tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49708388215015679072011-11-13T23:46:22.614-05:00betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.comBlogger831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-47663567132427635192011-01-18T14:23:00.000-05:002011-01-18T14:23:52.548-05:00

I just spent 3 hours alone with myself in a car yesterday.  Alone with the thoughts in my head and an iPod that only had enough juice in it to last a podcast.  Not a great place to be for one who is clinically depressed.  I suppose, though, it gave me time to sort some shit out.  About what I want, about where I need to be. I have been spending the past week trying to pull myself together.  I

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-78045467943475132422011-01-16T22:40:00.002-05:002011-01-16T22:49:43.161-05:00

A Star Without a Name Seeds feed awhile on ground,then lift up into the sun. So you should taste the filtered lightand work your way toward wisdomwith no personal covering. That's how you came here, like a starwithout a name.   Move across the night skywith those anonymous lights.                 (Mathnawi III, 1284-1288)

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-58771341710013096052011-01-08T15:38:00.000-05:002011-01-08T15:38:34.059-05:00

Hello, dear Reader. It has been far too long. So much has happened in my life lately I am not sure that I would ever be able to catch you up all in one post. I won't even bother trying. Rest assured, it will trickle down to you bit by bit. Such a gentle stream of facts will never be able to reflect the tempest that has been my life lately, but I don't want to leave you in the dark either.

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-41561417554791597702009-11-01T07:06:00.007-05:002009-11-01T10:28:12.135-05:00

Its no secret that I love this little town. Be it tranistory or not, it has become our home. The people, the surroundings, they have all become near and dear to us. When you move a lot--always following the job path, as we do--you don't really allow yourself to become part of a community. It is difficult to allow yourself to invest in friendships and to really and truly connect with people.

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-49363449572277708842009-10-26T07:51:00.003-04:002009-10-26T08:19:13.232-04:00

...And we have a winner! Thank you everyone for entering! The entries were all fantastic, and I absolutely love the explanations some of you gave. We had over 50 entries between the blog responses, Twitter, and Plurk. Thats a lot of names to ponder! But ponder I did and I have decided that my poor nameless Schacht will now be known as...(drumroll please)Simon!I have always loved the name, and

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-35259098254379243912009-10-21T19:27:00.018-04:002009-10-22T05:50:46.283-04:00

As you all know, I have been tirelessly working on my Cherry Leaf Lace shawl. As with most lace patterns, the beginning is fiddly, cumbersome, and annoyingly difficult. Every time I start a new pattern, I wonder how I will ever get the thing completed. It always seems daunting, but once I have cast on those few first stitches and get a few repeats under my belt, something just clicks. I have

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-39157575080281692732009-10-17T20:21:00.008-04:002009-10-22T21:30:10.506-04:00

Spinners, like boat owners, often christen their wheels the moment they get them. My first wheel, a gorgeous Lendrum, was dubbed "Lucy" right out of the box. I've had my Schacht Matchless for nearly a year now, and it has yet to be named. That's where the contest comes into play. Here are the details: suggest a name for my wheel! The winner can pick the prize: a skein of handspun, 4 oz. of

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-44031914879481097092009-10-15T14:30:00.003-04:002009-10-15T15:12:02.252-04:00

I don't know what it is about fall that makes me want to cast on for new knitting projects. Is it the fact that I spend (slightly) more time indoors? Or perhaps I am overly-eager to own some new warm things for the upcoming winter? Whatever the reason it has been my habit to temporarily stash my wheel in the corner come late September and bust out the knitting basket.Not to say that my wheel

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-78295668276759488232009-09-22T11:43:00.007-04:002009-09-25T08:11:27.425-04:00

Semi-impromptu Stickam session will be held tonight at 930 pm EST. No fancy tutorials or demos, just good old fashioned knitting and blabbing. Its been a while since we've had a Virtual Knit Night, and it will be fun to catch up on what everyone has been up to lately. Feel free to join us! Don't forget your knitting, spinning, crochet project! Its not required of course, but its nice for a

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-8288386436752227922009-09-15T19:57:00.001-04:002009-09-25T08:13:06.662-04:00

I love the beginning of fall, when the leaves start to drop one at a time, giving you a lovely crimson glimpse of things to come. Of course its breathtaking to see the golds and oranges dramatically splatter the landscape in October, but I think a fire-red leaf in the midst of all that languishing green is something special. Something to really ponder. I've spent a lot of time taking little

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-51349711293101534022009-09-04T20:48:00.008-04:002009-09-06T11:33:11.013-04:00

