Shepherd's Harvest is this weekend!! I am so excited.
This is the wool festival held Mother's Day weekend every year at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. It is the wool/fiber event of the year if you live in Minnesota or Western Wisconsin.
This year is the first year that I am sharing a vendor booth with my friend Malla. We will be selling our hand-carded spinning fiber batts, hand-dyed yarn, project bags, and patterns. Also, Malla will have some hand-painted silk scarves, perfect for Mother's Day gifts.
We are also camping on the grounds in my new-to-me travel trailer, the first time I have used it. That should also be an adventure.
I'm afraid my packing list is missing some items and I'm not sure how I'm going to get everything done tonight. But I can't wait! More to follow, with pictures!!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
In Which the Sheep Get Shorn
Yesterday was a lovely day! Went to sheep shearing day at Woolen Meadows Farm in Delano, and came home with some treasures.
I was signed up to get one fleece--a white Border Leicester/Corriedale cross fleece grown by Isabelle. Isabelle's fleece is lovely and I'm thrilled with it.
During the course of the shearing morning, I also ended up sharing 1/2 silver grey fleece with my friend Malla. This is Carly's fleece, which I purchased in full last year, and now have half:
You have my permission to drool!
Finally, Barb M. brought her angora goats to be shorn also. I ended up with half of a mohair fleece as well. Didn't expect that! I've never worked with raw mohair before, but I'm looking forward to it.
I have been busy washing fleece today and spinning on my October Frost shetland wool. I can't wait to get the spinning done, but there are 13 more ounces to go. I have 9 bobbins of singles completed so far. Better get busy...
I was signed up to get one fleece--a white Border Leicester/Corriedale cross fleece grown by Isabelle. Isabelle's fleece is lovely and I'm thrilled with it.
Finally, Barb M. brought her angora goats to be shorn also. I ended up with half of a mohair fleece as well. Didn't expect that! I've never worked with raw mohair before, but I'm looking forward to it.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
In Which I Take a Long Weekend...
Last weekend was my reward for losing 125 lbs! I took Friday off of work and spent the day with my friend Malla. We made a trip to fiber workers Mecca--Detta's Spindle!
I love going to Detta's. I tried out a used wheel--did not buy, but it's hovering in my brain--and dug through boxes and boxes of wonderful fiber. I ended up buying mostly mill ends, some to dye as roving, much to card into batts and sell. I also bought some bleached tussah silk for blending into my batts, and some gorgeous BFL/Silk blend as a treat for myself. We were also able to order some yarn wholesale for dyeing to sell. It's being drop-shipped to me, hopefully to arrive by Saturday, when we are planning a big dyeing day.
I finished carding all of the shetland wool for my October Frost sweater! Here's the remainder of the roving, ready for carding:
Whew, that was a lot to do, but now I just have to spin it up. I've done 4 bobbins full so far.
I also finished up my Amused sweater. I liked this pattern a lot, but I think the yarn is a bit bulky. It's very light, though. Anyway, I just threw it on over what I was wearing to take a picture (and there was something on my lens):
All in all, a wonderful weekend. I need more of those...
I love going to Detta's. I tried out a used wheel--did not buy, but it's hovering in my brain--and dug through boxes and boxes of wonderful fiber. I ended up buying mostly mill ends, some to dye as roving, much to card into batts and sell. I also bought some bleached tussah silk for blending into my batts, and some gorgeous BFL/Silk blend as a treat for myself. We were also able to order some yarn wholesale for dyeing to sell. It's being drop-shipped to me, hopefully to arrive by Saturday, when we are planning a big dyeing day.
I finished carding all of the shetland wool for my October Frost sweater! Here's the remainder of the roving, ready for carding:
I also finished up my Amused sweater. I liked this pattern a lot, but I think the yarn is a bit bulky. It's very light, though. Anyway, I just threw it on over what I was wearing to take a picture (and there was something on my lens):
Sunday, February 6, 2011
In Which I Spin and Dye some yarn
Finally! I have gotten back to spinning and dyeing. It seems like so many things have been interfering with these loves of mine. Work, home, hockey, exercising, meetings--you know the drill.
Yesterday I spent preparing for the Superbowl Party we are having today--GO PACKERS!! I was very diligent, however, and had the food prep done by 2pm. At that point I decided, since the food was done and the kitchen was clean, to mess it up again with dyepots.
