tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22242293818812967102012-02-16T08:39:03.367-08:00The woefully boring adventures of a woman who wants to learn how to spin. Old enough to know better and too old to care, she's aided and abetted her husband, her knitting and by a cast of dozens.Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.comBlogger351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-6748199760635265762010-02-05T04:54:00.000-08:002010-02-05T05:05:13.325-08:00

Today is the first day of Master Gardener training. Add in that somehow I tweaked my right hand playing with the wood yesterday and the middle, ring and pinky fingers are pretty much useless. On the good side, today will be going over scheduling, volunteering, the online portion of the course, etc., so, other than some writing (which, surprisingly, doesn't seem to hurt), that should work out

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-50074612696111398582010-02-04T19:59:00.000-08:002010-02-04T20:17:13.115-08:00

I am sad panda. This has not been a good day. It started far too early for one thing. The spousal unit's job required him to get up at 1:30am, which meant I got up, too. That's just how we roll around here. Anyway, a way too early start to the day.Mike got home about 1pm (which was a nice thing) and I figured he'd be pretty pooped out. Wrong--he'd gotten his second wind and what better

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-61046145696377827602010-01-22T15:21:00.000-08:002010-01-22T15:41:47.195-08:00

A very long delay in blogging. It's a long story, but it might help a bit to lay it out here.My Dad was a life-long smoker. He started when he was 15-16 and finally quit when he was in his 60's, with a few, occasional lapses. Because of smoking, he developed COPD. It was diagnosed when he had a bit of a "problem". Dad caught the flu; normally, not a big deal. He went to the doctor who gave

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-51624355334817953722008-07-23T16:16:00.000-07:002008-07-23T16:45:14.969-07:00

I am not a tidy, well-organized person. Never have been, never will be. Sure, I know where things are--if you asked me for a book I own, I could pop downstairs and find it in 30 seconds in one of the approximately thirty-eleven stacks of books still awaiting sortage and storage on a shelf. Tidy, however, I am not.This isn't totally true. I do have one bit of organization in my life. I

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-39163464861867573752008-07-23T11:59:00.000-07:002008-07-23T16:14:52.597-07:00

You didn't really think that was all, did you?I also bought a niddy-noddy from Webs along with the Shetland. It's an Ashford one (to match my wheel) and needs to be sanded and finished. A good job for sitting out on the porch in the sun, I think.Next is...well, next is a rant. It's been more than a few years since I ordered anything from Amazon. I'd rather buy from an independent bookstore

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-42426270645414549542008-07-23T11:41:00.000-07:002008-07-23T11:58:19.381-07:00

Some people would think that being down from surgery means no stash enhancement. Au contraire, mon ami. The Internet exists for just such an occasion, my friend. And the Internet and I have been very, very close this past week.First up, two books. "Spin, Span, Spun: Fact and Folklore for Spinners and Weavers" by Bette Hochberg was the first one. A great little book (well, more like a

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-79690139931016143462008-07-23T09:31:00.000-07:002008-07-23T09:35:53.093-07:00

The Panopticon blog. In all my knitting blog reading, I have no idea how I missed Franklin's blog, but I managed it. Having found it, I'm now a total Franklin addict. I started reading it last night and it was the first thing I returned to this morning. If you haven't discovered the wonder that is Franklin, go read it now. I can wait. If you already are a Franklin reader, well, why don't

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-59978735656754242142008-07-23T09:18:00.000-07:002008-07-23T09:27:59.657-07:00

Greetings from the Patella Palace where the news is all knees, all the time. Things are....progressing. It still looks like hell on a cracker, but it *is* getting better. "Two steps forward, one step back" seems to be the motto of the week, but onward to more pleasant, and hopefully, interesting subjects.My first yarn is totally done!The twist has been set and everything. In a (vain) effort

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-82151360864867680262008-07-15T14:48:00.001-07:002008-07-15T16:56:44.685-07:00

