I start brain storming. In previous years, I have displayed drop spindles by hanging them on a tree of sorts. You can see it in the example below of my booth at Mid-Ohio Fiber Festival. It worked out well for my inexpensive beginner drop spindles. However, it took up a lot of space within the small 8X8 feet booth.<br />
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So off to the drawing board. I usually start off with a pen and paper (or pencil in my case). I take the space I'm given and create a square. One inch equals one foot in my models. It's really easy to measure everything else out then. Here's an example of my latest layouts. I know I'm going to have a table and a chair, plus some of my other displays. So I take those big items and start placing them within the space. Let me tell you, it's a lot easier than pulling out a table and moving it around. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once I get an idea of what will work, that's when I make a Mock booth set-up. I usually do it in my dining room since it is the easiest to remove everything and it's large enough to accommodate all sizes of booths.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>You also have to keep in mind that these items have to be able to fit in a car. I personally only have a 2002 Saturn. It's a midsized car with good trunk space. I don't own a trailer and I don't want to waste money on a U-Haul. Therefor, everything must be able to fit in the car. Knowing this, I try to make everything I use for display very portable and able to break down into small bundles. While attractive wooden shelves are nice, I personally want people to see my products not the shelves. Besides, if my displays get in the way of the amount of fiber I bring, that's money lost. <br />
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I use a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Safco-Wire-Shelving-System-Black/dp/B0052RFHC2">wire shelving system</a> that many vendors use. They are wonderful because they can be put together in numerous ways to suit your needs. They are very portable and inexpensive comparably. I know many vendors that use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gridwall-T-Base-Floorstanding-Display-2-Pack/dp/B004FRWKNE">Grid Walls</a> as well, but they don't fit comfortably in my car (or I would use these babies!). So when I looked at displaying the spindles, I tried using the things I already had on hand. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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First, I placed them in the holes on to see how that looked. Well, You can see the tops of the spindles, but only if they are on that second level. It's not very attractive and I could only get about 25 spindles per level. <br />
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Then, I hanged them up on the upper shelves. Well, unless you want to just see the bottom or side of them, this was not a good option. Plus, unhooking one to look at tended to knock the others down. Hmm. . .<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5QxZFLo0iEE/TrgNkatHzhI/AAAAAAAABLM/4-FhUqzmJw0/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5QxZFLo0iEE/TrgNkatHzhI/AAAAAAAABLM/4-FhUqzmJw0/s320/IMG_0384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> So after contemplating what I learned from the experiments: I want to see the tops, not hang them, and yet not add anymore display gear. I tried this option. I took dowel rods and placed them at an angle so the spindle was tilted towards you. It's easy to set-up, doesn't take a lot of room, the spindles are easy to grab, and you get a great view of the tops. I can also fit a lot of spindles using the vertical space between shelves rather than using a space that can be filled with something else. <br />
<div style="text-align: right;">This is a winner! </div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vcy0plAkBcs/TrgQete57PI/AAAAAAAABLU/nhf8ZQyjWB4/s1600/IMG_0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vcy0plAkBcs/TrgQete57PI/AAAAAAAABLU/nhf8ZQyjWB4/s320/IMG_0381.JPG" width="320" /></a>Now, I'm ready to place products in the shelves. I also write up a diagram for that, too. Here's the beginner layout. It's a diagram of just the table with the shelves. You can see this was before I added the spindles. I try to place things together, like fibers in one section and yarns in another. You have to make the flow smooth from one product to another. No one likes to jump around to find what they want. <br />
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At home I can play around with where to put things rather than wasting time at the event. You usually only get a small amount of time to set-up and I'd rather spend it fine tuning display, rather than trying to fix a major catastrophe that could have been avoided.<br />
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Another good reason to do a mock booth is that you can count the inventory you plan to bring. It also allows you to repack everything in a compact manner for the upcoming trip. I know that all my fibers tend to get spread out as I create more and sell them online. Having to gather and pack it all gives me the opportunity to do some housecleaning.<br />
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So, here is my final booth at Arkansas. I actually had to switch the batts over from the right side of the booth to the left, since more people would see them from that direction. Once again, that was just one of those things the I tweaked based on the environment. <br />
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The vintage ironing table was an excellent table for the register, business cards, and other information. It doesn't take up much room either. See the spindles displayed on the table. It worked beautifully!<br />
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I was most excited to see the wall of batts go up. I usually keep them all organized in buckets. Having them out and displayed was very fulfilling. That's a lot of elbow grease on that wall!<br />