My friend Malla showed me how to spin a lovely fat singles yarn. It's a bit thick & thin, I'm not really good at regulating the drafting zone yet, but I love it. The fiber is a two-toned taupe and white BFL--kinda blah and neutral in its natural state. I decided to dye it with some reds. I tried a new dye method, at least, new to me. I wanted a tonal colorway, so I put the skeins in the dyepot and began heating it. I wanted the skeins to react to dye right away. Once it was getting steamy, I took squirt bottles and squirted different colors in streams over the skeins: pink and deep magenta in this case. I let that strike and set for awhile, until the dyepot was pretty exhausted. Then I used a spoon to move the skeins aside, and poured Fire Red into the sides of the pot to overdye it all. I really like how they came out, but I would have liked less pink and more magenta.
Anyway, it is destined to become the "Better Bucket Hat." I think it will be fun.
I also dyed some Patons Classic Wool yarn that I had leftover from Ben's Christmas sweater. I used the same method, except that I used more colors: squirting silver grey, royal blue, caribbean blue and periwinkle over the skeins, then overdyeing with sky blue. I love these skeins a lot.
I have also been spinning for my October Frost sweater. I have three bobbins done and a fourth in progress:
Still have about 1 lb of the fiber to card for this sweater, but I'm making progress. Can't wait to start knitting, but I have a long way to go until then.
Yesterday I spent preparing for the Superbowl Party we are having today--GO PACKERS!! I was very diligent, however, and had the food prep done by 2pm. At that point I decided, since the food was done and the kitchen was clean, to mess it up again with dyepots.
My friend Malla showed me how to spin a lovely fat singles yarn. It's a bit thick & thin, I'm not really good at regulating the drafting zone yet, but I love it. The fiber is a two-toned taupe and white BFL--kinda blah and neutral in its natural state. I decided to dye it with some reds. I tried a new dye method, at least, new to me. I wanted a tonal colorway, so I put the skeins in the dyepot and began heating it. I wanted the skeins to react to dye right away. Once it was getting steamy, I took squirt bottles and squirted different colors in streams over the skeins: pink and deep magenta in this case. I let that strike and set for awhile, until the dyepot was pretty exhausted. Then I used a spoon to move the skeins aside, and poured Fire Red into the sides of the pot to overdye it all. I really like how they came out, but I would have liked less pink and more magenta.
Anyway, it is destined to become the "Better Bucket Hat." I think it will be fun.
I also dyed some Patons Classic Wool yarn that I had leftover from Ben's Christmas sweater. I used the same method, except that I used more colors: squirting silver grey, royal blue, caribbean blue and periwinkle over the skeins, then overdyeing with sky blue. I love these skeins a lot.
I have also been spinning for my October Frost sweater. I have three bobbins done and a fourth in progress:
Thursday, January 27, 2011
In Which I Watch Some Hockey and Spin
High school hockey season is in full swing here in Minnesota. If you like hockey, high school hockey here is fantastic! I have two nephews who play varsity hockey for Minnetonka High School, so I am a proud and avid fan.
Hence my frustration tonight when Qwest couldn't figure out how to fix my internet, which has been down for two days. They can't get a tech out to fix it until Saturday. In the meantime, the big Minnetonka v. Eden Prairie confrontation was on simulcast over the internet tonight. What a dilemma! So here I am, crying over the loss suffered by my poor Tonka Skippers at Caribou Coffee, where I parked myself to use their wifi. Final score 4-2, but the last goal was a freebie at an empty net in the waning seconds of the game. It was a fabulous game, just not the outcome I wanted. :-(
I am working on a basic sock for the next-youngest nephew in that family. I am happy that those teenage boys like and appreciate hand-knitted socks; the only downside is that they are big boys with big feet--size 13 for all of them except the youngest, and I'm sure he'll get there. I want to finish this pair for John's birthday on Sunday, but I have the feeling I'm not going to make it.
I've also been spinning for my October Frost sweater. I have one full bobbin done. My plan is to keep two bobbins in play--once one is full, let it rest overnight, then take the singles off on the ballwinder. I'll ply all the fiber at the end to balance out any unevenness.
I've set a goal to card two batts (at least) every night until all the fiber is carded. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of touching the switch on my carder and zapping it with static electricity, so now the switch doesn't work. This means I have to start and stop my carder by unplugging it, which is awkward, to say the least. I'm trying to pick out as much VM from this fiber prep as possible in the carding process, and that makes it even harder to do. It's always something...
