Time on my Hands {Knitting, Spinning, Weaving, Wool Craft} 

Being intentional, almost turns our art into work, and we have retired from work….so just enjoy producing art,

While you may feel like your time as a teacher is over, I promise you teach me something in every episode! Think of this as your venture into teaching about fiber!

Hi Lisa, so nice of you to share your world with us. I’m sure retirement will suit you very well - it’s a big change and new chapters are hard. Be kind to yourself and enjoy the do nothing time. It is good for one’s soul ❤. Ok, one more suggestion for your beautiful fabric. How about making some reusable produce bags? Handmade chic for the grocery cart or farmers market.

So fun to see other people’s comments who are retired teachers, or will be at some point….I will retire from teaching next school year…1 more to go! I am already feeling that pull in many directions, and also sometimes feeling that temporary paralysis! Thanks for sharing your transition to full retirement, it reminds me of being a little like a kid in a candy shop. So many possibilities! Glad you’re enjoying yourself! Happy crafting, Lisa!

Your fabric would make cute knitting project bags. The bear sweater is adorable.

Book cover or put together like a quilt and make a nice bag fun ❤

Hello there.. I’ve recently found you and have watched a couple or three of your gentle and pleasing vids. I am new to fiber arts and am teaching myself to spin process crochet and weave all at once with the help of some wonderful RU-vidrs like yourself, holding my hand along the way. So thankyou for that ! I loved in your last video when you suddenly realised the potential of your loom to handle your art yarns .I recognised immediately the excitement and joy you were experiencing and that I must do that now sensation. I think your fabric produced has heaps of potential that will present its self to you in time. Those contrasting textures really demand to be seen and felt and a bag or a purse would be a great place for them to be. The joy you had in that moment will shine in the finished piece ! Anyway Hi 😊!

Haha his winter box!! Love it. Lisa, this was a delightful podcast. I enjoyed spending time with you on my sabbath afternoon! Your shawl is perfectly lovely! I like your ideas for using the yellow/blue weaving, but also like it for an Easter table runner or something! So fun. The Arboreal is beautiful! I just bought a variable top pattern and some linen and cotton fabrics to sew some new summer pieces. Love linen. I try to live in it 3 out of 4 seasons! I’m trying to decide between facings or narrow hemmed finishing 🙄 Your new tops are perfect. So glad you’re feeling better and back to normal!! ❤️🧶🐑

i so appreciate your ability to use your gift of education with each episode i feel your guiding us with a wonderful insight into giving us all aspects and points of interest just as if we were being led on a journey . a great teacher always sparks a desire to know more and starts you on the path and then we can take it as far as we want to go.

Thank you for another lovely relaxing episode. You are still a wonderful Teacher Lisa. You are now a Teacher who chooses to teach. Teaching us about all the wonderful makes out there. On your own time and you own ideas….so fun! I especially love when you go over a book with us. 🌸

I love your weaving fabric. My sister weaves and I am lucky to have a long piece which we have made into a wall hanging. It is made of her bits and bobs of hand spinning etc. I love the length because it gives me a piece that is vertical. I wonder if cutting it might loose the story of this piece. Just a thought. I too have recently retired and do too find I have no time and too much time at times. But it’s a time I am embracing for me! I love the fleece prep parts of your podcast. Thanks again

walmart has cheep small notebooks three together my sister took her scraps from weaving she glue down the front cover they are beautiful

I remember the first time after retirement when someone I just met asked what I did and I said "I used to be a teacher". It felt very odd to say that. It was as if I wasn't grounded to anything. And then I quickly got over it and have been having so much fun every day. I too feel a little pulled in 20 directions by all the interests I have: knitting, spinning, weaving, dyeing, journal making, quilt sewing to name a few. I figure it will all keep my brain firing on all cylinders longer! Again, a great episode. The times I've sat down and woven just for fun have been the most enjoyable for me. I'm in the moment and hours go by. You could always use your sample weaving as a wall hanging. That's what I did with a clasped weft experiment using yarn I dyed using natural dyes. Such fun. There isn't enough time in the day.

