Episode 73: Putting Louise Out Of Her Misery...

Hello from my garden here on the Plain. Not to self - don't place the iPhone on the same level as the Joy when recording in the garden in future! Sorry if you find the spinning noise annoying; at least it didn't squeak :)

Fleece to Finished
Thanks to Bee for these photos from the event.

From left to right: Annie's Best Coat, 4 hours 50 minutes; Elsibett, 4 hours 30 minutes; Whole Lotta Rosie 3 hours 58 minutes.

Tour de Fleece

From left to right:
16g, 28 yds of Rosie 2 ply
6g, 8.66 yds of Annie 2ply. These are the bits left on my Joy bobbins after our Guild Fleece to Finished challenge.
105g, 148 yds HilltopCloud Superwash BFL/Ramie, spun and plied as a 3-ply on the Joy.
73g, 271.5 yds BFL I’d dyed lilac myself and spun last year - final 15g spun on the Traddy and then plied as a 2-ply on the Joy.
107g, 476 yds of Shunklies Cheviot spun last year and plied as a 2-ply on the Traddy.
106g, 139yds HilltopCloud Superwash BFL/Ramie, spun and plied as a 2-ply on the Joy.
6g, 25yds Ashford merino/silk lurking on a bobbin (left over from the spinning for the Peacock Shawlette) and plied as a 2-ply on the Joy.
10g, 33yds of raw alpaca purchased from Great House Alpacas, spun and plied as a 2-ply on my spindle.
19g, 71yds of HilltopCloud hand blended in Shetland/merino/llama/fire star, spun and plied on my spindle.

Show Report
I saw alpaca...

It was very hot...

 If you get a chance at a show, you must see the Lamb National!

OK, onto the exhibits...

 

  

Three handmade cards......                            ....and the knitted/crocheted baby item.

  

Rag doll...                                                             ....and creative embroidered picture.

 

      

 

Item made from recycled materials (oven mitts)...                 ...and a beaded necklace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item of felting....                           ...Hand or machine made bag

 

 

Knitting: Advanced...                                                             ....Cushion, any medium.

 

 

Bottom: Item of other craft, inspired by favourite book.

Top: Item of handspun yarn, knitted or woven - along with the Diploma for best exhibit.

 

Upcoming Events
Fibre East, 27-28 July 2013, Ampthill, Bedford;
Yarndale, 28-29th September 2013, Skipton;
Knitting and Stitching Show, 11-14th October 2013, Alexandra Palace;
Bakewell Wool Gathering, 19-20th October 2013, Bakewell.

Music
Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune.

Make Contact!
We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Please feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!).

TTFN,
Nic x

Episode 72

Some (not so) brief ramblings, the night before the show... apologies, not been edited to remove ums...

Something I Really Like
My new Ultra-Fine Blocking Wires

Upcoming Events
Fibre East, 27-28 July 2013, Ampthill, Bedford;
Yarndale, 28-29th September 2013, Skipton
Bakewell Wool Gathering, 19-20th October, Bakewell

Music
Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune.

Make Contact!
We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Please feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!).

TTFN,
Nic x

Episode 71: A Week To go!

Well, there was when I recorded it anyway!

Links
Ruth Packham
Woolyknit
Hilltop Cloud
Crafts From The Dungeon

Something I Really Like
The Pompeii and Herculaneum Exhibition at the British Museum

Upcoming Events
Fibre East, 27-28 July 2013, Ampthill, Bedford;
Yarndale, 28-29th September 2013, Skipton
Bakewell Wool Gathering, 19-20th October, Bakewell

Music
Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune.

Make Contact!
We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Please feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!).

TTFN,
Nic x

Episode 70: Midsummer Madness

Finished Objects
There is progress sin my preparation for the Oxfordshire County & Thame Show. I've so far completed three more projects for classes: a pair of oven mitts from recycled clothing (no pictures yet), my Northman stranded mittens and a pair of baby bootees from a Sirdar Snuggly 3ply pattern (Ravelry details here). I've also finished knitting the I-cord on the stripy Noro messenger bag and fulled it in the washing machine. Now it needs to be lined.

In The Weaving Shed
I've been working on the 32" Rigid Heddle loom, making a houndstooth pattern. The brown is chocolate Jacob, the white is a blend of British wool, both from Wool City Wools available from Texere. This will become a cushion.