Well, last night I finished plying, this morning I skeined it out on the old click reel and it's now cooling down from setting the twist!!! So, here's the story in pictures.This is my makeshift Lazy Kate--one large "Mr. Coffee" box and two knitting needles. It actually worked pretty well, but I'm thinking a tensioned Lazy Kate would be a nice thing to have in future. Also--why did no one warn

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-38203253036254640252008-07-15T05:12:00.000-07:002008-07-15T05:14:14.056-07:00

I'm done plying! I finished it last night with surprisingly few problems considering my homemade flyer kit. I will say, however, that I'm beginning to see where a double treadle would be nice for plying...Pictures and the full story later.

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-87900078060253040722008-07-12T22:35:00.000-07:002008-07-12T22:39:06.796-07:00

Success! I got another ounce spun tonight, so tomorrow morning, I will pre-draft my last ounce and get it spun. Then to figure out plying. I don't have a Lazy Kate, so I guess I'll make one out of a shoebox and hope for the best.Now, outside to look at the stars--I already had a quick peek at the moon. It's so cool to look at the craters and see the little peaks inside of some of them.

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-35273836283773058752008-07-12T20:55:00.000-07:002008-07-12T21:07:50.311-07:00

I *had* planned on being a spinning fool today. But....it was my birthday. It isn't that we did anything exciting for it; it was just nice to play around on the computers and, in my case, take a very long nap. But time is running short. I have to be done by Tuesday evening at the latest since surgery is scheduled for a (still) unknown time on Wednesday. So, as Mr. C. sets up one of the

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-45354751024876637532008-07-12T20:51:00.000-07:002008-07-12T22:38:42.314-07:00

We have progress! 2 oz. of roving spun up into a bobbin of single. It doesn't even look too horrid.I'm actually kind of pleased with it. I also got the next ounce pre-drafted and ready to go.My apologies for the slightly fuzzy picture. It was fairly early when I took it this morning and I hadn't had nearly enough coffee yet. As for today? Check the next post........

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-31622260265466019582008-07-11T07:45:00.000-07:002008-07-11T07:51:10.824-07:00

Well, MIL's computer didn't get fixed yesterday. In an effort to have things more or less tidied for Mr. C. before my surgery and given that yesterday was supposed to be the coolest day of the week, I cleaned the oven. Exciting, I know. Please insert the naughty words of your choice dealing with cherry pies, rhubarb pies, lasagne and everything else that chooses to boil over in an oven, won't

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-27279946507249996792008-07-10T08:43:00.000-07:002008-07-10T08:49:54.247-07:00

I've got to go fix the MIL's computer (again!) this morning, so spinning will have to wait. :( I did get part of my blue fiber pre-drafted this morning and I was able to get some more practice in last night, so I'm hoping for a productive fiber-y day. Also, it's leftovers for dinner tonight, so I gained a little more time there. Hmmmm.....I wonder how Mr. C. feels about a week's worth of what

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-57449174013331417762008-07-09T14:03:00.000-07:002008-07-09T14:05:53.667-07:00

Oh, cripes! I just got a call--my knee surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday, the 16th! I've got about 10 days less than I thought to try and get done. Arrrrrggghhhh!!! The spinning shouldn't be a problem (she giggled madly), but I've never plied and it's going to take some thinking. Not to mention never having "set" a yarn before. Can it all be done in a week? I guess I'm going to find

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-69387764057357152192008-07-09T13:13:00.000-07:002008-07-09T13:20:42.657-07:00

Things are starting to click! My treadling is more rhythmic and not so herky-jerky. I'm beginning to understand just how far I can draft before getting into the danger zone. My drafting hand is beginning to feel when things are too thick (or thin) and my brain is reacting quickly enough to stop the wheel and figure things out. It's not speedy. It's not poetry in motion, but it *is* starting

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-6661622584113109672008-07-09T13:09:00.001-07:002008-07-09T13:21:39.524-07:00

