BunkyBoBo's July Special

4 ounces of Superfine Merino Wool Roving

Colorway: Strider

Now listed in the shop here

I love how this came out. I can't wait to see someone spin this up!

And now to the shop special part. All orders in July come with a free gift! It's a surprise so I'm not telling.

Also any order of 2 skeins of more will come with free shipping! So stock up on some pretty yarn won't ya?

Catch up

We have had 3 days of rain and ick here so I have not taken picture of my finished knitting. This afternoon looks promising though.

I am starting to get a little pissed at my wheel. I just got humming along and the flyer stopped turning. The direst drive slips on the wheel causing the flyer to not turn. When I get this fixed the yarn won't wind on to the bobbin and I have to muck with the tension. When that is set right no spin on the flyer! This is making me very unhappy at the moment. I was just starting to get the hang of the drafting. I hope to try some wheels while to the wool market. We will see.

Knitting is chugging right along, I turned the heel of the 2nd knee sock and am working the foot now. They are pretty but kind of boring to knit. I have been playing around with a little lace project. I like knitting the lace but I really have to pay attention. This is not something I can do very often because of the monsters. By the time I pick it up at night I am tired and just want to zone out.I have ripped 3 times already. Maybe I'll finish it by Christmas. I knit up a little project I liked so well I'm not gonna show you. Sorry but I am thinking about writing up the pattern and submitting it to someone to publish. I think it turned out super cool. We will see what happens. It's a winter item so it may take a while.

In shop news I ordered some superwash worsted for 2 special orders. I should have it next week. as well as a new colorway in sock yarn. Fun stuff.

Wound up

As you can see I have over spun my single just a little. I have not gotten the tension quite right again. It has to be reset every time I move the wheel. I gave the whole thing a good oiling so maybe he will settle down now. I am having great fun with it when I can keep Toph from trying to attack it. The fiber I'm using came from Miss V's stash sale. I believe it to be bfl but I could be wrong. There are a good many dog hairs spun in to but I have been told this reinforces the yarn.

As for knitting... Well I started another pair of socks. The Dream in Color was just screaming to be knit. I am doing Embossed St from More SKS. Very pretty. I am also working on a cowl in sock yarn. Another KISS project, eye of partridge stitch in the round with a little rolled edge. Very pretty in the Fire colorway. (yarn is Jitterbug) The slipped stitches keep the color from pooling too much. I will be nice and warm for someone next winter. I saw a shawl in this pattern online some where that was knit flat but I am lazy so I'm doing mine in the round. Pretty no?

Click

So I was spinning last night and something in my brain went click. I get it! I was wondering if I was ever going to find a rhythm and I did. Then something very strange happened. The flyer stopped turning and wound itself off and fell to the floor. I could hear the wheel squeaking a bit more too I need to oil him. I will run out today and get a little sewing machine oil. My wheel did not come with any. I am however very happy with the spinning overall. I will try to take pictures later. All I got so far is a fuzzy looking bobbin.

The Hitchhiker

Here he is. Isn't he cute? I am having a bit of drama setting the tension thingie but I will get it sooner or later. I'm gonna take him to the next S&B and get some help from the gals. I am still waiting for the moment it clicks and I make yarn I can knit.

The size of the wheel is great. It fits anywhere. I'm short so I don't mind the height. I am pretty happy with him. I think I will take it apart this summer and paint it. You can tell it is made by hand and the workmanship is very nice. I like that it is a little quirky, so am I...

Off to dye eggs!

Don't Panic!

The Hitchhiker is here. Pictures tommrow when I have had a chance to get to know him. Yeah seems like a him so far...

Look Yarn!

I was going along pretty good before I broke the yarn. Sort of thick and thin. I find drafting harder with the spindle. Not sure why.

Update

Poor Hubby was up late last night trying to see if he can fix the wheel. When I went to bed he was looking at pictures and muttering to himself. I told him not to feel bad.

