Monday, December 26, 2011

Yoga for Spinners and Knitters

Stiffness and limited movement can become a problem for many spinners and knitters. Extra exercise and movement will help to re-mobilise those stiff shoulders, wrists and joints.

I found this Yoga video when looking for something to re-mobilise myself and thought I'd share it with everyone. After only the one session, I already feel a difference and intend to work with it every day.You don't have to be 'Senior' to reap the rewards!

Esther is using a fold-up chair but I recommend using a dining chair or one that is solid. Fold-up chairs can be a little flimsy and tend to topple over. Once you know the moves, you can even practice this yoga in front of your spinning wheel while taking a break..




Give it a go, and if it helps do leave a comment so that we can let others share this excellent practice.




Saturday, December 24, 2011

Handspun Felted Bag and Scarves

Its long overdue and somewhere, someone is wondering why I haven't added any posts to The Woolly Mother for so long - well, maybe someone is...

I decided to create a few handmade items to send overseas for Christmas pressies this year. Luckily, to save time, I already had the yarn handspun and ready to go. Settling on what to make was, of course, quite easy. Considering its always cold this time of year in the northern hemisphere, nice, warm, woolly scarves would be the order of the day. So, I proceeded to knit for both mum and dad.

This one I created for Mum - I balanced the blue with a lovely peachy shade, and drop-stitch pattern making the texture quite thick and warm, even though the yarn was only about a four ply thickness.




Dad's scarf I knitted in Fisherman's Rib, again giving a good thick texture and light in weight





The Knitted and Felt Shoulder Bag was a treat to make. I knitted the bag in stocking stitch, sewed it all together and threw it into the washing machine, on a hot wash. Twice. After that second round, it came out at the right size and texture. I then lined it with a contracting cotton fabric and added toggles so the bag could be closed - they are not in place when I took these photos.

 
To hold the lining in place I stitched around the outside with a handspun merino/possum yarn.



Hopefully, the recipients will love their pressies. I had a lot of fun making them.