Giving up Icarus for a week to our local county fair was a little difficult. When I give a piece of knitting to someone--whether for a week or forever--I am handing over a little piece of me. I hesitated a little bit when I handed my shawl to the fair official--not necessarily because I thought it would be mistreated, but because I am temporarily severing ties with something I spent so much

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-53656530556942093372009-08-29T10:35:00.026-04:002010-08-01T14:31:05.168-04:00

Betzi has been fuming. For nearly a week now I have held my tongue about a blog post by Sharon Pelletier, who authors the blogCeiling Flickers, but no more. Its time to let loose. The post in question is this one. After having this charming piece of writing come to the attention of many a furious knitter and spinner she received a flood of comments and emails regarding this post--most of

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-23865364249074888782009-08-19T17:41:00.004-04:002009-08-19T19:40:42.926-04:00

One thing that comes up time and time again with knitters and spinners is the phrase "I'll never be able to do that!" I always cringe when I hear this, not just because I think its something you can't know unless you've tried, but because I too am guilty of having this very thought. Sometimes, dear reader, you have to leave your comfy little nest. It happens all the time in life: you let your

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-46437190336636291362009-08-01T18:50:00.012-04:002009-08-13T08:47:35.139-04:00

Lets get down to the real reason Betzi Spins, shall we? We've danced around it long enough, now its time to tango.Before I go any further, I should probably clarify the title of my post. When I say "sensuality" I'm not referring to the definition you're likely thinking of. Sorry, its not going to be that kind of post! I am talking about sensuality as in "devoted to or preoccupied with the

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-88291882122227908692009-07-18T14:52:00.020-04:002009-07-24T10:29:56.392-04:00

Yay! Betzi is an auntie times two! My brother- and sister-in-law had their twins! It was a tough pregnancy, tough labor, and difficult recovery, but all in all mom and babies are on the mend and doing well. We are so happy for them, they truly deserve a slice of happiness. Little Florian and little Phillip came early but nevertheless clocked in at a respectable 5-ish pounds. Congrats bro and

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-66048131054664417552009-07-09T07:20:00.008-04:002009-07-09T19:21:06.190-04:00

Its good to be back in Germany again! The family home is a very peaceful place to be. That's not to say that the weather is always cooperative--we've had drizzle 75% of the time we have been here. It is nonetheless so nice to be back, and I always think of it as my home across the pond. I do miss the Blue Bungalow of course, but I suppose absence makes the heart grow fonder. The plane ride

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-61604802256536050612009-06-30T06:43:00.009-04:002009-07-03T22:39:33.783-04:00

Yeah Betzi has been a knitting slacker lately. I was really trucking along on Madli (ravelry link) before the move, once we got settled in couldn't seem to sit still long enough to work on it. I am quite sure it has much to do with this place. All I want to do is be out in it, to really experience where I am. So I've taken to dyeing outside (see previous post), spinning on the porch, and

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-90226052418985054712009-06-24T00:04:00.019-04:002009-07-21T08:47:28.545-04:00

I get so many questions about what I do and how I do it by people that I meet that I thought I would spend some time clearing things up. Today I'm going to give you a low-down on what I do. We'll call it...Dyeing Wool 101, or "How Betzi pays for her Wool Habit"First I should tell you that there are many different ways of dyeing wool, but the method I'll be using is called "space dyeing". I

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-46605297054861127242009-06-19T20:52:00.015-04:002009-06-27T23:12:43.115-04:00

I know this is sort of a bygone trend in blogging, but I recently read some interesting "100 things" and decided to give it a whirl myself. Without further ado, here are 100 things about me that you may or may not have known:1. I used to rock climb.2. I grew up on a farm. When I was little I used to love to feed the cows apples.3. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't make lace. It is

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-28601523555499083312009-06-17T12:10:00.008-04:002009-07-14T04:53:02.847-04:00

We made it! I almost can't believe it. It seems like we have been packing and unpacking for a year. All but one or two token boxes are left--you know, the ones labeled "misc. stuff"--and I consider us officially done. We have settled in very nicely and are utterly enjoying ourselves. This place is bliss.I have lived in Harpers Ferry WV before--when I studied at Shepherd College--and it was an

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-69780534180963501852009-05-22T10:38:00.007-04:002009-05-22T11:46:08.474-04:00

As many of you know we are preparing to move, so I've been incredibly busy with that end of things, as well as putting together my son's 6th birthday party (Mad Scientist Theme. I'm sure you will hear about it later!). Its been crazy town around here once again. I got pretty sick last week with some sort of bug. I didn't feel like knitting or spinning or doing anything really, but laying

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-31939125200288620132009-05-12T20:25:00.013-04:002009-05-20T23:53:50.008-04:00

