Wheel and Loom Repairs For Damaris.

All things need repair and maintenance from time to time.

Damaris (another friend and spinner) found out when moving her 8 shaft table loom suffered some damage during the last move. Between Sue and I we sorted out what was required, a number of the Heddle ends supports were missing new one made to order by Ray. mean while Sue searched high and low to buy some new much needed springs and replaced the lifting cords. New lock pins to hold the frame together were made by Ray.

 All photos are of during reassembly.

Damaris had scored a spinning wheel from an Auction, it was in a sad state of neglect. The wheel  fellows had separated, this is a common problem as they and the hub or spoke are never glued. It comes about due to shrinkage of timbers over time a simple use of furniture oil will reduce this from happening but not always as ambient temperature plays a major roll. Ray soon had it all hog tied and stored for a few weeks till he acquired some Brass rod to secure it in place.

The completed wheel re-oiled,it has been tested and now runs like a dream.

Stash Weasels on the Prowl

Sue's friend Sally had discovered she had a serious problem seems a Stash Weasel had invaded her home.
Whats a Stash Weasel??

Stash weasels are little guardians of yarn stashes, perfect for gallantly fending off moths and other wool-related menaces! True stash weasels are always accompanied by a small ball of yarn, symbol of their status as protectors of a knitter's, spinners and weavers stash.

This little lad is Murphy a typical Irish Weasel. Sally discovered him in her wool stash a few months ago while hunting for colors for a project. He was curled up in a bit of tissue paper, just hanging out. Sally made him in February and he's been hanging out protecting her stash ever since. He even went traveling with them and was great sniffing out stashes of fibre and yarn.

 Murphy dives right in as soon as he see's a good stash to find the best.

Murphy looked lonely so Sue while having a cuppa discovered she also had a Stash Weasel about., She'd popped in for a cuppa and stayed, Shiobahn pronounced Shibon, also very Irish.

Shiobahn met Murphy via an internet dating service prior a physical meeting where the two hit it off.

She now resides near the front door in a basket of balls of wool slowly being knitted into Beanies for the Beanie festival.

Shawls By Sue

Green seems to have been the theme at least during 2017.

2017 and 2018 Sue has been very busy I think four shawls in all over 5 months. As well as dying, spinning etc.

After rummaging through the fibre stash, Sue came upon this somewhat coarse mohair fibre which was just enough to make this shawl which was knitted from end to end making the leaf and lace edging first. Later the body of the shawl is attached using short row shaping. The fibre was dyed and spun years ago with no particular project in mind but the uneven dying gives the shawl an interesting mottled look.

 A deceptively coloured package of alpaca bought from Bendigo Woollen Mills  on our last trip to Victoria. It was separated into variations of the main colours with this mostly green themed fibre here. Finely spun and using a pattern obtained from Damaris (one of the spinners), this shawl is warm and light weight with a semi-circular shape. As usual though, Sue can't knit things up without making some changes to suit her mood. In this case the stitch pattern was altered but the shaping remained the same.

 This lovely light wool shawl began its life sitting out in the Queensland sunshine for quite a number of weeks soaking up some dye. Its easy to utilize the summer temperatures for solar dyeing. A number of shades of green dye were used to obtain the marled effect then spun finely with the idea of making a fine lace shawl. This leaf design suited not only the colour but the weight of the spun wool. Some people liked the shawl enough to ask for a copy of the patter. To date there have been no copies made.

 

Below is the fibre throughout the process. Photo left is Black fibre Sue had mixed with some of the fibre from Bendigo to give the Opalised effect. The white is an Alpac carded and not used as yet. The Green is the dyed wool for the shawl above.

Right photo is the blended, spun and plyed yarn is yet to be used.

 Left photo are top left hanks x 3 for the semi-circular shawl. The 4 top right hanks are for the Leaf Shawl. The 2 bottom hanks for vest below.











The vest seamless all in one knitted from the bottom up incorporating seed beads and drop stitch pattern. The vest was knitted without a pattern just a few calculations on the go.

2018
One for a friend Sally who who got some lovely merino and silk sliver to do something special. Sally knew she wanted a shawl but her knitting skills weren't up to an advanced project so Sue volunteered. Sally spun and plyed the fibre and chose the pattern. To say that Sally was thrilled with the finished item would be a gross understatement! Sorry no decent photo of full shawl.

Slow Start to New Year

This particular Blog could change as I/we look back to 1st Jan 2018 but lets jump in at 4th Feb to start with. Another beaut day out at Old Petrei Town with friend Dave Dicker.

The North Pine Rivers Trades Guild doing metal casting.

 Loraine from the Queensland Antique Steam section.

The incredible collection of clocks from one mans life time of work housed in the museum.

 Tools also in the museum.