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We completely took over the Embassy Suites as you can see below. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_2vhKNIsDbk/Tt05a7uGNII/AAAAAAAABMI/gp58eLVowG0/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_2vhKNIsDbk/Tt05a7uGNII/AAAAAAAABMI/gp58eLVowG0/s320/IMG_0633.JPG" width="320" /></a>There were more knitters there this year than in previous ones. Maybe because we had changed locations, who knows? I spent much of my time teaching lots of knitters to spin on a drop spindle. You know, entice them with a new extension hobby. Even if a knitter doesn't want to spin, I think by knowing yarn construction, a knitter will be better able to understand how a yarn will behave. For instance, some knitters find that when they knit a yarn single in continental, it tends to unwind and pull apart. By knowing that it's the twist that holds it together, they may be able to see that the yarn unwinding and is getting unsound and weaker. Then, they can change the way they are knitting to keep the yarn from falling apart. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnI5kcDNsr8/Tt05lxjPxkI/AAAAAAAABMY/0txfJvFFYsk/s1600/IMG_0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>The knitting contest was a lot of fun to watch. For such a relaxing activity, having them speed it up entertained the heck out of me. <a href="http://anniemodesitt.com/" target="_blank">Annie Modesitt</a> had entered and won because she really wanted a pair of sassafras earrings. I know the feeling! The fashion show had a wide array of entries from classic shawls and sweaters to works of fiber arts. I saw a really neat nuno felted sari vest that I want to try to make. I just need to get me a sari now.<br />
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The Ravelry ice cream party was a hoot! I didn't actually get any of it. The organizers didn't foresee just how many people were going to show up! Sarah aka onestitchshort<br />
handed out lots of prizes. Near the end, she gave away a lovely bag that I was coveting that had fiber animals all over it. I turned around to tell my friend how I wished I had entered the drawing just to get one of them when Sarah called her name! Color me green with jealousy. I told her to go get Sarah's autograph on the bag. I mean, when else were you going to get an autograph from Sarah?! She did, of course. She deserved such a treat for helping me run the booth all day. <br />
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Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are several more I took at the event. There are also more on my<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24391419@N04/sets/72157627335919888/" target="_blank"> Flickr page</a> if you want to see what else was there. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnI5kcDNsr8/Tt05lxjPxkI/AAAAAAAABMY/0txfJvFFYsk/s1600/IMG_0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnI5kcDNsr8/Tt05lxjPxkI/AAAAAAAABMY/0txfJvFFYsk/s320/IMG_0681.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-5386597811588421002011-08-23T10:30:00.001-05:002011-08-23T10:30:40.883-05:00Mid-Ohio Fiber Festival in ReviewHello all! I just got back in from the First <a href="http://midohiofiberfair.weebly.com/index.html">Mid-Ohio Fiber Festival</a> in Newark, OH. My mother-in-law and I drove the 17 hour trek to this first time event. Let me just say, there is nothing to see in Indiana along I-64 including gas stations. Make sure to fill up before going through.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7ugC4BVWtk/TlO-GdmffjI/AAAAAAAABII/krTg__kOC0U/s1600/IMG_9426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7ugC4BVWtk/TlO-GdmffjI/AAAAAAAABII/krTg__kOC0U/s320/IMG_9426.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7ugC4BVWtk/TlO-GdmffjI/AAAAAAAABII/krTg__kOC0U/s1600/IMG_9426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div> The <a href="http://www.thereesecenter.com/reese/">Reese Center</a>, where the festival took place, was a nice facility. The event organizers even helped us unload and load, which I thought was a lifesaver since I'm usually carrying everything by myself. I really appreciate their hard work in putting this festival together. It was so well done, you would have never thought it was their first year. Great job you all! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B49b0KRUapo/TlO-AtekunI/AAAAAAAABIA/g8Ut2IteoSk/s1600/IMG_9422.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B49b0KRUapo/TlO-AtekunI/AAAAAAAABIA/g8Ut2IteoSk/s320/IMG_9422.JPG" width="320" /></a> Luckily, I had the absolute joy of sharing space with Elizabeth of <a href="http://www.spottedcircus.com/">Spotted Circus</a>, a fellow Phattie from Indiana. It's always a lot of fun to talk shop with someone in your field and we certianly did that and then some. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n8MGRe3fCAE/TlO-DmI99qI/AAAAAAAABIE/vatSa5lF6oE/s1600/IMG_9424.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n8MGRe3fCAE/TlO-DmI99qI/AAAAAAAABIE/vatSa5lF6oE/s320/IMG_9424.JPG" width="320" /></a> Elizabeth raises alpacas and I loved hearing about the animals and adventures of farm living. Her husband designed all the logos, which I thought were fantastic, by the way! She has everything from alpaca roving to handspun, to milk from <a href="http://www.moonwoodfarm.com/index.html">Moonwood Farms</a>. It's amazing just how we fiber artists are able to put our own spin on our products. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nFU1vuG42DY/TlO9-DO4R2I/AAAAAAAABH8/KyDR0RuhcLs/s1600/IMG_9415.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nFU1vuG42DY/TlO9-DO4R2I/AAAAAAAABH8/KyDR0RuhcLs/s320/IMG_9415.JPG" width="320" /></a> See the logo?! So neat. . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My own space I filled as much as possible with batts, yarns, fibers, and cards. I wanted an explosion of color, and I think I accomplished that. The big Behemoth Batts were a hit! I think half of them that I had brought are on their way to their new homes. I also fortunately got to meet a lot of people I've only talked to online. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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After festival hours, My mother-in-law, her cousin, and I explored the area. We ate wonderful sushi at on Friday night. My MIL had never eaten sushi before, so it was a real treat to open her eyes to just how delicious it can be when made correctly. <br />