So great to see you this morning!! Great to see happy things after seeing the downward direction of the country. Ha I worked graves and was watching sad things. So i like seeing your Peaceful shows

What lovely projects and fiber. Thank you for sharing your current makes 🧶 The book you showed is very close to what I was thinking. May I suggest making an origami bag with your textured yellow and blue woven fabric. It's an easy design that takes no time at all. There are a few video tutorials on RU-vid. It can make a project bag or a yarn bowl ( or receptacle) of sorts. I am excited to see what you do next!

I just love watching your videos. They're so calming and lovely. Your scarf/turban came out beautifully. Is it long enough to be a runner on a table? Good luck with making bags 😊 I've just added the books to my Amazon wish list. Now, I either need to clone myself or add more hours to the day. Love your gardens and your gorgeous pup!

I was thinking that the pastel woven fabric would make a good table runner.

Maybe you could make a little pillow for Charlie. Your husband might make a chair for the teddy 🧸 bear 🐻. Have you been out in the country and seen this year's lambs playing in the pastures? If not yet, do with your husband.

Thank you, Lisa, for another podcast full of variety and at a lovely relaxed pace - I have really enjoyed sitting here knitting and listening to you. It was lovely to see a little of your garden, too!

Hello from Scotland, I really enjoy watching your podcasts. You have inspired me to buy a breed study box and spin up using a drop spindle, which I bought after I learned to spin on a spinning wheel. I am very new to spinning a scrap bag of fibre. Perhaps not the best idea for a beginner as it was not the easiest to spin. Having said that though, I am not over all convinced that starting with the "easy" fleece is the only and best way for a beginner, as you said in your video today easy is relative. If we do not know it is meant to be hard, does that make a difference to our learning? I know I have felt frustrated and a little annoyed when a more experienced spinner told me Do not touch merino fibre until I was more experienced. It was not said with malice but I do not like to be restricted like that. Perhaps that is just me, as I can see the merit from building up confidence by spinning with a wool that is a little more compliant with a beginner spinner, as I have now spun with shetland and I can feel how much easier it is to get more consistent thickness however, if we start easy perhaps it is more likely we will fear the more unruly fibres for spinning. All that to say I am looking forward to trying all the different fibres, knowing what sheep they come from and seeing how they spin up. I have even specifically bought different fibres to try deliberate art yarn. I do not want to get too uniform with my spinning and stay that way. I am definitely a person who likes to be different. Anyway, thank you for your channel. I will continue to watch your back catalogue until your next video comes out T x

Hi Lisa, I retired in 2009 from teaching and I still have school supplies to unpack. They can wait! Sitting on my porch spinning and knitting a pair of socks. Thanks for your podcast. Hi to Peaches❤️

I love that Charlie has a summer and winter wardrobe, he look so smart in his new jumper. Your brown woven wrap is just GORGEOUS

Your woven pieces are beautiful! You could cut your woven "swatch" into squares and/or other shapes and combine them with other squares from other woven swatches to make a jacket or other items. :)

Hello Lisa, I love all your projects. I can see that beanie and sweater going so nice together this fall. The colors and stripes in your woven piece are very pretty. Me, I would use it as a table runner in my kitchen, cause my kitchen has yellow walls and blue check curtains. 😊 Nice work. Making things just for the making is half the fun.❤

thank you for the flowers ! beautiful things esp. the yoke is so so nice. Lucky Charlie...love the green linen, and the bagbook!!! going to amazon to look for it ! Love!!!

Yes! I recently purchased linen from Lithuania, too! Absolutely beautiful. I’m going to make a dress for my daughter’s wedding!

I hope you are well. I have missed your shows. But totally understand wanting to take a break. Just wishing you well

Happy to see you are back and feeling better. I really love your episodes, the info you share and demonstrations with music. I look forward to each episode. Thank you!

This is one of your best episodes… although, I haven’t watched one that I haven’t liked. 😉 I loved the segment of slow motion spinning on your drop spindle. The drape of your shawl is dreamy and will be wonderful to wear. It will be wonderful to follow you along your journey of sewing with your handwoven fabric; can’t wait to see what you make. The Shetland fiber looked scrumptious. I am getting ready to start practicing my long draw spinning technique. What kind of fiber would you recommend and is there an individual you would recommend I purchase it from? I came down with a cold last week, too! Who’s heard of a cold on May?! Hope you’ve recovered. Mine is still slowing me down.

