Scouring fleeces

I finally got busy and managed to get ONE fleece scoured before my son's heart surgery last month. It is a really fine Rambo/ColumbiaX. I did it in two halves (since it wasn't very big) in the laundry room sink - and I did a very Non-Scientific experiment while I was at it.

I washed one half of the fleece in Dawn Dish soap and the other half I used Kookaburra Wool Wash. It turns out that this fleece ended up being much dirtier than I expected, so I thought this might be a good comparison to share. As you read, keep in mind that I was very careful about not over-packing the sink. I used lots of water in relation to the amount of fleece.

The first half, washed with Dawn took 3 washings and at least 5-6 rinses before I considered it clean enough to send to the drying table. With all that washing/rinsing I thought for sure I would end up with nothing more than a pile of felt. It turns out I wasn't too far off - it is slightly felted, but not so bad that I won't be able to save it. Amazingly, it STILL has a lot of sand/dirt in it. The water never really ran clear...

The second half, washed with Kookaburra Wool Wash only took 2 washings and 3 rinses before reaching a similar state of cleanliness. I really noticed how much easier it was for the dirt and grease/lanolin to lift out of the fiber, and also for the cleaning solution to rinse out. The fiber did get a little felted, but again I'm not surprised after the abuse I had to put it through to get it clean.
Comparing the two, this pile of wool seems cleaner to me, and smells wonderful (they use tea tree in the formula which leaves the wool smelling fresh, clean and acts as a moth deterrent) even though it didn't require as many washings as the Dawn half.. . Although the Wool Wash has a hint of lanolin in it, I can't seem to feel it on the fiber. One run through the carding machine will tell me if it will be a problem or not. Kookaburra does make a Wool Scour formula without the lanolin which will be used on the next fleece.

I definitely plan on adding this product to the shop, and highly recommend that you at least TRY this on your next fleece. I'm glad I did, and I will be using it on all my fleeces.

Cayenne

Here is "Cayenne". It's hot, but in the right proportion adds just the right touch to spice up your spinning.

I love how this roving came out. It looks even better spun up. The colors blend beautifully into subtle shades of red/orange and yellow. Bright, but not at all overpowering.

As with most of my painted rovings, I spun this navaho 3-ply, and am thoroughly smitten with the results.

The blueface leicester, which I spun semi-worsted, has such a lovely hand to it, and it's so soft. I can't wait to make something out of this yarn! Hmmmmm, the question is, what does this yarn want to be??? (picture coming soon!)

Spring is in the Air

I just love when spring begins it's magical return... The chill in the air slowly dissipates, making way for the richness and vigor of life awakening. Snow receeds to allow a long awaited glimpse of light to residents below. Frost turns to dew as the sun warms the ground, creating a sea of sparkles on a bed of grass. Leaves push thier way out of dormant buds, and flowers begin to reach for the sky. Animals appear from hiding places with joy and eagerness in thier eyes. The earth is alive, and waking from its slumber with a dazzling display of color, scent, and newness...

I wanted something fresh and new when I fired up the dyepot today, and I think I got it. This is some rainbow dyed Blueface Leicester, in shades of yellow, orange, pink, green and blue. This color combination brings spring indoors, even when it is cold outside. Bright, vivid colors jump out, much like nature does when "Spring is in the Air"...

Here is what it looks like spun up in a navaho 3 ply. This was fun to spin up. The colors came out completely different than I thought they would, but I am pleased with the outcome.

I hope you like it!

Wine Country

I can't believe it - It's February - and Valentine's Day is fast approaching!

I just realized it's been almost two years since I've been able to go back home and visit. I grew up in Northern California - right in the middle of wine country. How I miss the rolling hills, the never ending rows of vineyards, lazing beneath the oak trees, and strolls along the beach or beneath the Redwoods. I could easily consider Northern California to one of the most romantic places in the US.

So anyway - I had some stray corriedale roving sitting around so into the dyepot it went - I tossed in a few of my favorite colors and put on the lid. When this came out of the dyepot I couldn't help but thinking about home. The way the colors blended made me think of grapes on the vine at harvest time. I imagined myself sipping a nice glass of Merlot - and the ambiance of one of the incredible historic wineries back home. So naturally the name "Wine Country" stuck.

