tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202921732024-03-18T08:52:40.022-07:00sock prØn.sock porn for knitting voyeurs.aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.comBlogger374125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-21098143815957657782009-11-04T09:49:00.000-08:002009-11-04T14:15:41.238-08:00mittens mittens everywhere<div style="text-align: center;">Long time, I know :) It's the strangest thing-- ever since my son started school I can't manage anything timewise like before, even with a huge block of time in my day. I have no idea what's happening and have no doubt that it'll sort itself soon, but yeah... hang in with me :)<br /><br />I don't think I'd even knit if I didn't have a goal-- this past month I've been working on projects for Verb's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/a-verb-for-keeping-warm/742973/1-25">"Smitten Mitten" contest</a>. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/a-verb-for-keeping-warm/742973/1-25">Kristine</a> put out the call for submissions of mittens and armwarmers knit in Verb fibers and yarn, both in personal and published patterns, and I managed 3 out of 4 :)<br /><br />My first was more accident than anything. I absolutely fell in love with zigzagstitch's <a href="http://www.myzigzagstitch.com/patterns/end-of-may">End of May hat</a> and knit it in Verb's sadly discontinued Yakkity Yak (50/50 yak/merino). I had a lot of yarn left over from the 2 skeins, and thought about reverse mirroring the MC/CC for a duplicate hat-- but then <a href="http://www.myzigzagstitch.com/">Mandy</a> released an <a href="http://www.myzigzagstitch.com/patterns/end-of-may-mittens/">End of May mitten pattern</a> with that prominent, striking flower and I was obsessed :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/4067067438/" title="P1080240 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2600/4067067438_f2c6ab0014.jpg" alt="P1080240" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />End of May mittens and hat<br />Verb for Keeping Warm Yakkity Yak, "indigo blue sky" and "cafe au lait"<br />Hat: US 4, Mittens: US 3<br />Started and finished: October 2009<br /><br />Can I tell you I'm also obsessed with matchy-matchy now?! I want to knit a bunch of matching mitten and hats-- I always thought it was scarves and hats to match, but mittens are f*ing brilliant. I've already picked up some Ultra Alpaca for another set :)<br /><br />I *really* love this set though. The pattern reminds me of something vintage, and the color pairing of the blue and tan-gold do as well. (<a href="http://berkeley.edu/">go bears!</a>) I can't take credit for the colors working together though-- I went into <a href="http://articlepract.com/">Article Pract</a> and these skeins were just sitting there next to each other like they belonged together :) I think AP is the only place you can get the Yakkity Yak now-- they had some and even in these colors last time I was there.<br /><br />I did make the shorter hat version; this one fits me perfectly like I want a warm hat to (over the ears and forehead). Also fits over big curls :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/4067089692/" title="P1080281 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2706/4067089692_870b25caff.jpg" alt="P1080281" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />SUCH a hammy pie. I like the gold detail at the cast on edge-- I did use some waste yarn to make a forehead-length lining, but removed it since the yak really is soft enough to wear (and I hate extra finishing :)) I just used some extra gold to do a crochet chain around the picked-out waste yarn edge to secure it. I didn't know I needed the shorter version til I was halfway done (swatch? for a hat?! ;)) so I just shifted the chart and its top decreases over halfway for the same result. Easy really.<br /><br />No mods with the mittens, except I used a 2-color caston for that same gold detail at the cuff, purled one row in MC, then started the pattern.<br /><br />Speaking of mods, my next Verb mitt project was <a href="http://www.knitanon.com/blog/archives/2009/10/15T093059#more">Gasteropoda</a> by <a href="http://www.knitanon.com/blog/">Kristi Geraci</a>...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/4067100186/" title="P1080290 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4067100186_dfc30973a2.jpg" alt="P1080290" width="375" height="500" /></a><br />Gasteropoda by Kristi Geraci<br /><a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/fiwe.html">Verb for Keeping Warm Creating Superwash Sock</a>, "Wonder Boy"<br />variety of needles<br />Started and finished: November 2009<br /><br />I fell in love the minute I saw this on Kristi's blog. Look closely-- it's a 2" spiral that winds its way around the hand and arm! I am a SUCKER for innovation, and this! is! OSSUM! Knitting these I kept thinking that I want a spiral knit sweater now :) I'm not a cool enough knitter to figure that one out, but seriously I'd make one.<br /><br />I lengthened mine (Kristi's version is a more traditional armwarmer length), and chose a shorter dye repeat with "Wonder Boy" (original knit in Wisdom Yarns Poems sock, a long striping yarn like Noro). I chose to lengthen them because lately I've been wearing my <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2007/05/ive-heard-it-said-that-i-give-good-knee.html">handknit</a> <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2007/09/fall-knitty-q-stockings-and-contest.html">kneehighs</a> under my jeans in the mornings I drop my son off to school-- quite warm and almost like secret garters under denim in highschool. I think these will serve under a jacket with a light shirt quite nicely with our cold mornings and warm afternoons.<br /><br />I retained the original caston #s for my size and only used a change in needle size to add width and extra spirals for length-- a US 3 for the above and upper forearm, a US 2 for the middle arm and US 1.5 for wrist and hand. I think if you wanted, you could also decrease stitches while spiraling if you wanted to use the same needles throughout-- the nice thing about sock yarn though is that it is forgiving knit on a range of (small) needles when you're not worrying about abrasion and feet and shoes.<br /><br />I want to knit another pair of Gasteropoda from a long-repeat handspun... I can't help but think how AWESOME they'll be spun/knit from a <a href="http://www.dyakcraft.com/index.htm">DyakCraft (formerly Grafton) batt</a>. And what a great choice for small leftover bits of sock yarn?! But I do like these a lot... it's like a maybe-poisonous snake squeezing me.<br /><br />Aside from the spiraling construction (which is effortless-- no finishing), what really got me was the gusseted afterthought thumb. I'm not familiar enough with mitten construction to know if this is new or not, but it's really cool. I want to figure out how to use it for traditional afterthought mittens now!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/4075873186/" title="P1080386 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/4075873186_5ab7ba1137.jpg" alt="P1080386" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Yay for a nice shot of the colorway and sheen of the yarn too :)<br /><br />For my last mitt project, I knew I wanted to use handspun-- specifically the baby llama from the <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/fiberclub.html">Verb Ultra fiber club</a> shipped in August.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3840771737/" title="P1070814 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/3840771737_b2691c5666.jpg" alt="P1070814" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />There were three distinct colors so I sketched up a stranded design using 3 colors (2 colors per row), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris">tetris</a> stylings.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/4067078558/" title="P1080257 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2705/4067078558_a096b74cee.jpg" alt="P1080257" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />The baby llama on its own didn't have enough body to stand up to mitts, so I swapped in some Lana Cash (dark grey) for one of the colors. I'm glad I did-- when I saw this colorway it immediately reminded me of Bohus knitting for some reason, and I <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/85325610@N00/4067054692">spun the llama drafting against twist for LOTS of halo</a>. Paired with the matte commercial yarn, the halo pops off like it does in Bohus collars against the body yarn...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/4075121837/" title="P1080394 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/4075121837_f2f51bffee.jpg" alt="P1080394" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I love these... they may actually get the most wear for being practical. (Tho I'm sitting here wearing the Gasteropoda to type this ;)) They are super warm but very, very light-- the pair weighs one ounce (30 grams). The afterthought thumb I kept very short so I could grip things easily-- I can drive without taking them off, unlike the fullon lovely End of May mittens. I also loved using three colors-- I usually only use two, and while I'm not aching to start some true 20 color fairisle, three was nice :)<br /><br />Phew. If you thought that was a lot of mitten action, be sure to pop over to <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/a-verb-for-keeping-warm">Verb for Keeping Warm's Ravelry group</a> to see all of the entries and vote-- the threads are all stickied to the top til next week.<br /><br />And as if that wasn't enough self-promotion... brand new stitch markers in <a href="http://zero.etsy.com/">my etsy shop</a>! Hubei turquoise, carnelian, peridot, lapis, coral, garnet in nugget shapes... I guess I have been busy ;)<br /><br /><table style="text-align: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.etsy.com/flash/spots/etsy_mini.swf?user_id=5032001&user_name=zero&item_source=shop&item_size=gallery&rows=3&columns=3" width="538" height="546"><param name="movie" value="http://www.etsy.com/flash/spots/etsy_mini.swf?user_id=5032001&user_name=zero&item_source=shop&item_size=gallery&rows=3&columns=3"></object><br /></td></tr><tr><td><a style="color: rgb(211, 87, 1); font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade</a><br /><a style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(1, 146, 181); text-decoration: none;" href="http://zero.etsy.com/"> zero.etsy.com <br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Still adrift tho. Til next time :)<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com82tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-33743195415093971592009-10-05T13:51:00.000-07:002009-10-06T09:59:02.823-07:00Lambtown 2009<div style="text-align: center;">Another year, another Lambtown :) <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/07/lambtown-2008.html">Just like last year</a>, my experience this year was quite different from the last and also quite wonderful. I went more to be able to take my son and gander at fiber animals and the fair atmosphere than to purchase fiber and (...) -- mission accomplished.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3980572720/" title="P1080175 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2564/3980572720_9b3ae40e03.jpg" alt="P1080175" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />still with the freedom bit?<br /><br /><a href="http://theyellowjournalist.blogspot.com/">Tika</a> was able to join up with us and this may have been the best part of my kid's day :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3980594972/" title="P1080190 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2675/3980594972_fb9bb8c4dc.jpg" alt="P1080190" width="375" height="500" /></a><br />(my son LOVES her, can you tell?)