Category: spinning

  • more greenery

    closeups

    Mmmmmm. Greeeeeen. Something about it’s really very calming and just summery, you know? This one’s a lush, bright (but not too bright) green from Dream in Color – I’ve been working on a quickie knit shrug as a shop sample. Here’s the zoom out…

    dream in color shrug

    (new camera = lots of glamour shots)

    I actually finished the main body of the shrug tonight at knit night, so it just needs a bit of sewing up and ribbing along the edge (by someone else, since I’m going on vacay so soon! really need to start packing).

    Speaking of glamour shots…here’s some of the latest handspun.

    Beauuuutiful polwarth/alpaca/angora, I think it was from Spirit Trail, purchase at Rhinebeck. I spun it up quite thin, although there are more than a few little lumpy bits that weren’t totally blended in – I find them charming.

    ooh pretty

    Came out to about 488 yards in 2 oz, definitely enough for something lacey and light. Maybe a swallowtail shawl? Haven’t tried that one yet.

    Trying to dole out the blog fodder over a couple days! More soon, including a new project or two…I seem to be having some startitis issues!

  • elbow grease

    Currently washing fleece (finally…it’s been sitting in my basement, which I know is bad) and it’s actually quite satisfying. Perhaps because the first thing I did was to comb up a wee sliver from the bit I’d washed quite awhile ago, and it actually came out quite nice – great colour, fluffy, fairly soft (which I think will be helped by some eucalan for the final yarn).

    I’ve now equipped myself with some BIG mesh bags (one fills the whole sink), a new plastic bowl and plastic basket. It’s taking a lot more than the 2-3 washes that the internets are telling me, but that’s okay. I just keep going until it’s clean. And that first soak…it’s pretty gross. I’ve done one big wash bag and am currently doing another (and I think it’ll be more efficient this time, for some reason). I miiiight do a third tonight. I’ve taken quite a chunk out of the fleece – I’d estimate after tonight’s three bags, maybe two more max.

    Once it’s nice or at least tolerable outside, I’ll do all the combing outside – many bits falling out, it’s pretty gross. I know combing produces more waste but it’s so nice and fluffy! I’ll try carding some too, just to see. I’m okay at carding for colour blending, but I haven’t really done much else with it. Any tips? Words of wisdom? This is my first fleece!

    Did I mention I’m trying to finish off a paper at the same time? I’m very close to done with it, just trying to see if I can fit in one more bit of argument. It’s not due till Wednesday, either, so I’m a bit ahead!

  • newly listed

    I’ve finally updated my Etsy shop with new skeins. More to come soon. Take a look-see, wouldja?