make your own spinning wheel?

My stepfather retired, and since he likes woodworking and similar, I'm going to see if I can get him to make me something like a bulky spinning wheel. He could use a bicycle wheel. This would be great - we'll see. I can't afford an Ashford Country Spinner, but desperately want something like that.

Ravelry lures me in

I just got on Ravelry.com, and I'm addicted. This will probably be the thing to get me back netted into the web.

Knitting:

This year, I did some stuff:
1. Lace: got a start on lace knitting
2. Socks: toe up short row heel: the best way
3. Entrelac: not hard, and fun to do

Next year, some goals:
1. More lace, smaller yarn. Try not to make a mess of it.
2. Socks:
a. Short row toe
b. Magic loop!
c. If b isn't a disaster, then 2 at a time on a loop!
3. Entrelac socks
4. Fairisle!:
a. Learn how
b. if a isn't a complete disaster, maybe (gasp) steeks...? EEK STEEKS

go see the winner

here!

Clearly, it is not me (though I think I got a couple of votes). I think the right creature took the prize. The whole thing was lots of fun, maybe I'll try the next one as well.

done

Go vote!

I didn't think it was going to be enough yarn, but then it actually turned out to be a little bigger than I thought in height. It was particularly difficult to knit the bead cord/wool yarn (especially with short rows)! The lace pattern didn't exactly come out, but I think the wings worked pretty well considering (unfortunately, the beads don't show well in the pictures). The head and body are not in the proportion that I had expected, and the eyes ended up on the side of his head (as if perpetually looking over his shoulder), but I still like the final result.

If anyone's around, you can see all the entries here!

handspun bug tales

So, I spun the yarn on a spindle.



I didn't think it would be enough





I started the crochet body, then began to knit the first wing. It was particularly difficult to knit the bead cord/wool yarn (especially with short rows)!



More soon!

Contest progression

Picture:


Plan:
I plan to crochet the body, but to knit the wings so that they can be lacy. The tail will be black wool, a red/purple merino/ingeo stripe, the main body a combination of greenish-grey merino, grey wool, and purple-silver sparklies. The wings will be blue merino spun with clear bead cord (for rigidity) with a few little purple beads (for beadiness). The head will be a mix of various pinks and purples in merino, ingeo, and nylon. The eyes will be some red beads, and the antennae will be black wool. About 7 inches in length for the body, and around 7 wingspan as well.

Fiber:



Now to spin!!