<br /><br />Well, minus the bouncy house and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3979844161/">train ride</a>... so number 3. Pretty high for a 5 year old surrounded by animals and food :) They had a lot of kid-friendly activities I never paid attention to before, including the sheepdog trials and pony rides (we missed both, but don't tell the kid, I think he's forgotten by now.) Lambtown was also moved from July to October, and it was SO MUCH NICER weatherwise than the past two years. More coordinated overall as well-- very nice to see our local fiber expo growing.<br /><br />Lambtown had a large alpaca contingent this year with <a href="http://www.lambtown.com/calpaca.html">Calpaca</a> running concurrently which was fun to see, including an alpaca fleece judging which I didn't watch. I did get to watch the fleece judging (of course!)... this year's judge was Martin Dally.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3979823555/" title="P1080180 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/3979823555_a1abd45d78.jpg" alt="P1080180" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />I have to say, he was the best judge I've had the pleasure to watch so far. It's not that the others were bad-- it's more that Martin is almost a showman in offering information about judging and buying fleece. I was also super impressed that he was the judge for the open and fiber sheep show (also missed). I took a few notes and am going to add them to the end of the post-- feel free to skip them, but I don't want to forget so it seems like a good place to store them :)<br /><br />The judging this year was split into three divisions: 1) colored handspinner's wool, 2) handspinner's white wool, and 3) market (white) wool. The field was definitely smaller than <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/search/label/monterey%20wool%20auction">Monterey's</a>, and did not include breed classes. It makes sense for Monterey to have so many categories since they have so many to judge/for sale and want to accommodate as many as possible. Then again, the breed class judging is almost a... disservice to handspinners (reluctant to use that word) because of the issues <a href="http://blog.franticfiberfun.com/">Heather</a> and I saw with it at the <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/07/judging-fleece-at-wool-show.html">Monterey judging in 2009</a>-- the fleeces in the breed classes aren't judged on external problems with the fleece (second cuts, VM) as it isn't not a fault in the breed standard but a bugger for handspinners buying fleeces.<br /><br />The question of "handspinner's" wool came up during the judging-- to the eye, many handspinners and market wool fleeces can't be told apart. For example, the stunner I purchased...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3984409345/" title="P1080217 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/3984409345_658c945bea.jpg" alt="P1080217" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />cormo from <a href="http://cormo.us/">cormo sheep and wool farm</a>, market wool, fine 64s or finer (17-22 microns)<br /><br />...doesn't really scream "market"/commercial wool, eh? More like a sheep that has never missed a meal and has a name, unlike others with numbers and that forage for food? (A distinction between the traditional market wool and handspinner's wool category, according to Dally.) I spoke to a shepherd who said that if it were done correctly, she'd only enter one fleece in the whole show since she only raises fine combing, coated handspinner's fleeces. As it is though, shepherds can choose to enter 2 fleeces into each class of each division (and rams aren't allowed in the market wool category).<br /><br />Traditionally the market wool category was shaped around what commercial buyers of wool wanted-- big, productive, sound fleeces, not necessarily the showstoppers in the handspinner's class. We heard from another observer of the judging that fifty years ago shepherds used to select for heavy lanolin producing sheep to get the weight and placing up in the market wool category. This was the first time I saw an honest application of the category-- even though my "market wool" was silky and bright white, at only 5# it couldn't compare to the first place finisher at 8# that was less white and had a slightly shorter staple.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3984402079/" title="P1080215 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3984402079_2c8d97e9f5.jpg" alt="P1080215" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />It has always felt a little sketchy to me seeing true handspinner's fleeces entered into the market wool category, even though the buyers at Lambtown and Monterey aren't industry but individual handspinners. It was good to see Dally making the distinction, and the winners of each division made sense from that standpoint.<br /><br />You can see the differences here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3979828353/" title="P1080181 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/3979828353_9516e3ebb6.jpg" alt="P1080181" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />l to r: colored handspinner's fleece, handspinner's white fleece, and market wool white (champion in front, res ch in back for each)<br /><br />The handspinner's category were showy but not necessarily large, and definitely well skirted. The market wool winners were definitely larger, and were discounted less heavily in judging for less dramatic skirting (though the winners were both well skirted). And the colored wool was just gorgeous as always :)<br /><br />After the judging <a href="http://theyellowjournalist.blogspot.com/">Tika</a>, the kid and I went to see the sheep shearing competition...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3980591278/" title="P1080182 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2502/3980591278_005d974752.jpg" alt="P1080182" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...admittedly, we cringed watching blood be drawn several times. It would be interesting to see shearers work on handspinner's fleeces-- the shearing competition only judged on speed, not keeping them intact. I know <a href="http://cormo.us/">Sue Reuser</a> has invited people to come to the shearing at her farm at the beginning of the new year... it'll be an interesting trip.<br /><br />Also interesting? Angora bunny shearing.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3980598300/" title="P1080198 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3422/3980598300_f0e140cb1c.jpg" alt="P1080198" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Much sweeter and with no complaints like the sheep. If only I were so easy :)<br /><br />Til then!<br /><br /><br />***<br /><br />Notes from Lambtown fleece judging, Martin Dally<br /><br />- Wool over 30 microns will feel prickly to the skin because at that diameter, the individual fibers don't bend.<br /><br />- Pick up a bag of fleece and drop it on the table. A "thump" means a less productive fleece that has a lot of dirt and VM. The dirt will add weight to the bag and make it fall louder and harder.<br /><br />- Denser fleece will "hold" dirt and VM at the tip. Less dense wool will show dirt and VM further down the staple. Less dense, uncoated wool will be less productive as it will let in and hold more dirt/VM throughout the staples.<br /><br />- Touch two different fleeces with two hands. If you can feel a softness difference between the two, that means there is at least a 3 micron difference between the two.<br /><br />- Yellowish looking white fleece can sometimes be attributed to carotene in corn feed and soybeans; the yellow color comes out in the lanolin which coats the wool (and can be washed out). Not the only source of yellow, but a washable, non-staining one.<br /><br />- The Japanese love the look of crimp in wool (hahahaha it's genetic!), Australians less so. The Japanese are also the buyers of the very finest wool produced-- they use it in undergarments.<br /><br />- Fine wool fleeces that have a "shine" to them aren't "lustrous" (used exclusively for longwools), but are said to be "silky."<br /><br />- A problem in uncoated fleeces is that the lanolin cannot travel to the very tips of the locks (coated in dirt/vm), and those tips will be less soft than the rest of the staple because it lacks the lanolin protection from the elements, resulting in uneven hand or broken tips in worst cases.<br /><br />- A ram will produce a 10% heavier fleece than a wether as testosterone affects wool production and rams are generally larger bodied than castrated males.<br /><br />- and more but my handwriting's terrible! :) next year...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(eta 10/6, found more notes...)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span><br />- Color banding within a staple (color changes that are easily delineated straight across a lock of wool) is generally a mineral issue, namely copper. Either the sheep was gestating or lactating and the amount of copper intake changes due to stresses of motherhood on the wool, or the copper supplements in the feed changed. Does not always indicate unsound wool.<br /><br />- The term for uneven fleece growth in general is "cauliflowering" and should be selected against when breeding. [The term "quilting" is used for Jacob sheep as the black and white sections of wool may grow at different rates and different micron counts. --a.]<br /><br />- "Crossfibering" is the term when a individual fibers cross when growing in locks. More of an aesthetic issue but non-crossed locks will show better and place better in larger competitions.<br /><br />- 7 pounds of pressure is what is needed when "pinging" a lock of wool to determine soundness. If it can withstand 7 pounds of pressure then it is strong enough to withstand milling processes and spinning. Pinging any lock of wool too hard will rip it, even though it may be sound.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-92112586999303321302009-09-17T16:17:00.000-07:002009-09-17T23:00:37.457-07:00yvonne shawl from cocoknits<div style="text-align: center;">It feels like no time has passed at all even though it had been too long. Same breath but it feels like ages, but really nothing's changed. Now it's only the distance without a foil.<br /><br />My son started school and it's been a blur-- I didn't even realize I hadn't written until taking these pictures today.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3929431803/" title="P1080121 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/3929431803_c2ccf998e9.jpg" alt="P1080121" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.cocoknits.com/knit/garments/women/yvonne.html">Yvonne Shawl</a> by <a href="http://www.cocoknits.com/">Cocoknits</a><br /><a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/search/label/tour%20de%20fleece">Handspun 3-ply from scoured, combed corriedale lamb</a> (Tour de Fleece spinning)<br />Started & finished: after the TdF? srsly it's a blur :)<br />US 6 40" Addi Natura<br /><br />I wouldn't have even taken pics today except for the fact I need to weave in one end and send this and the remainder of the skein to Schacht... I was thrilled to learn yesterday that <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/09/two-new-ways-to-use-your-schacht-flip.html">my 2 handspun skeins as well as the tablet woven band made on my Flip</a> were chosen as finalists for the <a href="http://www.schachtspindle.com/news%20&%20events/news_and_events.php">40th anniversary contest</a> <a href="http://www.schachtspindle.com/">Schacht Spindle</a> held. The actual entries are due in CO next week, and as distorted as I've been I need to get them out the door before I forget :)<br /><br />I say one end to weave in because the whole shawl took under 2 skeins... two giant skeins. This is the big one I entered...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3926611351/" title="brown2 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/3926611351_eb6e8007b6.jpg" alt="brown2" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />5.5oz, ~925 yds<br /><br />That's my hand! That came out of one bobbin!