Showing posts with label timbertops spinning wheel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label timbertops spinning wheel. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Meet Rhonda

Bet you thought I was going to show you a new critter! Heck no, but I will show you my newest helpful assistant. Rhonda, the dress form.


You can hum strains to Help, Help Me Rhonda for the rest of the day like I've been doing. Let me tell you she created QUITE the stir last night when the crew got a look at her. Had I not been calming everyone down I would have taken a pic or two.

Once I got her set up and adjusted (which was quite easy), she was ready to go to work assisting. Her first job was to help me overcome my fear of fitting knits and jersey and we did quite well I think. This is a nice heavy cotton jersey with lycra, just perfect for this Marcy Tilton Vogue pattern. It was a dream to have a 3 D figure to pin and drape onto checking for fit.No muslin was done for this pattern, I just jumped right in. The pattern itself has sewn up quite nicely and I'm looking forward to finishing the neck,hemming, tossing it in the washer to clean up the chalk marks and wearing it.


My little handwoven scarf certainly looks happy against the deep chocolate brown.


Her second job was to be a model for the shirt I finished up yesterday.


It is the same Favorite Things Classic Shirt pattern but this time done up in oh so bright companion fabrics. Occasionally, you just have to go with a something a little different than usual!


So, the sewing machines will take a bit of a rest and I'll get back on the looms tomorrow. I'm almost done with the work space(s) reorganization, no looms have left, I'm happy with all of them, but I did finally make the decision to sell the Timbertops wheel. I loved the idea of it more than I enjoyed using it. I've found my little Schacht Ladybug to be just right and very versatile for the small amount of time I actually spend spinning. The Timbertops made it's way to her new home in the Carolinas last week. The sale allowed me to complete my sewing area, place an order for some weaving yarns, add some fabrics to my stash and banish my guilt for not using and enjoying such a special wheel.

A small note of congratulations go out to Hickory, the Scottish Deerhound and winner at Westminster Kennel Club show. My folks had deerhounds for years and they are lovely dogs! Glad to see them in the spotlight once in a while. But wasn't that terrier group something! ;)

Parting Shot: Beauty Sleep (Dreaming of next year's Westminster...)

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

2011 It's Not Just for Looms

In fact, I would bet all the weavers have other fiber pursuits besides weaving, like spinning, knitting, crochet or sewing! I know I do. So weight in, what other fibery pursuits do you have or want to have in the new year?

Here is my inventory of fiber tool goodness (madness?) going into 2011.


Four working sewing machines, three of which are Singer's. The 401A, the new little Featherweight and a give-away, a vintage 1970's Genie complete with mod flower decals. Who didn't want one of these as a teenager in the early 70's?
The last is my Bernina, the go to machine for fine or knit fabrics and fun decorative stitches. I have renewed my love affair with this machine after the slip cover sewing incident. The Morse 4400 Fotomatic is not pictured here because it is not in working condition. The foot pedal is downright scary electrically and a new one needs to be ordered before that baby can be up and running.


A most useful White serger. Those stickies identifying the thread number and path have been a godsend. My Dad put them on when he adjusted it and I've kept them in place.

The spinning wheels are a herd of two, the little Schacht Ladybug


and the Timbertops Leicester wheel.


Both wonderful spinners, although there may be changes in the line-up in 2011.

In farm news, the snow has been pushed aside and while we have a lot of it, getting around the farm has improved. Good thing too since Bob the Tractor is laid up in the barn waiting on a new water pump. Gene has been staging two bales by the gate every day for me with his pick-up. The water pump can't get here fast enough!
Other than that it's been pretty low key. I would like to say I have been a whirlwind on the fiber front but the truth is we both have been sick with flu and colds. Gene is feeling a bit better but the head cold that came to me also brought a case of pink eye and it's been downright miserable.
Since I haven't been taking any pics the last few days, I'll leave you with this parting shot: Jack, waiting for the "helper" to finish up so he can get weaving.