Thursday, October 16, 2008

Spun up My Sample!

I spun up some of the sample I had carder the other day and wasn't happy with the way the white spun. I needed to much twist compared to the rest of the fibers. So I got some Cormo out and blended it and it looked good. So here is how it turned out.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Ravelry

So I have been a member of Ravelry almost since the very beginning. I haven't done anything with it. I just don't seem to have the time. Is it me, or do others find it a bit time consuming to enter all the stuff you need to, to become a participating member? I have a problem loading pics for some reason, of course I don't use flicker. Guess I could check into that. I also have found alot of the gals seem to be a bit on the younger side. Not that that is a problem, but sometime the conversations just seem to go in a direction I'm really not into. Now before everyone gangs up on me, and touts the benefits of Ravelry, I fully admit I haven't given it a full hearted try! I'm just wondering if I really have the time to do that. Interested in getting feed back on how you think it adds to your fiber life.
I spun up the sample yesterday and it turned out nice. The white seemed to need much more twist that the Alpaca and Merino surprisingly! So today I will blend another breed and see if it spins nicer. Then I will get it up on my site. I'll post a picture later today after I change the mix.
My poor old dog Petey, he is having the hardest time. He is just not getting around well at all. The last 2 days have been very hard. He trips so easy and then plop down he goes, or looses his balance and plop down he goes. Yesterday he fell going down his ramp and got his leg caught in the fence. He did the splits and I could tell he hurt. So I'm out there in my flip flops slipping off them, trying to get him un stuck and to calm him so I can get in the house and get the towel I use to help me move him around, of course it's dinner time and I have left the water running in the sink for some pots and pans! I got him layed down and calm, of course I have water all over, get that turned off, grab the towel and he has dragged himself off the side of the ramp and fell. Now we are talking about 135lbs with no help. Today my back hurts! I know most of you are probably saying, for pete sakes ( no pun intended) put the poor guy down! But most days he's much better, and he's not in pain, and he is so happy to still be part of the family, I just can't bring my self to do it. He loves to go out and watch the goats play, lay in the sun, watch TV and sleep. Most of which doesn't involve moving around much. So while I can, I'll help him move around and complain about it when he gets to heavy :_)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Comb,Comb,Spin,Spin

I have gotten some pictures taken of my last couple of days work or I should say fun. First I have been complaining so about not having any of my knitting caught up. As I looked thru it and decided what I was going to finish and what I wasn't, it's not as bad I thought.
I have this vest for hubby, it is CVM and so soft! Variegated greys with dark grey trim. This is what it will look like when it's done.
As you can see, I only have 3/4 of the back done. I need to get going or he will never wear it this winter.


This is another vest, yes hubby likes vests, he wears them instead of coats most of the time.

This fleece was huge and so full of colors! It was so much fun to knit up and see how the colors mingled.


This one is all done except the pocket lining which I need to spin a little yarn for, it gets a zipper up the center, blocked and it is all done! It has 2 big cables up each side, it is so heavy and soft, makes you want to cuddle up in it.


Now for my shawl, I'm making it from Store Bought Yarn! Yes I know, it went against my grain too, but it is Cashmere and I loved the colors.


This is what it will look like when I am done.


It is called Waves in the Square Shawl by Silva Harding. The yarn is a pink,taupe and brown marl.


I am only about 1/4 of the way finished with this one. If I would just sit down and get to it, I could have it done in a week or so. So what's keeping me? That's a good question :)
Here is my experiment with a variegated yarn in a Fair isle. I guess you would actually call it Fake Fair isle. It was going to be a hat for my daughter, if it gets done. For some reason I have just lost interest in it :( The yarn is gorgeous, Grey Shetland and Angora back ground and a Mohair,Shetland and Angora design yarn. It was one of my first attempts in blending Angora. That tells you how old the yarn is!

This is some Green Salish,Silver Salish and a blend of Rose Llama,Columbia. I'm going to spin this up for a sock yarn.
The Salish gives it a fuzzy look like Mohair only softer. It is as strong as Mohair so I should make some nice socks. I am tearing the batt and spinning with the colors blocked.
Remember when I washed and dyed up the Rambo a few weeks ago? Well here is some I spun up last night. I had a break in the yarn while plying it so it will be used for weaving. I have about 270 yds. of lace weight in this skein, so I think I will spin up something to go with and make a scarf on the loom.
This was spun woolen long draw, it really is a springy yarn.
The color turned out a soft red, I wonder what color would look good with this in a scarf? Any ideas?
This is my skein that I am so please with! You know when you are spinning something and you have it in your head how nice it will be, only to get it off the wheel and it isn't as nice as you thought? I was so hoping this would turn out nice. After looking at the taupe color so long, I was wondering if it would be boring. It is CVM blended with Angora also spun long draw. I plied this on my Mach 1 and ended up with a total of 700 yds in one skein. It is a very light weight lace and oh so soft! I have it washed, but it's not quite dry, after it is good and dry, it will go in my dryer on air and fluff up! Then I will take another picture and post it.


I am as pleased as I hoped I would be!


Now the big decision, do I keep it and make a shawl? Do I put it up on my Etsy site for sale? Only time will tell :)


Here is my experiment for this evening. I blended this today, it is Rose Alpaca, White Romney and Brown Merino. Oh yes soft!! So I'm going to spin some up and see how it turns out. I don't want to blend something and put it up on my Etsy site and then have it spin up into a glob of colors. I am hoping for a nice variegated yarn. Will see!


Wow this was a long post! I guess I have been busier than I thought!