In Spinning NewsSince I haven't done much knitting at all, save for swap knitting (which for obvious reasons I can't post about yet!) I am devoting today's post to spinning! Its definitely that time of year, when all I think about is spinning. MMMM wool...I'll jump right in and blog about the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival first. I can't really put my finger on it, but I wasn't quite as

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-12723344989234369832009-04-14T09:09:00.009-04:002009-04-15T23:45:33.890-04:00

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.You know how it is with an April day. --Robert FrostWelcome Spring! So good to see you, and so nice of you to finally settle in and stay for a while. I know you have been a little shy, what with Winter's rather agressive behavior this year, but I do appreciate seeing all the buds and blossoms you have been working so hard to make!Here

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-88839441267814926362009-03-12T11:13:00.010-04:002009-03-20T14:40:07.291-04:00

In Spinning NewsAfter hibernating in my living room all winter with my Icarus shawl and several Christmas knitting projects, I once again have had the itch to spin. I hadn't really spun much at all over the holidays, and post-Christmas knitting was tantamount to a frenzied scramble to complete Icarus. Recently I have been eyeing up my wheel. It sits in my living room and looks at me everyday,

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-38717689020111140622009-03-04T13:42:00.007-05:002009-03-04T15:07:31.701-05:00

I'm sure by now you are all wondering what the heck I have been up to. Or maybe not. Either way I'm now going to give what will hopefully sound like a decent excuse for not blogging in ages.Our situation last semester was this: DH was teaching at the university here and in the meantime was offered a very swank job in Washington DC at the German Historical Institute, which would offer a nice

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-51057957277194619122008-12-15T01:13:00.012-05:002008-12-17T11:19:12.944-05:00

Knitting News Ok first and foremost I must tell you all that I am a winner! Yup, its true! I won the new Noro book, Knitting Noro from Wendy at Wendy Knits! WOOT! Since I never win anything, but always enter, I'm thrilled! Thanks Wendy and Wendy's Randomizer! The book is brand-spankin new (I think it was released last month) and I am very excited to see what Jane Ellison has come up with--she has

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-57100583709864411922008-12-06T12:34:00.005-05:002008-12-06T14:19:46.757-05:00

I have been wanting to try out knitting backwards for a long time, ever since I started knitting shawls. That purl row can be a real drag, especially when a) you don't dig purling but still have to do 500+ purl stitches and b)purling takes longer. When I first heard of knitting backwards I thought "why bother", but now I get how it could be useful. Oh, plus like most other knitterly things it

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-36268060050111924662008-11-20T16:41:00.009-05:002008-11-22T09:57:31.280-05:00

Today I got a lovely package in the mail from Swknitsmn. She sent her stuff so early--I'm not complaining of course! Behold the goodies that she showered me with:I should have taken pics of the box as it looked when I first opened it. Everything was so colorfully wrapped and cheerful! However I couldn't wait and my kids and I promptly dug right in and started unwrapping. It was seriously

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-64666461169702745722008-11-14T19:18:00.014-05:002008-11-18T00:19:01.455-05:00

Ah the magic of felting. Even though I have felted things many times before, each time I do it it completely baffles me. It seems like magic. Of course I know the stuff will shrink to a fraction of its size. Of course I know stitch definition will dissappear. Of course I realize I can cut it and poke holes in it and it won't unravel. And yet I remain mystified.Here is my latest felting project, a

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-37255072833567844462008-11-08T19:43:00.007-05:002008-11-15T00:10:58.883-05:00

This is highly experiemntal, but I wanted to try embedding the webcast on my blog this week. We'll see if it works! If it does, expect to see it every week, along with the show notes!I'd also like to announce that the Virtual Knit and Spin in was mentioned in This Week in Ravelry, issue 39. Yay! I was very excited, to say the least!*****THIS ELEMENT WAS DELETED TO SAVE YOU TIME! THE PLAYER

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-11076541019084041192008-11-02T12:43:00.004-05:002008-11-02T23:42:29.027-05:00

Once fall hits I not only have the urge to cast on a hundred projects, but I also get the urge to swap. I don't know why, maybe it has something to do with some prehistoric instinct to hoard stuff for the upcoming winter. Whatever the reason, I find it very difficult to pass up swaps.So I didn't. In fact, I'm hostessing one through our Virtual Knit and Spin in group: The Cold Weather Drink

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-37122735496201903702008-11-01T09:23:00.008-04:002008-11-01T15:52:25.885-04:00

