MurrMade: 2009

Saturday, December 12, 2009

New Directions... sort of!

Over the past few months I have been experimenting with different patterns for hats. And after reading and knitting many different patterns I finally decided I needed something unique to me. But after knitting a few trial hats, I have finally decided that variety is the spice of life!

These are two of my attempts, both are comfortable and stylish. And thanks to Niki, I now know how to fleece line them; although my sewing skills are not the greatest... but that will come with practice.

Fall always brings out the knitter in me and I have also used up all my homespun wool I had spun, so out comes the spinning wheel today.

First Attempt!!!

Second Attempt! From my homespun; and a cozy fleece lining!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Recession: why not barter...

Well I have been very lazy with my blog these past two months. With the warmer weather, work and spinning and knitting, it has gone to the way-side.

But an update...

A friend and co-worker of mine makes pottery as a hobbie. I casually mentioned to her that I would love a set of bowls and after chatting we ended up bartering a couple of my knit-wears (hat and vamps) for a set of 4 of the most beautiful bowls I have ever seen.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Latest spinning adventure.

I finished this yarn on Sunday afternoon. It is a "green moss" plied with a deep red. Turned out to be 280 yards and weighs a little more than 6 oz. My spinning has become more even with practice, and I think it shows. This will once again make for great socks.

I am now working on a wonderful Alpaca/Romney mix compliments of Petra. I am thinking hats for this spin.

Finished "vamps"...

I finished the vamps I was knitting with my hand-spun. I think they turned out great considering I was just experimenting with the wool when I spun it up.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Newest Knits from my spun yarn!

This is a scarf I knit on Sunday May 3. I had a lazy morning and decided to do something with my "white chocolate mint" yarn which I spun a while back. I didn't have a model, so I improvised... It is about 6 feet in length and around 8 inches wide.

Another project are these "vamps" that I started with the yarn from a previous post; it is the coopworth brown mixed with the yellow/gold and red. I don't know how it happened but the colours are knitting up like something I've never seen before. When I spun the yarn, I didn't have any ideas in mind, but yesterday I spent the afternoon and evening at a friends cabin and decided I needed a new pair of socks to wear, so I began knitting. The coloured bands and the heel were an accident. I doubt I will ever be able to replicate it in another sock. Oh well, they will be one of a kind.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Newest Skein

Spent my day yesterday spinning up a skein of mixed fibers; one ply is coopworth dark (compliments of Petra when I purchased my wheel), and the other ply is a mix of gold/yellow with deep red. I hung it to dry on the cloths line after setting the twist in it overnight.

It is approximately 150yards and weighs 5 ounces. I think it turned out good. This is a two-ply that I am quite proud of. Looks like great sock yarn.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Spinning, Spinning, Spinning

I have been exploring more aspects of spinning recently and learning more and more with the help of Petra and her books. She has taught me so much. I just recently learned to Navajo 3-ply, and 3-plied my "white chocolate mint" wool. I was going to knit socks, but now that I have started to knit with it, I think it would be better used for hats.

The blue/white 2-ply was supposed to blend better, but I made a mistake and spun the white in the wrong direction I think... LOL Doesn't look too bad; plus it will make great socks some day.

The grey wool is my Newfoundland sheep fleece 2-plied; should make for great vamps. Thanks again Petra.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Newfoundland Sheep Fleece/Wool

This is a one ply spin of "Newfoundland Sheep" wool. It was given to me for a practice spin. I love the way the dark greys and lighter greys go together. I have since 2-plyed this and the colours blended beautifully.

Me & Spinning

I feel like I have connected with a little of the past when I am spinning up a new yarn. I am so addicted. This is a pic of my spinning a blended colour of green and white. I call it "white chocolate mint".

Funky Chunky Scarf

This is my friend Jackie sporting the scarf I knit out of my first spin. I call it my "funky chunky" scarf...

Spring is coming!

It seems this winter has been extra long; not sure why, maybe it is the anticipation of spring and summer.

I had the opportunity to meet, visit and learn from a spinner here on the west coast of Newfoundland. She gave me a lesson on spinning and let me borrow her wheel for a while. Since I have borrowed it, I have been spinning like crazy. She had a lot of Newfoundland Sheep wool and gave me a bag full to try. It is a very unique fiber as compared to other fibres. I have been spinning up a storm... and reading a lot on spinning.

I have spun a lot of multi-coloured fibers and plied it and knit up a "funky-chunky" scarf. I will post a pic of my creations later. My friend Jackie says it is an "artsy" scarf.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Brenda Stratton's Art & Teaching!

Yesterday (Saturday March 21st, 2009) I had the opportunity to observe & learn from Brenda Stratton. http://brendastrattontextiles.blogspot.com/ Not only did she teach us about the basics of felting, but she assisted us in making one-of-a-kind creations. Here is a picture of a bag I made for my mother. She also gave us a demonstration of dyeing yarn and roving.

A big thank you to Brenda. Awesome job, you must have been exausted.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

MurrMade I.D. Labels

After a lot of chatter about whether I should put I.D. labels on my creations, I have finally decided to do it. Spent the day on Saturday at a local silkscreening shop learning all about the silkscreening process and making my labels.

It has been a cold week here and I have had some extra time off work to knit a pair of socks and a couple hats.

Monday, February 16, 2009

"Thorpe" Hats

I have been making these hats like crazy. Love this pattern; seems like everyone "needs" one.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Spinning & Dying!!!

I have just discovered spinning and dying!!! Dyed my first lot of wool on a lazy Saturday. Sunday I learned how to make a "drop spindle" and started spinning! What great creations. One of a kind. The MurrMade Kind!!! The Yellow is actually Tumeric. I dyed one strand of the "5 ply Country Roving" and then used my drop spindle to spin in the dyed strand. Not bad for a first attempt.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Long Heavy Socks...

My long heavy double heel socks... Love them. So warm...

Kinda made up the pattern as I went along though.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Hat & Finger Mitts (Trigger Mittens)

Well these are my matching hat and trigger mitts. I was going to attempt the traditional Nfld pattern with colours as you see below, but I am not that skilled in that yet. Learning new things every day though. The mitts below are compliments of my mother. She tells me the are Labrador Diamond finger mitts. They are the ultimate in warmth because they are a double knit mitt.

Cold Week!!!

Well it has been a cold week so far. Great for staying in and knitting; and having an excellent cup of tea compliments of Jackie & Nat.

My knitting this past weekend is a pair of heavy socks with Briggs & Little yarn... Trying different "traditional" Newfoundland colour combinations and styles of bands. Love the way the brown, white and red go together. They are going to be extra long to cover my calf. Love this pattern.

I have also finished off my "finger mitts"... see other post.