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On Saturday night, we had Indian at Bombay Garden Indian Restaurant. It was as authentic as you can get. The cook, a kindly older Indian woman, created the most fantastic dishes. Elizabeth had ordered a Mango Lassi drink that ordered after I saw hers. I simply must obtain a recipe for it as it was the most delicious drink I've had in a while. <br />
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</a></div> My MIL kept telling us about<a href="http://www.longaberger.com/"> Longaberer baskets</a> that were in the area. Unfortunately, we didn't arrive during their business hours, but we did take a photograph of the fascinating building. I love interesting architecture and this is something you do not see. <br />
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Well, that's the summary of the fun weekend. It was a long drive and far away from home, but it was worth meeting new friends and seeing new sights. Thank you all that came out and enjoyed the day. I hope to see you all again sometime. <br />
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Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-3727635104549576022011-08-01T15:21:00.001-05:002011-08-03T17:34:32.278-05:00Fiber Christmas in July 2011I've been working the past two days putting away fibers, washing new fiber, and organizing the mess that came home form Fiber Christmas in July. It was an absolutely wonderful weekend. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24391419@N04/5998629669/" title="P7300076 by Dawning Dreams, on Flickr"><img alt="P7300076" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5998629669_5643155f9d_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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On Friday, I drove up to Kellyville since I help with the event. We spent the evening laying out tables and chairs in their spots, which isn't easy since those 12' table weigh a ton. Luckily, with all the extra help it went along quickly and we were out by 9.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24391419@N04/5998631775/" title="P7300096 by Dawning Dreams, on Flickr"><img alt="P7300096" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6028/5998631775_529811c658_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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On Friday morning, vendors starting arriving. It was lovely to see my fiber friends from out of state like Brenda and Mike of <a href="http://woodenspinner.com/">Wooden Spinner</a>, Natasha of <a href="http://www.grittyknits.com/">Gritty Knits</a>, Dominique of <a href="http://loopsandsticks.blogspot.com/">Morandia</a>, & Lori of<a href="http://www.sarahkatefibers.etsy.com/"> SarahKate Fibers</a>. We spent the whole morning chatting while setting up and checking out the goodies before the crowd arrived. That good thing about Friday is that it's less busy, so we get time to talk with our customers, which I like. A lot of them make it a point to come on Friday to visit, then come back on Saturday to actually shop.<br />
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On Saturday, after a goods nights sleep, I spent the day showing newbies how to use a drop spindle, several people how to spin silk caps, and general trouble shooting questions. I loved seeing all the goodies everyone showed me before leaving. While I want customer to buy from my store, I have absolutely no hard feelings when they buy elsewhere. I am not the only great Fiber Artist out there and we all over something unique and different. The buffalo fiber and yarn was to die for, and I was lucky enough to win the Most Creative category in the Christmas Ornament contest which earned me to hanks of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Gold-Lux-Lace-Mountain/dp/B0030NYELA">Lux buffalo blend yarn</a>! <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24391419@N04/5999179918/" title="P7300134 by Dawning Dreams, on Flickr"><img alt="P7300134" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5999179918_a0761696b1_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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In the evening, I had the pleasure to teach a wonderful group of women some of my tips and techniques in drum carding. We had new carders and experienced alike, which lead to some most unusual batts. We were all giggling and carding like crazy trying out different fibers and carders. Brenda brought her double wide Mad Batt'r carder to play with and like me have the pleasure to try out. Of the two batts we got off, the first one weighed in at 7.75 oz and the second was 5.5 oz. I loved it so much, I've ordered one with the proceeds from the class. Thank you all! I wouldn't have been able to afford one of these babies without them. Fiber Artists can be the most genuine and fun people around.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24391419@N04/5999973300/" title="Mega Batt by Dawning Dreams, on Flickr"><img alt="Mega Batt" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/5999973300_1d422a43a6_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24391419@N04/5999179556/" title="P7300131 by Dawning Dreams, on Flickr"><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24391419@N04/5999178534/" title="P7300119 by Dawning Dreams, on Flickr"><img alt="P7300119" height="640" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/5999178534_7cea0fd63a_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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After packing up I helped Kate and her husband of Lowder Colours Farms herd some sheep to be taken to market. I'm definitely not a wuss about getting dirty, which I illustrated since the only shoes I had on my were my wedge heels. It was comical herding them into the trailer. I had to hose the shoes and wash them once I got home, but I wouldn't have missed the opportunity for anything. Everyday life for a shepherdess, once in a blue moon for me. What I do wouldn't be possible without them. <br />