Just wanted to pop in for a quickie entry. Last post was a little blabby so I'm trimming it down this time.Wow, watching this thing spin is like watching art. In fact, this wheel was designed as a kinetic sculpture by glass artist Andy Paiko. Gorgeous isn't it? Can you imagine spinning on this beaut? Personally I can't because I'm such a darn clutz I'd be afraid I'd knock it over or something

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-48656449343773397912008-10-22T08:35:00.009-04:002008-10-23T14:36:00.726-04:00

What more could a girl ask for--the NY Sheep and wool festival was on my birthday this year! Couldn't have planned that one better myself. And I will just say that it was fan-friggin-tastic!Here is an example of the gorgeousness of that weekend:I was actually a very discriminating shopper this year. I was focused mainly and seeing and learning. Ok, and getting some kick ass wool combs. I went to

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-40340302668707794702008-10-14T10:33:00.008-04:002008-10-15T00:00:19.908-04:00

Well my camera finally died. It has been on it's way out for a while, but it is now officially dead. Considering we've had it now for nearly 6 years, its probably time for an upgrade. (Wanna hear something funny? At the time 3.0 Megapixels and 2.8x zoom was top-notch! Makes me snort!) Its such crappy timing too--Rhinebeck is just a few short days away! Good thing I have a birthday coming up,

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-3091937818146634322008-10-12T17:38:00.003-04:002008-10-12T17:43:00.750-04:00

I'm pretty sure these aren't hand-knit--or if they are then kudos and apologies to whoever knits in such a fine gauge--but its still ridiculously funny. I am partial to the siamese twin teddy bears myself. A warning: these images are somewhat graphic. As in knitted cartoon-y graphic. They won't make you want to hurl or anything, but if you have kids hanging around, you may want to wait to

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-81919275955084692162008-10-08T20:32:00.008-04:002008-10-09T11:27:19.373-04:00

I am the first to admit that I have quite a few projects in the works. It happens any time I finish several WIPs in a row: I get the itch. I want to cast on for a million different things. I scan knitting books, magazines, and Ravelry (of course) for an obscene amount of time for just the right pattern, and in doing so I run into a million different patterns that I MUST knit. Hi my name is betzi

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-67588825547597122462008-10-07T15:11:00.006-04:002008-10-07T15:34:15.452-04:00

Yay! I'm in an Etsy treasury today! Yippee! Go check it out now, the link will expire in a couple of days! Thank you WoolandMore for including me! You just made my day!Just in case you didn't get to see it "live":My listing is the top middle one. Its a lovely BFL top, "pumpkin patch" colorway! Naturally you can find it in my Etsy Shop ;) .Its not my first treasury (not that I've been in

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-1130924799585855142008-10-03T09:13:00.004-04:002008-10-03T15:40:30.666-04:00

Just in case you need a little pick-me-up, here is something I spotted while Plurking WendyKnits of Knit and Tonic:Enjoy!Oh, and if you are in the mood for a contest, check this one out!

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-71883888915363668662008-10-02T01:14:00.008-04:002008-10-02T01:53:00.759-04:00

...And I won two blue ribbons! WOOT! I guess you can't ask for more now can 'ya? Wellll...I would have like to have seen them displayed a little better, but what can ya do? The best shots I have of them are here. And yes, that is plastic you see covering them. Its this wierd shrink wrap stuff. Oh, and look hard: you might miss the ribbons!I know, you can barely see anything about the

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-4451499588532951992008-09-12T19:18:00.004-04:002008-09-12T20:30:44.524-04:00

I did it!I took my entry form to the famous Bloomsburg Fair office today! I'm entering Kiri and Guinevere into the Shawl and Stole categories respectively. I bring them in next week and tag them. They will be judged on Friday and Saturday I will be able to see if they placed. I really don't have much hope that they will get the coveted ribbon, but I think it will be kind of fun to see what

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-18599960469911068732008-08-31T12:06:00.007-04:002008-09-09T10:48:39.744-04:00

In KnittingI was very excited about SOTS 3. VERY! I bought the yarn as soon as I found out how much and what colors were reccommended. I ordered some gorgeous beads. I was soooo excited! I loved the way Guinevere turned out. I could have knit a million Guineveres. I was very excited to see if this would turn out just as nicely. I had high hopes.You see where this is going, right? Well

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-34704559918883313682008-08-26T11:52:00.010-04:002008-08-27T01:06:58.227-04:00

Of course my new wheel came and I'd love to post about it, but before I do I wanted to get the much-promised reviews done!I took full advantage of the midsummer book sales going on (in particular the Knit Picks book sale) and bought myself a couple of wishlist books: More Big Girl Knits by Jill Moreno and and Amy Singer, Knitting New Mittens and Gloves: Warm and Adorn Your Hands in 28 Innovative