I was looking at your woven fabric here Lisa and imagined a kimono made of similar woven fabric. Kimonos do not have a lot of shaping, are wearable and can as funky as we like!

My ears perked up when I heard you say weaving kitchen towels. I want to try weaving those. I also want to spin for a sweater but I think I’ll find a knitting pattern first so I have something to aim for. Yeah, I know good luck with that right? The reason I say that is because the luscious yarn I spun for Spinzilla years ago (bulky Merino and some bulky Romney) is still sitting unused in my stash because I’m so far unable to match a suitable pattern to the weight and yardage. I have several pounds of washed corriedale and most of 2 Romney fleeces to dig into for that sweater. I may choose to dye the fleece before spinning. As always interesting to see what you’re doing. The shawl is lovely! Oh, and I say Schacht (shocked) too. We may be the only ones other than those of German descent.

Thank you for sharing your source for your beautiful linen blouses. I had noticed them and was just going to ask if you made them. My suggestion for your yellow and blue handwoven fabric is a project bag for knitting. If the fabric is still stiff after washing you may not even need to line it. Can’t wait to see what you make.

When I saw the sweet sample fabric that you recently wove, I was thinking it would make a wonderful table runner!!

So enjoying your channel having just found you. I too am retired 3 years and so much to cram in I want to try everything ha ha. Look forward to seeing your bag making and will be purchasing the book looks great. Wish I lived near so I could do some drop spindling with you so I could learn better. I will keep watching all you clever ladies for inspiration 😃

Your woven shawl from the alpaca is just lovely 😍

I love that experimental-weaving project! But… I have to ask… *How* do you weave with art-yarn without yeeting your project out the window? I made a small mat on my small wooden rectangle loom, with some green acrylic yarn as the warp, and some probably-acrylic loopy-thread-ply-looking rainbow yarn… The art-yarn caught on the warp; it stuck to itself; it kept tangling… *I wanted to burn the (expletive) thing!!* I did manage to finish it; it’s been regulated to being the Keurig mat.

Hello , very much enjoyed this episode !! Have a great week !!

Your fabric could be used for tote or project bags. The colors are cheerful and easy to spot. (harder to misplace, lol)

Lisa, everything that you make is soooo beautiful. You are an inspiration to us all. Thanks

I was wondering how your retirement was going…thanks for sharing. I have about 5 years before I retire and quite frankly, I’m a little scared of the prospect. My whole adult life I’ve worked at least 1 full time job and chased my tail to fit everything in on the weekends. To have the time to do everything I want to do excites me but also feels very overwhelming. Your weaving is lovely. You continually inspire me. Thanks for another great episode❤

Isn't it fun to weave? :) The shawl is just beautiful Lisa. I am so glad that you were able to finish it.

As always, it's a great pleasure for me to watch your video. 💚 Gaby

The shawl is so nice and elegant Lisa.... and you looked very beautiful outside in the natural light and no makeup. ❤❤❤

Thank you for sharing your creative life. It’s always a pleasure to sit down with my coffee and just enjoy and be inspired by your journey. BTW there are patterns in the back pocket of “how to sew clothes “ book 🌷. Peaches is always a joy to see!

I love your podcast! So relaxing

Hello Lisa, I’m almost halfway watching your video while having a cup of tea. I’m glad you feel better and have recovered from your cold. Charlie the channel mascotte is absolutely adorable and looks good in his lovely bright coloured jumper! You’re right, it’s so satisfying to knit garments, blankets… all sorts of things, for toys 🙂 I do enjoy this as well… feeling a bit like being a big kid. I think its normal how you feel about having not enough time or too much time, after being retired. And the feeling of being pulled in different directions is so recognizable 🙂 You have great ideas for making projects with your piece of woven fabric! I would like to suggest making a beret out of it? I’m planning to make a video (tutorial) about how to easily draw a made-to-measure pattern for a simple beret yourself and make the beret of course. Since I’m trained as a milliner I can help with all the details step by step. If everything goes to plan, I would like to have this video ready for september/ October… just in time for autumn winter. So… if you would like to use your fabric for this kind of project… you’re very welcome 🙂 Well… I will continue watching the rest of your video. Have a lovely day and see you next time 🌷 Best wishes from Belgium, Marjam