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There are, of course more photos available to see of the event on the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/fiberchristmasinjuly/pool/with/5999179556/">Fiber Christmas in July Flickr group</a> if you want to see more of the fun we had.Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-88110791934591618562011-07-21T16:52:00.001-05:002011-07-22T14:04:41.381-05:00Solar Dyeing Silk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EX2nLsJIycM/TiiZ15llIjI/AAAAAAAABHc/q7hlHCD7Vv0/s1600/P7210026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EX2nLsJIycM/TiiZ15llIjI/AAAAAAAABHc/q7hlHCD7Vv0/s400/P7210026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It's one of those days, as it has been for the past month, that the blazing hot sun heats to concrete making shoes necessary just to check the mail since it will blister your soles. With 104 degree temperatures every day, I have to do all I can to keep the house at a cool 78 degrees. I have all the windows drawn with blinds and curtains. Lights off, and no extra cooking. It's sad when a cold shower sounds refreshing.<br />
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So with all this heat, I decided to dye up some silk caps I just got in the mail. What more can I ask for? Silk. . check. Dye. . . check. Heat source. . . quadruple check. I know a lot of artists get the big pots out with thermometers to check the right temperature. As an Artist, however, I'm not inclined to do things too scientifically. Yes, I have a degree based in science. You wouldn't believe how many chemical structures come to mind when I think of alcohol alone. I always loved to figure out how things work.<br />
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However, I am a emotional being. I am creative. I refuse to let my job become just that. I don't want to "burn out" as many do. I am a Fiber Artist by choice. I wish I could say I make a ton of money and travel the nation in luxury. Truthfully, my earnings go right back into the business. I buy supplies, pay for advertising, rent booths, pay taxes; all things you must do to run a business. It's not always fun, but it's mine. <br />
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That being said, I went around gathering supplies; food jars, silk, dyes, etc. . . As I filled my first jar with dye and water, a funny sound sputtered from the sink. Oh no! There's wasn't any water. After checking the news, I found that a water main had ruptured. Boo, I had jars with dye laid out to fill. So, I took a break and hop onto the computer to wait it out. Lo and behold, Ester of Jazzy Turtle Creations is working on the same thing! You can check out her blog at <a href="http://jazzturtle.com/2011/07/21/solar-dyeing-with-summer-heat/">http://jazzturtle.com/2011/07/21/solar-dyeing-with-summer-heat/</a> on solar dyeing. It was nice to see that I'm not the only one with this idea today, in the blazes of summer. It's as though, through all this, there was some camaraderie between the Fiber Artists.<br />
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Eventually, the water returned; the jars filled and laid out. So there they sit, cooking in the sun. I went out to take some pictures and burned my knees kneeling on the ground. Split seconds have given my 2nd degree burns. Yowzers! That's hot! I took a couple of good shots before having to return to my air conditioned haven.<br />
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So enjoy the process, have a smile on me. It's the simple beauty of solar dyeing that keeps me chugging on. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTf2v-pd_Q0/TiiZ2pHbwNI/AAAAAAAABHg/5lzqtLUzOh0/s1600/P7210029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTf2v-pd_Q0/TiiZ2pHbwNI/AAAAAAAABHg/5lzqtLUzOh0/s1600/P7210029.JPG" /></a></div>Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-6040391739908979812011-05-05T13:04:00.001-05:002011-05-08T11:12:13.994-05:00Spinning Batts Video including a Spinning Cuff PatternSpinning batts are a joy! I've been spinning several years now, and it amazes me how many spinners avoid batts because they are intimidated by them. Instead of writing it all down, I've created a video to show you. Enjoy!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vcPVGXN6TWQ?fs=1" width="425"></iframe><br />
Here's a simple pattern for a wrist cuff made using some scrap superbulky handspun yarn. It's best to use something soft and with a lot of texture, so that when you wrap you roving around your wrist, it doesn't slide around and fall off. <br />
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SIZE<br />
One Size<br />
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FINISHED MEASUREMENTS<br />
Height: 4 inches<br />
Circumference: 8 inches<br />
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MATERIALS<br />
~10 yards Superbulky Handspun<br />
1 set US size 13 circular needles<br />
Crochet Hook to weave in ends<br />
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PATTERN<br />
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CO 22 sts <br />
Join to knit in the round, place marker at beginning of round<br />
Knit 8 rounds<br />
On next round, K1, K2tog, Knit to end of round.<br />
Knit 4 more round. <br />
On next round, K10, K2tog, Knit to end of round.<br />
Knit 2 more rounds.<br />
Bind off loosely and weave in tails.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8NhxuZbVGw/TcbA1qWG9pI/AAAAAAAABEA/VhjDX5ITf1I/s1600/IMG_8734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8NhxuZbVGw/TcbA1qWG9pI/AAAAAAAABEA/VhjDX5ITf1I/s320/IMG_8734.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Copyright 2011. Dawn L.E. Riden. These patterns are for personal and non-profit use only. You may not sell items made from these patterns. You <i>may</i> make them for yourself, as gifts, or for donation to charity sales or auctions. And these patterns love being used for knitalongs or other organized knitting events that are free of charge.Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-35291787754258335352011-02-09T11:29:00.001-06:002011-03-08T12:24:40.126-06:00Oklahoma Blizzard 2011 KnittingIt's actually been a pretty mild winter until this last week and a half. My little town has been frozen over several times with layers and layers of sleet, snow, and ice. Unlike previous years, we haven't lost electricity or trees due to the weight of the snow. I count us lucky.<br />
