Package arrival

Hi there folks! Just wanted to ask you to let me know (or post on Ravelry) when you have received a package from your swap pal. I'm keeping track of this to make sure everyone gets their package. Thanks!

Bamboozled

Here's a picture of some bamboo that I just finished. I plied it with thread. There's 280 yard for 2 oz. I think I'll make some kind of lacy scarf with it.

Swap matches sent

I have sent everyone their swap matches. If you haven't gotten a mail from me with your match, please let me know ASAP. You should have also received a mail from your secret pal (or soon).

Support our members!

Hey folks, I just wanted to highlight our members shops. We've got a lot of talented people in this group! If there is anyone I haven't mentioned, please let me know!

Funky Carolina - If you don't know her, you're not a spinner. ;) Yarn, fiber and handspun.
HK Spindle and Fiber (Norway) - Handdyed fiber, handspun, spindles (15% off for Ravelry members - write "Ravelry" in the "Rabbat code"!)
Keegan Lane Yarns - Yarn and fiber
Kim4Life - crafty bags
Knit Front and Back - Fiber, yarn, handspun, bags, stitch markers
Lamina's Closet - Batts, fiber, handspun, learn-to-spin kits, spindles
LimeGreenJelly - Fiber, yarn, fiber art
Lizard Smells - Stitch markers, Yarn, Fiber and earrings
Material Whirled - Fiber, yarn, handspun, stitch markers, buttons, and "spinhancements"
Perchance To Knit - Yarn, fiber, handspun
Pixel Diva - Fiber
Punky Purls - Bags
Rosehill Designs - Silk hankies, accessories, housewares
Shelby's Designs - Yarn
Snarky Design - Handspun, yarn, handprinted paper, handprinted clothing
Snow Moon Spinnery - stitch markers, row counters, earrings, spindles, row markers, handspun
Spinspiration - swedish shop that has all kinds of stuff for spinning
Suzy Sells Sea shells - Handspun
Three By Hand - Yarn and Fiber
Vicki's Studio - Jewelry

HHHH Contest #1: How do you spin?

To kick off this Hootenanny (and to distract you while I choose your matches), I want to know how you spin! To enter, post a video of you spinning or plying on flickr, YouTube, Google Video (or whatever video hosting site) and post a link to it in the Ravelry forum for everyone to see.

You are not required to enter, of course, but I thought this was a good idea to document how you spin. It may change over time, especially if you are a beginner. Or it can be a conversation piece among your non-spinning friends. It may encourage other knitters or non-knitters to come to the dark side. So many reasons to do it! :) I just love watching other people spin, you learn so much!

Rules:

1. It needs to be at least 20 seconds long
2. At least part of it needs to be up close enough so we can see your technique
3. Needs to be submitted by July 31, 2008

Bonus points:
Submitting the video is 10 baseline points

1 bonus point if it is outside
5 bonus points if it is in a crowded public area
10 bonus points if there is a crowd around you

1 bonus point if you are wearing a knitting/spinning related clothing (Ravelry t-shirt for example)
2 bonus points if it shows your face
2 bonus points if you incorporate some humor
2 bonus points for fancy editing (and by that I just mean anything other than straight camera footage)
3 bonus points for wearing a handspun item (must be seen in video and made by you)
3 bonus points for flashing your knitting/fiber stash
5 bonus points for more than one person spinning in it (in the same place/room)
5 bonus points if it shows you spinning AND plying
5 bonus points if you show a fancy spinning technique like core spinning or coils or incorporating “other” elements into yarn like beads

Whoever gets the most points wins 4oz. Twisted Fiber Art Lively (sw merino) roving in the Dragonfly colorway. If there is a tie, then I will draw a name. The winner will be announced at the end of the swap.

I hope this isn’t too daunting, I want everyone to have fun with it!

1. How long have you been spinning? What skill level do you consider yourself? 2 years - beginner/intermediate.

2. What kinds of yarn do you create (singles/2-ply/3-ply/art yarn)? 2-ply mainly - have done navajo ply. Have got bulky attachment to spin bulky yarn. Love it!

3. What do you spin with (spindle/wheel/both)?wheel

4. What are your favorite fibers to spin with? Anything you don't like? Wool! Have yet to try some alpaca, working my way through different breeds of wool.

5. Who are your favorite crack dealers fiber sources (etsy or otherwise)? Buying from wool suppliers in NZ for sliver and fleece (roving) - Anna Gratton for fibre and knitting wool. Lucky that here in NZ wool is not as expensive as I seem to find from overseas, but more limited in hand-dyed fibre supply like I see from your sources - drool drool.

6. What kind of fiber do you want to try? Alpaca - perhaps silk, cotton sounds intriguing.

7. Is there any techniques you would like to learn? Mmmm not sure.

8. Do you dye fiber? If not, would you like to learn? Recently dyed my first lot of fibre. Much fun!

9. Do you have fiber prep tools (and like to use them) or would you prefer ready to spin fiber? I have equipment to spin from fleece - have yet to learn what is the ok parts of fleece and what is not. What fleece is good etc. Ready to spin fibre is much easier however.

10. What do you do with your handspun? What projects have you completed? Have made various garments for adults and children. Have done fine for knitting a shawl - my first fleece from scratch!

11. Are you in need of any spinning gadgets (WPI Gauge, threading hook, etc)? Do not have a wpi gauge - not sure that we have such a fascination for that here. We spin 'til it looks right.

12. What colors "fall into your shopping basket"? Any colors you just can't stand? Love green! But also love colour combinations, having flecked wool to knit with, variegated is great! Can't really stand bright oranges or harsh yellows.

13. What is on your wheel/spindle right now? Having 2 wheels - one has oatmeal coloured romney being spun fine and navajo plied, other has brown fleece - unknown breed - but carded by myself and spun 2 ply.

14. What other crafts/hobbies do you have? KNITTING!!! and crochet and cross stitch and beading, sewing and and and. Mainly knitting.

15. Other than crafts, what are you passionate about? Living a good life! My family, my cat!

16. Do you have an online wishlist? NO keep it in my head!

17. Is there anything that you collect? Only in a small way - cat stuff mainly figurines, winnie-the-pooh stuff that has appealed, and treasures my sons have made for me.

18. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What magazine subscriptions do you have? Opinionated Knitter E Zimmermann, anything that has exquisite patterns, love vintage books/patterns.

19. When is your birthday? 26 July

20. What book or movie character do you most resemble in personality? The extras - always quietly working away in the background!

21. What is the climate like where you live around this time (need to know for careful shipments of anything meltable)? We are in the middle of winter - so no melting yet!

22. Tell us one weird fact about yourself!

Favorites
favorite painting/picture(link):

Candy: Any! chocolate would probably be tops.

Food: Any except offal.

Drink: Coffee

Movie(s): Starwars - the first one!

TV Show(s): Science fiction stuff mainly - terminator - SC Chronicles, Stargate Atlantis.

Book(s): Science Fiction, fantasy etc. Probably Anne McCaffrey would be near the top!

Guilty Pleasure(s): Lying in bed on a cold day with a good book - when possible!