Splatter Batts and Alpaca!

The idea struck me one day...if you can hand paint roving, why not batts? So I started by presoaking a batt and gently draining it in a strainer. I rolled it out on a cookie sheet covered with saran wrap.

I then took some syringes filled with dye mixed with some vinegar, and splattered the batt. (I was a bit heavy handed with the dye. Next time I'll be more sparing.)

I then rolled up my batts and steam baked them at 170 degrees for around an hour.

Then I rolled out the batts, and let them dry. Waaa Lah! Splatter batts! Love them! They remind me of tyedye. Next time I will not roll them up, it disarranges the splatters. I'll just leave them out flat on the cookie sheet. Need to pick up some more cookie sheets at Goodwill!

Next up is the absolutely yummy Cria Fleece I got from Linda at www.bluemoonranch.net . It's buttery soft and Linda is a doll to work with!

Look how gorgeous this fleece is and how crimpy! I'm going to enjoy spinning this up for sure!

Here's a lock all combed out, pretty nice staple length too! I loved the way Linda packed this fleece. It was rolled up in a big sheet of plastic, so you could unroll it and it maintained it's structure. It's easier to work with this way.

Ok...I have more to post yet! Stay tuned!

My New Hitch Hiker Wheel is Here!

Isn't she just the cutest thing ever!!!! My new Hitch Hiker Spinning Wheel from Beth at
www.bluemountainhandcrafts.com . As you can see, I wasted no time testing her out. I admit it took a bit of getting used to the heel/toe treadling, as well as going from a double treadle back to a single treadle, but it was a minor adjustment. It's not a bad spin at all, and at 9lbs, I can haul it all over the place. I've spun at Denny's yesterday while waiting for breakfast. ( The kids think I'm nuts...I am!) Now how to best decorate my little wheel....paint? Woodburning? Both?
Koi fish? Cherry blossoms? Maneki Neko???? I'm still undecided!

Batts!!! Count them! Eight yummy batts from my Corriendale all ready to spin into some yummy yarn! (And another pound to go! Man, a whole fleece is a lot of wool!!!) This is the wool I ran through my picker. I've discovered that you can't get smooth batts with a picker. It's opens up the locks, but doesn't remove second cuts that cause the nepps. The batts are neppy, but that's okay. Never underestimate an neppy batt. It can make some really nice textured yarn. The Fancy Kitty Drumcarder has been working overtime. As you can see from the next pic!

Shetland! My friend Monica sent me some yummy Shetland after I made the comment I'd always wanted to try some. Elizabeth Zimmerman was always going on about the virtues of Shetland. I used my hand combs on the locks to get smooth batts. (No nepps!) Hand combs remove the second cuts, as well as VM. (We've talked about this in other posts.) Below is the pile of combed shetland ready to run through the Kitty Drumcarder. Yummy stuff!

I wasn't able to take pics of the other batts I've made, but they're coming up next when I can take pics during the day. (The flash just makes it impossible to get the right color.) Stay tuned!

New Stuff to Come!

Once again it's been awhile since I've blogged! I've got so many things to take pics of, just need some time off to do it! We're learning a new charting system at work and it's a brain fryer for sure!
On the fiber front, I have new tools to take pics of. First, Beth hooked me up with one of Eric's blending hackles. It is absolutley awesome and I'll be taking pics of it with some fiber I blended on it and pulled off into roving. It's just as nice as the hand combs Eric made, he really does an outstanding job of making these tools.

I've finally got a picker too. It's a Lil' Dynamo Picker. It does alright, but I'm afraid it's like my first set of handcombs. The points are just space too far apart to do a really good job and it takes several times to separate the locks on the fleece. It doesn't do a very good job at all on fine fleece like rambouillet. I'm thinking of adding more points to see if it'll help.

Then I have a cute little wheel coming in. It's a Hitch Hiker from Merlin Tree. Beth became a dealor and I ordered one. I have been wanting a little wheel that would be portable enough to take to outtings at the mall. I can't wait to spin on it!

I have some alpaca coming in . One is Cria, and I'm very excited! Both are gold tone like Vicuna. Very pretty! I also have been washing some Cheviot a friend gifted me with. I meet Barbara at the little spinners/knitters group I go to from time to time. She gave me two whole fleece! Then my Rav friend Monica gave me some Shetland! (I've been wanting to try shetland for a long time. Elizabeth Zimmerman is always going on about shetland!)

So there you have it! I've got batts I've made up to show and Addi's leggings are almost done. I promised to take pics and have a better blog next time!

Hand Knit Hand Spun!

Finally got around to using some of my hard earned handspun yarn! First up is Averie's Hat. The grey yarn is a angora/corriendale blend for ultimate softness. The accent colors are california red in baby blue and purple. The red is some handdyed SSS fibers. All were Navajo plied in fingering weight. The pattern is from Knit Hats! by Gwen Steege, in the Color Me Bright pattern. The only changes made in the pattern is using size 6 circs instead of the size 10, to compensate for the fingering wt yarn and finished size.

