Hello, dear friends! 🌿✨ We’re on the mend over here, and I hope you’re staying well and healthy, too.
Today, I’m sharing my latest fibre adventures—fingerless mitts for Nick (with an unexpected spinning surprise!), a sock update, and some spindle experiments.
🧶 Projects Mentioned: Fingerless mitts with wheel-spun vs. spindle-spun yarn Vanilla Latte socks & thoughts on yarn choices Spinning with different spindles (Turkish, mini Ashford & more) My journey as a self-taught spinner since 2003
☕ Grab your favourite beverage, pick up your knitting, spinning, or crafting, and let’s spend some cozy time together.
Let me know in the comments—do you hand wash your socks or machine wash them? Do you block them? And what’s on your needles right now?
Until next time, may your day be filled with light and creativity.
Hello, friends! Have you ever paused to consider what a typical Tuesday afternoon might look like for me? Grab your favorite drink and join the conversation as we dive into life’s simple pleasures. I’m Doll, from Doll Can Create, inviting you to explore a day in my life.
Exploring the 100 Mile Life
Today, I’m excited to share insights about my 100 Mile Life journey. This adventure began with some self-imposed guidelines intended to encourage local living. While I strive to source within 100 miles—equivalent to 160 kilometers—not everything fits this boundary. Essentials like oranges, bananas, coffee, tea, and sometimes grapes remain exceptions due to practical reasons.
My 100 Mile radius encompasses significant parts of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, which limits fresh produce, especially during winter. However, my reasons extend beyond mere locality; they’re about minimizing environmental impact by reducing global shipping dependencies.
Some may question the avoidance of big box stores, but in Southern Ontario, larger companies like Walmart and Amazon offer employment opportunities to many. While I do make use of these resources, I’m mindful about curbing my dependency for budgetary reasons.
For instance, recent purchases included grocery staples like cake mixes, graham crackers, and grapes—but there’s a conscious effort to make some of these from scratch. The yarn, however, remains non-negotiable for the foreseeable future; my current stash is more than sufficient.
Spinning and Fiber Projects
Currently, I’m working on various fiber projects. I have a spindle with German wool—a delightful gift part of an exchange event. A different roving, is 100 grams of beautifully hand-dyed wool excites my imagination, possibly inspiring a new pair of socks!
While I ponder different creative outcomes, my spinning continues. Often, I combine fibers for projects, such as socks, ensuring strength and durability in final products. Although not all yarns are local, they represent special gifts or accumulated resources ready to transform.
Supporting Local and Final Thoughts
The 100 Mile Life isn’t just a hobby; it’s an opportunity to forge meaningful local connections—working with shepherds, farmers, and craftspeople. Through this journey, I hope to compile a booklet for those intrigued by locavorism, offering practical steps to engage with their communities.
Central to my mission is supporting Canadian wool industries. Despite seeing vast shipments of Canadian wool abroad, I remain committed to utilizing local mills wherever feasible. Crafting personal items from Canadian wool furthers this goal, reducing unnecessary transport miles.
As I scale back on external purchases, festivals and sales become opportune spaces to engage with local artisans. Moving forward involves careful consideration of wants versus needs, especially when acquiring non-local items.
Recent reflections include shifting book purchases to a local bookstore instead of Amazon. This minor adjustment embodies the ethos of my initiative—supporting local economies and reducing carbon footprints.
Today, as I conclude my yarn spinning, the journey continues. Sharing moments like this with you reinforces the transformative power of mindful living. Until next time, remember: if I can create, so can you. Have a wonderful week, and let’s continue this exciting adventure. Bye for now, and take care! Doll
Have you ever stopped to think about how far the things you use every day have traveled? From the food on your plate to the clothes in your closet, many of these items have journeyed thousands of miles before reaching you. What if we could change that? What if we could bring it all closer to home?
That’s the inspiration behind my latest adventure: the “100 Mile Life in 100 Days” challenge. Over the next three months, I’ll be focusing on sourcing everything—from food to household goods to wool—within 100 miles of where I live. It’s a journey that’s about much more than just shopping locally. It’s about connecting with my community, reducing my environmental footprint, and uncovering the incredible resources in my own backyard.
Why 100 Miles?
This challenge takes inspiration from the “100 Mile Diet,” a movement that encourages eating locally and sustainably. But I’m expanding the concept beyond just food. By incorporating wool and other locally made goods, I’m embracing the richness of what’s nearby while supporting sustainable practices. Wool is a big focus for me—it’s a chance to connect with local producers and celebrate the artistry of textiles created right here at home.
The Rules of the Challenge
There will be a few rules I’ll set out for myself. If you follow along your rules might be different.
Stay Within the 100-Mile Radius: Everything I purchase must come from within this boundary.