To make the most of the colors I elected to go with Navaho 3-ply. I think it came out nicely, and the yarn conveys the richness of color that I was hoping to capture... Now, what to knit with it? Hmmmm...

I hope you have a Fun (and romantic) Valentine's Day!

Milk Chocolate Cherries...

I'm in the mood for Chocolate... And what better time than Valentine's day to enjoy some sweets.

Here I'm spinning a reddish and brown color combination in a rambouillet X. Let's call this blend... Milk Chocolate Cherries...? The colors were put on the drum carder in alternating layers, two brown and two red. The batt was not reblended after the initial layering, so the colors should be more distinct. It appears it will give a nice tweed effect. The wool is somewhat neppy, so there are some lumps and bumps in the yarn, but I think it will add to the final effect. I'll show you the finished yarn and a swatch once we're done.

Oh - and before I forget - Happy Valentine's Day!

Introducing Spindy -

Hello - My name is Spindy - I am a Top Whorl Emily Spindle, with my whorl constructed out of Satinwood over Rose She-oak with an Ash Shaft. I consider myself to be somewhat of an adventurer, enjoying spin time where ever my mistress' travels take me. I enjoy a diet rich in fiber, but I'm not sure of my favorite. It seems that I mostly seem to be dressed in wool, but the occasional exotic fiber occasionally tickles my fancy. My favorite color?? Oh deary - well just about anything suits me. Those fashionable rainbow dyed rovings are always fun to wear, but then again, sometimes I'm just in the mood for something a little more neutral.
Come with me now, and join me in my travels through Fiberland and beyond...

Inspiration through Color

Inspiration comes in many forms, from many places, and has infinite ways of expression. But something that I have found, is that inspiration often comes when it is peaceful and quiet (at least for me). Ideas seem to flow more freely when one is in a state of relaxation and in harmony with the Universe. It is with this Spirit that I am changing how I approach my fiber work and art. I seek to find deeper enjoyment in my creations.

Color has always played an important role in how we feel. There are numerous scientific studies on how color affects our moods and outlook on life... Have you ever noticed that the colors in nature seldom invoke feelings of hostility or aggression? Instead, they seem to inspire a sense of wonder, awe and peace - at least for me. The things we Love - our favorite color, food, place, person, or thing - also invoke feelings of joy and inner peace. They naturally brighten our mood and our day.

Considering these thoughts, I seek to find a new "Happy Place" through the use of color - Colors inspired by the things I Love... I look forward to sharing the results as I experiment with the use of color.

In this light, the format of the blog will be more consistent. Each month I will present a different source of color inspiration and the fiber to honor and compliment it. Enjoy!

More Circular Needles

I finally found my FAVORITE Circular Knitting Needles! The COLONIAL ROSEWOOD Circular Needles! Yes, they are pricey - very pricey - but are absolutely FABULOUS! The points are sharp, the join is smooth, the cables are soft (but not sticky), and DO NOT COIL! These are fantastic!

Here are some pictures:

The Colonial Rosewood in size US6 and the Colonial Bamboo in size US11



Points of the Colonial Needles







Join on the Colonial Needles







Holz and Stein Needles - Points
Rosewood Size US5 and Ebony Size US3





Holz and Stein - Join







Pony Pearl Circs (Orange)/Balene II (White), both size US11 - Points








Pony Pearls and Balene IIs - Join








See how Straight the Colonials are? They are the ones with the black cable.







The Clover Bamboo needles are okay, but I find the tip to be somewhat blunt. If you are working with lace yarn, you will go crazy with them (unless you sharpen them). The join on the Clovers is very similar to the Pony Pearl and Balene IIs, as is the cable.

I went to the LYS and looked at some Addi's too. I have decided that it looks like most of the Circs are now being made with a similar, if not the same join as pictured above, and the cables are all that stiff fishing line type material.