Further Show Prep
A Clothkits rag doll has been sewn, although she has no dress yet. One and half cards have been made. A half finished beaded necklace has been fished out of the WIPs bin and it is moving apace, as is a long stitch embroidery of a nuclear power and reprocessing plant. No, seriously. What do you mean you haven't got one?

Still no pictures I'm afraid!

Here's some Merino Silk blend I've spun on the Joy, which is now being knitted into the Peacock Shawlette by Kitman Figueroa.

Something I Really Like
Cancer Research's Race For Life 5k races. I'm running at Tatton Park on Sunday 30th June in memory of my Uncle Jeff. If you could spare a few coppers and would like to sponsor me for the event, my just giving page is here.  Thank you.

Links



Upcoming Events
Woolfest, 28-29 June 2013, Cockermouth, Cumbria;
The Wool Experience, 6 July 2013, Blaze Farm, Wildboarclough;
Fibre East, 27-28 July 2013, Ampthill, Bedford;
Yarndale, 28-29th September 2013, Skipton.

Music
Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune.

Make Contact!
We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Please feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!).

TTFN,
Nic x

Episode 69: It's That Time Of Year Again!

Hello from a delayed episode recorded in May. Reports and a family bereavement conspired to throw me into a flat spin and I didn't edit this for ages. Apologies for the delay. It'll probably be like buses - there'll be another episode along in a few minutes... ;)

On and Off The Needles
I have cast on another Adrift, this time in some 4 ply from John Arbon Textiles. It's gone well, but it currently languishing as I slooooooowly unpick the cast on. Ravelry details here.

The Tomten Jacket (Ravelry details here) STILL hasn't had the zip sewn in (I'm such a chicken!).

I crocheted these Easy Victorian Shell Mitts by Bron Green in DT Crafts 100% BFL Aran in an afternoon. Gotta love crochet!

Show Prep
Yes indeedy! I'm gearing up to enter several classes in the Oxfordshire County & Thame Show. If you are in the area on Saturday 13th July, do go. It's a great day out. I'm bringing a pair of stranded mittens and the stripy Noro messenger bag out of the WIP bin for some of the classes, as well as working on a number of other projects that are not yet photographed or completed. More details later!

In A Spin
Here's some Merino Silk blend I've spun on the Joy, which may well become a shawl or scarf for the show.

I don't think it's 54 wpi here though!

Something I Really Like
The Great British Sewing Bee

Links
Clothkits
Coldharbour Mill
Bohemian Rhapsody Wrap

Upcoming Events
Woolfest, 28-29 June 2013, Cockermouth, Cumbria;
Fibre East, 27-28 July 2013, Ampthill, Bedford;
Yarndale, 28-29th September 2013, Skipton.

Music
Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune.

Make Contact!
We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Please feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!).

TTFN,
Nic x

Episode 68: Knitting & Crochet Blog Week 2013

A little mini-episode to tie in with this year's Knitting and Crochet Blog Week, organised by Eskimimi. If you want to find any of the blogposts, you need to seach for the special tags listed here on Eskimimi's blog. My entries can be found on my pre-podcast blog, Tales From The Plain.

Look! A finished object!

It's the Adrift knit in the Natural Dye Studio Sirene. I've already cast on another, in Exmoor blueface, a sample run 4 ply by John Arbon Textiles. I'll be wearing it at Wonderwool tomorrow, Saturday 27th April. See you there!

Episode 67: Zips and Lips

Hello from an almost Springlike Cheshire Plain, specifically the carpark in the Blakemere Craft Village! In this episode I waffle on about the weather (again!), review something I've never reviewed before and just shake my head in despair at my knitterly ADHD.

What's On The Needles?
Zipping along on the Tomten:

 

I've also swatched for a seamless yoke sweater by Elizabeth Zimmermann (I blame A Playful Day ;) !), using some of the Sheepfold blues and purples and cream left over from my Woolsack cushions. This is one idea for some colourwork....



...and this is the first part of the hem, with the picot row worked.

Review
Inspector Norse by Lipservice Theatre

Something I Really Like
The Killing

Upcoming Events
Wingham Woolwork Fibre Sampling Workshop, 6th April 2013, Frodsham Community Centre;

Wonderwool Wales, 27-28 April 2013, Builth Wells, Powys;
Woolfest, 28-29 June 2013, Cockermouth, Cumbria;
Fibre East, 27-28 July 2013, Ampthill, Bedford;
Yarndale, 28-29th September 2013, Skipton.


Music
Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune.

Make Contact!
We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Please feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.podbean.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!).

TTFN,
Nic x