<br /><br />::blushing::<br /><br />The skeins really did get this wonderful texture after I really aggressively fulled and shocked them-- hot water, cold water, hot water, cold water, agitateagitate, moremoredontstop... SMACK! against the walls. Too fun... and knit up into a beautiful, felted-tweed type cohesive fabric.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3929427893/" title="P1080110 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3534/3929427893_1df3cc66d9.jpg" alt="P1080110" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Looking closely you can see <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/07/crossing-tour.html">the hopeful shots of grey in the brown</a> in the occasional one of three plies. The welt pattern gives this simple shawl a really interesting depth as well.<br /><br />It really is a simple shawl, but so lovely. I know, I should have modelled pics :) but I really do like it on me even if I hate looking at myself. I'm ox-wide across but the exact same shawl looked just as great on <a href="http://www.dyegarden.com/">Adrienne</a> when she tried it on at the <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/workshop.html">Workshop</a>. On both of us there remained movement when worn, a hint of ruffle or grace at the edge echoing the staggered increases. A ridiculously simple and effective pattern.<br /><br />I keep thinking that this would be a great beginner project, so much better than a scarf-- just knit and purl, with LOTS of practice. The first rounds would be closer to the body and hidden, the cast off edge is the display side and after so many stitches any new knitter would have to have improved :) Not to say more experienced knitters wouldn't enjoy it-- it replaced my walkaround socks/mindless knitting project for those times when my hands just couldn't be still and needed something to touch.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3930126777/" title="P1080045 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/3930126777_af6a3bdbcf.jpg" alt="P1080045" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />The real joy was the yarn though-- working with my handspun and in so visible a project, I can SEE how consistent my spinning was with every bit pf progress and it thrills me because that's just what I was trying for. A definite lesson learned that I am applying to my current fleece-to-sweater project...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3930100477/" title="P1080039 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/3930100477_d8e9b8410c.jpg" alt="P1080039" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I've finally picked it up again, my gorgeous, painfully true black sweater from trueblack fleece. <a href="http://www.marblepeaks.com/index.html">Marble Peaks Ranch</a> breeds for true black corriedale and corrie x rambouillet sheep (they show and win ribbons for both sheep and fleece, an anomaly among shepherds)... and I just love the black fleece I won at <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/08/monterey-wool-auction-2008.html">last year's auction</a>. (The same one I used in the <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/01/combing-with-english-wool-combs-pic.html">English combs combing post</a>.) I didn't allow myself to buy another black fleece at <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/08/monterey-wool-auction-2009.html">Monterey this year</a> since I needed to finish this sweater, but bet you me it'll be done soon cos I want another <a href="http://www.marblepeaks.com/index.html">Marble Peaks</a> fleece!!<br /><br />The reason I stopped knitting on this was partly because I started spinning for the Tour, but also because the skein I'm knitting with is visibly lighter than the previous ones. I'd say "shaping!" and "design detail!" but it's 11" in from the bottom and at a weird spot on the bust... you can see I just crumpled the poor <a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/Internet_Knitting_Terms">wip</a> up in exasperation. I think I'll just set the lighter skein aside and start spinning again-- all of the yarn I need to complete the sweater. Even, consistent yarn... the lesson taken away from the Tour for me :)<br /><br />Missed you!<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-25353447177405368732009-09-03T16:02:00.000-07:002009-09-03T19:12:12.262-07:00Two new ways to use your Schacht Flip rigid heddle loom<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.schachtspindle.com/">Schacht Spindle Co.</a> recently celebrated their 40th anniversary with a <a href="http://www.schachtspindle.com/news%20&%20events/news_and_events.php">contest</a>, both for spinning and weaving novices and experts. One option was to upload videos to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">youtube</a> of Schacht products or weaving/spinning contest entries on the Schacht tools... so of COURSE I had to go that route :)<br /><br />I've been thinking about the contest for a while and tho I didn't feel I had any chance against true expert spinners (I entered my <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/search/label/tour%20de%20fleece">tour de fleece skein</a> and my <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/08/spinning-mohair-from-attenuated-locks.html">mohair/silk I just wrote about</a> in the spinning +2 years/expert category), I did think I should use the weaving contest portion as an opportunity to look at <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/11/rigid-heddle-weaving-on-schacht-flip.html">my Flip</a> in a different way. You may remember I <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/01/holiday-projects.html">love</a> using the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTextures-Patterns-Rigid-Heddle-Loom%2Fdp%2FB001DCVCEM&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Textures and Patterns for the Rigid Heddle book</a> as inspiration... hopefully these vids will inspire someone else :)<br /><br />First, I used the Flip as a frame for tablet/card weaving, and wove a beautiful strap for a bag I wove. Originally I was going to enter the bag into the contest (<a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/05/tale-of-two-forty.html">handspun wensleydale warp</a> and <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/03/fainting-in-supercoils.html">handspun supercoil weft</a>, both dyed by <a href="http://02a1fae.netsolstores.com/">Black Bunny Fibers</a>, but I think the strap was more interesting to talk about in a video.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3884999677/" title="P1080059 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3466/3884999677_3ff5e07104.jpg" alt="P1080059" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />You may notice this looks nothing like <a href="http://images.google.com/images?q=tablet%20weaving">"regular" tablet woven bands</a>-- instead of using several colored warp threads and a pattern, I warped the Flip as if I were plain weaving using the <a href="http://www.schachtspindle.com/instructions/weaving/flip_manual.htm">direct warping method</a> and let the pattern emerge from the beautiful yarn. If you look closely you can see the undulating wave pattern from when I turn the cards forward and back, it's even more striking in person.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3885798870/" title="P1080060 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2600/3885798870_c3b73cc787.jpg" alt="P1080060" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/newmoon/">Blue Moon Fiber Arts</a> <a href="http://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/newmoon/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=182_4_64">Socks that Rock lightweight</a> in <a href="http://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/newmoon/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=19_22_63">Sunstone</a>, if you MUST know :) I used about 1/2 of the skein for the band? I haven't weighed the leftovers yet, but it's enough for something.<br /><br />I've always been tangentially interested in tablet weaving, but for reals... I am LAZY. I don't want to measure and wind warps (I know I'll get emails and I'll try it someday, promise!)-- but <a href="http://www.schachtspindle.com/instructions/weaving/flip_manual.htm">direct warping</a> and relying on yarn for patterning made for a FAST project that was easyeasy. I love it, I think I'll make a camera strap for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CCLBSU?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001CCLBSU">my Lumix</a> later... and <a href="http://www.averbforkeepingwarm.com/myblog.html">Kristine</a> will have to make one for <a href="http://site.averbforkeepingwarm.com/2009/08/taco-tuesday-carne-adovada.html">her new camera</a> (i know you have some "sample sale" yarns to use up ;))<br /><br />Speaking of easy... you may know I have a kid who is the apple of my eye :) We work on silly projects together like painting and drawing and those types of creating endeavors-- not really fiber. I always want to get him knitting and spinning and weaving, but his lack of any attention span coupled with his hardheaded nature (who knows where that came from!) means it's mainly been a short adventure. I have been thinking a lot about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resist_dyeing">resist dyeing</a> with wax for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikat">ikat-style patterned warp</a> and decided I could modify the idea into something my son and I could work on together-- so I <a href="http://www.schachtspindle.com/instructions/weaving/flip_manual.htm">direct warped</a> the loom with heavy sportweight non-mercerized white cotton and pulled out our textile paints. He painted the warp directly on the loom and then I wove it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3884992919/" title="P1080003 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/3884992919_c680956471.jpg" alt="P1080003" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I used the same weft as warp-- I thought about dyeing the entire fabric with fiber reactive dyes via low immersion dyeing for even more interest, but haven't decided yet. The fabric will end up eventually as a bag for him, it's stiff but I think once the paints have been heatset they'll be a bit more pliable. I'll wash it in finishing and think the cotton will pull in quite a bit, if not I'll make a bag liner (yay for my <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/02/year-of-class.html">sewing 101 class</a> and <a href="http://www.kirakdesigns.com/">Kira K</a>! :))<br /><br />The painting went well...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3884996395/" title="P1080004 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/3884996395_9bc36dd637.jpg" alt="P1080004" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...we used 7 different colors, but with the "metallic" addins of the <a href="http://www.jacquardproducts.com/products/paints/lumiere/">Jacquard Lumiere</a> its a bit hard to differentiate metallic purple from metallic pewter in pictures.<br /><br />I really love it. It was easy enough to do with the boy-- the paintable area of warp in front of the heddle was perfect for a short attention span that returned once I had dried and woven over the painted portion, and he loved being able to pick and choose his own colors and "designs." I'll definitely be thinking about direct warp painting as a "grownup" project-- eventually I want to use some soy wax and <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3358-AA.shtml?lnav=tools.html">tjanting</a> tools to paint soy wax onto the warp and cold water dye the resulting fabric, and use thickened fiber reactive dyes for a more wearable/less stiffened (read: scarves, etc.) fabric. Maybe even break out my vintage wood type ampersand collection and stamp a fine warp.<br /><br />It was nice doing this as a jumping off point for more possibilities of direct warp painting, especially since my baby started KINDERGARTEN and I'm so ... oh, you know :) Everything! This was our last project before he started school, so even more special.