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So, in all the time we've been stuck at home, we all have been passing around colds. Stuffy noses, low grade temps, and general yuckiness. No fun. So, here we are, cold, locked inside, and not feeling well. What better time to attack those works in progress!<br />
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This <a href="http://anniemodesitt.com/patterns/#Corset">corset top by Annie Modesitt </a>has been on my mind for quite some time. Last year, for Tour de fleece, I actually hand spun the yarn to complete it. The yarn suggested is a pure Regal silk that comes at a hefty $24 a hank, far beyond my means. I had purchased some gorgeous and soft Bamboo/superwash Merino wool previously that I hadn't used. It was perfect for this: soft, shiny, and with good weight. I spun the yarn into a worsted weight single and put in in the yarn cabinet where it didn't see the light of day for six months.<br />
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Fast forward to January. . . <br />
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After many months of sitting on it, I finally pulled out the pattern and wound the yarns into balls to attempt the pattern. I looked online in the threads on Ravelry for any hints and tips concerning the pattern. There were several such as it tends to be smaller than indicated and to make sure you gauge it. <br />
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</div>I did however mess up in the initial lace pattern. Instead of doing a reverse stockinette, I accidentally did regular stockinette which made the edges curls away from my shoulders. I'm not one to rip out, especially that far into the project, so in the end, I just crocheted along the edge to stabilize it. You wouldn't know that is not the way it's suppose to look unless I told you. I was surprised by how quickly I knit it up with all the ribbing, lace, and cables. The finished top is stunning! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TVLHB4YwCcI/AAAAAAAABAE/ejlF099LNro/s1600/IMG_8100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TVLHB4YwCcI/AAAAAAAABAE/ejlF099LNro/s320/IMG_8100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The next project that I hadn't worked on in a long time was my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/peacock-feathers-shawl">Peacock Feathers Shawl</a> by Dorothy Siemen. I had originally spun the yarn for this beauty in 2009 out of a beautiful sapphire wool/mohair blend. I began knitting it in October 2009. I knit on it off and on for months before realizing that I didn't spin enough to finish it. Disheartened, I actually stuffed it in the back of the yarn cabinet. There it sat for months again. (See a pattern here?) Once again, after finishing the corset top, I found myself pulling out the shawl to try and finish. Since I couldn't complete the pattern in it's entirety, I finished as much as I could and substituted the original edge for a feather and fan pattern interlaced with bronze/copper beads to make the blue pop! I know it's hard to see in the photos, but all 1400 beads are there. Yes, I counted as I was stringing them on. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TVLHGAjsreI/AAAAAAAABAI/yOtV28E9umA/s1600/IMG_8108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TVLHGAjsreI/AAAAAAAABAI/yOtV28E9umA/s320/IMG_8108.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I really love this shawl and have worn it everyday since finishing it. It's not too hot, nor cold; big enough to wrap around myself entirely. It's the most stunning shawl I've knit to date. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TVLHKNlarjI/AAAAAAAABAM/M3VMCUAPNiM/s1600/IMG_8114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TVLHKNlarjI/AAAAAAAABAM/M3VMCUAPNiM/s320/IMG_8114.JPG" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the last things I've been working on are a pair of mittens for my 6 year old son. We had gone outside when it wasn't so windy to attempt to build a snowman, failing miserable. I had on a pair of mittens that I had made recently. I noticed just how well they kept my hands warms and dry. My boys, however, had the cheap $1 acrylic gloves from Walmart. Safe to say, they didn't handle the snow as well with their little fingers getting soaked and turning blue. Right then, I told myself I was going to knit them all a pair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TVLNfh_SlUI/AAAAAAAABAU/qn3kg-fXg9c/s1600/IMG_8078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TVLNfh_SlUI/AAAAAAAABAU/qn3kg-fXg9c/s320/IMG_8078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once we got back inside, I pulled out some of the first yarn I ever spun and started chugging away using a very basic pattern. He actually came over at one point sadly saying, "They're white." I laughed at his tone. I know he wouldn't want white gloves, but I had this planned out you see. I told him that yes they are white now, but when I'm done knitting them, we can dye them whatever color he wants. That immediately perked him up and he went skipping away, only to return every so often to see how far along I've gotten. He's too cute. I'm almost done, but I still have the thumb and decrease on the top of the mitten to go. </div><br />
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So, here we are again. Snowed in. Cold. Must finish this <a href="http://www.freevintageknitting.com/mittens/615-mittens-pattern.html">Classic pair of mittens</a>, so I may start the next for my little girl. I have the perfect handspun for it. I just need to finished these.<br />
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Stay warm everyone!Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-90381868741855460542011-01-21T14:12:00.000-06:002011-01-21T14:12:03.820-06:00Roc Day 2011<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TTniI0H2VPI/AAAAAAAAA_I/TDiHQKjBj3M/s1600/IMG_7943.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TTniI0H2VPI/AAAAAAAAA_I/TDiHQKjBj3M/s400/IMG_7943.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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Per Wikipedia: <br />
