Knitters (and crocheters) have the BEST tools!

I'm a gadget geek.  That doesn't only extend to my love all things techie, it extends into my fiber habits too.  I've recently found myself in a postition to upgrade a lot of my equipment and get some new toys as well. 

Moving from smallest to largest we have:

This is my new Strauch Jumbo Ball Winder that I had to have after using one that the girls at Madeline Tosh had at DFW Fiber Fest.  It replaces my trusty old blue Royal ball winder (that if anyone wants send me e-mail and I can get you a very good deal).  Have I mentioned before how cool Amy and Kris of Madeline Tosh are?  If you haven't checked them out before you really should.

 

Now this scary looking thing is my new Strauch (do you see a pattern here?) Petite drum carder.  This is a new venture to me and to be quite honest I haven't gotten the hang of it but I'm working on it.  Hopefully I will have hand carded batts available in the shop sometime this summer.

This is my favorite of all my new toys, this is a Fricke 2 yard Electric Skeinwinder.  It's totally electric and also counts yardage!  I can't even begin to express how much time this will save me.  With this I can go straight from the swift to a perfect 2 yard skein!  My previous process included going from swift through yard meter to ball winder and then back to the skein.  All. By. Hand.  My shoulder already thanks me.

This is also a new venture for me, pattern making.  This is a-scarf-yet-to-be-named knit on size 4 needles with my Fusion Sport yarn in the Aggieland colorway.  I also have a sock pattern in the works.  I'm thinking that the scarf pattern will be a free download on here and on Ravelry and the sock pattern will be available for purchase on my Etsy shop and also through Ravelry.  But I've also toyed with idea of making these kits with yarn, pattern and needles.  Nothing is set in stone quite yet.

Hope you all had a great weekend and your Monday hasn't been too terrible. :)

Comments

[Aggie Enginerd]

Now if you can just figure out how to use the motor from the skein winder to power the drum carder... :o)

[bezzie]

Nice!! I really like some of the blendy batts I've seen around etsy...you could kicks some major ass doing some of your own!