<br /><br />The videos:<br /><br />Tablet weaving on the Schacht Flip rigid heddle loom:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q2JYvvfNMu4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q2JYvvfNMu4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Direct warp painting on the Schacht Flip rigid heddle loom:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jgVLDq5jomQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jgVLDq5jomQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />(unfortunately the white warp is doing some weird psychadelic dancing because of the HD video being condensed down to nothing :( )<br /><br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-67330063128858176572009-08-31T17:46:00.000-07:002009-08-31T19:13:39.510-07:00spinning mohair from attenuated locks<div style="text-align: center;">I recently swapped with <a href="http://www.wakingthebones.com/">Adrianne</a> for 3 oz of unwashed, very fine first clip kid mohair fleece on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/spin-or-dye-swapping">Spin or Dye swap board</a> on Ravelry. I really am not interested in buying a whole mohair fleece, but it was too pretty to pass up and just enough to do a good sample with.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3876821814/" title="kid-mohair-1_medium by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3876821814_f72d7a5efa.jpg" alt="kid-mohair-1_medium" width="500" height="398" /></a><br />photo © 2009 Adrianne L. Shtop -- washed kid mohair fleece<br /><a href="http://wakingthebones.com/">wakingthebones.com</a><br /><br />I decided I wanted it to be VERY halo-y, and also not retain any of the curlylocks look once spun... so spun it from the lock. Instead of spinning over the fold, I attenuated the entire lock prior to spinning.<br /><br />I started with an intact lock-- I scoured this partial fleece myself and <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/09/unicorn-fiber-power-scour-versus-dawn.html">maintained lock formation</a> by washing in tuille.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3838309430/" title="1 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/3838309430_ee3e8777da.jpg" alt="1" width="500" height="378" /></a><br /><br />Starting at the middle of the lock, I gently opened it up by teasing it open and separating the individual fibers apart but just enough, not to make the lock fall apart.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3838312264/" title="2 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/3838312264_42cf7d34d3.jpg" alt="2" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Aside from the other reasons for spinning the mohair this way, the other plus to attenuating the whole lock prior to spinning was that I was able to detect and shake out the small amounts of dandruff hidden in the fibers. It's a small amount, and not a dealbreaker for mohair, but still not something I wanted in the final yarn.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3838314874/" title="3 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/3838314874_f1f6b500e4.jpg" alt="3" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />(look closely around the shorn end)<br /><br />After loosening the entire lock up, I went back and separated the fibers even more. Starting from one end...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3837526885/" title="4 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3837526885_bd5cbb25e9.jpg" alt="4" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...and working to the other.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3838320868/" title="5 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2656/3838320868_e00a3c1bc6.jpg" alt="5" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />The small lock creates quite a long length of fiber. I made several of these long attenuated lengths, lined them up and started spinning.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3838309318/" title="9 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/3838309318_ec114f8005.jpg" alt="9" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />My idea in spinning the kid mohair was to have as many ends (tip, shorn) sticking out from the single as possible. Initially I was going to do this by spinning from the fold, so that the middlemost section of the individual fibers would be the ones caught up in the twist and allowing the opposite ends to stick out... but I tend to grasp folded locks a bit tightly when spinning and wanted them to be as lofty and not-smoothed-down as possible (plus there was the scurf thing... ew ;))<br /><br />So I took the lengths of attenuated locks, as if they were a commercially prepared long length of top/roving I was spinning from the tip of and feeding directly into the orifice-- but it was the middlemost part of the locks getting the bulk of twist and not the aligned ones of a top. This way both tip and butt end of the locks were free to be free... and I was able to loosen up quite a bit in my grip compared to my spinning from the fold (letting those ends halo even more).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3837537563/" title="7 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/3837537563_1f5052612e.jpg" alt="7" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />You can get a sense of the amount of halo the single produced this way... I placed a white card on the mother of all to show you.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3837535085/" title="8 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/3837535085_6a741e9254.jpg" alt="8" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />(still can spot a bit of scurf that shook out in plying)<br /><br />As much as I wanted a halo-y yarn, I didn't want a 100% mohair one. So I dug out this precious bit of tussah silk, handpainted by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5062292">String Theory Fiber Art</a>, and spun two bobbins' worth of silk singles to ply the mohair with.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3876543788/" title="P1060688 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3876543788_b57e085aec.jpg" alt="P1060688" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />"kalapana," 2 oz tussah silk by <a href="http://stringtheoryfiberart.etsy.com/">stringtheoryfiberart.etsy.com</a><br /><br />I spun the silk at a high twist (17.5:1) and the mohair at a lower one (9:1) to allow for more halo and a look that the silk was "holding" the mohair together, and plied with an even lower ratio (6:1) so I can knit something with drape and on big needles and not worry about it being too round for lace.<br /><br />The halo is definitely there...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3875761049/" title="P1080026 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3531/3875761049_250255b749.jpg" alt="P1080026" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...and so is the yardage.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3875756951/" title="P1080021 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3516/3875756951_12a30a4ef6.jpg" alt="P1080021" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />750yds, 105 grams 3 ply silk/kid mohair<br /><br />Very, very soft and warm, and makes me appreciate mohair all the more. Probably not a whole fleece's worth... but maybe I'll change that tune when I knit this up into something simple for me. So many intentions...<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-55887056432067963252009-08-27T23:01:00.000-07:002009-08-28T00:20:08.183-07:00birthdays<div style="text-align: center;">My mom grew up poor, raised by a stepfamily who really couldn't give any shakes for her or my blood uncle. Consequently, she had to procure what I consider necessities for herself starting at a too-young age-- clothing, shoes, books, toiletries. There's a story my sister and I were told from that time... how mom worked and saved an entire summer for a snow white sweater for the coming school year, and how someone else in the household bundled it into the wash, ruining it before it was ever worn.<br /><br />I can't say I really understand, sis and I were raised wanting nothing til the end. I can understand the resonance of destruction of work though, in a small way... cos mom keeps felting the hats I make her. Now they don't take me a summer and aren't even something I consider work and to be really honest I don't see them as 'same'... but as much as I love her am constantly amazed at how nonchalantly she tells me that she has another hat for my son since she's passed one of my handknits thru the wash and it won't fit her anymore.<br /><br />I should have started ages ago but it's superwash all the time for mom now. She had a birthday and I promised to replace all the hats she's felted this year (3? 4?), starting with the <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/01/surprises-all-around.html">now-felted Malabrigo Koolhaas</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3846456543/" title="P1070840 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/3846456543_bbef03cf60.jpg" alt="P1070840" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Patterns/Koolhaas-Hat.html">Koolhaas hat</a> by <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/">Jared Flood</a><br />Started and finished: two days in August<br /><a href="http://www.elann.com/ProductDisp.asp?Name=elann.com+Superwash+Worsted&ProductType=5">Elann Superwash Worsted</a> in Espresso, 1.5 skeins<br />US 7, 16" Addi Natura<br /><br />At least I really enjoy knitting Koolhaas. I know that it fits lots of heads (it fits my son's in width but not depth, I'm going to make him one with only 3 repeats and it'll be perfect if a little loose), is easy to read when knitting away from the pattern, and is interesting to knit. I don't know if she'll get 4 Koolhaas hats in different colors... maybe :)<br /><br />She was kind enough to model the wrap I wove for my sister (ages ago!) who shares a birthday month with mom...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3844269416/" title="P1070823 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/3844269416_c3cd3f99d1.jpg" alt="P1070823" width="375" height="500" /></a><br />Warp: <a href="http://tactilefiberarts.com/store/store.php">Tactile Fiber Arts</a> Superwash Merino/tencel sock yarn, "orchid"<br />Weft: <a href="http://www.handjiveknits.com/">Hand Jive Knits Nature's Palette superwash merino sock yarn</a>, "odd duck 5"<br />woven on <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/11/rigid-heddle-weaving-on-schacht-flip.html">my Schacht Flip<br /></a><br />The colors look as if they were made for one another, even from different dyers. I sought out machine washable for sis as well-- I wanted her to be able to use this as a nursing wrap if she wanted and know all too well how those can get messy. My Malabrigo <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html">Clapotis</a> I used for a nursing coverup had to be washed much more than any other handknit I've made save socks :)<br /><br />I also dig that both warp and weft are naturally dyed-- I have no idea if it will appeal to sis but it sure does to me.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3843477803/" title="P1070821 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2594/3843477803_d5bfb3fe8e.jpg" alt="P1070821" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3844278712/" title="P1070834 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2451/3844278712_bba85152b7.jpg" alt="P1070834" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />So does the sheen of the tencel... I usually don't like tencel blends in sock yarns, too shiny and drape-y for my taste. Here as weft though it's really interesting against the more matte merino warp, and gives it a nice fall when worn. The wrap's one of those things you hope gets worn outside in daylight, but we don't have much control over these things once out of our possession... and I'm starting to accept that.<br /><br />I double-threaded the warp edges...