Spinning | As Kat Knits

Experiments in Weaving

by Kat | Feb 11, 2016 | General, Making

I am still working through the warp from before Christmas, and I have this lovely skein of yarn I spun from ITW. It is 75/25 BFL and Tussah Silk from their December 2014 Luxe Club, colorway ‘Flounce’.

I started weaving late yesterday and I hope to finish the remaining yarn today.

And finish the laundry.

I find pairing the fun with the mundane works well, don’t you?

Happy, Fulfilled, and Proud

by Kat | Dec 29, 2015 | General, Words

Carole has me reviewing my year to determine the following:

10 Things You Did in 2015 That Made You Feel Proud

Wow, this one is a bit of a challenge! I am certainly proud of my new granddaughter, Genevieve – but she is not something I did. I am also proud of my children for a variety of reasons, but especially now that they are all out of school I am so proud of how well they are all doing at “being adults” – but again, not something I did either.

For me, 2015 was a “Year of Making” coupled with lots of learning! Please join me as I look at the things I did, learned, and made this year – things that make me proud of myself!

2015 was a very good year for knitting at Casa del KatKnits – I took a fantastic class with Amy Herzog and finished knitting not one, but three sweaters that fit! This was truly a herculean task as in my 15 years of knitting, I had, to date, never knit a sweater that fit. I also knit a good bit for Genevieve, and I completed my third summer at Camp Loopy! Sixteen projects in the “complete” column prove that I did lots of knitting this year!

It was also a good year for spinning, I spun more yardage for Spinzilla than I ever have before and the yarn made from that spinning was pretty darn impressive as well!

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Sheepspot Montadale Review

by Kat | Dec 4, 2015 | General

I made the decision to be in only one fiber club this year, the Sheepspot Breed Club with the addition of the Breed School – it cost a little bit more, but what I am learning is invaluable.

The second installment was Montadale that Sasha got at MDSW. I saw the fiber there and it was lovely! I was thrilled to learn that I would have the opportunity to try this fiber. The fiber was dyed beautifully – I selected the Autumn Wedding colorway. The fiber was processed nicely, although there were a few bits that appeared to be second cuts. I am not sure, but they were easy to remove and I had less than a dozen of them in the first braid. However, these bits did not impede my spinning in anyway at all; I was able to maintain good consistency by removing them as I spun.

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The Best of November

by Kat | Dec 1, 2015 | General, Words

It is Tuesday and that means Carole has sent out a challenge for our Ten on Tuesday post!

Today it is a fantastic one: 10 Best Things You Did in November, so without further ado here is my list!

I blogged every day, completing a successful NaBloPoMo!
I used my camera every day and I have a new favorite lens as a result!
I “figured out” how to do my shorter hair and it only took a couple of weeks!
I did some of the best spinning and, more importantly, the best plying I have ever done!
I grew my weaving skills and gave myself permission to make many mistakes without stressing over them!
I finished some knitting projects, even if they were small ones!
I made nine quarts of turkey stock and four turkey pot pies with Thanksgiving leftovers!
I got all my Christmas decorating done, freeing up December for finishing the few “me-made” Christmas gifts on my list!
Finding .98¢ poinsettia’s and a $6 orchid on my only venture out on “Black Friday” (and there was practically no one at Home Depot!)
Finding a true connection with yoga, I feel like my day is just not right if I do not do yoga.

I think these are some very good “bests” for my November!

Happy 10 on Tuesday, Gentle Reader!

The view from here

by Kat | Nov 14, 2015 | General, In The Kitchen

In the face of the senseless tragedy, the words of Mr. Rogers echo in my mind, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'”

Be a helper to those around you today.

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