It was my first color change project and I can knit both continental and throw, I was able to knit with 2 yarns at the same time. It went easier than I thought it would and it was a fun pattern. I really love the icord dangles on the hat! Averie does too...it gives him something to grab as he's pulling off the hat! Leave it to me to knit a hat with the hot summer months approaching! But I did make it big enough to allow for growing and hopefully when it's cold, it'll still fit! Isn't he a sweetie! This is one cuddly baby!

Next up is Addi's leggins. I had recieved a gorgeous batt in a swap from my friend Beth. I spun it into some nice fingering weight, Navajo plied.(I really love Navajo plying...it hides a multitude of sin in those 3 plies!) I couldn't find the pattern I wanted, so I made up one. It's a simple fan pattern with simple repeats.

Addi's Leggins

On size 6 DP, I cast on 42 stitches and spread on 3 needles with 14 stitches each. Join. I did a simply K2,P2 ribbing stitch for 1 inch. Problem is, you wind up with the 2 K2 at the beginning and end with K2 at the end, so you have 4 knit stitches together. I couldn't figure out a fix, and it really doesn't show unless you want to nitpic. Anyway, the pattern is as follows:

Row 1- K1 , (Sl1, K1,PSSO,K9,K2tog) x 3. 12 stitches on each needle.

Row 2-Purl

Row 3- K1, (Sl1, K1,PSSO,K7,K2tog) x 3. 10 stitches on each needle.

Row 4- Purl

Row 5- K1, Sl1,K1,PSSO,YO, (K1,YO)x5, K2tog. 14 stitches on each needle.

Row 6- Knit.

Repeat rows 1-6 10 times or until you reach the desired length.

Complete another inch of K2,P2 ribbing and bind off loosely.

There you go! My first original pattern. Addi doesn't care for the leggins unfortuately. (Think it's because...Gee Nana! It's hot outside???) She's more impressed with Nana's yarn balls!

But I HAVE been productive!!!!

Ok, it's been a while...but I have been productive! Do you remember my post about the hand combs? I had wished the tines were spaced closer together? Well, wish granted! My friend Beth at
www.etsy.com/shop/bluemtnhandcraft.com has a talented husband,Eric, that makes these perfect hand combs! They are ergonomic, light, and the stainless steel tines are spaced just the perfect distance to make combing the most vmish fiber a snap! It whups the vm right out of your fleece and I just couldn't be happier!I think they're beautiful too!

This is some Rambouillet fleece I just got in. The fiber is very fine and full of vm! The worst I've dealt with yet! But the fiber is soooooo soft, and I really love it! I want to save this fleece!

After a couple of passess on my new hand combs, just see the difference! Now this fiber is spinable, blendable and yummy! The finely spaced tines separate the locks better and allow all the nasty vm to fall out. (Good thing too...I have 6 lbs of this fleece!)

I know it's hard to tell from this pic, but consider all this fiber is covering the foot of my twin bed! All this fiber is processed with Eric's handcombs and is ready for spinning! We have the corriendale, montedale, targhee merino, and then some blends of targhee merino/yak/angora, and corriendale/angora that I carded into rollrags. Yeah, it's alot, and there was a lot more too! I didn't feel like dragging it all out. Isn't it amazing what you can get done watching TV or watching the grandkids outside!

Oh, but that's not all! The montadale I was spinninng on my new wheel....here she is! 200 yards of worsted fingering weight navajo plied sock yarn! It's really sproingy too. (Yeah, I have a few pounds of that too! I forsee a lot of sock yarn in my future!)

This next yarn I spun from the batt Beth sent me on a swap. 150 yards of worsted finger weight navajo plied yarn that will definitely be some leggings for Ms Addi! Yummy! It really sparkles!

Right now I have been spinning on some merino lamb/angora mixed roving I bought at a spinning shop. I love the little nubs and it's going to ply into some really tweedy yarn!

And finally, just to let ya'll know I really do knit...my Trendsetter Felted Clogs are almost done! I can't wait to felt these in the washer! Just have to finish the bottom of one clog.

And there you have it! See....I was being productive all along!

Symphony Spinning Wheel

Let me show off my grandkids first! First up is Averie looking cute in his Tiger hat and mittens.

Then there is Mr.Aiden looking dashing in his jaunty Hat! (See how he poses!)

Then there is Ms.Addi in her fairy outfit... I do believe in Fairies, I do, I do! With cute toes!

Then there is Bessie...My new Kromski Symphony spinning wheel! Isn't she just grand! Ahhhh, double drive! I love it! The pull in is so gentle, and it's spins so fast that I was able to mange....

thread weight singles. LOOK at this....finer than frog hair! Yes, that's the Montadale fleece I just got in. I have 2 fleeces washed up now, and 2 to go. This is spun up from some hand carded rollrags I sat and made during the snow storm we were hit with last week. I plan to finish up this bobbin and navajo ply it. I have some merino/angora that I'd bought with the intentions of breaking in this wheel, and I'm itching to get 'er done! The angora/merino is the ultimate in soft!