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-76819141057762982082008-08-22T11:34:00.009-04:002008-11-08T20:01:23.077-05:00

Hi Everyone!I totally miss having knit night, but I did want to invite you all to a virtual knit night! Here are the details:Time and Date: Saturday 8:30 Eastern timeWhere:Stickam.comWho:Betzi welcomes all knitters, spinners, crocheters, and crafters of any sort really! And please come and chat even if you don't have a webcam and mic--you don't need one! You can still see and hear me and

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-83366655797176748822008-08-19T14:15:00.004-04:002008-08-19T14:46:24.766-04:00

I have been working on this project for AGES, but finally she is done. Actually I finished her last week but just now got around to taking pics. Check it out: remember this funny looking blob?Well it now looks like this:and this:It was a long haul, but I'm thrilled she is done. The pattern is Kiri and though the pattern is pretty easy it can suck the life out of you if you are knitting it for

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-501827699705579832008-08-18T16:32:00.008-04:002009-03-24T21:04:58.979-04:00

I temporarily lost my mind. I sold my spinning wheel. Yeah, thats right, I sold it!Lucy was good to me, but she felt she had to move on. What now, you say? What on earth will Betzi Spin? Betzi will now spin on this: Yes that is right one and all, I will soon be the proud owner of a Schacht Matchless, the porsche of spinning wheels! I got an amazing deal from a shop owner who is no longer

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-32909701179845041192008-08-02T21:42:00.019-04:002008-08-06T10:44:15.803-04:00

In Spinning and Dyeing: So I'm getting ready to soak and dye a bunch of fiber for a big ol' dyeing session and etsy update when I notice that the water is looking a little bit like this:I have no idea what happened to it, but I do know we have well water and I expect it has something to do with that fact. I churned out a few braids already using our well water but I refuse to put them in the shop

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-820891131233701422008-07-20T13:42:00.005-04:002008-07-20T17:28:11.761-04:00

Finally! Connected to the world! I'm happy to report that we now have phone lines, cable tv, and internet access. What a relief to be connected again!The move went fairly snag free, and luckily we had good weather. We are done unpacking, aside from a few boxes marked "misc"(aka "stuff that will go to goodwill the next time we move"). The kids have adjusted very well--shockingly well, actually!

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-18837946509352631592008-06-30T22:50:00.005-04:002008-06-30T23:11:49.890-04:00

I just popped in to post my Spinner's Study Notes. I realize it is just under the wire, and there is only one entry, but darn it I have a lot going on right now! The Romney is pretty much finished--it just needs to be plied. When I have that done I will post it too.-----------------------------------------------------------------------Spinner's Study Notes For June, California Variegated Mutant

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-82162809381790227992008-06-29T00:32:00.000-04:002008-06-29T02:04:57.727-04:00

Let's brighten things up a bit and look forward. Specifically to our upcoming move. We won't be going to far--about an hour and a half away--but it seems like we are moving a thousand miles. We have so many boxes stacked up here and there that sometimes I lose my kids in the all that cardboard! I am a very paranoid packer too--I know darn well that I overstuff every box with wayyy too much

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-63199717615883038852008-06-25T11:56:00.005-04:002008-06-25T20:30:19.595-04:00

Yesterday I blogged about a little bit of everything, but today only one of those things matters. I was waiting for what seemed like an eternity to blog about our family's latest excpectation: my brother-in-law's twin girls, due in November. Of course we were thrilled for them, they are both wonderful people and totally deserving. They were ready.Just when I started thinking that its ok, that

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-5430269386041157902008-06-24T17:35:00.005-04:002008-06-24T20:52:04.016-04:00

I wanted to quickly check in with you all and let you know that I am in fact alive and well. Hubs left for Germany last week, and last minute I decided I was going to haul the kids and myself to my parents' house, where they could share in the delight of trying to get my children to eat and bathe. It took a lot of my shoulders, as I have had quite a lot to do, what with packing and getting KIP

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-81653294600286906012008-06-11T20:54:00.006-04:002008-06-11T23:40:18.347-04:00

Well a few things have happened in the past week that have made me think that this could possibly be a pretty darn well-attended event. I really hope so! I have actually started to tell somebody about the event and they said, "Oh I know! Sounds like fun, huh? I can't wait." Can't beat that, eh? Also I spotted a blurb about the event in the String Notes blog. Thanks for the mention! And

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-64669176764102734542008-06-06T12:03:00.005-04:002008-06-11T21:28:41.323-04:00