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3843493347/" title="P1070839 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3843493347_5c0fd48f94.jpg" alt="P1070839" width="375" height="500" /></a><br />(lower left corner)<br /><br />...two strands on the beginning and end. I don't know if it makes it more stable, but at least it can't hurt :)<br /><br />I also used simple overhand knots on the edging, but only 2 strands instead of my usual four.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3843483995/" title="P1070824 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3843483995_4f449cc7dc.jpg" alt="P1070824" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />I had planned to use one of the MANY beautiful warp edgings from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931499195?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1931499195">Interweave's Compendium of Finishing Techniques</a>, but decided against it since this was a gift and may have been too much for my non-knitting, non-weaving sister (who actually is always quite appreciative of fiber gifts, but there can be a taste/technique disconnect between fiber and non-fiber people...) I like how small the two-strand knots are, and the contrast between the color of pure warp fringe against the woven fabric.<br /><br />One surprise was how little weft I used... I used the entire skein of <a href="https://www.tactilefiberarts.com/store/store.php?crn=234">Tactile's sw merino/tencel (412 yards) </a>but only 222 (of 370) yards of Nature's Palette superwash merino.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3679285177/" title="P1060782 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/3679285177_808743d11d.jpg" alt="P1060782" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />No matter, the 40 grams will make a sweet cap for baby or maybe a tiny pair of socks for my bigfoot boy.<br /><br />I also don't know quite what this will spin into, probably something for the holidays for sis since the colors match her wrap so well.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3790218320/" title="P1070267 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3790218320_ac466cd0e6.jpg" alt="P1070267" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />Tactile Fiber Arts Luxury Fiber Club, July 2009<br />15.5 micron merino, 2 oz<br />featured dye: logwood purple<br /><br />I was lucky enough along with <a href="http://sawkmonkey.blogspot.com/">Adrienne</a> to win a 3-month subscription to <a href="https://www.tactilefiberarts.com/store/store.php?crn=317">Tactile's fiber club</a> thru <a href="http://www.phatfiber.com/">PhatFiber</a> (yes, that little box that causes so much fiber furor!) So nice! What to make is the question though-- socal's not really wrap yourself in wool weather. Maybe incorporate the leftover Nature's Palette in as well...<br /><br />Oy! Am I talking about holiday knitting already?! :)<br /><br />Til then, at least after weds. Miss you.<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-9228650082020669032009-08-20T23:35:00.000-07:002009-08-21T03:20:01.769-07:00Grafton Fibers Colorways Fiber Batt Club<div style="text-align: center;">I've been holding out on you.<br /><br />I've been saving all of these lovely, amazing, beautiful batts for myself. They were too precious to even share pictures of, meant more than any photographs I could take. I have a down day and literally reach for one to hold and pet, take deep breaths of and into my happy place. The colors and the softness and the potential of each to be something great helps me pick up and go on.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3670557723/" title="P1060742 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/3670557723_899d0e031f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060742" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/fiberstore.htm">Grafton Fibers</a>, <a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/colorways.htm">Colorways Fiber Club</a><a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/colorways.htm"></a> March 2009<br /><br />You think I'm joking, to carry on about simple fiber like this. I'm not. I own many dictionaries but will never have the words, even though sometimes like tonite I just feel like trying.<br /><br />I look at each, at the <a href="http://graftonfibers.wordpress.com/colorways%E2%84%A2-club/">individual project patterns</a> and notes <a href="http://graftonfibers.wordpress.com/">Linda</a> creates for every shipment, and lose myself in what I could make with them. She gives you a knitting project, a crochet, a felt, a DIY loom one and you believe in yourself, in your potential and what you incite.<br /><br />"I can do this."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3705823913/" title="P1060984 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2437/3705823913_f492cfb1cc.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060984" /></a><br /><a href="Grafton%20Fibers,%20Colorways%20Fiber%20Club">Grafton Fibers</a><a href="Grafton%20Fibers,%20Colorways%20Fiber%20Club">, </a><a href="Grafton%20Fibers,%20Colorways%20Fiber%20Club">Colorways Fiber Club</a> June 2009<br /><br />All at once within that last dimension; the initial loving gift, the fiber here and waiting, what it will finally end up as.<br /><br />I've been holding out all over... I can't bear to spin them. Time's changed me from <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2006/09/thing-about-yarn.html">a simple yarn collector </a>to a fiber one, each a souvenir of more than the gift. More than the anticipation outside the mailbox every month for the physical reminder, more than what was ever intended.<br /><br />I can't imagine them not living in the perfect square boxes every month. I can't imagine moving forward.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3671367158/" title="P1060744 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2595/3671367158_b50ba39e25.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060744" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/fiberstore.htm">Grafton Fibers</a>, <a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/colorways.htm">Colorways Fiber Club</a> April 2009<br /><br />That's not true. I can imagine a lot of things.<br /><br />I can see an epic afghan, big enough for even a broken bed. I can see twelve yokes of twelve cardigans, bright collars solitarily worn on a black background. I can see sets of hats and mittens, waiting at the inner door for a family to choose from before venturing into the cold. I can see wee baby sweaters and booties, imaginary little ones swimming in and growing into rolled up wool sleeves.<br /><br />And I can see them sitting forever stacked neatly in the closet, pretending they're holding the white boxes together from the inside. Meltaway-center Atlases, brightly festooned.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3789410093/" title="P1070279 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/3789410093_dfddd780c0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1070279" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/fiberstore.htm">Grafton Fibers</a>, <a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/colorways.htm">Colorways Fiber Club</a> July 2009<br /><br />Colorful dreams nonetheless... Willy Wonka styles. (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009FGWLW?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0009FGWLW">Wilder's</a> of course.) Or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007G1ZC?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00007G1ZC">Kurosawa's</a>, I'm not picky.<br /><br />Aside from the fact there's always a pattern included with the supersoft, ultrasmooth batts (and putting aside the nonfading limerence they stoke in me for just.a.moment.please.thank.you), what surprises me most is that I love each batt every month. I love that they always work. I play enough thought experiments getting lost in each to be able to see how each would spin and work up, even if I can't get past the daydreaming phase.<br /><br />Doesn't mean I don't have favorites...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3671369468/" title="P1060746 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3671369468_f8e5865b1c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060746" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/fiberstore.htm">Grafton Fibers</a>, <a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/colorways.htm">Colorways Fiber Club</a> May 2009<br /><br />Inextricably linked purple, yours and mine. You'll always be my favorite.<br /><br />Thank you, each month over. And twice for this.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3670564755/" title="P1060750 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/3670564755_59b47bb111.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060750" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/fiberstore.htm">Grafton Fibers</a>, <a href="http://www.graftonfibers.com/fiberstore.htm#SPINDLES">Swan spindle</a> in "Winter Sky"<br /><br />We should spin sometime.<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-8733705357176921152009-08-17T09:37:00.000-07:002009-08-17T14:32:49.933-07:00Monterey wool auction 2009<div style="text-align: center;">So now that I know you're reading, how to start?<br /><br />The obvious... yesterday I attended the <a href="http://www.montereycountyfair.com/fair/index.php">Monterey Wool Auction</a> with <a href="http://blog.franticfiberfun.com/">Heather</a> and <a href="http://www.blue-room.com/onetruth/">Ayse</a>. I really shouldn't have gone... I have several (seriously, several) fleeces I've purchased here at home in the past months, and even though I already dedicated a whole month to washing many, I still have more unscoured wool than I can reasonably handle scouring before the year is over. But really, after <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/07/judging-fleece-at-wool-show.html">seeing all of the fleeces being judged</a> and then all lined up in the lovely sun, who can blame me?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3829213140/" title="P1070686 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/3829213140_69d0a8a3e5.jpg" alt="P1070686" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I blame myself. I know what I'm doing. :)<br /><br />It always is a good time though, and I really really enjoy the setting-- so many spinners and fiber artists with their own criteria and sense of the perfect fleece, live bidding, the thrill of the hunt. Bumping into long losts. Even when not bidding I would get caught up in the back and forth, trying to guess where the bidding would end up at. Compared to <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/08/monterey-wool-auction-2008.html">last year</a>, this year had many more high bids-- <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/08/monterey-wool-auction-2008.html">my $29/lb win for Henna</a> last year was eclipsed several times over, with a $30 and a $32/lb bid for 2 of <a href="http://cormo.us/">Sue Reuser's cormos</a> (and a $28/lb for <a href="http://www.merrymeadowsfarm.com/">Kathy Varian's</a> cormo as well). I love the breed-- long and soft... and I do love being able to positively support shepherds raising local sheep that grow excellent fleeces. My bids weren't as extravagant this time, even though I did manage to wrestle the Champion Market (white) Wool fleece I had been obsessing over since <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/07/judging-fleece-at-wool-show.html">my trip with Heather to the judging</a>...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3770570455/" title="P1070129 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3770570455_78083122b3.jpg" alt="P1070129" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...from "Chloe" the sheep :) I had a BLAST <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/08/summer-fruit.html">dyeing the white merino locks</a> for <a href="http://zero.etsy.com/">my etsy shop</a> and plan on dyeing many more... the the bright white of Chloe is just inspiring to me. She was also significantly less greasy to the touch than many of the other cormos there, so I'm guessing the fleece will be more productive in terms of weight/lanolin loss than others (we'll see if I'm right when I wash her up.)