Finished Objects

I finally finished and gave the last of this holiday's homemade gifts, so now I can write about them in the blog.

Earlier this winter I finally took the plunge and learned to knit with double pointed needles (DPN's) and made my first hat (which Mom got for Christmas.) Then I decided I should learn to make these amazing felted slippers, just like the ones super-friend Maggie made for me. Thanks to online tutorials and Maggie's guidance, I was able to get over my fear of the dreaded "turning of the heel". So Mom and Sister got Fuzzy Feet for Christmas, luckily they fit!

Mom's humongo slippers before felting

Mom's Fuzzy Feet after felting

Sister's Fuzzy Feet

Then the next challenge was to make hackles for my fiber friends. A hackle is a ferocious-looking tool used for blending fiber before spinning. It has been replaced by the more popular and much more expensive drum carder for most people. But we are not most people and I wanted a low tech, low cost tool that we could add to our fiber adventure days.

I didn't take picture of the process, but I started with a rough board of walnut harvested from our farm. My 93 year-old great uncle was kind enough to plane it down for me, which was lucky, otherwise I'd still be trying to sand it smooth. Then using pictures of various hackles I found on the web, I planned my design and went to work. Each of the hackles has 69 metal spikes, made from finished nails that I sharpened on a bench grinder. Finally after much drilling, pounding and glueing, the hackles are finished and have been gifted to their new owners.

Here's a picture of the mine, all ready to be put into service..

Generous and ambitious friend Terri has already tried her's out...here's her picture of her loaded hackle with the fiber being pulled through a diz into roving.

Can't wait to see how it spins up!

A Gift of Warmth

I've been meaning to get this posted, for a week now. When we returned from Colorado there was a box from Texas waiting for us. It was a gift from some dear friends who had spent a week with us on the farm last summer. Inside the box was a huge warm, afghan they had made from some wonderful soft green polar fleece (I LOVE polar fleece!). I've been trying to get a photo of the note that was included, but can't get a clear shot against the dark green paper. The note is as special as the gift itself. It is written in a 9yr old's hand and reads as follows:

Dear Ms. Jill,
Thank you so much for letting is stay at your farm last summer! We know it's cold and icy in Iowa, and we hope this blanket will make you have warm thoughts. It should also warm your toes. We made it long enough for Mr. Sean too! It was made with violin music over it! Have a warm winter!
Wishing you a warm winter,
Kayleigh ____
Alyssa ____
and Donna ____

Mission acomplished girls...I am warmed from my heart down to my toes! Many, many thanks from frozen (but cozy) Iowa!