Allow Necessary Exceptions: Some items, like medicine, may not be available locally, but I’ll aim to minimize these exceptions.
Focus on Learning: This isn’t about perfection. It’s about discovering new ways to live more sustainably and sharing what I learn along the way.
What to Expect
Over the next 100 days, I’ll be documenting this journey—the successes, the challenges, and everything in between. From finding local flour for baking to meeting incredible farmers, artisans, and wool producers, there will be no shortage of stories to share. Along the way, I’ll also offer tips and tricks for anyone who wants to try living more locally. Whether it’s sourcing one meal a week from local producers or supporting a nearby wool artisan, even small steps can make a big difference.
Why It Matters
Choosing to live within 100 miles is about more than convenience. It’s a way to:
Support Local Economies: Every purchase invests in the community and keeps resources circulating locally.
Reduce Environmental Impact: Local goods often require less transportation, cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions.
Rediscover Seasonal Living: Eating and living locally means aligning with the rhythm of the seasons, which can be both grounding and fulfilling.
Join Me on This Journey
I’d love for you to follow along or even join in your own way! Whether it’s by exploring local farmers’ markets, trying out regional recipes, or seeking out local wool for your next knitting project, there are countless ways to embrace the 100 Mile Life. Want local wool to spin or use in your crafting? I have a few options for you. Send me a message or check out my Patreon for more information.
Are you ready to explore the richness of what’s right around you? Let’s embark on this adventure together and see how local we can go. Here’s to discovering the beauty of living closer to home!
Hi friends! Doll here from Doll Can Create, and today I’m hanging out in the kitchen—one of my favorite creative spaces. 🌱✨
Let me show you what I’ve got going on! These little greens you see here? They’re pea shoots I ordered from my favorite produce supplier. I snipped a handful to make a quick salad for myself, and of course, I shared some with the bunny. (He loves them as much as I do!)
But wait—there’s more! I’m gearing up for some serious sprouting action. Let me give you a little tour of my setup.
The Big Sprouter
Over here, I’ve got my trusty big sprouter. Right now, it’s soaking green peas. These are the kind you sprout, not the dried ones for cooking. Tomorrow, I’ll rinse them and transfer them to the top layer of the sprouter. This thing has been with me forever, and it still works like a charm.
The Sprouting Towers
On the other side of the room, I have my sprouting towers. These are so fun to use!
Tower One: It’s a mix of sprouts—daikon radish and mung beans. I even found a couple of rogue sunflower seeds in there (a surprise gift from the sprouting mix, perhaps?).
How It Works: You water the top, and it flows down to the bottom, nourishing all the layers. By the weekend, I’ll have a delicious variety of sprouts ready to enjoy.
Why Sprout?
Fresh sprouts are so versatile. You can toss them in salads, soups, or stir-fries—or just snack on them straight out of the sprouter. They’re crunchy, nutritious, and incredibly satisfying. Plus, they’re a fantastic way to save on grocery bills. Doing your own sprouting means fresher, tastier greens at a fraction of the cost.
Do you sprout? If you do, let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear what you’re growing and how you enjoy them.
Until next time, friends—this is Doll from Doll Can Create. Remember, if I can do it, you can too!
Celebrating Distaff Day: My Journey with Last Year’s Fluff
Hi friends! Welcome to my Distaff Day adventure. I wanted to bring you along for the ride as I dive into the process of carding last year’s leftover bits and pieces of fluff. So, grab your tea, get cozy, and let me share the journey with you!
A Humble Start in the Furnace Room
As unglamorous as it may sound, my journey began in the furnace room—a utility space that doubles as my fibre crafting haven. Yes, the furnace was humming away, adding a cozy soundtrack to my work. My carder is tucked away in this little corner, and I had it loaded and ready to go.
Exploring the Blends
On the carder, I had a delightful mix of fibres—each one bringing its own story and texture to the blend. There was some sari silk, bright and colourful merino, and a BFL-merino blend in classic white. Slowly, I worked through the carding process, watching the fibres come together to form a beautiful bat.
Here’s a peek at the final result: a light, fluffy creation weighing in at 23 grams. It’s a small but meaningful bounty crafted from last year’s leftover fluff.
What’s Next?
Now that I have this lovely batt, I’m pondering the possibilities. It’s vibrant and textured, but I’m not quite sure what it wants to become. If you have any ideas for how I could use this little treasure, I’d love to hear them!
Beside me, there’s still a bag of BFL waiting to be carded—another project for another day.
Reflecting on Distaff Day
Distaff Day is always a special time for me. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and create something meaningful as we transition into the season of Epiphany. The days are growing longer, and the light is slowly returning—a perfect reminder of renewal and inspiration.
