Beaker Button Blog

No Sew Mitred Square Blanket This was one of those projects that made me consider why I knit. I don't need a blanket. I spend most of my time overheating, especially at night so actually a blanket is probably the last thing I need. I did have a huge amount of fibre from my Mum's stash, which prompted the idea.  A small selection from mine and Mum's stash! I'm finding spinning very soothing at the moment, with all the crazy going on. But why a blanket? I love to knit mitred squares. They way they get smaller as you make them, the look of the stripes as they form that distinctive V. I made a jacket a couple of years ago, well more of a coat really, with the huge amount of 4ply yarns I have. That started life as a blanket, but morphed into a coat as I was working it.  Me in my Mitred Square Coat I wanted something simple to work, and no sewing, and mindless, hence the blanket. Who knows, maybe next year it will be cold enough to use it. This project did it's job though...

I had my first long walk of the year yesterday.  I'm just starting the Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers Certificate of Achievement in Spinning and I needed to take photos of the woods in winter.  I have to create designer yarns and my theme for them is Fruits of the Forest.  I'm taking inspiration from the woods during the changing seasons.  I keep my horse Archie at Vernham Dean with my best friends horses and she suggested a 6ish mile route to a hillfort called Fosbury, which would take in gorgeous scenery, forest and hills, and some road work.  I invited my Dad and my uncle Simon, who are both avid walkers.  The day before was beautiful, sunny and clear.  Yesterday was dank, misty and cold.  Typical, although usually when my Dad and I try to go for a walk it decides to howl a gale and rain cats, dogs, livestock... We had a fantastic walk despite or perhaps due to the weather.  It stayed relatively dry, and the views were moody and atmo...

I taught myself a new skill today so I thought I'd share it with you all.  Of course I'm probably doing it all wrong but it worked for me.  I've tried blending on our wild carder but could never get a nice smooth batt to spin with.  I've realised that blending fibre using a carder works much better and takes very little work.  The photos are in order below.  It was fun trying to take them one handed.  Big thanks to the Boy for helping. 1. Pick your fibre.  I used  commercially dyed and carded merino tops 2. Pull off small amounts.  I used 2 colours as a base and 4 more as accents.  The ratio was about 2 - 1 base colour to accent.  I wasn't too precise about this however.  I was more interested in getting a nice random mix. 3. Lay the carder on your knee. 4. Taking the end of the first base colour in one hand comb it through the carder starting at the edge.  I held the fibre at the end so that the teeth on t...

I had my third person to teach spinning to today.  Usually my Mum teaches spinning, as she has 40 years experience.  But I'm learning to teach spinning on very special people, who don't mind being practiced on or being passed on to Mum when I feel inadequate.  So today I taught Silka to spin, starting with carding and ending up with setting her own skein to take home.  She was brilliant.  Very focused, and with her listening ears on.  She picked it up really quickly, which is nice for both of us really.  Below are a few photos from the day. spindle spinning bit of a draw on the wheel getting the twist first yarn on the wheel finished skein close up