Well, now. Some progress has been made as you see below.Still thick and thin. Still under and over spun in places, but not quite such a knotted mess. It's almost (alllllllmost) starting to look almost yarnish. I am pleased. I promise the wheel many, many gifties, pet it and praise it to the skies. I drag Mr. Corbie in an make him look at it. Being the supportive guy he is, he oohs and aahs

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-62110584474643934102008-07-09T12:57:00.000-07:002008-07-10T08:52:27.011-07:00

The lovely spindle here:contains what I was able to do having had a lesson with Claire T. The blue (*not* the blue I'll be using for the Tour. Explanation below.) Is what I did on the 5th. Still too big for a "normal" single. Also please note the lovely wads sticking out. After close observation (and, possibly, a beer), I discovered they were caused when I allowed the wheel to spin

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-59860874595326810642008-07-09T12:55:00.000-07:002008-07-09T13:22:44.545-07:00

Sorry about the delay on my "progress" in Le Tour de Fleece. So, the next few posts today will show my day to day work and be a little easier to read than if I just did one humungous post, yes?Here we go.........

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-43597045969386630562008-07-05T16:19:00.000-07:002008-07-05T16:30:10.474-07:00

Ah, yes..."Stash Enhancement". Two of the finest words in the English language, my friend! On our rock-hounding trip up in Canada, I made some major scores. Viz:This is White Buffalo; the stuff they don't make anymore. Six 8 oz. cakes of the stuff at, wait for it, 99 cents a cake! But wait! There's more!A big bag of Cowichan wool, enough for a full-sized Cowichan sweater. It feels like 5-6

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-63509888843787031162008-07-05T07:22:00.000-07:002008-07-09T13:23:20.618-07:00

A very happy belated 4th to everyone! Yesterday was a bit haywhacky due to the holiday and due to going out, spur of the moment, and picking up a very, very inexpensive faceting machine Mr. C. found on Craigslist. (Note to self: stay off of Craigslist).Today isn't much better. I'm posting relatively early because we're...driving out to pick up the more expensive faceting machine Mr. C. found

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-23573498609562507952008-07-03T13:14:00.000-07:002008-07-03T13:50:32.396-07:00

First, the good: I don't have to have a knee replaced! This is a good thing since there's another short rock-hounding trip coming up and a trip to a "Star Party" with our telescopes and I don't want to miss either.The bad: Surgery is still going to occur. It'll be arthroscopy numero three-o for this knee. It's also had a major overhaul called an OATS procedure done on it. It's not good.

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-57215014858265723222008-07-03T13:00:00.000-07:002008-07-03T13:34:33.307-07:00

I'm new, so forgive me for asking a question that's either delicate or stupid: is there a "battle" between long and short drawers like the one between knitters and crocheters?Claire T., my fabulous teacher the other day was vehemently pro-short-draw. When I wound up with the draw back near my hip (because I wasn't being bright enough to let some wind on), she said, "See?!? See?!?!?? See how

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-41234641106965242762008-07-02T15:43:00.000-07:002008-07-02T15:59:02.160-07:00

Okay, so the explanation didn't exactly come in the next post. The Tour de Fleece got me all excited.The source of my newfound joy was Claire T. Mr. Corbie and I went to a highland games this last Saturday. It's a small event about 40 miles from our house. Mr. C. had an errand to run, so he dropped me at the gate and I went in and wandered on my own. I bought some McVittie's Fruit Shortbread

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-20995258280266604992008-07-02T15:40:00.000-07:002008-07-09T13:25:19.849-07:00

Keep me in your thoughts....I just signed up for the Tour de Fleece 2008. Details can be found here for all you brave, foolish souls out there.My goal for the Tour? To actually spin something resembling...yarn. For me, that'll be enough of a challenge!