<br /><br />One last peek at the crimp to come...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3830686337/" title="P1070714 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2035/3830686337_5b9339c5a3.jpg" alt="P1070714" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I also was the high bidder for her flockmate, "Hollyberry," a true mutt (cormo/corrie dad and corrie/romney x finn/dorset/targhee mom... sounds like me and mine :)) with a 5" staple and a nice bold medium crimp. I'm thinking it will be a good match for <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress/">Ysolda's</a> new <a href="http://twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/75-fall-2009-patterns/396-vine-yoke-cardigan-by-ysolda-teague">Vine Yoke cardigan</a>? I saw the new <a href="http://twistcollective.com/">twist collective</a> before going to the auction and immediately thought the color was spot on to the sample.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3828417383/" title="P1070689 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/3828417383_3f21b715f5.jpg" alt="P1070689" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I didn't notice "Hollyberry" at the judging (she did not place highly in her category, solid other than black, <a href="http://gfwsheep.com/blood.count.html">3/8 blood combing 56s-58s</a>)... but her color glowed in the sun as I blushed, pretending to take a second look at fleeces recovering from the surprise. She imprinted on me while we talked, my souvenir of your words and the day.<br /><br />I always enjoy the "surprise" of banded/multicolored staples once washed and combed... will it be greybrown or browngrey? Purple?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3831488280/" title="P1070717 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3831488280_3870eddafc.jpg" alt="P1070717" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Aside from Chloe, I only had one other YES PLEASE! fleece on my judging notes-- a heavy steel grey corriexrambo from <a href="http://www.marblepeaks.com/index.html">Nancy Burns at Marble Peaks Ranch</a>. She is the shepherd who raised Kali, the true black <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/08/monterey-wool-auction-2008.html">I purchased last year at the auction</a> and featured in <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/01/combing-with-english-wool-combs-pic.html">my English combs post</a>. <a href="http://www.marblepeaks.com/index.html">Nancy</a> raises true black to fading grey corriedale and corriedale x rambouillet crosses that have excellent crimp and retain that lock formation I love. This year her black-black fleece won the Champion Natural Colored category, beating out Sue Reuser's cormo. I passed on the grey since it was on <a href="http://knitmoregirls.blogspot.com/">Jasmin's</a> bidding list (save me if I came up against her bidding card ;))... and because I've already reserved a grey from Nancy for 2010.<br /><br />I usually write to the shepherds after buying their fleeces from shows-- they usually appreciate reactions to the day (they don't know how well their fleeces place, what judges had to say about them, etc.) and the more I talk to them, the more I feel like I want to buy from them directly as opposed to at auction. I know <a href="http://www.marblepeaks.com/index.html">Nancy</a> via email and we'd been talking about me buying a 2010 fleece-- so I was able to secure one and didn't feel pressured to bid. (Goodness knows I didn't need to bring another home RIGHT AWAY.) <a href="http://www.merrymeadowsfarm.com/">Merry Meadows</a> said the same when I wrote to them, reminding me their fleeces are generally priced at $16/lb (I paid over that for both) and to contact them when I want more. On the flip side, I know that shepherds send their best to auction since they will receive the highest price the market will bear (as well as a coveted ribbon with premium monies), while only paying the entry fee ($2 + 4.5% of sales price) and shipping there... as someone who truly wants to support their industry I want to contribute to getting the best prices for their fleeces so they continue to offer them.<br /><br />So of course I'll go again, how else will I see you and flirt with such loves?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3829225644/" title="P1070700 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/3829225644_f7c565dbea.jpg" alt="P1070700" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-68417701105957454842009-08-11T18:45:00.000-07:002009-08-11T22:05:54.814-07:00summer fruit<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3812721285/" title="P1070601 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3812721285_56f4ff481c.jpg" alt="P1070601" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Still stroking my love affair with dyeing superwash merino :) I'll have all 10 for sale in <a href="http://zero.etsy.com/">my shop</a> tomorrow at noon pacstandard ($15/4 oz each). As always, if you see an individual one on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/">my flickr stream </a>before then you want me to reserve, just let me know.<br /><br />Til then! If you can't wait, I've <a href="http://zero.etsy.com">listed</a> 2 separate batches of merino fleece that I scoured AND dyed in <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/09/unicorn-fiber-power-scour-versus-dawn.html">lock formation</a>... perfect for starting your fiber prep adventures with :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29069148"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/3813147689_6fdf03effe.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="locks1" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29068095"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3806429198_dd8eea8b9e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="orange1" /></a><br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-30607912219488967352009-08-06T16:51:00.000-07:002009-08-07T13:38:58.132-07:00koigu is king (and a shipping sale)<div style="text-align: center;">In honor of all those lucky souls cavorting at <a href="http://www.socksummit.com/">Sock Summit</a> this weekend, proof I do still knit socks :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3772525493/" title="P1070224 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3772525493_1d1826cf19.jpg" alt="P1070224" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTpomatomus.html">Pomatomus</a> by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596681098?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596681098">Cookie A</a><br /><a href="http://koigu.com/">Koigu</a> Painter's Palette Merino, p338<br />US 1, 2.25mm dpns<br />Started: January 2009 (!?)<br />Finished: July 2009<br /><br />Even after all this time, my all time favorite pattern (excluding <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0966828941?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0966828941">PGR's basic toe up recipe</a>) remains Pomatomus. I think this is my fifth or sixth time knitting it and I still can't get enough. Looks good in <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2006/07/one-fish-two-fish.html">color blocks</a>, in <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2006/01/pomatomus-finished-way-awesome.html">variegated</a>, in <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2007/08/handspun-pomatomus-in-bfl.html">handspun</a>... and now in koigu.<br /><br />Seriously, I've been hoarding Koigu for years and I don't know why I don't knit with it more often. <a href="http://www.koigu.com/">Maie Landra</a> <span style="font-style: italic;">(eta:) and <a href="http://www.thehappydyer.blogspot.com/">Rhichard/Koigu Boy</a> are magicians</span> with color harmonies and non-pooling colors that set any design off. I don't think any design would look bad in this incredible orange, but <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTpomatomus.html">Pomatomus</a> just sings in it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3772529215/" title="P1070228 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2481/3772529215_d60b1d9174.jpg" alt="P1070228" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I do have a few favorite patterns in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596681098?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596681098">Sock Innovation</a> bookmarked with yarn all picked out... but overcoming Pomatomus' tower is going to be tough :)<br /><br />Koigu does make everything easier though, new to me things...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3772513517/" title="P1070191 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2421/3772513517_4a4ccddbbd.jpg" alt="P1070191" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Looks like a simple stockinette sock, eh?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3772517525/" title="P1070196 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2607/3772517525_cac00880e8.jpg" alt="P1070196" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-shaped-arch-socks">Basic Shaped Arch Socks</a> by <a href="http://unravelingmarlowe.blogspot.com/">Marlowe Crawford</a><br />Koigu Painter's Palette Merino, p7140D<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AV3P3C?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001AV3P3C">US 2, 9" KA circular</a><br />Started and finished July 2009<br /><br />Marlowe's written a fun, fitted pattern from the top down in her <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-shaped-arch-socks">Shaped Arch socks</a>. They also work as advertised; the shaping is not just a design detail but truly hugs the arch of the foot for a nice snug fit when wearing that doesn't bag or shift after a few hours of wear. I do love the lines of it though, and how the instep shift echoes the simple wedge toe decreases.<br /><br />I also love how yarn movement looks in these, and moreso in the perfect purple koigu...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3772521729/" title="P1070207 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/3772521729_63dcb2596c.jpg" alt="P1070207" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I forgot how much I like to <a href="http://www.grumperina.com/knitblog/archives/2005/10/theres_the_easy.htm">pick up and twist the stitches of a heel flap</a>, and how I like to imagine a pattern in another yarn even before the current one's finished (can you imagine how a self striping yarn would move on the foot in a fun way in this pattern)? I'm cheating a bit... I've already started another shaped arch pair in some <a href="http://dyeabolicalyarns.etsy.com/">Dyeabolical Yarns</a> handspun merino and they do look super awesome :)<br /><br />Further awesome and further new...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3773313218/" title="P1070172 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3773313218_beb2a27bc9.jpg" alt="P1070172" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />knitting the heel flap on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AV3P3C?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001AV3P3C">9" circular</a><br /><br />I used a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AV3P3C?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001AV3P3C">9" KA circular needle</a> to knit these instead of my default dpns. I have magic looped, knit on two circs, but always return to my double pointed needles for socks. They just *feel* like you're knitting circularly, celebrating the spiral... not the back and forth, turn and turn back of circular knitting. I do love circs for some sock things, colorwork is nice with only two angles to manipulate floats over instead of three or four, but otherwise I'm a socks on dpns girl.