<blockquote><b>Distaff Day</b>, also called <b>Roc Day</b>, is 7 January, the day after the feast of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_%28Christian%29" title="Epiphany (Christian)">Epiphany</a>. It is also known as <b>Saint Distaff's Day</b>, since it was not really a holiday at all. In many European cultural traditions, women resumed their household work after the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_days_of_Christmas" title="Twelve days of Christmas">twelve days of Christmas</a>. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distaff" title="Distaff">distaff</a>, or rock, used in spinning was the medieval symbol of women's work. Often the men and women would play pranks on each other during this day, as was written by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Herrick_%28poet%29" title="Robert Herrick (poet)">Robert Herrick</a> in his poem "Saint Distaffs day, or the Morrow After Twelfth Day" which appears in his <a class="external text" href="http://herrick.ncl.ac.uk/" rel="nofollow">Hesperides</a>.<br />
Some modern craft groups have taken up the celebration of Distaff day as part of their new year celebrations.</blockquote>This is the second year I've celebrated Roc Day. This year, on a whim, I was talking with some of my spinning friends on<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://www.moonwoodfarm.com/" style="color: blue;">Moonwood Farms</a> Ravelry group about Roc Day, and we all decided it would be fun to exchange different fibers to spin for Roc Day. Little did I know it would blow up into a full-fledged spinning dance with fibers ranging from wolf, bison, possum, and lint! <br />
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I decided to use my samples as a study of fibers. I divided them into three groups: natural, fun, and colored. I know, not that scientific, huh?<br />
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WARNING: If you are allergic to <i>any</i> animal, do not touch this if you see it in public! <br />
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Group One:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TSX27vKS4VI/AAAAAAAAA9o/f8ACRZPzy-8/s1600/IMG_7714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TSX27vKS4VI/AAAAAAAAA9o/f8ACRZPzy-8/s320/IMG_7714.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
First, I took all the natural animal/processed fiber and lined them up by texture. I kept like-textures together (bamboo/silk/corn, wool/bison/alpaca), then mixed up the colors so that similar colors wouldn't be next together. I spun these into a dk-worsted weight single. It was interesting going from one fiber to another. Many of the fibers I had spun previously and knew what to expect. So, let me hit the unusual ones.<br />
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I was pleasantly surprised by how soft the yak down way, though it's staple length was very short. It was almost like spinning cotton, but a little easier.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TTnC88-Qs1I/AAAAAAAAA-0/Rze980xKDtg/s1600/IMG_7811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TTnC88-Qs1I/AAAAAAAAA-0/Rze980xKDtg/s320/IMG_7811.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The Swaledale, Merino, Possum didn't really catch my eye when spinning, besides the guard hairs were prominent. Upon knitting them however, I found it to feel and look just like new household carpets. After looking up the Swaledale sheep, I found out that their wool is indeed used for carpet making. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TTnDFgv1B3I/AAAAAAAAA-4/G-fdjncN5KQ/s1600/IMG_7803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TTnDFgv1B3I/AAAAAAAAA-4/G-fdjncN5KQ/s320/IMG_7803.JPG" width="320" /></a>The hank came out looking pretty unassuming as you can see. That's the beauty of something like this, it's when it's knit up that the true beauty id shown. I grabbed a set of 9 and went at knitting up a simple triangular shawl. Nothing fancy because I wanted to fiber to be the showcase, not the pattern.<br />
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I actually used some creative stitch markers I had swapped from <a href="http://winemakerssister.etsy.com/">Winemakerssister.etsy.com</a>. As you probably know, I have a thing for steampunk and these beauties pulled at me to take them. A knitter can never have too many stitch markers!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TTnDNdn_r7I/AAAAAAAAA_A/_bQnl3q0Z_E/s1600/IMG_7814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TTnDNdn_r7I/AAAAAAAAA_A/_bQnl3q0Z_E/s320/IMG_7814.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The fibers include (from top to bottom):<br />
<a href="http://www.paradisefibers.net/Undyed-Ingeo-Spinning-Fiber-p/2132.htm" style="color: blue;">Ingeo</a><span style="color: blue;"> </span>(corn)<br />
<div style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.shopatron.com/products/productdetail/SoySilk%26%23174%3B+White+Top+%281/2+lb%29/part_number=7-091/378.0.1.1.11012.30948.0.0.0?pp=8&">Soy Silk</a></div>Tibetian Yak Down<br />
Dark Grey <a href="http://www.mielkesfarm.com/manmadef.htm" style="color: blue;">Carbonized Bamboo</a><br />
Dark Brown<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bison" style="color: blue;"> Bison</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaledale_%28sheep%29">Swalesdale</a>/Merino/Possum<br />
Creamy Tan<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://www.theyarntree.com/store/fibersspinning/fibers/babycamelsilk.html" style="color: blue;">Camel/Tussah Silk</a><br />
White<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotswold_sheep" style="color: blue;">Cotswold</a><br />
Llama<br />
White<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angora_Rabbit" style="color: blue;">Angora Rabbit</a><br />
Black/White Shetland<br />
White Shetland<br />
Brown & Blue Alpaca/Cat<br />
Haucya Alpaca<br />
Alpaca & Wool<br />
Wool/Angora/Bovin<br />
<div style="color: blue;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohair">Mohair</a></div>Grey <a href="http://www.fiberchristmas.com/?page_id=132"><span style="color: blue;">Wensleydale</span></a><br />