In happier news secret project is all knit. I have a little finishing to do. My sock pal socks are started (again) and should progress quite fast now. It is a easy pattern.
I am wanting to start another sweater but don't have sweater yarn in my stash so will instead get to work on the wine bag I told Mom I would make for her. Shouldn't be hard... Maybe I'll add a little colorwork to jazz it up.

I spent all of yesterday making scrapbook covers for Hubby's show. I got 7 done and 1 nearly done. Not bad for one day. I was able to use stuff I had on hand and not have to buy anything. The only direction the director gave me was to make them tacky. Fun! I love the tacky!

btw Ms Snark sent me some wonderful homemade soap and beautiful yarn. I will have to get pictures later. I love the soap! I would try soap making but I hear it can be pretty toxic and the kiddos get into everything so...none of that for me. Thanks Ms Snark! You Rock!

Update

The flyer is the right one. It has to go back. Unless I can get someone to carve me one I am out of luck. Kromski redesigned the wheel I have about 10 years ago. (10 years after mine was made) The "Mother of all" is a different size. Not only that but new bobbins will not fit it so unless I come across parts on e-bay the wheel won't really work. I guess I am not meant to use this wheel. Hubby says he can make it work but he wants to drill holes and change things. I don't really think that is a good idea. I had better start saving my pennies for a new one.


ETA: Hubby wants me to keep the flyer. He feels he can make a new "Mother of all" to make the flyer fit. He has promised not to mess with the parts of the wheel as they are now. Just replace the one. I figure I will let him try. I can always sell or trade the flyer later if it does not work and have the old one intact.

I think my wheel is cursed

My quick change set came today and it does not fit on my wheel. No way in hell. Not a chance. WTF!!!!! I am waiting to hear if maybe they sent me they wrong size. I really hope so. I am really starting to feel like this wheel just does not want to work for me. He must be lazy. and He must be a He. I feel even worse for Hubby who feels so badly that the vintage wheel he bought is giving me grief. He has decided if I ever get another wheel it will be brand new. Poor guy. He tried so hard. As a new wheel is not really an opition now I will just have to keep my fingers crossed.
With any luck (and I could use some) it was a shipping error and a new part will do the trick.

I have some props to get done for Hubby's show today. Show opens in 4 days. Thanks for the warning guys.

Puppy update

Well as of right now we are not taking the puppy. The lady had him all ready to go and her kid freaked out and now she wants to keep him. She has to move out of her house in February so who knows. We had not told the kids so we are not to upset. We do want to get a 2ND dog but will wait for a little while I think. We have checked out all of the local rescue groups and are keeping an eye out.

As to everything else. The movie Hubby did a scene for will have a screening on the 26th. I am going to try to find a sitter so I can go with Hubby. We fear they may have cut him because they never filmed his 2nd scene. Should still be cool. Lots of people we know in it and shot here in town. I might even get to meet Issac(from the Love Boat!).

In knitting news the secret projects still rule here. The round blanket is about 33" across now. I think I need a longer needle to hold 576 sts. I have put it aside for now. We will see how long it takes to get back to it.

In Spinning: I am getting better at drafting and joining a new piece of fiber. I just need to practice a bit more. There is a bit of a learning curve but I am enjoying the new challenge. I will have some pictures sometime. My on the bobbin photos always come out a little blurry.

Update

So the broken flyer is glued and gaffe taped back together. It seems to be holding. Gaffe tape really can fix everything. The new quick change set is ordered, and I will retire the broken flyer. I have a fear of it flying apart and putting an eye out.

I have been knitting like crazy for the last 2 days but can not show you. Super secret projects.

If the sun ever comes back I will have new yarns to list.

Well that is all the time MB will let me spend on the computer today. He wants to read books!

My toy broke

I could not get the bobbin off the spindle. Hubby said he would help me and took the whole deal down stairs. He whacked it with a hammer( I had no idea he was going for a hammer) and this happened. Can't really afford a new part or even if a new one would fit my older wheel. none on E-bay.I can get a quick change flyer set. It uses different bobbins. Guess its a good thing I have not ordered more bobbins. I am trying really hard not be bummed, but the thing can't spin now and I just got the hang of it and filled my first bobbin. Gonna go cry now.