You have a way of sharing, and showing, and explaining that gives out knowledge, new ideas, techniques and inspiration. If that's not teaching, I don't know what is, you're just in a different, global classroom now reaching people all over the world with these podcasts 😄 Today is my first quiet, me-day in a while - I'm working on a blanket by Linka Neumann and it was such a lovely thing to sit here, drink tea, knit, and enjoy this episode. Ooh, an idea for a deep collared cardigan... Ailbíona McLochlainn's Nostalgic Sweater Coat is beautiful and easily customisable length wise - the pattern is on Ravelry. Thank you Lisa for another lovely episode x 🤗

Perhaps a slow stitch needle case. Another delightful gentle episode keeping me company whilst knitting this afternoon. ❤

Hi Lisa! Was just thinking of you 😊 I kept the last Corriedale fleece that will be produced from my beloved flock, from 14 year old Hilda. I want to make sweaters for me and my daughter but that may be an ambitious goal lol I'm still plugging along, trying to learn to work with my new flock of Shetlands - it's slow going haha! Have a wonderful week (your weaving are beautiful)

I agree, you never really stop being a teacher and you teach us plenty in each video. I love your woven projects, both of them, for different reasons. First one is a lovely colour that speaks to me and it drapes beautifully. The second one has so many interesting textures! I've just spun a mix of black alpaca, white linen and some sari silk scraps in various colours. The thread is thin and has no give so it's not one I want to knit with but I made it with weaving in mind. I've not used a loom before but am interested in giving it a go. Part of me hopes I'll hate it or else it may lead to yet another hobby (I've too many and not all are fibre related). :)

Thank you for your lovely videos! Your spinning is so graceful and inspiring. I also love all of your spindle work!

One year retired huh?! I love that you are doing exactly what you want to. I retired years ago (military) at 50 but have had trouble staying that way. I feel like I have to work even if I don't really have too. One regular P/T job and bunches of side hustles. Not rich but doing ok. In shearing season, I act as a rousie. Talk about trouble! Oh so many fleeces. I can get paid in fleece sometimes. (Tunis are next). Stash city but with your method of scouring ( using an old cooler for the wash tub.) I can produce plenty of clean fleece for the peg loom rugs, so the stash leaves quickly. We both do have good taste in our tools. I have an old Janome 6260 which I just took in for service two days ago. Co-incidence? I have sewn almost all my life. Doll clothes as a child then costumes, clothes and my own wedding gown. It will only be 10 days or so turn around but the sewing center is in the small city of Gloversville NY which is near the Adirondack Mountains. Not overwhelmed but a GREAT shop. I ended up buying a second Janome the day I dropped it off. A heavy duty mechanical machine. HD5000. Very affordable. The shop is a bit remote but very enticing to visit. Only 1 hour away with a multitude of interesting things along the way. I bought the new machine for a very specific reason. I plan to make a few glasses cases with my inkle loom weaving and some buttery soft leather that was given to me. Maybe a cell phone carrier? Maybe a new bag or two. I will have to get the book you mentioned. Co-incidence? I think not. I so look forward to your vlogs. They are like visits with a friend. I just need the coffee pod thing you have. Yum! Glad you are well again. Happy Memorial Day.

Your turban was adorable. How about a dpn needle case?

I'm recovering from an infect myself right now and watch your video. It's so lovely and calm! I want to get back to my spindles when I'm better. When I saw the one bag for paint brushes I had to think of a spindle bag. Recently I made a pouch for my clay whorls and little covers for every single whorl, so they won't rub against each other. I have a pretty toned down colour pallete in my wardrobe, like dark blue, black, and grey. But seeing you thriving in pinks, yellows and bright greens make me want to try out more bright and light colours. I also have started my first solar plant dye experiment with yellow and red onion peels and iron. It's two weeks on - two weeks to go. I turn the jars daily and can't wait for the results! Maybe that's my start of wearing more colourful woolen garments. Love watching your videos, Lisa! Greetings from Germany! ❤

I like the turban wrap idea...I think it looks attractive rather than attention getting as a concern you had. Try it. You might be pleased.

Good episode, as usual! My favorite line today was about telling Charlie that you would have to put his wool sweater in HIS winter box!! The wrap with the twisted fringe is stunning!