So - I have decided that my Favorite Circs are the Colonial Rosewoods, with the Colonial Bamboo following. I love everything about these needles - the tips, join, and high quality wood/bamboo used to make them - but I especially love the cable! The only downside is the price, but you get what you pay for!

My next choice is Holz and Stein. I like the woods, the tip and the join, but am not entirely thrilled with the cable. The price isn't too horribly bad.

Next I would choose between Addi Natura and Clover Bamboo. The stiff cables still drive me crazy. I'm not sure why, but for some reason I still like the Clover Bamboo, even though they are blunt with a stiff cable - there's just something about them. Maybe its the price.

I sort of liked the Tips on the Balene II, but not the cable. The plastic material isn't bad either, but I prefer wood or bamboo.

And last but not least are the Pony Pearls. I thought the tip was a little blunt, but manageble with the right yarns. Again its the plastic thing with me, its just not my all time favorite.

Oh Wait! - Lets not forget about the Denise Interchangable Needles. These are nice for travelling or quick projects - I like the tips and the soft cable, but the join drives me insane. I am constantly hanging up on the little finger cut outs at the join. I have been told to turn the needles slightly, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. The cable is soft and nice, but somewhat sticky. I have to push my yarn along to get it to go around. I find the needle length to be a little shorter than what I can comfortably work with too. What is nice about this set is the convenience. It is really nice to have the different size needles with varying lengths of cable, all packaged in a nice case that you can take just about anywhere.

Favorite Circular Needle?

I am on the hunt for the perfect circular needle. One with a nice point, cable which does not coil, and a joint which doesn't snag my yarn. I posted the question about What's the perfect circ? to one of the Yahoo groups and here are the choices of those that responded.

Addi Turbos – 6 votes
Addi Naturas – 3 votes
Holz & Stein – 2 votes
Aero metals – 1 vote
Clover – 1 vote
Pony Pearls -1 vote
Crystal Palace Bamboo – 1 vote
Nylon “Taffy” Needles – no longer being manufactured – 1 vote

So it appears the clear winner is Addi. - at least so far....

I am now trying out several of these needles. I just got back from the LYS and Boy-o-Boy did I get a deal! They had some Holz and Stein needles left (these are no longer being imported) so I bought what they had. 7 circs, all 40" long (which is fine since I really like the magic loop method) in different sizes ranging from US1-13. A few Rosewoods, and a few Ebonys. How much did I pay? Here's the best part of all - Only $10 each! Boy was I smiling on my way home! :)

So I of course had to try them out right away - and they sure are nice. Very nice point, great join, cable is a little stiff like most, but managable after softening in some hot water.

I have a set of Pony Pearls and Balene IIs waiting for me to try out too. They are waiting patiently in my knitting bag until I find just the right project. What I really should do is knit a swatch out of the same yarn on all of them, so that I am comparing apples to apples. Anyway, I'll post about those as soon as I try them.

Also, Colonial Needle has just introduced some new Rosewood and Bamboo circular needles which I am anxious to try out. They are premium needles at a premium price, so I am hopeful that I will get what I pay for.

Addi Naturas will be my next purchase...

In the mean time - I would love to hear your Circular Needle Reviews. Please post and share your experiences!

Favorite Cast-on?

I was reading one of the EZ books, and found out that the cast-on method I use most often, is the least desirable method (at least to EZ)... Humph!... I rather liked it..... So it got me wondering, What are your favorites and why?

Twisted Knitters 1st meeting

Tonight was the first meeting of the Twisted Knitters at a little coffee shop about 20 minutes north of here. Three of us were there, and we had a wonderful time! I really enjoyed meeting the ladies, and look forward to our next gathering. A funny thing happened while we were at the coffee shop - Some neighbors from a few streets over (which hubby and I had just met yesterday) walked in the door! Imagine our surprise when we saw each other. To make a long story short, I plan on inviting them over for a BBQ to get to know them better. (I guess you had to be there for it to be funny.)

I finished the lace top! Yippee! It turned out to be too big though, especially around the neck, so I improvised and added another I-cord around the neck edge. It worked! and it looks adorable. Here's a picture. I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to wear it. WHEW!