Until Next Time…
Thank you for joining me on this little adventure. If you enjoyed this post, I’d love it if you’d share it with a friend or leave a comment with your thoughts and ideas. Remember, creativity is for everyone.
This is Doll from Doll Can Create, reminding you that if I can create, so can you. Wishing you light, joy, and endless inspiration.
YouTube Live: summary (video is at the end of this post)
Hi friends! I wanted to take a moment to share a little bit about my day, my projects, and what’s on my mind. It’s been one of those days where nothing seems to fall into place, but I’m here, in my comfy rocking chair, knitting and chatting with you.
Yesterday was pretty typical. I went to Bible study, had lunch with Nick, and then took him to his writer’s group at the library. While he was there, I debated whether to go for a swim at the Y, and after much back-and-forth, I finally did! I didn’t swim much, but I enjoyed the water, the hot tub, and even the steam room. The rest of the day was spent on little things like unloading the dishwasher, making supper, and just keeping up with life.
Lately, I’ve felt a bit off creatively. I haven’t been picking up my spindle or knitting as much, and it’s been hard to focus with some things causing stress in the background. It’s frustrating when something out of your control feels like it’s affecting your energy and creativity.
That said, I’m still making progress on my knitting projects! I’ve been working on my sock—slowly but surely—and I’m determined to finish it by December 1. It’s fun seeing it take shape, even if it’s just a little bit at a time. I’ve also got a sweater in progress, and while I’ve hit a mental roadblock with it, I’m confident I’ll get back into it soon.
On another note, I’ve been thinking about the future. I’ve got five years until retirement, and I’m working on building a small business for some extra income. I’m brainstorming a newsletter that will include things like a free mitten pattern I’ve been working on, some of my favourite patterns, and possibly even recommendations from other creators, like my friend Tracy from @thepassioKnitspinner
I’ve also been reflecting on the upcoming Advent season. It’s one of my favorite times of year—a fresh start and a chance to dive into the Gospel of Luke with my church community. I love the beauty of poinsettias, Advent calendars, and all the small ways we celebrate this meaningful season.
To wrap up, I hope this little chat has been a blessing to you. Whatever you’re working on—whether it’s socks, mittens, or something else—keep creating, keep smiling, and find joy in the process. Thanks for spending this time with me, and I hope you have a wonderful day filled with small joys and inspiration.
As the chill of winter approaches, it’s time to think about keeping our hands warm. In my latest YouTube video titled “Mittens or Gloves: What’s Your Choice for Winter?”, I dive into the world of winter handwear and discuss the importance of planning for mitten knitting, even when the weather is still warm outside.
In this video, I share some of my past mitten projects, showcasing my favorite creations, including cozy fingerless mittens made from hand-spun, hand-dyed yarn. These unique pieces not only keep your hands warm but also add a personal touch to your winter wardrobe.
I emphasize that as knitters, we often need to think ahead. Starting your mitten projects early allows you to experiment with different patterns and techniques without the pressure of a looming deadline. Plus, it gives you the chance to create beautiful gifts for friends and family!
Throughout the video, I also touch on various knitting techniques that can enhance your mitten-making experience. Whether you prefer the snug fit of gloves or the warmth of mittens, there’s something for everyone in the world of knitting.
If you’re interested in learning more about my mitten-making journey and want to see some of my favourite projects, be sure to check out the video on my channel, Doll Can Create. I’m excited to share my passion for knitting with all of you!
Thank you for your support—don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Let’s keep our hands warm this winter, one stitch at a time.
In the latest episode of “Monday Knitting on Tuesday,” I share some insights on how to make the most of your crafting time. Although the video was released a day late, the valuable tips and updates on her projects are worth the wait!
### 3 Ways to Be Successful with Your Crafting
I enumerate three key strategies to ensure you stay productive and inspired in your crafting endeavours:
1. Make Time for Your Making: Crafting requires dedication, and I remind us that setting aside time is crucial. By planning your crafting sessions and making them a priority, you can ensure that your creative projects don’t get sidelined by daily distractions.
2. Create a Space That Works for You: Having a designated crafting area can significantly enhance your productivity. I encourage viewers to organise their materials so that everything is within reach. This not only saves time but also creates a more enjoyable crafting experience.
3. Just Do It: The most important step is to dive in and start creating! I’m enthusiastic and hope that it is infectious as I share my current projects, including a mitten, October socks, and a spinning project. I’m reminded that the act of creating is what brings joy and fulfilment.
### Join the Crafting Community
Doll Can Create is a growing channel that is planning on regular content. If you’re passionate about knitting and crafting, consider subscribing to my channel for more tips, project updates, and inspiration.
Thank you for watching, subscribing, sharing, and reading.