<br /><br />All that said, these are pretty cool! They take some getting used to-- I made myself stick to using them even though I wanted to quit during the first few inches. The needles are SUPER short, 2", and since I usually use the inside of my palm to manipulate needles (dpns and circs) it meant I had to learn to use my fingertips to knit. These <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AV3P3C?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001AV3P3C">KA needle tips</a> are very light though, and pivot within the cable joins, so learning was not too difficult. I did need to pay attention and not push the working needle down so hard and so often, I ended up with a sore spot on my left pointer finger after several hours of eyesfree knitting at <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/07/judging-fleece-at-wool-show.html">the fleece judging</a>.<br /><br />That is really the plus tho-- I already can easily knit without looking at my hands, but always have to at least unconsciously glance downwards when switching to a new dpn or circular needle. With these you're continually knitting in that spiral, no need to look down at ALL. I was also able to do all of the knitting (minus the toe) on these-- including knit the heel flap and pick up and twist sts from its edge. I did have to use <a href="http://zero.etsy.com/">some stitch markers</a> to mark where the dpns would be, <a href="http://zero.etsy.com/">but for me that's not a big deal</a> :)<br /><br />So much so I decided it's time to restock <a href="http://zero.etsy.com/">my knitting stitch marker etsy store</a> as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5032001"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3577/3796677964_fb43a0dfd7.jpg" alt="P1070333" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28926835">smooth lava rock stone knitting stitch markers</a> by <a href="http://zero.etsy.com/">zeromarkers</a><br /><br />I've got over sixty sets to list (!!) -- so all orders from <a href="http://zero.etsy.com/">my shop</a> of two or more marker sets will ship for free *worldwide* thru the month of August!<br /><br /><a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/">A Verb for Keeping Warm</a> also has <a href="http://zero.etsy.com/">zero stitch markers</a> (and copies of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-shaped-arch-socks">Shaped Arch sock pattern</a>) for sale at their <a href="http://www.socksummit.com/">Sock Summit</a> booth this weekend (booth #503). Happy sock knitting everyone!<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-10740463849660807592009-08-04T14:45:00.000-07:002009-08-04T15:47:23.877-07:00handspun ishbel<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3773347298/" title="P1070256 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2577/3773347298_61a265c759.jpg" alt="P1070256" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><a href="http://ysolda.com/store/shawls/ishbel/">Ishbel</a> from <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress/">Ysolda Teague</a><br />handspun <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/silk2.html">merino/silk, fiber</a> dyed by <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/">A Verb for Keeping Warm</a>-- "sunny side up"<br />US 4 Addi, 24"<br />spun and knit sometime in May, June 2009<br /><br />I started <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/">this blog</a> originally to share photos and knitting projects with a single person, a non-knitter too far from me who indulged my itch to share the minutia of my life and obsession with sock knitting and yarn. For sometimes better and often worse, it has slowly changed to a true fiber journal. Unable to bring myself to write for several months has left me with lots of little and big projects that I feel strange writing about since they're not contemporaneous (the difference a day makes...), but I do want to record them because -- well, sometimes like <a href="http://ysolda.com/store/shawls/ishbel/">Ishbel </a>they're beautiful. Sometimes they're painful and sometimes they're just cigars.<br /><br />My bumbling way of saying a few posts are going to be old-for-me projects over the coming weeks :)<br /><br />This one started with a beautiful, single 2 oz bump of 50/50 merino-silk in "sunny side up" I picked up from <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/workshop.html">the Workshop</a>... <a href="http://site.averbforkeepingwarm.com/myblog.html">Kristine</a> only had one left, and being one of those transitory "limited edition" colors I had to have it, even if it was a much smaller amount than I'd normally be comfortable buying.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3496508080/" title="P1060229 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/3496508080_4c74e5a699.jpg" alt="P1060229" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I always think in 4 oz quantities, assuming that I could never get anything out of 2. Surprise surprise...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3670634813/" title="P1060777 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/3670634813_312830663d.jpg" alt="P1060777" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I was able to get <a href="http://ysolda.com/store/shawls/ishbel/">Ishbel</a> out of one! One ounce. The scarf weighs 28 grams, and I'm left with another 28g of handspun for...? Something. There's magic in it, I'm sure. No magic left in me, no mods other than using a US 4 needle as opposed to the pattern's US 6 just because I wanted a denser stst and a smaller scarf.<br /><br />I know <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ishbel/people">everyone's knit one</a> (I got my idea from hearing <a href="http://bigsister.typepad.com/">Nicole</a> talk about it on <a href="http://www.stashandburn.com/">Stash and Burn</a>), and it is adorable! The reason I really like it? Wearing Ishbel makes me feel like some sort of knitting cowboy, sporting a handknit bandana.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3773343340/" title="P1070246 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3773343340_5dd38fc4dc.jpg" alt="P1070246" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />So of course I popped back into the workshop and bought a few new 2 oz quantities...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3670569391/" title="P1060768 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/3670569391_413e1ccd98.jpg" alt="P1060768" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />Verb merino/silk in "indigo blue day"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3671374164/" title="P1060764 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3643/3671374164_496c52ed68.jpg" alt="P1060764" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />Verb yak/silk in "crocodile tears" (?)<br /><br />I had planned on making a few more triangle shaped scarves with these, but I'm toying with the idea of opening up my notebooks and spinning/pattern writing for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/a-verb-for-keeping-warm/742973">Verb's "smitten mitten" pattern contest</a> instead. My son's starting kindergarten in less than a month, and I've been kicking about the idea of starting to publish knitting patterns <a href="http://knitty.com/newsearch.php?cx=partner-pub-6971206899099375%3A116zz7-v4kk&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=aija+goto&sa=Search#646">again</a> in the time he'll be away from me. As always, we'll see :)<br /><br />Miss you.<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-64662394843871783802009-07-29T21:12:00.000-07:002009-07-30T00:03:44.379-07:00Judging fleece at the wool show<div style="text-align: center;">I succumbed to a lot of distractions during the <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/search/label/tour%20de%20fleece">Tour de Fleece</a>... hands down the best was attending the fleece judging prior to the Monterey Wool Show with <a href="http://blog.franticfiberfun.com/">Heather</a>. She has a <a href="http://blog.franticfiberfun.com/2009/07/how-not-to-get-fleeced.html">great writeup about the day as well</a>. We met in person recently at <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/">Verb's</a> <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/07/handcombing-wool-two-and-natural-dyeing.html">Natural Dyeing 101 class</a>, even tho I'd been reading her blog (I feel like I know so many people without ever meeting them in person, so it's always neat to get to do so.) She was kind enough to drive and we trekked it down early Saturday, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3756490559/">coming into a room full of fleeces</a> and a small clutch of attendees listening to (married) judges <a href="http://glennlandfarm.com/">Wes and Jane Patton</a> going over each.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3756493131/" title="P1070114 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2509/3756493131_8c9e5ec374.jpg" alt="P1070114" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />This was the second time I had attended a wool judging, the first was at <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/07/lambtown-2008.html">Lambtown last year</a> with about a third to half of the number of fleeces that were at Monterey this year. In addition to blood classes (market/white and colored wool, ranging from fine combing/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_count">64-80s</a> down to common/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_count">40s</a>) Monterey has judging categories for breed as well (cormo, merino, cvm, etc.). For me, I prefer the finer end of the spectrum and am lucky that there were so many excellent cormo, rambouillet and merino cross flocks in Northern California represented for me to lose it over.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3770570455/" title="P1070129 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3770570455_78083122b3.jpg" alt="P1070129" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Goodness. Save me.<br /><br />The thing is, I went to the judging because I had NO intention of buying more fleece and probably wouldn't attend the auction this year. (I can hear you laughing from here.) I went because I wanted to learn, and did... but fell in love left and right with color and hand while my brain was being stuffed with information. (too familiar, too soon)<br /><br />Attending the judging does give a different perspective on buying the fleeces at auction later; I can also see a difference in the fleeces entered this year from last. <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/08/monterey-wool-auction-2008.html">Last year</a> I fell for one of only three true black fleeces (not the dark brown tinted black, but honest to goodness black)-- color queens like me will flip seeing several up for bid this year. There were many more entries from fewer shepherds, and there seemed to be a lot of not for sale fleeces as well (several ribbon winners were shipped on back home and won't be at the auction.)<br /><br />The thinking on this doesn't make sense to me, as the auction setting would provide the highest per pound price most shepherds could likely get (and they're able to provide the starting price per pound, so it could be returned later). I also didn't understand why several fleeces that were tender/had breaks were entered into the competition at all...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3757326586/" title="P1070135 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2608/3757326586_e9284100db.jpg" alt="P1070135" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />The up side of buying at a wool show that is judged is that these were culled and will not be available for sale-- the buyer knows that each fleece has been gone over and most likely will be sound. It's promising since you don't always know the shepherd or don't know someone who can vouch for them and you're not able to check the soundness of the fleece for yourself. For the seller who sends in a tender fleece though-- I just can't understand the thinking of sending them (unless they don't know they had breaks). There were a lot too-- maybe 8 rejected total? Out of 150+ fleeces that's ~5%, a HUGE number to me! Especially assuming shepherds intentionally sent the best of the best.