Hence my frustration tonight when Qwest couldn't figure out how to fix my internet, which has been down for two days. They can't get a tech out to fix it until Saturday. In the meantime, the big Minnetonka v. Eden Prairie confrontation was on simulcast over the internet tonight. What a dilemma! So here I am, crying over the loss suffered by my poor Tonka Skippers at Caribou Coffee, where I parked myself to use their wifi. Final score 4-2, but the last goal was a freebie at an empty net in the waning seconds of the game. It was a fabulous game, just not the outcome I wanted. :-(
I am working on a basic sock for the next-youngest nephew in that family. I am happy that those teenage boys like and appreciate hand-knitted socks; the only downside is that they are big boys with big feet--size 13 for all of them except the youngest, and I'm sure he'll get there. I want to finish this pair for John's birthday on Sunday, but I have the feeling I'm not going to make it.
I've also been spinning for my October Frost sweater. I have one full bobbin done. My plan is to keep two bobbins in play--once one is full, let it rest overnight, then take the singles off on the ballwinder. I'll ply all the fiber at the end to balance out any unevenness.
I've set a goal to card two batts (at least) every night until all the fiber is carded. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of touching the switch on my carder and zapping it with static electricity, so now the switch doesn't work. This means I have to start and stop my carder by unplugging it, which is awkward, to say the least. I'm trying to pick out as much VM from this fiber prep as possible in the carding process, and that makes it even harder to do. It's always something...
Friday, January 21, 2011
I Make Some Progress on My Goals...
Okay, so not much really. I've spun and swatched three variations of the Shetland fiber for the October Frost cardigan I want to make.
I settled on the right swatch as the yarn I want for this sweater. To get this yarn, I need to recard all the fiber, separating the two colors and putting them through my carder in layers. It's a good thing--there is a lot of VM (vegetable matter) in this roving, and the carding is giving me a chance to pick out a lot of it. It also makes this dreamy to spin. However, I'm only getting about 1.5 oz. on the carder for each batt, so it will take awhile to card 2+ lbs of this fiber. I've made the mistake of not spinning enough for a project in the past, and I can never quite capture the gauge again, so I am going to make sure I have it all done before beginning to knit.
Hopefully I can get the carding done this weekend, and begin to spin.
In the meantime, GO PACKERS!!
I settled on the right swatch as the yarn I want for this sweater. To get this yarn, I need to recard all the fiber, separating the two colors and putting them through my carder in layers. It's a good thing--there is a lot of VM (vegetable matter) in this roving, and the carding is giving me a chance to pick out a lot of it. It also makes this dreamy to spin. However, I'm only getting about 1.5 oz. on the carder for each batt, so it will take awhile to card 2+ lbs of this fiber. I've made the mistake of not spinning enough for a project in the past, and I can never quite capture the gauge again, so I am going to make sure I have it all done before beginning to knit.
Hopefully I can get the carding done this weekend, and begin to spin.
In the meantime, GO PACKERS!!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
In Which I Make Lists--Lots of Lists
I like to set goals. I like to make lists. I like to take on challenges. Even when those goals, lists and challenges are way beyond what any human being could accomplish in a lifetime. Why this is, I do not know. Perhaps I subscribe to the theory that if your list never ends, you can never die. Or maybe I just like stress, even self-imposed. Whatever it is, I have signed on for challenges this year once again. They are as follows:
1) Knit a sweater a month for 2011.
This is one of those challenges I signed up for last year, but I have been knitting along on a lot of things, not just socks. I actually have no idea how many pairs I have made so far--the challenge started June 1, 2010. I think it should be just under 10 pairs so far. I could still finish this challenge, but I have been concentrating on sweaters now. (see above.) I think I have ADHD for knitting projects and goals.
3) Read 52 books in 2011
This challenge should be easy for me. I read a lot. All the time. Still, I have yet to finish a book in 2011, though one is almost done (The Brethren, by John Grisham).
4) I have a Spin Possible list for 2011.
1) Knit a sweater a month for 2011.
- Rogue with Knitpicks WOTA in chocolate brown
- Lastrada Hanne Falkenberg kit--started, but need to frog to make a smaller size
- Central Park Hoodie--finished sweater, but I need to frog it and make a smaller size
- Baby Surprise for a friend whose baby is due in January--this might have to become #1
- Falling Stars sweater kit from Knit Picks
- Kraka--also a finished sweater, but need to frog and reknit in a smaller size. This one is for my daughter, she has also lost weight.