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-22525943748398216852008-07-02T07:39:00.000-07:002008-07-02T07:53:10.755-07:00

Hmmmm...well. Here it is July and no posts since April??!? Let's run down the handy list of excuses and see if any of them fly, shall we?1. My ratzin'-fratzin' right knee is, once again, causing a lot of pain. Since I have a single-treadle spinning wheel and since my left knee has the grace and mobility of a drunken hippo on acid, it's considerably cut down on my learning opportunities.2.

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-21837980729409088312008-04-01T15:34:00.000-07:002008-04-01T15:36:33.346-07:00

A very happy April Fool's Day to all of my fellow Fools!! Do something silly today or try something new. Life is entirely too short to be serious.

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-38591888307636441902008-04-01T09:52:00.001-07:002008-04-01T10:16:28.533-07:00

Oof! Sorry, it wound up being a few more days than I thought. Things got a little hectic around The Fish's House as The Fish likes to think of it. He (or she? Neither Mike nor I knows for sure, but The Fish probably does) has plans for World Domination (it tends to think all in caps).In any case, pictures! First, on the 27th, we had a little of this:Very pretty and all, but a little out of

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-37047213585943665562008-03-25T13:39:00.000-07:002008-03-25T14:04:50.133-07:00

Oh, frabjous day! The modem still lives. I did my good deed for the day by typing up a sheet of info that any Linux user would need and sent it over to my ISP's tech support. If nothing else, it might save them yet another modem support call. You don't suppose I could be their only Linux user, do you? Does being "special" merit a discount? Hmmmmm....In fiber-related news, the "Ribbed Lace"

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-79131876785276466582008-03-24T21:12:00.000-07:002008-03-24T21:41:16.952-07:00

If you hate computers, technology and all things wired, read no further.You know, I love computers. Deeply. I still have my first computer, the awesome TI-99/4A with its massive 16-bit microprocessor. 16-bits, baby! It still works and I still play games on it occasionally. Anybody up for a game of "Hunt the Wumpus"? Later in life, it was playing on PDP-10's, Vaxen and a few other mainframes

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-59509611071609795772008-03-23T06:50:00.000-07:002008-03-26T06:50:50.165-07:00

Yesterday was a long, busy, surprising day so, this post had to wait until this morning.Long: Did I mention I got up at 3:30 yesterday morning? I did? Maybe I didn't say it right -- it was 3:30 a.m., people!!! Ahem, in any case, I have a wheel!!!!This is he/she before I cleaned them(?) (We need a neuter pronoun other than "it", really.) and s/he works like a little champ. Nary a squeak, moan

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-24753662587453670472008-03-22T05:44:00.000-07:002008-03-22T06:05:34.022-07:00

It's not quite oh-dark-thirty presently. It was when I got up at, oh, 3:30 a.m.! I'm one of those people who, when they're looking forward to something, winds up getting up waaaaaay too early. Every vacation? I'm the one ready to go to sleep at 7:30 that first night. You'd think over the years that my body would have figured out, "Hey! If I sleep, the time passes faster!", but, sadly, no.

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-40406969381492837752008-03-21T08:54:00.000-07:002008-03-21T09:25:30.660-07:00

As I type this, the countdown to THE WHEEL is 28 hours, 6 minutes, not that I'm obsessing or anything. What does a wannabe spinner do while waiting for their wheel? Well, there's reading (the Big Book of Handspinning, naturally).Maybe a little sock knitting:(Sorry about the picture: a) it's harder than it looks to take a picture of your own arm and b) I had to use the flash since the living

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224229381881296710.post-65701841959473385362008-03-20T14:34:00.000-07:002008-08-27T17:43:04.513-07:00

Happy, oh, happy first day of Spring, everybody!Greetings, salutations and howdy. This blog will chronicle (hopefully) my successful foray into spinning (don't burst my bubble!). Two days from now, day after tomorrow or 48 hours and 7 minutes-ish from when I'm typing this, I get my first spinning wheel.I'm excited (my first wheel!).Apprehensive (it's used, I haven't seen it yet and what if it

Corbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03024723646319434472noreply@blogger.com2