A Fiber Frolic

Montana Shopping

2008-09-23T17:26:00.011-04:00

On my recent trip to Yellowstone National Park(Wyoming) and Glacier National Park(Montana), I saw spectacular sights in every direction. A single photograph or even a whole memory card full of pictures does not do it justice.

I managed in between parks to squeeze in a few fiber experiences, and those were spectacular as well. In Bozeman I visited Stix and The Yarn Shop I made it out of Bozeman with only spinning fiber . . . a handpaint merino/kid mohair by Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks and some 50/50 angora/merino from someone local.

Then off we went to Kalispell for another overnight and another shop . . . that being Cammas Creek Yarn . Even though it was Sunday the shop was really bustling. Bev Galeskas was there with a trunk show and Janet Szabo was one of several women who were just sitting and knitting. The whole atmosphere of the shop was friendly, and yarn selection was superb. Oh me, Kalispell is such a long way from Gainesville Georgia. Guess it will be their online store for me.

While in the shop my daughter overheard a conversation about a local fiber mill. She got the directions and off we went to . . . Going to the Sun Fiber Mill I had a delightful and informative tour of the facility thanks to the owner Diana, coming away with more fiber, of course. . . a couple small batts of a 50/50 shetland and icelandic. Should be fun . . . I'm thinking really, really fine. I also got some white BFL to blend with a very,very rose I have in my stash.

Hope I get the hang of this blogging soon so that I can get back to spinning.

Swan Lake - My Odile

2007-08-28T10:54:00.000-04:00

In the beginning, the Prince sees a flock of beautiful swans symbolized by the traditional lace pattern, "Wings of the Swan."

He waits and watches for the swans to land only to discover they are women, dancing women. The center part of the stole is knit in the Shetland lace design, "Cat's Paw," symbolizing the Dance of the Little Swans. The Prince dances with Princess Odette and falls in love.

Odile, the daughter of the evil sorcerer, tricks the Prince into pledging to marry her, however. Faced with a life as both swan and princess, Odette ends her life. Odette's cursed existence is symbolized by the single wing, the last part of the stole.

Thanks for a unique and engaging KAL, Melanie of Pink Lemon Twist.

Back to the knitting. . ..

Happy results from the new carder.

2007-08-26T16:39:00.000-04:00

I've been saving some "what if" projects for the relatively new carder and finally have results.

The first one was to blend a multi-colored (blues and greens) perendale batt. I took a picture of the pile of colors, but the picture got deleted before it made it to the computer.
I do have the blended batts though

and the resulting tweed fiber. I like the tweed effect and plan to purposely dye different shades to get this result again.

And a lingering problem . . . how to card cormo without neps. I finally found a technique I can be satisfied with. The washed cormo is fed directly onto the drum, stretching out each of those kinky, curly locks.

Neps cannot be detected in the resulting fiber (fingering weight) without very close scrutiny.

I am working on some other carder projects, but no pictures yet.
Next time.

Another year, Another beginning

2007-08-02T14:40:00.000-04:00

Much has been knit and spun during the year, but this post will begin from right now only . . . the last two FO's.
Those would be a pair of socks (always there are socks). These were knit with Lorna's Laces, one of my favorites.
Second would be a summer top. Dug through my stash and found some very lightweight, probably laceweight linen. Needing something to strand with it to get the gauge, I remembered the Habu Soysilk I got at StEast a few years ago. They worked perfectly together giving the top a bit of drape which linen by itself would not do. Then I settled on a topdown raglan pattern in Beyond Wool, by Candace Eisner Strick. It's a quick and simple pattern, but looks elegant. Fits well, too.
The Mystery Stole is coming along . . . almost to the last of Clue 5. Tomorrow the big secret will be out. What is the theme?

My next post will cover the recent carding experiment.