Other news is that the Kromski Spinning wheels which I ordered arrived yesterday! I had all three assembled and tested out before going to bed last night. I Love these wheels! I'm trying hard not to slobber all over them, and can't seem to pick a favorite as of yet. All I know is that they are all beautiful and spin wonderfully.

When I get my box of UFOs a little more under control, I will be ordering the rigid heddle loom from Kromski. It seems its time to learn to weave.

Twisted Knitters

I just started a new Yahoo Group - Twisted Knitters. Right now I'm using it to coordinate a new knit-in for Davis County knitters, but in time I think I will open it up to the general knitting public. Come join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TwistedKnitters/, the more the merrier!

Spinner's T-Shirts

Yippeee!

I designed some spinners shirts, and just got them back from the silk screener. They are SO CUTE! I just love these - I hope you do to. And they are so comfy! I put one on right away, and it feels so comfy cozy in today's heat!

The hemp lace top is almost done too! I should be finished by tonight or tomorrow. I'll post when its blocked and finished.

Wow...

Wow - I can't believe how time flies. Its been over a month since I last posted. Sheesh!

So whats new? Lots of things! I am now in love with Catalina yarns. I keep petting the sample skeins they sent me, and today I finally ordered some! All thier yarns are so heavenly soft, and wonderful quality. I can't wait to knit some up. I'm planning something for my daughter out of the alpaca/silk blend, but I'll have to wait and see what it tells me it wants to be. This will most definitely be a xmas gift...

In the mean time, I'm about 2/3 of the way finished with a cute little lacy top out of sport weight hemp. I'm always amazed at how some yarns turn out when knit. This hemp is one of them, and the other was some of my handspun bamboo. Both start out real stiff, but as soon as you knit them, they totally change. I know after washing it will be totally different again.

This is one of the things I love most about working with fibers. It's always a mystery as to how it will turn out in the end. I love to watch the transformation from fiber to art unfold as a fiber goes through the many stages of creation, and then seeing the final culmination of one's efforts. I am constantly amazed at each step of the process, first the washing and fiber preparation - seeing the fiber unviel its true self from beneath a layer of grease and dirt (yes lanolin too). It almost seems like the fiber is being liberated by its nakedness and relishing its newfound freedom. Next is the dying and color blending. This to me is like putting on make-up. When done properly with care and attention, the most desirable attributes are accentuated. Perhaps the sheen of a fiber will predominate, or the tactile softness of a fiber will be further enhanced visually with a soft color. Does this make sense? Next of course is the manner in which the fiber will be used. Is it yarn? felt? or just simply roving? As it moves from being a ball of fluff to its new form, watch how it's attitude changes. It's as if it has a new sense of self, filled with confidence and ambition. What does this fiber want to be when it grows up? Then the final step of the metamorphosis - The actual construction of the new masterpiece. Almost like watching a butterfly emerge from the cocoon. Is it knit? woven? or something else? Does the fiber relax into its new shape? or does it resist and try to do something you didn't anticipate? Sometimes a new spark of life comes out of the new form, or perhaps an essence of peace and tranquility. The natural energy of the fiber has combined with the thoughtfulness and creativity of the artist to become a new entity...


...Okay...... quite a tangent I went off on... Now back to the latest stuff.

I'm now a Kromski dealer! I couldn't resist the beauty of these wheels. I took a Minstrel for a test drive, and was really impressed by it. It turned out to spin completely different than I anticipated. I was very pleasantly surprised. The quality of construction is excellent, especially when you consider how ornate these wheels are. Plus the great thing is, these wheels are quite affordable. I think they are a great value for the money. I would highly recommend them. So, to make a long story short, I am now a dealer for thier wheels. I have three(!) wheels on the way. The Minstrel, Prelude and Polinaise. If you're ever in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by and try one out!

I'm also getting ready to add some Jacquard dyes to the store. As if I didn't already have enough stuff! I can already envision the color adventures I'll be having once it arrives!

All in all, I'm having a really great month on both a personal as well as professional level. Thanks to all of my wonderful family, friends and customers who make this all possible.