White <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf" style="color: blue;">Wolf</a><br />
Grey European <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karakul_%28sheep%29">Karakul</a><br />
And finally White/Cream<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://dawningdreamsblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/fergus-french-angora-rabbit-love.html" style="color: blue;">French Angora</a> from my own rabbits<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TTniNlbynoI/AAAAAAAAA_M/t6Ow4IhtIbc/s1600/IMG_7944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TTniNlbynoI/AAAAAAAAA_M/t6Ow4IhtIbc/s320/IMG_7944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-18003988798704156392010-12-17T06:42:00.000-06:002013-11-26T17:48:00.952-06:00DIY 7' Triangle Loom or TriLoom, for shortFirst off, let me point you to the site where it all began as you may have already seen because everyone uses this site when they build a loom. It's<a href="http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/triloom2.htm" style="color: blue;"> http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/triloom2.htm</a>.<br />
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There's a reason these babies are quite a pretty penny, and it isn't because of the cost of materials. The amount of time it takes to drill and hammer in all 486 nails can be daunting. If you have a laid back nature or too poor to shell out $250 for a fancy one, then this project is for you. My loom is 7 feet at the widest point, which makes my shawls slightly smaller depending on shrinkage. <br />
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<b>DIY TriLoom:</b><br />
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Now, down to business. Head over to your local Home Improvement store (Home Depot for me) and gather your supplies.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TQtFOBJIqKI/AAAAAAAAA78/T0eQ9ucX2To/s1600/IMG_1323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TQtFOBJIqKI/AAAAAAAAA78/T0eQ9ucX2To/s320/IMG_1323.JPG" width="320" /></a> SUPPLIES:<br />
2 pcs - 8 feet 2x1" Pine (or Oak if you can afford it)<br />
1 box - 1 lb - 1 1/4 " Trim Nails (I choose the ones with heads to help keep the yarn stable)<br />
3 - 3" screws <br />
Wood Glue<br />
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EQUIPMENT:<br />
1- Measuring Tape / Ruler<br />
1 - Drill with matching drill bit size to nails and screws<br />
1 - right angle<br />
pencil for marking<br />
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Here's the nails I used just in case: <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TQtFa4mIJcI/AAAAAAAAA8A/CslYHy8cQAo/s1600/IMG_1326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TQtFa4mIJcI/AAAAAAAAA8A/CslYHy8cQAo/s320/IMG_1326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think it helps to lay it all out, so you can see what you're working on and how it'll come together in the end. You can get an idea of the angles you'll be cutting to give it it's triangular shape. This takes up a lot of room. You''l need to clear plenty of space to be able to work around it. Oh, to have a woodworking shop!<br />
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I measured and cut the first wood piece down to 84" (7 feet) long with square 90 degree ends. Remember to measure twice and cut once to get it right. This is the base for all the rest of the angles and lengths, so make sure you get this right. <br />
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Luckily, I have a laser guided saw that helps me know exactly where to cut. It's particularly helpful when I'm cutting the 45 degree angles though this picture shows the 90 degree cut. <br />
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You can line up the V portion of the triangle now, which creates the 90 degree angle. See how I have the wood butting up to each other? Less cutting = less mistakes and less time wasted. I'm not a master wood carver, and one less thing to do is nice. <br />
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When you lay the pieces on top of the 7 foot length, you can see the angle on which your next cut will be. This is one of the two 45 degree cuts that will sit on top of the 7 foot section. You'll notice that you'll have one side slightly longer than the other with both having a 45 degree angle cut one one end and 90 degree on the other. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TQtHF3aYwsI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/LFO8GUb1m2M/s1600/IMG_1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TQtHF3aYwsI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/LFO8GUb1m2M/s320/IMG_1333.JPG" width="320" /></a> Ah, all cut down and ready to be assembled. Now, it's time to drill. You're going to want to drill starter holes through the ends making sure to go through both pieces of wood. This is why you need the long screws. I nailed, glued, and screwed them together to make sure they never come apart. Don't skip the drilling because this keeps the wood from splitting. You wouldn't want to run to the store to get more would you?<br />
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You can see here how the pieces meet on the long end. See how nice and even they are? You wouldn't want any extra places for yarn to snag, so keeping your cuts clean is important. If you don't, you may have to come back later and sand sections down because they keep snagging your yarn while you're weaving. <br />
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Now, for the nails. This is the most time consuming part, so be prepared to spend hours on this. Mark out the center top nail and working your way down the short sides, spacing them 1/4" apart, mark 164 places to drill starter holes. I place mine about 1/2" from the edge of the wood. Once you reach the long side, work across it spacing them ~1/2" apart, measuring straight down from the short side nail marks using the right angle. <br />
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You should have 486 holes total. 161 one each side and all sharing an extra corner nail. 161+161+161+3 corners=486 nails total. Next, pre-drill holes and hammer in all those little nails. I left them sticking out about 3/4" above the wood. <br />