Yay! The details are officially in, and all the loose ends neatly tied. Here is the final flyer for WWKIP Day!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(((edited for lame typos))) Worldwide Knit In Public Day Better Living through stitching togetherState College PA Hosted by: Beth (betzi on Ravelry) Location: Sunset Park Time: 10:00 AM to 3 pmDate:

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-64533463814149594942008-05-28T09:55:00.009-04:002008-06-28T01:26:10.170-04:00

I can't believe its already May 28th. Where has the time gone? Its been pretty crazy here, what with packing, organizing, and generally trying to get my act together and its finally happened: I got a cold. A pretty ugly one too. Its not like I didn't see it coming: both my kids and my husband were down with one. I guess I was in denial that it would happen to me. Surely it would just pass

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-20234709318653381112008-05-20T10:16:00.007-04:002008-06-11T22:08:39.035-04:00

I resisted this pattern for ages, and now that mine is complete I don't know why I waited so long! My Clapotis turned out beautifully. It was a little tedious to knit, but that was mainly in the middle section, where you go on for ever without decreasing. Once I got to the decreasing it practically knit itself!Sorry about the picture quality; my camera batteries are on their last leg I'm too lazy

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-73569736341768193962008-05-05T20:32:00.007-04:002008-06-28T01:19:01.568-04:00

I've recently joined a Spinner's Study Group on Ravelry, where every month we explore different breeds of sheep and different types of fiber by spinning their fiber and researching a bit about each month's selection. May's choices are Cotswald and Jacob. I have some Jacob roving ready to go (thanks to the Little Barn booth at MDSW), but I just got a flicker brush at the Maryland Sheep and Wool

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-4167556608867209342008-05-01T15:27:00.003-04:002008-05-01T16:03:27.643-04:00

I have been working pretty consistantly the past 2 weeks, but the lovely weather (and Sebastian's soccer games) have been slowing me down. I do take my knitting with me to soccer practice, but my daughter demands much of my attention while I'm there so I don't get more than 2 lines done. In Knitting Clapotis is coming along quite well. I would say I'm roughly 3/4 of the way through. I've

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-12858212199658544142008-04-17T09:42:00.005-04:002008-04-17T10:54:52.487-04:00

Its funny, but I originally started this post with the typical "I've been really busy lately so I haven't gotten much spinning and knitting done" but as I listed all my recent projects and their progress, I quickly realized that I actually have gotten a lot done! In Spinning News:I spun up about a bobbin and a half of a HUGE lovely batt from Spinners Hill. When I hit the east coast fiber shows

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-60103216213655447642008-03-26T10:49:00.005-04:002008-03-26T12:42:48.435-04:00

Welllllll it turns out I have carpal tunnel syndrome. I think I have had it for a while, but about 2 weeks ago it got to the point that I was only able to knit for 15 minutes before hands start screaming at me to stop. So off to the doc I went, where she perscribed Prednisone (which is aggrivating my already problematic insomnia)and instructed me to "lay off the knitting". I will be having a

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-28023607272312952792008-03-19T22:15:00.002-04:002008-03-19T22:24:32.033-04:00

The only reason I was hanging on to my old blog (a whopping 7 entries) is because of the DIY baby food post. I am currently attempting to downsize my life--from stash (more on that later) to computer clutter--and I decided to delete the old blog. I'm really not hanging on to it for any reason other than the aforementioned post, so I decided to copy it here. I sure hope the photos will still show

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-31818838495951571772008-03-03T13:43:00.008-05:002008-03-03T14:24:10.829-05:00

I've been pretty productive the last few days and have come up with some newly dyed beauts. Not only that, but I've gotten pretty far with Eva's Cardigan and I finished my Swirl Hat and Hubby's Picky Guy Hat. Both hats used Elizabeth Lavold's Silky Wool, a wonderful yarn that is soft and drapey. And yes, the Swirl Hat is sitting on a balloon. I really need to get a display head!I think the 3 new

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-24884108512173541022008-02-17T19:14:00.015-05:002008-02-17T20:50:13.866-05:00

But I do have a little surprise in mind...and it has something to do with these pretties: I have been knitting so much lately (on Eva's Cardi, hubby's hat, and my own Shedir) that my hands actually hurt! That's actually a blessing in disguise because I haven't actually spun in about a month (gasp!). Thats pretty shocking considering I got my lace flyer recently. At the moment I'm plying Aspen

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-47638823759337660732008-02-15T14:21:00.006-05:002008-02-15T16:28:45.688-05:00

I finished Guinevere! Actually she has been done for about a month, but I haven't had any time to post. Yeah, ok I admit Guinevere made it into my Ravelry database the minute the pics were snapped, but fellow Ravelers will understand my compulsion!Here are some pics. They aren't that terrific, and unfortunately the backround is kind of blah--I used an old brown sheet. But you can get the general