I was turned onto some cream colored alpaca too. I'm thinking of doing a mobius scarf with both.

I can't wait!

Lagging Behind!

Ok, Ok...I've been slacking off. I admit it! But seriously...2 toddlers running full blast through your house tends to dampen the creative spirit. I think that they are secretly gremlins or at least part gremlin. I have proof....for the past 2 weeks I've been battling stopped up toilets. One toilet had a sample bottle of shampoo down it. (It took a plumbers snake and plunger to retrieve it...that and a few choice words.) The other toilet....I just don't have a clue. Yeah...I'm going to have to call a plumber out...sigh.

On the brighter note....Look, new Fleece! I went to a spinning group and a new friend turned me onto her fleece source! The White is Columbian, the Chocolate is Montadale, and the grey is Montedale. LOOK....Look really close! NO VM!!! That's right, almost none...it's miniscule.

These were coated fleece and so clean, they only needed one wash and 2 rinses to come totally clean! (Mind you, I've only done up a very small amount...there's almost 20lbs of fleece to go!) Hey...I'm in Heaven! This stuff is extra sproingy and will make the most incredible sock yarn every! Stay tuned!

Your wish is my command!

Ok Aidan...you wanted a hat and Nana delivered! It's not a fancy hat, but hey...he's a boy! I made him a skull cap. Not really a pattern either. I just cast on 55 stitches, knit 3, purl 2 for 1 1/2 inches, then increased by knitting front to back in every 11th stitch for a total of 60 stitches. I just kept knitting for 5 inches, then started my decrease. Knit 2, knit 2 together. Next row Knit 1, knit 2 together. Then knit 2 together until I had one stitch left, and I wove in my end. Aidan kept me on task by saying,"Nana...where's my hat!" It took me 2 days of knitting off and on to complete. I could have finished it in one day, but I had to work!

A 3 year old speaks his mind.

I wasn't expecting the conversation this morning that I had with my grandson Aidan. I realize the boy is bright and have been in awe that he has actually memorized some of the songs from his Noggin shows, pretty much word for word. Today was a proud moment for me...he actually pays attention to what I'm doing! Remember the Rainbow Hat for Addy? He was jealous about that hat, and he tries to wear it every chance he gets. We tell him it's a girl's hat, and it's Addy's. I kinda thought it was over the bright colors, and the fact Addy got something and he didn't.

Well, today I learned it goes deeper.

See the copy of Spin Off? This morning he got up and came to sit on my bed where I had just read my magazine. He pointed to the picture and said,"I want that!" I said, "What, you want me to make you some yarn?" He said,"Yes...I want a hat." You know, if he was 4 or 5, I could see him saying something like this. He'll be 3 in a few days. Anyway, I asked him," Are you mad about Addy's hat?" He said,"No,....I just want a hat." "You want me to make you a hat?" He smiled and said,"Please Nana...I want a hat."

Ok, what are you going to do? I went to the stash box and found some yarn I'd already spun up. I showed it to him and said,"I made this yarn...is it ok? " He stroked the yarn, and said,"Yes..I like it." He was all content, smiling and scampered on his way.

It blew my mind! He knew what that spindle was on the cover and knew it was yarn. He knows I make hats with the yarn. Isn't that just clever??? Am I a proud Nana or what? So the variegated blue yarn has been cast on, and I got a few rows done on his hat. He was all smiles when he got to try on the band for sizing. Now Addy is wanting to try on the hat. He told her,"Nooooo, Naddy, that's my hat!" What a smart little boy!! He also potty trained this week too! Hurray!

On the batty side...here's some California Red I carded up and painted with some copper and blue mohair roving. Yep...it's for Aiden some tube socks!

Happy New Years, Ya'll!

Addie's Rainbow Beret

Remember the Rainbow Batt I made a video of me dizzing off the batt from my Fancy Kitty Kitten drumcarder? That batt spun up sweet. I spun it worsted using a long draw on my Fricke spinning wheel, and came up with this fingering wt, 16 WPI navajo plied yarn. 120 yards. I was able to make long color changes, and the whole time I was spinning, I could just see this yarn as a Beret for baby Addie.
I found the pattern from One Skein Wonders by Judith Durant. I had to modify the pattern to make it toddler sized. I used size 5 circs, and cast on 12 stitches between markers instead of 14. I also knit 8 rows after the increase instead of 12, and knit between the decrease rows for 4 rows before I started decreasing on every row.

Now doesn't Addie look cute in her Rainbow Beret! It came out just like I wanted it too and I'm a happy Nana. Aiden on the other hand is not happy. He thinks this should be his hat and keeps trying to take it. I guess my next project will be a hat for him. I have some more spinning to do!