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A neat way to mark spacing is to leave every 10th nail slightly raised/lowered. This can help you when you're weaving and making patterns or if you want to know how many rows you have left to weave. <br />
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Viola!! You've done it! Now, you can start weaving. I hanged my loom on the wall for easy weaving. Some weave with the long side up, some with it down. You're preference really. . . I prefer to weave up.<br />
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Here's the action shot of the weaving process. There are other site that give directions on the continuous weave process such as on <a href="http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/triloom2.htm" style="color: blue;">Wayne's This and That</a> or at <a href="http://confabulation.com/%7Eworkstead/continuous.html">Confabulation.com</a>. By switching colors, you can create a nifty plaid effect.<br />
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There's a nice video on YouTube by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/WeaverHazel" style="color: blue;">WeaverHazel</a><span style="color: blue;"> </span>that shows the complete process on a smaller loom, It also shows you how to make a square weaving (Afghan?) using a Triloom.<br />
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<b> Finishing the Edges:</b><br />
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I found that the ends were very loosey, goosey after removing it from the loom, so I prefer to crochet the edges to tighten it up a little.<br />
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Slip stitch across the edging. <br />
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You can see how the final crochet edge compares. The thicker the yarn, the less this will happen. With the spacing of this particular loom, bulky weight yarns work best.<br />
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It's been a real treat to have my own loom that I made. Just like when I spin a yarn then knit it, I have more pride in what I've done because it is mine form beginning to end. Plus, saving all that money for yarn doesn't hurt either! Don't forget to check out the multitude of resources on the web, in your library, and from your friends. <br />
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If you like this or any other DIY tutorials, feel free to donate
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Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8350174941131114586.post-44314278174418706282010-12-06T17:20:00.000-06:002010-12-06T17:20:43.019-06:004th Annual Arkansas Fiber Arts Extravaganza<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TP1p64jhQKI/AAAAAAAAA7w/CL3cpOBu3ao/s1600/IMG_7193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TP1p64jhQKI/AAAAAAAAA7w/CL3cpOBu3ao/s400/IMG_7193.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<i>Sitting high atop Mt. Magazine in the cold breeze, I found myself awash with bliss and joy as I spun happy memories with my fiber friends.</i><br />
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That is how I would describe my weekend in one sentence. An absolute pleasurable 2 days away from the world, just to celebrate the fibers and all the ways we play with them. It all started for me on Wednesday. I had driven to meet my friends in Tulsa, so that we could make our way toward Arkansas together on Thursday. We shopped and talked all while crammed into a SUV stuffed to the gills with yarns, fibers, fleeces, and spinning wheels.<br />
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Don't believe me, here's my seat. .<br />
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We went out to eat at local restaurants and visited Stringtown in Ft Smith, AR that my friend Elizabeth owns. Her shop is amazing with everything you could possibly want when it comes to fiber. I petted many skeins before continuing onto our hotel. <br />
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At the Lodge, I happily found my spot and unloaded all my batts, yarns, and other sundry items. It's always a game to figure out how to set up my booth. I never seem to do the same thing twice. Mainly because the space I usually get is different each time. I abhor being confined to a 10x10 space with no elbow room as many fairs do. Not Arkansas though, all their booths were nicely set out with ample space to wander, admire, and sometimes gawk for a couple of minutes (Did you see that silk fiber that was as big as a blanket at Spinning Straw into Gold?!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TP1paMIEZpI/AAAAAAAAA7o/absSKR0gsfE/s1600/IMG_7168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XyVlvabu-DQ/TP1paMIEZpI/AAAAAAAAA7o/absSKR0gsfE/s320/IMG_7168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> It was the first year that they had opened up vending on Friday night, and while it was fatiguing to drive in and set up before 6, the evening was delightfully busy. The atmosphere was calm, yet enthused. I had the best time chatting with everyone, long-time festival attendees and new alike. There was something around every corner: square knitting needles to try out, spinning wheels to test drive, yarns to molest, and fibers you could dig up to your elbows in. It was a dream!<br />
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Saturday quickly started early in the day and didn't calm down a bit. It was never overly crowded, and I always had someone to talk to. At one point, I took a break to wander the halls to find knitters, spinners, crocheters lining the halls and camped out in every available chair both inside and out. How can you not smile when your surrounded with such a stunning view?<br />
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I could go on and on about how wonderful this festival is, but as you may have heard already, experiencing is so, so much better. I plan to attend next year as it travels to Hot Springs, AR with more goodies. I hope to see you all in 2011!Dawning Dreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06955438631532650149noreply@blogger.com2