I better hurry and finish some of these UFOs... More next time.

Busy as a Bee

Its been hectic around here, but I've been managing to chip away at my UFOs. The vest is finished, other than sewing on the buttons, and I've been needle felting up a storm this week. I plan on taking the latest sculptures to a May Faire this weekend for show and tell at my booth. I finished a woman holding her baby, and a beehive. Now I just need the bees... I started working on a clown face too, and its looking soooo coooool! I can hardly believe I made it! I think I have finally found my creative niche... Pictures will soon arrive - If I can just figure this out! (If anyone can tell me a simple way to get pictures into this I would appreciate it.)

I actually started some Spring Cleaning! Horray! If you can believe this, I really and truely SOLD some of my belly dance costumes! It was hard to part with them, but now that they are gone, I feel really good. I have the urge to replace them with a new spinning wheel. I'm seriously thinking about an Ashford Country Spinner, a Jensen Tina II or a Kromski Minstral. Decisions, decisions... I'm heavily leaning towards the Country Spinner. If only I knew where I could go test drive one... AH HA! I'll post to the Woolpack and see if anyone has one I could try!

OMG I almost forgot! In exchange for knitting the Zephyr Top, SWTC has send me some of thier newest yarns! I can't decide which is my favorite. First is thier Bamboo Feather yarn. Its like a double sided eyelash yarn, nice and soft, and it has such a pretty sheen. It almost looks like some silk eyelash I've seen. Next is thier Karaoke yarn, a 50/50 Soy Silk/Merino blend. You should see the colors they sent! Just Gorgeous! I just started knitting a little purse with it, and I love it! The funny thing is that it's a single ply - I can't stand knitting with single ply - but I think my mind has been changed. I can't wait to see how it felts/fulls.  Next project with the Karaoke yarn - Slippers!

Also I just recieved some sample skeins of Catalina Alpaca yarns. Ohhhhhhh are these soft! Like floating on a cloud. I predict another addition to the shop... :)

This brings up a question... What is most important to you when you select a yarn? Is it price, texture, fiber content, grist? Let me know what motivates you to actually purchase a particular yarn, especially when you shop on the net where yarn fondling is not an option.

Zephyr Top is finished!

At last, I finally finished this top! I thought it would never end. It's strange, because it is a really easy pattern, but for some reason it took me FOREVER! Of course it didn't help to come down with pneumonia for 6 weeks when the yarn and pattern first arrived!

This is a test pattern from SWTC. It's knit with thier 100% Cotton Beyond Bold yarn. This is the first time I've knit with it, and I found that it took me a while to get used to it. My stitches were coming out pretty uneven to start with, but once I tightened up my tension, the stitches evened out. It knits up a little stiff, but seems to have softened with blocking. I'm sure it will soften even more with a washing.

I'm now going to finish this vest that I inherited. A friend of mine had this yarn, I think its a cotton/silk blend, that she has tryed and tryed to make something out of, but it never seemed to work out. This vest was the final attempt, and when it came out too small for her, she finally got sick of it. Rather than tossing it, she gave me the vest to finish and keep for myself! The yarn is so soft! I feel happy and lucky to be the recipient. :)

Too much stuff

I've decided that I'm too busy and I simply have too much stuff. I feel like the biggest packrat I know! At the end of this month I swear I'm going to go through the house and do a major spring cleaning! That includes digging up all my UFO's and actually finishing them.

Right now the projects I'm working on include a test knit of the Zephyr top for SWTC (why I volunteered to do this, I don't know), a Pi Shawl, finish a lovely vest which was given to me, some new design ideas in felt, and a growing list of needle felting projects. Of coarse, before I can dig my needles into these, I first need to finish my tax stuff, have a birthday party for my kids, and do laundry (all tomorrow). Ah well. All in good time. If anyone comes up with a way to knit more time into the day, please let me know!!!

I'll put up pictures as I finish these UFO's and you can be sure I'll start posting some yard sale items to my website!

Geez it's late! Gotta get some shut-eye. Good Night!