Rantings of a Rabid Knitter

I am a problem solver. I see a problem. If I can fix it, I do. If I can’t, then I let people who can fix it know about it. I fix all kinds of problems but mostly I fix bathrooms. Am I alone in this obsession? Do you fix problems also? Please let me know. website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com Thanks. Carry approx. 8 minutes

Sadie is a sheepdog. She is not a shepherding dog. It seems that the distinction has been blurred or maybe it is only me that sees a difference. I talk about what the differences are between sheepdogs and shepherds. I also share some stories about shepherding dogs. Did you ever own a sheepdog or a shepherd? Do you have any stories to share? website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com Thanks. Carry approx. 11 minutes

I talk about the incident that sparked my starting to spin. This is not an easy story to tell. Although this happened many years ago, the hurt is still there. Spinning helped me through a very rough patch. If you have any comments or questions, you can contact me at website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com Thanks. Carry approx. 10 minutes

I was having a bad start to the day on Thursday. I was trying to work from home but it seemed like everyone was against that idea from the Dog to the new computer. When the new computer said it needed to update and reboot for the third time, I decided to go out and get lunch at my favorite eatery, Elmo’s Diner. I went in in a foul mood and left feeling wonderful. I tell you why in today’s story. Thanks for coming by. Please, leave a comment and let me know what you think. website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 8 minutes

News Interweave Press new blog http://knittingdaily.com/ Knit Pattern a Day calendar looking for patterns for 2009 calendar. Visit their website (http://www.knittingpatternaday.com) for more details. Knitting Designer Annie Modesitt”s husband’s has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma . There is an effort to raise funds to help pay for treatment (http://www.weloveanniemodesitt.blogspot.com/). Personal news. Computer is in transit. Sadie is a bad girl I play with new yarn TOFUtsies I talk about man-made fibers. Concentrating on the original man-made fiber, rayon. I discuss its history and how it is made. I hope you find the information interesting. Please let me know what you think. What are you experiences with these fibers? website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 19 minutes

Some updates. Andy is out of the hospital and doing well. Sadie is still being a problem New computer was returned. I have ordered a new new one. Today’s story. Traveling cross country with my family followed a set routine. The time table was precise. The division of labor was clear. Expectations were known. Some people just didn’t get it. I don’t know why. What do you think? website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 14 minutes

I am having computer problems with my brand new Gateway laptop. It keeps losing its drivers. I have in fact written this blog entry twice. It keeps disconnecting me from the internet mid-sentence. Annoying. Computer support is denying there is an issue with their computer and drivers. Just how often do you have to install device drivers? So instead of me wasting your time listening to me moan and groan, I play the Neel sisters’ stories I recorded at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festivals. You can contact Lara at Math4Knitters. I am sure she will forward messages to her sister, Lisa. You can contact me at website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 10 minutes

I was away from home in training this week. I really just wanted to be home. Getting home was harder than it should have been. I would love to know what you think. Please leave me a comment or e-mail or give me a call. website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 14 minutes

I answer some questions from Shawn concerning linen and linseed oil. Please, indulge me. It has been a rough week. I talk about my best boss ever. He is going through a rough time. I would love to hear from you. website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 14 minutes

Linen comes from the flax plant. Flax was first cultivated in ancient Egypt. It was widely cultivated in Europe in the middle ages. Flax gives us flax seed and linseed oil as well as linen. Getting linen out of flax is a time consuming and labor intensive activity. You have to rot, dry, break, scrape, and comb the stalks to get the linen. Linen is usually spun using a distaff, which really is just an extra hand. Wet spinning produces a smoother yarn. After spun, the yarn is boiled and blocked to set the twist. Please let me know if you have any questions or know of any good stories concerning linen. website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 15 minutes

I have to admit I am a bit of a pack-rat. When Wayne found my violin, which he never heard me play, he suggested I get rid of it. But I can’t and I tell you the story of getting the violin. So what do you think. Should I keep it or give it to someone who will play it more than I do? website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 10 minutes

I had a great time at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and share many adventures with you. I am afraid that this is my longest show to date. It is a bunch of stories all thrown together. I thought about splitting it up but then it would drag on forever in the telling. So here they all are. I hope you don’t mind the length. People mentioned and their links. Barefoot Spinner Handweavers Guild of America Journey Wheels Kid Hollow Lara Math4Knitters Liberty Ridge Farm Lyle Wheeler Mannings Spinnery Zeilingers A big thank you to everyone who came up and said ‘Hey’. I was worried that I would be wondering around with a big f* flower for absolutely no reason what so ever. You made all the strange looks well worthwhile. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 50 minutes

My allergies were really bad on Monday. I don’t know why. I must have gotten into something worse than usual. It reminded me of a time, before I found an allergy medicine that worked. Things were rough working as a contractor doing a difficult job in uncomfortable surroundings. I would love to know what you think.  Comments make my day. website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 12 minutes

News: Thank you for your feedback on last weeks show. MSW is next week. I am looking forward to talking with you. Please come by and say ‘Hey’. I would love to hear which story is your favorite. Tonya (trickel2 at cox dot net) has let me know there is a fiber festival in Bellevue, Nebraska May 11-13. E-mail her for more information. Story: I show my affection by rubbing bellies. I have for years. Some people don’t appreciate getting their bellies rubbed. I don’t know why. Let me know what you think. website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 12 minutes

Thank you for all your suggestions on knitting topics. I have started a list and will get to them. I had a brain storm and thought it would be interesting to look at some of the stories and myths of some of the common fibers we use. I will also talk about spinning the fiber and what makes it different from other fibers. In addition, a short discussion about what the fiber is good for making and what are its pros and cons. Since it is Summer here (where did Spring go?) in North Carolina, I thought I would start with cotton. I like cotton to wear and to knit with. Cotton is a challenge to spin and I am still working on mastering it. Here are the wheel and one of the spindles I use for spinning cotton. The wheel is based on the original spinning wheel designed in India (500 – 1000 AD). It is a hand cranked spindle wheel and is ideal for spinning cotton. I learned how to spin cotton from the seed around 8 years ago. It is how I imagine cotton was originally spun. You can see the seed is still in there. This will give you a yarn with more ‘character’ being more uneven. Cotton has been around forever and ever. Growing wild in the Americas, Asia, and Africa, it was spun for thousands of years. Spinning has been around for over 10,000 years using a spindle. Oldest cotton garment ever found was dated to be over 7,000 years old and was found in a cave in Mexico. I talk about the history and controversy of cotton in the Americas. Please let me know what you think. website: autumnbreezedesigns.com email: carry.autumnbreeze@gmail.com voice-mail: 206 666 5775 Thanks. Carry approx. 24 minutes