Montana Shopping

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.