Skunk Fiber??

Okay, I know it really isn't skunk fiber, but will admit that was my first laughing reaction to it in the vendor's display. But then I couldn't walk away. I kept twisting and turning the package wondering what it might turn into?

Since then I have had a fascination with striped roving. Not sure if it's just that I am suddenly seeing it, or if there really is more of it being produced. Anybody have any thoughts on this?

Either way, I am having so much fun seeing what they want to become. And the more I spin them, the more I learn. I am finally making myself a bit more intentional about what I spin. Rather than just spinning whatever comes out, I am challenging myself to focus on what I want and why a yarn is doing whatever it is doing. (I know I'm rather slow to this game, but at least I am working on it!)

So back to the stripes. I started spinning with one drafting technique-until my hands got tired. I switched to a different handhold using basically (I thought) the same spinning method. I am prone to a sort of modified long draw for the most part. When I started drafting with my dominant hand for a change,my yarn changed as well! I called it a "pinch and pop draft" and the results were a very pretty striped appearance. I was shocked...and pleased. I had to keep playing!

It took me some time to equate the results with the way I was drafting, but I got there. Suddenly, I was able to switch from one color to the next in determined increments, or 'barber-pole" the colors or even combine them into a heathered appearance at will...MY will not the fibers'.

It was one of those "ah ha" moments our teachers live for! The yarn isn't anything particularly stunning but the lessons learned while producing it? Priceless

I have several more of these striped beauties in my collection that I will share from time to time. I have actually been on the hunt for them. If you have ideas of ways you have used them, please share.

 

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It's a Wash!

I have had quite a revelation lately, one that all properly instructed handspinners should have down pat.

Always wash your yarn before evaluating or using it! Duh, right?

Not being critical of anyone who's had a hand in my spinning journey, but I'd never seen the difference until lately.

These 3 skeins were all spun as close as possible to the same, at around the same time. Can you tell which have been washed? (Please note, that none of them have been weighted while drying.)

Shetland skeins

These are from a beautiful Shetland roving from my friend Mary Limpus. I am hoping to weave them into a shawl on my tri-loom! It is so tempting to dye them, but I think the natural variegation of the fleece itself will be design enough..

So it's off to the wash room for this lone skein!

 

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Yarn Treasure Box

It arrived!  My first wholesale order of yarn as Three Strands Fibreworks.  A 23 pound box full of Mango Moon yarn.   Mango Moon is one of several companies in the yarn world that work through women's cooperatives in needy areas of the world.  In this case Indonesia and Nepal.  Got to http://www.mangomoon.com/ to read more of their story. 

30 hanks of recycled sari silk,
20 skeins of recycled dyed viscose and
6 skeins of recycled rayon from sarongs

This yarn is amazingly soft and pliable for being a recycled product.  The colors are bold.  I have spent most of the day working out combinations of my new "toys" with existing stash. 

I have a wonderful mom who spent most of the day helping me wind it into centerpull balls so it's ready to weave into scarves, totebags and pillow tops. 

Getting ready for a large craft show in Joplin this December. 

I Love Yarn Day 2011!

October is a fiber rich month!  Not only is it chock full of Fall Festivals, it hosts both National Spinning and Weaving Week (Oct 3-7) and "I Love Yarn Day."  Having the day off work allowed me to actually spent my time elbow deep in fibery goodness.  Last week and today sported some pretty Fall weather, which meant spinning sessions on my front porch.

Having come back from 2 wonderful festivals, I have plenty of roving options to be working up.  I have my order in for good weather and an extended Fall season here in Missouri(at least on my days off).

 Left: an ounce of Angora/silk/mohair blend I bought at Toas, then plied with handspun ingeo                                                               Right: Alpaca/merino blend with added sari silk for color that I purchased from Ozark Carding Mill at Fiber Daze

I finally had success spinning something close to worsted (the alpaca/merino)!  An accomplishment given that I default to lace weight if I don't pay close attention.  I love how soft it turned out since I, for once, didn't strangle the single plies with overtwist.  Practice really does help - so does having good friends to mentor you...

Taos Wool Festival

Missouri meets New Mexico!  Several of us fiber fanatics made the flight to New Mexico for a week of classes (and shopping). 

Monday:
Arrived in Albuquerque - 159 miles of driving through some beautiful mountain country...this is NOT Missouri anymore!

Tuesday
Triad Dyeing Class

Triad Dyeing class taught by Peggy Doney from 100th Sheep.  This was a fantastic, very full day.  We started with 3 colors of dye...8 hours later we had a notebook full of 196 little snips of yarn all in different colors!  If you ever get a chance to take a class from Peggy, do.  We are already making plans!


Then after class we were encouraged to visit the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.  Okay, I don't like heights!  But I went...

 The highlight to me was catching sight of a trio of Big Horn sheep at the canyon edge!

Wednesday:

Free day to go exploring and shopping!

Southwest Weaving

Wonderful displays of yarn sculptures, working weaving artists and of course lots of yarn to gawk at!

Then there was La Lana Wool...  Plant dyed natural fibers of all kinds.  Wonderful salespeople and too much yarn to choose from.  Check out the skeleton in the corner!!

I have already learned so much...and we have more classes to come....