Cotton in the house!

Guess what this is?  COTTON!  Yeah, cotton.  Not fluffy, fuzzy, wuzzy, wool.

I'm pretty excited about this, DYNT now carries cotton for hand spinning!  The starter kit includes a tahkli spindle, 6oz of assorted cottons, instructions and educational materials.  Each kit is $32.95.  You won't believe how super soft this stuff is, and the natural colors are amazing - did you know some cotton is naturally green?  It's a beautiful shade of an earthy light sage.

If you are already a spinner and have spun cotton, DYNT now also carries an assorted pack of cottons just for spinning.  Each 8oz sampler of organically grown cotton slivers is $29.95.

Personally, I can't wait to give it a go.

More arriving every week...

 

I know I've said it before, but I love Farmhouse Silk Blend!  The nice UPS man just brought a large box full of the stuff.  Lots of greens, including avacado (pictured above).  This great stuff is DK weight (US 4 -5, 5-6 stitches/inch), Silk/Cotton/Wool blend.  Machine Wash Cold, Dry Gentle/low heat.  Talk about beautiful, light, soft, and warm!  It is hand-dyed, so expect some unique differences in each skein, but I personally love that about hand made stuff.  I've used it for a baby blanket and it worked amazingly!  And really, don't we all know a little tyke worthy of silk?

Also - I just got in Cushing's Perfection Dyes (for animal fiber and nylon) in limited colors, as well as the Cushing's Perfection Direct Dyes (for cotton and plant fibers).  I'm not a dyer - so I'm not the best to ask about using the new dyes.  But they are made in Maine!  Another fiber arts supply that's US Made!  That's something to get excited about.

Argh!

Wow.  I feel like I've been procrastinating all day!  But it's not true...amazing how time consuming some things can be, and how much you can feel like you're going in circles and you aren't getting much for the effort.  Today's issue was with Blogger and my domain name.  I've been working on it for hours (almost 3!)  I've done it before for other organizations I belong to, but for some reason, this time around I haven't been able to point a .com to a blogspot.com.  Oh well, I'll keep working on it.

But that leads me to a question, have you ever worked on a project that should have been easy, but just kept causing you grief?  Were the end results seemingly not worth the effort?  Some things are just harder to learn for different people.

One of the first samples I sold took me weeks to figure out - I think I frogged (ripped it out) 3 times!  To be fair, it was my first attempt at lace, so I don't think it was the fault of the pattern or the author (pattern photo from O'wool shown).  The end result was beautiful, and the end product was purchased by a friend.  I think I may be ready to give it a second try...

Crochet? Knit? Spin? Needle felt? Sure!

I often ask my customers what craft they do?  Knit?  Crochet?  Spin?  So I thought I should take the time to answer my own question...

I knit, crochet, spin (drop spindle), and needle felt.

I consider myself a crocheter first and a knitter second, even though I learned to knit as a young girl - my mom taught me.  But I forgot how to knit... until a short time ago.  I learned to crochet as an adult.  Then I figured I should learn to knit too- so I "taught myself".  I think it seemed easy 'cause I had learned quite a few years ago.  I had completely forgotten that  my mom had taught me until a family funeral a few years ago.  One of my mom's cousins told me about my mom teaching all the cousins to knit - on their back porch while wearing roller skates.

I'll admit, I haven't moved on to much advanced stuff - but I'll get there.  I'm looking forward to my Christmas gift giving list.  I may stretch my skills there.  I don't want to go into details.  Some of the recipients might read this!

Recently, I learned to spin and needle felt.  Both of which I really enjoy!  I sell supplies for both at DYNT and thought I should know a bit about each.  I'm hoping to do more spinning in the future, but I gotta finish a few other things first.

    

Busy times are in the future.

Next Saturday, October 13th will be a busy day at DYNT!  I hope you're planning on being a part of it.

Pumpkin knit using Pumpkin KAL pattern.
Join us Sat. 10/13 10am - 12pm to make your own.

At 10 a.m.  there is a KAL for all you knitters.  We'll be making pumpkins!  Just in time to decorate for the frosty fall that's on it's way.  The pumpkin pattern in $4.99.  Any orange or pumpkin colored yarn may be used.  The size of the pumpkin is determined by the weight of the yarn and the size of the needles.  So this is a great way to use up fall colored yarn!  You do need to be able to use DPN's and the stem is made by making an I-cord.  I suppose if you wanted to get crazy you could crochet yourself some leaves and a twisty vine like thing to attach.

Also at 10a.m. the first of the Learn To Knit Class will take place!  I've had many requests for a knitting class - so here it is!  It runs for 4 weeks, cost $90 for all 4 weeks (or $30 for each session, if you just need a refresher on one or two things).  Please note, three of the 4 classes are on Saturday morning.  The second session will be on Friday, Oct. 19th @ 6pm.  

Later that day, from 1pm - 3pm, there will be Learn Wheel Spinning class.  You must already know how to use a spindle and hand spin.  The $45 fee covers the use of the wheel and roving to spin.

As always, any supplies purchased at DYNT for the classes or a KAL/CAL receive a 10% discount.  Registration is required for the classes.  There is more information about each on the class page too - so check it out!