I did It!

I stayed up late last night with my wheel. I think I got it figured out. I just needed a piece of tape. One of the tension things kept slipping so I put a small piece of gaffers tape over the top of the peg and it works! Gaffers tape really can fix anything! and it won't leave any sticky stuff on the wood. I spun about half a bobbins worth last night but had to stop around 2 am cuz I just couldn't see straight anymore. Today I'm going to the library to pick up some spinning books and see what I do next. Maybe I'll have some hand spun to show later this week!

I just want to add here that the kindness of bloggers amazes me. Ms Snark sent me lots of pictures I had not found yet and told me I did not need the Scotch tension thing I am missing. That she would take time out of her day to help me Rocks! Thanks again! and thanks to the gals at knit night for cheering me on.

Well I am off to spin some more.

My Wheel

So here she is. What you see here is everything I got with it. Any ideas? Am I missing a part?

Witty Title

Ms Snark asked about my wheel in the comments. She is a Kromski Mazurka. She is just like the Minstrel( I think) except mine is a single treadle (bet I spelled that wrong). btw Ms Snark your wheel is so pretty! love the new banner. (click on the link and check out her new shoes. I need me a pair of those!)
I will take some more pictures of her today to post.

I set the wheel aside yesterday to try some new dyes. I got a new black and it does not crack! I got black yarn! a little uneven but still black none the less. Yeah! now if I could just get the red I want. I also got some neon colored food coloring to play with. I think brighter colors for spring are in order. But not today. Today the Mk's and I are going to the zoo to see the baby penguins. They were to be hatched just before Christmas. I love being a zoo member. I can take the kids for an hour or the whole day and it cost me nothing! Memberships to our zoo are about $75.00 per year and it pays for itself after 2 trips. As a side note we had some folks from China here to check out our zoo. Seems there is a chance of us getting a Panda or 2 here! That would be so cool.

Update

So I can spin a little on my wheel but I am having a problem getting the yarn to wind onto the bobbin which is causing me to over twist (I think). I have looked up my wheel on line and mine looks different from the one in the picture. Hubby bought what I think is a restored wheel. It does not have a spring thingie like the newer ones do. I am going to send an e-mail and see what I can do. I wonder if I can get that part? I am sure there is a why to make it work I just can't seem to find it yet. I need to work on drafting too.

In knitting news: I have been playing around with a lot of projects but not really finishing anything. The round blanket is coming along. I think about 75 more rounds should do it. I try to knit on it here and there.

The green hand warmers are coming along. I should finish the first today. I need to go feed the Monsters now.

My new friend

Maker: Kromski

Model: Mazurka

Wood: European Alder/Birch

She is pretty. Hubby got her from a lady on E-bay. She has only the one bobbin so I will have to order some. It needs to be tensioned.

I read on line that Kromski Wheels are hand made in Poland by a company that survived 2 World Wars and the Communist party. I can't wait to get started.

I think she needs a name.

More Christmas pictures coming. Boy what a mess!

My Hubby

is the sweetest thing. Last night as I was looking at yarn on line he says "what do you think about a spinning wheel" I tell him I would love to have one but figured one would be more $$ than we have right now. "Yes but couldn't you make your own yarn then?" sure says I if I can find someone to teach me. "lets look at some" says the best Hubby ever. So we head over to e-bay and see lots of nice looking wheels some new some old. BHE thinks an old wheel would look nice in the living room by the fire(see why I love him). I don't know anything about the different wheels and told him I just want to make sure the thing works. So blog land any thoughts on spinning wheels? Old vs New? Type?

And let me just say for the record: I have the best Hubby! He loves me and wants to see me happy. He knows I really want my shop to work out and wants to help me. He is a great Dad and my Best Friend. I love you Baby! even if you do leave empty pop bottles all over the place.

I had better get that sweater finished!