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-40553297944596315092008-01-25T11:21:00.001-05:002008-02-15T16:25:30.972-05:00

I was busy dyeing a few nights ago, in honor of my latest Etsy sale. I realized that many of my Etsy listings had made their sad way into my "expired listings" box. I thought I should update a little by adding some new wooly goodies. Here is a sampling:This one is Three Berry Jam:Terra Firma:And finally, Toy Box:I'm waiting for an order of dyes to come in before I start another colorway, and I am

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-87882796630391398292008-01-08T15:47:00.000-05:002008-01-08T16:16:57.603-05:00

Ok, i know it has been AGES since my last post...a serious lapse in fact. I've been admonished by both my husband and my Knit Night buddies, and rightfully so! I am going to play the Ravelry card now: it has changed the way I view my computer time! I can store everything on it: WIPs, FOs, hibernating and frogged projects. I now have a database that I can access anywhere there is wifi (which

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-14456953130443538712007-09-23T17:50:00.000-04:002007-09-23T18:05:12.469-04:00

YAYAY! Friday I had Lasiks done, and I am finally able to use the computer without much eye strain. I am so glad I did it, it was by far the best thing I have done so far (aside from having kids and getting married of course!). I can see things I have never seen so clearly before! Before my surgery I had 20/800 vision, and I know it was worse than that because at one of my many appointments

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-42128786262896252292007-09-13T21:41:00.000-04:002007-09-13T21:59:34.479-04:00

Its official! I've joined the Secret of the Stole. I think it will be quite an undertaking, but I think the only way for me to actually finish a stinkin' shawl is if I have someone pushing me to do it. So here is the swatch. The pics are terrible, but I wanted to get them in quickly, in time to be entered in the "drawing". Not sure what the prize is, but it doesn't really matter. Its the

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-71093142923944773202007-09-10T00:31:00.000-04:002007-09-10T13:08:35.189-04:00

There is much discussion out there in bloggerland about DIY fiber equipment. I thought I should corral a few of my favorite links here in a post. Hackles:Whimsyknit's $2 hacklesYarn Knotzi's Hackle, made with nailsKrafti's Hair Pick HacklesNiddy Noddy:Dr. Dirt's fantastic $3 Niddy-Noddy--I should mention that the only thing i would add to this niddy noddy would be caps on the ends, but thats

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-82007565976487510092007-09-08T19:28:00.000-04:002007-09-08T20:58:30.148-04:00

I realize its been forever and a day since I last posted--especially anything with decent pics. I found out that all the pictures that I had from the German spinning wheels are hanging around at my parents house, on a picture CD. Oh well. Until then, I have tons of pics of some recent yarns, and some of the yarns I spun during Tour de Fleece. Fellow craftsters, I apologize. Much of this will

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-75918369996939678902007-08-22T11:57:00.000-04:002007-09-08T21:10:35.437-04:00

I'm back from Germany ladies and gents, and have had a wonderful and relaxing vacation. We spent most of our time in the country, at the family home of my husband. Its a great old house that has been in the family for generations. I have always loved going there, even when I lived in Germany. Its a peaceful place where one can kick back and enjoy the quiet. One one of our trips there a few years

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-65511522620339638022007-07-18T22:12:00.001-04:002007-09-08T21:01:48.569-04:00

Since my wonderful wheel arrived I have been doing nothing at all but spinning my butt off. I love my baby, she spins like a dream. I got the complete kit, so for the first time I am able to spin fingering weight yarn (my preferred weight, since I'm primarily a sock knitter). And you can't beat a plying bobbin. oh my goodness. How did I ever live without a wheel? I'll never know. Now I

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-23038078084486494692007-07-03T00:31:00.000-04:002007-09-08T21:05:08.513-04:00

And I am beside myself! Here is a pic of her, isn't she pretty? I can't wait til its here! The extremely friendly man at The Woolery said that it could be here as quickly as Wednesday, but unfortunately I won't be here--we will be visiting my parents on the farm (sorry, no sheep. just moos). So he said he could hold off shipping until Thurdsay, which would mean that it would arrive on Monday

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-56893255059776423192007-06-29T14:36:00.001-04:002007-09-08T21:06:39.272-04:00

I've been busy busy busy dying roving for Tour de Fleece. I used Wilton's dyes on these 2 superwash merinos, and they are dyed using the same dyes! Amazing what totally different results can come of the what is essentially the same batch!Johnny Jump-Ups:Shade Garden:Also here is what I am anxious to get off my bobbin, in order to spin all the lovely rovings I've been saving up (plus i'm sick of