- a traditional gansey of some kind, with yarn I purchased in Estonia
- Old Port Pullover, possibly from some alpaca blend yarn I have in sweater quantity
- Red Palm pattern bohus, from handspun yarn
- Oatmeal Cardigan with Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mills grey--sweater in process
- October Frost out of handspun--Spinning in process
- Cassidy
This is one of those challenges I signed up for last year, but I have been knitting along on a lot of things, not just socks. I actually have no idea how many pairs I have made so far--the challenge started June 1, 2010. I think it should be just under 10 pairs so far. I could still finish this challenge, but I have been concentrating on sweaters now. (see above.) I think I have ADHD for knitting projects and goals.
3) Read 52 books in 2011
This challenge should be easy for me. I read a lot. All the time. Still, I have yet to finish a book in 2011, though one is almost done (The Brethren, by John Grisham).
4) I have a Spin Possible list for 2011.
- finish 7 more batts Polwarth/cashmere/silk for Rosalind shawl
- spin Shetland roving for October Frost sweater
- finish spinning Shetland roving for Red Palm Bohus-type sweater
- finish some merino laceweight in Garden Party colorway--about 4 oz
- finish chain-plying Louet Northern Lights roving for sock yarn--FINISHED 1/9/11
- finish some superwash merino laceweight--about 4 oz
- finish merino/tencel blend in laceweight on my Bosworth spindle
- finish about 1/2 oz purple roving on Dragonfly spindle--FINISHED 1/9/11
- card/spin Corriedale/Romney cross fleece with Tussah silk for Oatmeal Cardigan
Monday, January 10, 2011
In Which I Articulate My Challenges for the New Year
I just got this gorgeous roving from Gail von Bargen's farm. It is Shetland roving, very soft. I am playing with it to decide how I want to spin it for the October Frost sweater from Lisa Lloyd's book "A Fine Fleece."
I have a list of projects to finish for 2011. I have placed myself on a "yarn diet." No new puchases of yarn until I use up some of my stash. When I made a list, I discovered that I have enough yarn or fiber in sweater quantities to make a sweater a month for the whole year! So I joined the Sweater a Month challenge on Ravelry, and that is my goal. I'll try to keep posting here to track my progress.
My first sweater of 2011 is the Oatmeal Cardigan, from Spin-Off magazine. It is a simple design, just a small travelling stitch pattern at the cuffs and yoke of this one-color sweater. I purchased some Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill medium yarn in a natural grey color at the MN Knitter's Guild silent auction, and it is perfect for this sweater. I have both sleeves done and I am halfway up the body, which at this point is just stockinette. Boring, but easy to do while watching the Packers play football!!
I have a list of projects to finish for 2011. I have placed myself on a "yarn diet." No new puchases of yarn until I use up some of my stash. When I made a list, I discovered that I have enough yarn or fiber in sweater quantities to make a sweater a month for the whole year! So I joined the Sweater a Month challenge on Ravelry, and that is my goal. I'll try to keep posting here to track my progress.
My first sweater of 2011 is the Oatmeal Cardigan, from Spin-Off magazine. It is a simple design, just a small travelling stitch pattern at the cuffs and yoke of this one-color sweater. I purchased some Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill medium yarn in a natural grey color at the MN Knitter's Guild silent auction, and it is perfect for this sweater. I have both sleeves done and I am halfway up the body, which at this point is just stockinette. Boring, but easy to do while watching the Packers play football!!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Blog Post for a New Year
It's about time I posted to the blog again. I have not fallen off the face of the earth, nor have I given up and hibernated the winter away. But I have been focused on other things in my life, and not enough on my fiber business.
I hope to change that for 2011. This year I am planning to share a booth with a couple of other artisans at Shepherd's Harvest Fiber Festival. I will be selling my fiber batts and a new item, project bags. I have some prototypes done, but still perfecting the pattern. Pics to follow.
Made my son a sweater for Christmas. He loves the TV show "Firefly" so I made him the Wash sweater. I think it turned out great. Pic is in another post, I think. The connection to Flickr is weird since Flickr changed the way they do picture sharing. I don't like it.
More to follow. I will try to be better about posting to the blog.
I hope to change that for 2011. This year I am planning to share a booth with a couple of other artisans at Shepherd's Harvest Fiber Festival. I will be selling my fiber batts and a new item, project bags. I have some prototypes done, but still perfecting the pattern. Pics to follow.
Made my son a sweater for Christmas. He loves the TV show "Firefly" so I made him the Wash sweater. I think it turned out great. Pic is in another post, I think. The connection to Flickr is weird since Flickr changed the way they do picture sharing. I don't like it.
More to follow. I will try to be better about posting to the blog.
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