The Icarus

2006-08-05T16:38:00.000-04:00

In addition to spinning the fiber from the last post, I have completed the Icarus that was published in the Interweave Knits, using Alpaca with a Twist. The pattern was quite simple, only one change . . .a suggestion from Mel . . . to knit in the back of the knit stitch between the yarn overs. I think I may knit another one . . although not right away as I am in the middle of the Flower Basket, another easy knit. I would highly recommend the Icarus or the Flower Basket as a first shawl project.

On the needles . . in addition to the Flower Basket, cashmere BTW, are a pair of socks and a FairIsle hat.

Hmm... just saw Vicki's beautiful Jonquil roving she received from Lisa. Gee, maybe I'd like some of that as well. Check it out at Fiber Corner.

Roberta

The Matchup

2006-07-04T14:17:00.000-04:00

I was pleased to be able to dye a merino roving to match an aqua/violet silk top I found in my stash. My plan is to spin each and ply together. . . about a fingering weight for a shoulder shawl. So, the merino is already on the wheel and merrily filling a bobbin.

On the needles - the Icarus with only three rows to go should be finished today. That will probably be the next post. Also a Fairy Hare hat for my son's birthday. This staying home for a time is paying off.

First spindled yarn

2006-06-29T15:57:00.000-04:00

This yarn was spun on my new Kundert, then plyed on the wheel so I don't know if it can legitimately be called "spindled yarn." I've yet to find the answer to that, but I do know I loved spindling it. The silk/mohair/alpaca fiber was purchased at MS&W from the Persimmon Tree booth. I don't know if you can see the sparkle in the picture, but the silk gives such luxury to this yarn that I've already decided on my next project . . . silk/merino.

Another MS&W purchase was a Bosworth spindle. It is a .77 oz. tulipwood whorl and a bloodwood shaft. The woods are so warm and appealing. I'm quite pleased with it.

I see it has been a month since the last post. The lapse of time does not signify inactivity . . . only dyeing and plying experiments. Core spinning intrigues me so have been playing around with different fibers to see what all the possibilities are. Since I am keeping a record of my experiments, I'll post them when I'm satisfied I have done enough.

As for knitting . .. finishing the fourth hat for giving and nearing completion of the Icarus. There defintely will be a picture of that when done. . . and that will be soon, I hope.

R.

The Return

2006-05-31T15:20:00.000-04:00

Much has happened in my world of fibers since my last post. I am not going to try to fill in the blanks, but rather to begin again as much is happening every day it seems. For one thing, I have almost filled a bobbin of wonderfully soft shetland that I have been practicing the long draw on.

And . . . I am spindling on a perfectly balanced, perfectly wonderful spindle. Here you see a bit I have started of a fiber blend of silk, alpaca, and mohair.

Hope to have much more on the next post.

Four gloves and more

2005-12-27T16:01:00.000-05:00

One glove turned into two. Then having to try a different cast on and yarn from the stash, two became four. What have I learned? To begin with I found that tubular cast on, which looks so beautifully rounded on the edge, is not very elastic. Consequently, glove number four had to be worked twice. . . not a stretchy cast on. The second thing I learned was that alpaca is definitely incredibly warm, so you will want to make a second pair as a spare. As for the pattern . . . I highly recommend Rita Buchanan's pattern to any beginning glove knitter as the pattern is simple, easy to follow, and a good fit.

While the gloves were evolving the last bit of blue kid mohair/corriedale/coopworth slid from my fingers and onto the bobbin. It is roughly a fingering weight . . . all nine ounces of it . . . so may want to be a Faroese shawl. I think that's what I will do.

Ready for the next dance . . .

2005-12-13T12:42:00.000-05:00

Being that this is the first glove I have knit, and am having success, this is a good time to post for the first time. Maybe I will be successful on this as well. The gloves are knit from Frog Tree alpaca on needle sizes 1 and 2. The pattern is one of Rita Buchanan's and can be found in the book Homespun, Handknit. I am enjoying the knitting of these gloves so much that I am already knitting the next pair in my head . . . and the next pair . . . and the next pair.

and the dance goes on.