Margaret Miller

Randomly spinning small quantities of tops then Navaho plying them to maintain the colour separations has created a beret with circles. The pattern by Diane Mulholland is freely available on Ravelry and can be used with all types of yarns because it is based on a swatch. It was knitted in the round starting at the brim and working inwards. Approx 12 wpi.

Really can't remember when I finished this - quite a few weeks ago because it's been sitting around reminding me to finish it for a long time. Thinking about a pattern at the moment. The yarn is 11 or 12 wpi which is supposed to be 8 to 10 ply. There's 266m. I still think it might irritate a sensitive neck so I'm still opting for a shawl (small), but it has to be something to knit watching TV as that is the only time I can devote to it. This is it  as a pattern This is it  on Ravelry Might start knitting tonight.

I did it on the machine rather than by hand! It took about an hour. I split the two batches into 8 pieces and put four of each into each batt - ie 2 batts. Then I split each batt in half and re-carded a half from each into a new batt - still 2 batts. It has come out a lot softer than the original - quite fly-away, too. Again, pictures to follow once the Exhibition has opened if I can wait that long!.

I received my package some time ago but had to put it aside because of all the other stuff happening "right now".  Why did I ever agree to do this? There was some wool tops which looked and felt very compacted and some  silk which was ever so lovely. What to do with it? Have to aerate the tops so I decided to card it all as even a predraft felt rough to my skin. Then the silk - I contemplated spinning it separately and the using it as an autowrap as I spun the wool. I sat on this thought for some weeks but nothing happened. Decision time came today and I'm not feeling all that well so I've decided to simply card the two together in the hope that the silk will mask the (to my hands) the harsh feel of the wool. Hopefully, too, the wool will soften with a wash - sometimes I think that whatever the mills put into these tops to assist the machining really makes them feel awful. Photos of the process steps will be added after the date due in July The...

We went geocaching today down the Channel way today, trying to find a spot to place our own very first cache. This photo was taken at a small marine reserve lots of kelp apparently and lots of red things if the information signs are right. Two snorkelers emerged while we were there.

Early this summer I found a method to 'dye' with rust. Essentially I soaked the yarn in a strong vinegar and water solution (50/50?), then wrapped the yarn around something rusty, I used the blade of our old mattock. Then I sealed it with glad wrap and left it outside for nearly a week. It was in the sun most afternoons but it also rained. The fibre was a soft Tasmanian merino but now it feels a lot harder - evena a little brittle. When iron is used as a mordant they say this can happen, so I'm not really surprised. The colour is quite soft and pleasant, but it doesn't have that saturated dyed look, rather more like it is adherring to the surface of the fibre.

I have made the light box  thanks to Jen's article. Have to go and get the cardboard later today. More spinning and dying has been done plus a lot of work helping with this year's Guild Exhibition.

Spent the day setting up my etsy shop . A way to go yet until it's all done, but exciting to be actually doing it. Also carded some alpaca and dyed a little Tassie Merino.