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Anyone for Continental Knitting?
It’s definitely a learning curve. Using the wool in the wrong hand, holding the needles differently – its like driving on the wrong side of the road, in the wrong side of the car… But, it doesn’t take long to pick it up. This afternoon is the first time I have attempted left-handed knitting – even though I am a left-handed person – and after a few stumbles for an hour or so, I had it. Now I just have to keep it. That means practicing, regularly. Well, I am knitting a plain garter stitch scarf as well as the lacy one, so that will be a good opportunity to…
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Caramelised Banana Pancrepes for Breakfast – Pure Decadence
It was one of those typical Sunday mornings – slow. A couple of cuppas, computer catchup was nicely underway – and then it came to a stop. A request for French toast by my granddaughter for her breakfast suddenly cut through the equilibrium. Oh dear. Amazing how one little seven year old can totally change the whole course of a Sunday morning… Nana looked at her and, of course, received one of those ‘sweet and cute’ looks that are so hard for any Nana to refuse. So, I duly complied, and the French toast was cooked. It was then requested to have it with icing sugar sprinkled on top. Hmmmm……
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The Banana Cake and Nana
And it came to pass that it was said unto Nana by daughter, “Go forth and make a banana cake”. With a number of over-ripe bananas in the fruit bowl it seemed like a good idea at the time. So, Nana duly went forth and proceeded to the kitchen to make the banana cake. Now, considering that at the moment in this furnished accommodation, there is no modern contraption to use, i.e. an electric mixer, Nana has to make it all by hand. Then it comes to technology. One microwave. Thank goodness for that! Well, at least it softens the butter enough to cream with the sugar, and saves a…
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Treadle Spinning Wheel V Electric Spinner
When it comes to choice of spinning wheel, there are many factors to take into consideration before you purchase. With dozens of wheels to choose from, it can be a difficult decision. The spinning wheel you choose depends on a number of factors. What are you wanting the wheel to achieve? This will decide whether you buy a treadle wheel, upright, traditional, portable, or an electric spinner. Do you want relaxing spinning, production spinning, or to enable the continuation of spinning with some kind of physical impairment? Spinning wheels differ greatly in their action, some being very easy to use while others require more attention. As rule of thumb, a…
- Berry Wool Muster, France, Italy, Le Tour de France, Ravelry, Shetland, Spain, Spinning, Spinning and Dyein, Spinning wheel, Tour de Fleece, UK
Tour de Fleece
For those who think I have gone totally balmy talking about a ‘Tour de Fleece’ – no, I haven’t. The Tour de Fleece is a spinning competition that runs alongside the Tour de France, and this year started on 4th July and ending on the 25th July, with the same rest days in between. The idea of the competition is to give yourself a goal with spinning, whether it be just sitting for longer at your wheel, creating a new designer thread, spinning that kilo of fleece you’ve been putting off, or sitting and watching the Tour de France and spinning at the same time. Prizes were awarded in different…
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Handspun Lace Scarf in Merino/Silk
With a bit of a lag in activity after Le Tour de Fleece, I’ve managed to get myself back to ‘The Blog’ and put a few words on paper. Its been a busy time, completing the editing of a manuscript but that is now out of the way and I can concentrate on more important things – like my spinning and knitting. The Shetland I spun for Le Tour has been stored for later use, I haven’t decided on a project for it as yet but I’m sure something will crop up at some stage. The grey matter is already ticking over on that one. With only 250grams, its not…
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A Coat of Many Colours – Dog Rescue part 2
Millie looked a sorry sight when she was brought back to my daughter’s house – her coat was very matted, hair falling into her eyes and the longest eye lashes I’ve even seen on a dog! She was very unsure and barked at everything. The lady that found her and looked after her brought her back from death’s door, spending a lot of time to get her back to health. After a few days in her new home she is starting to settle down, quite quickly in fact, and is already becoming part of the family. An appointment was made for her at the Pamper Parlour to clean her up…
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Dog Rescue Industry in Australia
You know when it all gets a bit too much when you cannot find even a few minutes to sit and spin. That’s when something has to change. It did, though I’m not sure it will give me more time… A couple of months ago, an eight month old puppy arrived, a rescue pup actually. Very cute and lovable, and she will become a shadow to my six year old granddaughter. This little girl puppy is a poodle/silky terrier most likely, with more poodle characteristics than silky though she has a crinkly double coat and doesn’t miss a trick. Having been ‘rescued’ only a few months ago by a very…
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Production Spinning in Afghanistan
Spinning is a world-wide occupation, and still gaining momentum, either as a hobby or as employment. Women working at one yarn production company in Afghanistan are now able to spin with a spinning wheel instead of using a drop spindle. Production of spun yarn has thereby increased. With this new production equipment and the increase in yarn output more women have gained employment and the opportunity to attain a rise in their wages. Read the full story… http://afghanistan.usaid.gov/en/Article.915.aspx <p …>
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Handspun Cable Jumper
Done! Finito! It’s finally completed! Considering the time it eventually took, I’m pleased with the result. The pattern was easy to follow after sorting out the three stitch variations and working the three of them simultaneously to keep track of the rows in each pattern. The pattern was easy to follow, especially once I had worked out how to cope with three different patterns, all with different numbers of rows per pattern. The main cable was twenty-four rows, and luckily the other two patterns worked into that number perfectly. How did I do it? I used a child’s Primary School exercise book with the wide and narrow lines and going…
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