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-1503085725345641112007-06-22T21:25:00.000-04:002007-09-08T21:07:54.774-04:00

I've been renting (again) my beloved darling, the Suzie Pro from my LYS, and in order to make the most of it, I've been taking it to Knit Night. We have chosen to knit at our local Wegman's Cafe. (At this point let me just say that if you don't have a Wegman's near you, or have never been to one before, please be advised that it is not your typical grocery store. It is an experience to say the

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-929599344897657272007-06-20T11:20:00.001-04:002007-09-08T21:09:11.877-04:00

Tour De Fleece is nearly here! I can't wait to start spinning. I ordered a new spindle (yes, my husband will crap himself when he reads this), but I *needed* to, since the old one was cracked on the end. The wobble has become so unbareable that I haven't spun on it in ages. I am hoping that this one will be a bit nicer. Once again, its an Etsy purchase. I hope a good one. It supposedly

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-67962318621590673872007-06-09T16:28:00.000-04:002007-06-26T16:35:34.926-04:00

Once again I am a bonafide slacker when it comes to posting on my blog. I have a lot to catch up on, so I'll just dive right in.The big event of course was the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival. I went with a group organized by my local LYS. I was completely overwhelmed, to say the least. I came home with huges piles of roving, some of which is already spun up into some nice skeins, a sunburn, and

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-62672842241521508552007-04-18T00:23:00.000-04:002007-04-18T00:45:52.527-04:00

Any spinner will tell you that at some point you end up with TONS of yarn and nothing to do with it. I know I have piles and piles of yarn that i have experimented with or simply spun without thought or purpose, for the joy of spinning. Often I think I will have spun enough to complete a certain project only to find that I'm 20 yards short, or my wpi's and resulting gauge isn't what I

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-29424672315648761492007-04-03T23:38:00.000-04:002007-05-18T22:05:22.906-04:00

I have spent most of the afternoon hanging around outside with my son, spinning on my trusty ol drop spindle. I am currently spinning up Dandelion, a nice superwash merino from Spunky Eclectic. Its turning out beautifully! I was a little put off at first by the brightness of the colors, but now after spinning them for a while I'm downright taken with them! vibrant yellows, greens and blues play

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-63479009387675636192007-04-01T11:44:00.000-04:002007-04-01T13:13:10.878-04:00

Here are some recent developments:I managed to get a few UFOs transformed into FOs! YAY! I did do my first wheel-plied yarn, and oh my gosh its so much faster than plying with a spindle. It is far from perfect, but ya gotta start somewhere, kwim? This skein is called Greek Isles--the colors reminded me so much of my honeymoon, which we spent on the island of Crete. Its about 90 yards, bulky

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-10289760940232763102007-02-25T00:02:00.000-05:002007-02-25T00:14:25.203-05:00

The mill-end roving I ordered from The Sheep Studio arrived! Wow, let me tell you a pound of roving is quite a lot! They even threw in a couple of ounces of superwash white (at least I think its superwash). not bad, eh? I think I will rent a wheel for the week and try to spin all this up in time for Fiber Friday at Craftster. heh. Thats pretty ambitious, but who knows? it might happen!

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-53522188407937934362007-02-22T14:41:00.000-05:002007-04-01T17:06:46.082-04:00

Yesterday I thought I might return my pretty new spindle for a different, heavier model, but I spent all last evening trying it out and ya know, I'm definitely keeping it! It doesn't spin for as long as my Louet, but it does turn beautifully! and the shaft is gorgeous and smooth. I spun a nice thin single, and if I would ply it with another it would probably equal DK or maybe just maybe sport.

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-39943440779683319482007-02-21T14:43:00.000-05:002007-04-01T17:03:14.833-04:00

My new spindle came! Its lovely and spins like a dream, BUT its much smaller than I had intipated. I think it would probably be perfect for cotton or other fine fibers, but thats not me right now. I am toying with the idea of returning it for a different, heavier spindle. I could keep it and maybe use it this summer, when I might spin cotton, but then again I could just as well put that money on

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4970838821501567907.post-77746233004162117582007-02-20T14:07:00.001-05:002009-06-21T06:28:57.058-04:00

*Smashes expensive bottle of bubbly against blog*Well, this is it! My first post. What will this blog focus on? Spinning and knitting of course! Hopefully I can whip up a few patterns for you, as well as provide some insight into my favorite hobbies. Right now I'm a spindle spinner and hope to upgrade to a wheel soon.Some would argue that a wheel is an upgrade at all, but I digress.I am expecting

betzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07949927468336141614noreply@blogger.com0