INITIAL STASH AND A LESSON LEARNT

I arrived to Dortmund with a hope to find a good job and to expand my hobby - knitting and crocheting.
I was hoping to find a good local yarn store (YLS) and also a knitting group. I took some of my stash with me....and some projects in development. I must say, I forgot some "less" important things for everyday life like bed linens or dinner plates, but what is important that all essential things are here with me, even my drop spindle and some nice merino roving - my new passion: spinning.
Anyway, the second or third day I arrived I spotted a small shop nearby my home that sells mostly Lana Grossa yarn.
I entered the shop and the owner was behind the desk, fervently knitting something. She stood up immediately when she saw me, I said (in German) that I would like to look around, she said OK and went back to knitting.
Several minutes later, after I inspected the shop, I asked if there are some knitting groups in the neighbourhood. She said no, there was one a couple of years ago, but not anymore... I suggested we could found one together and her eyes brightened, but than I added that I do not speak German that well and that I should probably start an English speaking knitting group after which her facial expression abruptly changed: difficult to explain how she looked like, a combination of disappointed, disgusted, indignant... I don't know. That was my first lesson learnt in Dortmund: DO NOT SAY YOU DO NOT SPEAK GERMAN, ESPECIALLY IF GERMANS THEMSELVES DID NOT NOTICE!

A pair of classical jeans skirts that became too short were lengthened with a floral piece of fabric.

A pair of classical jeans skirts that became too short were lengthened with a floral piece of fabric.

Last winter I made this cardigan for my 8-year old daughter. I made it without a pattern, just measured my progress against another piece of clothing that fits her. At the end I added some crochet flowers. Yarn is Ice.

Spaghetti yarn

This is the result of my first spinning endeavour. This is made on a top whorl drop spindle with some merino roving and dyed with food colouring (yellow, red, blue and green) with the help of vinegar and microwave heat to set the dye.
I'm waiting for the yarn to dry to measure the length any maybe to ply it with gold or silver thread... I love how this turned out. Not bad for my first time. It looks so yummy.. Bon appetit!

Refashioned sweater

Last Xmas (I gave you my heart... ha ha, but no...) I gave a good quality wool sweater to my sister... only to find out a couple of months later that she wore it once. Only once! And then tossed it to a washing machine which chewed it and spat out kid's size. Lightly felted, but still fine.

We thought a bit what to make of it and decided to refashion it into a cardigan. I crocheted it all over with similar colours, added some flowers and buttons... and here it is!

I hope you like it! 

No merino - no spinning

Guess what!
I live in a country with no merino sheep!!!
I've been dying to learn how to spin for quite some time now. So I decided to get a drop spindle (start small and later maybe get a spinning wheel) and some quality fleece... In order to avoid shipping costs I decided to get local fleece. I posted an enquiry at the agricultural forum asking for some raw merino wool - almost 200 views and no response!!! I almost can't  believe it!
It seems that all sheep-breeders around here care just for meat and milk and no wool.
I found however an add where a women was offering 40 kg of clean (washed) wool "for spinning and felting".  I called her, asked if she was willing to sell smaller quantity, she said yes so I scheduled to visit her on my way to my mother's as she lives nearby.
I had my hopes all up this morning. Though, it was strange that she said that the wool was "sewn in something"...
The first shock was when I arrived at her house - just like from scary movies. Large, neglected looking house with an old car in front, the first floor some old closed shop, everything so old, rotten, scary.... I was with my children and the first instinct was just to run away. However, I called her, she came down (strange looking women) wearing a sack of wool. From the first look I new that it was no good. When I felt it it was so coarse, that even a carpet would be too rough. For insulation purposes only... My, my, was I disappointed!!! Eventually I will have to get some expensive wool for spinning from eBay.
So instead of spending my day spinning, I was tearing some old shirts and dying them... will post tomorrow how it turned out.