<br /><br />The judging was not the place to see messy, gross, mulch-pile fleeces, but the coordinators were awesome enough to set out several samples of flawed fleeces for the attendees to check out.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3756495603/" title="P1070116 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2621/3756495603_5e1e7899ea.jpg" alt="P1070116" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I'd seen some of these flaws before (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3756506593/">mineral banding, vegetable matter/VM, breaks</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3756504049/">center back weathering</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3756520555/">cotting, leg/belly hair, breeding crayon</a>) but had never seen <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3756498639/">bacterial staining</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3757321586/">keds</a> or a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3757300064/">double coated fleece that had felted on the sheep</a> in person before, so very very cool. They also had several excellent informational posters, my favorite being "notes on skirting":<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3757316740/" title="P1070125 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/3757316740_eba3a094f8.jpg" alt="P1070125" width="375" height="500" /></a><br />(click for big, you can read the whole thing on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/">my flickr stream</a>)<br /><br />Others were "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3757308320/">Notes on Belly Wool</a>," "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3756515413/">Notes on Preparing Short Wools</a>," and "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3756512635/">Notes on Preparing Sheep for Shearing</a>."<br /><br />Overall, the judging was awesome. There was a bit of a disconnect for me though, attending this as a handspinner and not as someone buying large bales of wool for commercial spinning into commercial yarn. There were several items considered for each fleece during the judging:<br /><br />1. Cleanliness<br />2. Fiber Length<br />3. Fiber Strength<br />4. Weight<br />5. Uniformity of Grade (fiber diameter)<br />6. Adherence to breed standard (for breed category, not market/colored wool)<br />7. Condition, including staining, VM/2nd cuts, etc.<br />8. Overall character<br /><br />First, I was shocked to discover that fleeces entered in the Breed judging were not discounted for cleanliness (poor shearing jobs, excessive VM, or breaks/tenderness in fleece). There were some that were rejected for sale b/c of breaks, but the idea behind not excluding external factors when judging a fleece in the breed category is that it is not the fault of the sheep and that they do not affect its adherence to the breed standard. I can't remember a VM'y fleece earning a high ribbon in the breed category judging, but still-- interesting. And you know how I love interesting :)<br /><br />There was also the issue of weight... It makes sense to judge a fleece more highly if it will have less loss (vm, lanolin) if you are a handspinner or a commercial buyer paying a set price per pound and one will leave you with more clean fleece than another. However, all things being equal (including assumed loss), several times <a href="http://blog.franticfiberfun.com/">Heather</a> and I saw fleeces that were judged to be equal with one another in all other aspects and the fleece that was heavier would place higher than the lighter one. I understand needing a "tiebreaker" but being a wool show where most fleeces will end up in a handspinner's hand and not in industry's, I think many of us would prefer a 6# fleece to a 10# one :)<br /><br />Thinking on it more, it does make sense in Breed-- you could skirt down a 6# fleece to 2# and have the nicest one in the bunch with only shoulder wool. In that instance weight would help keep judging apples to apples, offering the most fleece for judging. For market/colored though-- some breeds are just larger than others and produce a heavier fleece, and would have a leg up in this category even if all were equally skirted just by fleece proportion. I don't really find it bothersome, but just interesting when you think of the higher perceived value of ribbon winners.<br /><br />Any disconnect with the above in judging was more than reconciled with the last judging factor... character.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3757328924/" title="P1070137 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/3757328924_3fc473cce3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1070137" /></a><br />selecting grand champion from all first place finishers<br /><br />I'm happy that my internal barometer of awesome is actually a valid facet of judging fleeces. Jane Patton said something to the effect that a "champion should look like a champion." I'm a sucker for the look, the touch, the way I get excited over something even though I never meant to. And goodness knows there were a lot to get excited over :)<br /><br />If you're interested in attending the auction this year and haven't before, you can check out <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/08/monterey-wool-auction-2008.html">my writeup about last year's auction and what to expect</a>. Auction attendees do not have to pay admission (it's held during the <a href="http://www.montereycountyfair.com/fair/index.php">Monterey County Fair</a>), but they are going to have a guard at gate 4 with names (if you've attended in the past, you should be on it.) If you're new, you can <a href="mailto:claudiajo@redshift.com">email Claudia Ward</a><span class="gI"> and she'll add you. Even if you can't attend this year but want updates about future years (or about spinning in demonstration at the fair this year), drop her a letter and let her know to add you to their mailing list. Next year they're going all electronic, no more envelopes laden with awesome stamps :)<br /><br />So see you there, and don't bid against me! ;)<br /></span></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-49142093624585068872009-07-26T22:10:00.000-07:002009-07-30T00:11:26.872-07:00crossing the tour<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3760332112/" title="P1070165 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/3760332112_56d07b43f4.jpg" alt="P1070165" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />Approx 9 oz and ~1600 yards of 3-ply<br />can you believe how big they look compared to the matchless bobbin? like 3x+ as big...<br /><br />Just off of the bobbins this afternoon with the twist not set, but yay! I finished my Tour de Fleece spinning :) You may recall initially <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/07/tour-de-fleece-2009-day-one.html">I wanted to comb, spin and KNIT</a> <a href="http://www.cocoknits.com/knit/garments/women/yvonne.html">Yvonne</a> in the 22 days... but I am pretty pleased to have apparently spun enough for the pattern (and to spec!) in the timeframe instead.<br /><br />I do feel I've gained something over the past three weeks, even if it wasn't a yellow jersey or a finished shawl. <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/07/sample-spinning-to-spec-day-five-times.html">Sampling for the grist and even the possibilities of the different plies</a> in knit samples was a bit of a chore (and waiting for them to dry was !!!), but all said and done, as I spun my singles to a consistent 32wpi unstretched...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3722201727/" title="P1070036 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/3722201727_cb13715bdc.jpg" alt="P1070036" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />(don't you just love the barberpoling in the single?)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">edit: my spinner's control card can be sourced from <a href="http://www.mielkesfarm.com/spin_card.htm">mielke's fiber arts,</a> and <a href="http://girlontherocks.etsy.com">Girl on the Rocks </a>has <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=17497088">acyrlic</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=17978642">bamboo versions</a> as well</span><br /><br />...I felt free knowing I was spinning something that would (knock wood) definitely work when I was done. It's a strange feeling for me, picking a pattern first and ALSO the commercial yarn to copy/spin to. Prior to TdF I was spinning and knitting the <a href="http://www.schoolhousepress.com/wgback.htm">50th anniversary WoolGathering cardi/sweater (WG 79)</a> from <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/01/combing-with-english-wool-combs-pic.html">my black RamboxCorrie fleece</a>, and my previous comb-spin-knit-comb-spin-knit is without a doubt going out the window after this experience. (A too-late discovery, one of my RxC skeins was much lighter/thinner than the others and I've basically "lost" being able to use it in that sweater... but more on that project later.)<br /><br />Having so many singles to ply at once (over the past 3 days with a break for the fleece judging in Monterey with <a href="http://blog.franticfiberfun.com/">FranticFiberFun</a>) was also really good for me-- I managed to do a decent job managing my 3 singles *without* the <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/06/etsy-friday-and-what-to-do-with-diz.html">plying guide/diz</a> from <a href="http://gvpencheff.etsy.com/">GVPencheff</a> I had made especially for the job...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/2687590206/" title="IMG_1175 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2687590206_8280cfab45.jpg" alt="IMG_1175" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />(5.5, 6, and 6.5mm holes-- special order in red oak)<br /><br />...I love the diz! But am happy I can probably move it from <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/05/etsy-friday_30.html">my spinning basket</a> and into my spinning/fiber tool case permanently now.<br /><br />Backing up! Since I combed everything at once (oy, I have a LOT of combed sliver left!) I was able to really focus both on the technique and the finished fibers in a way I don't think I have before. I probably will not continue <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/01/combing-with-english-wool-combs-pic.html">planking the fibers</a> as I always had before; I didn't for this project because of the time constraint and didn't really see a noticable difference in not doing so. I will plank for some things-- I have a fleece with cotted tips that leave lots of little neps and planking helps me move them about and to catch more of those in the tines, but for regular lovely fleeces? Prolly not.<br /><br />I also had the new combs (<a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/07/combing-fleece-on-handheld-valkyrie.html">Valkyrie minis</a>, did you hear <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/fiber-prep/696794/26-50#47">the maker is going to restart produx on them this year?!</a>) to <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/07/comparing-wool-combs-day-4.html">compare</a> to <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/01/combing-with-english-wool-combs-pic.html">the larger English set</a>... to be honest I don't really have a conclusion as to favorites. Both produce beautiful fiber and have a place in my heart/toolchest. The minis left marginally more neps in the sliver but also less waste weight, the English produce a heavier sliver but need to be clamped to a table and stood in front of to work.<br /><br />What was interesting was both still worked as combs should work, that is both allow the comber to draw off the longest fibers first and leave the shorter parts behind. I'm a bit <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/09/unicorn-fiber-power-scour-versus-dawn.html">compulsive when it comes to measuring staples</a> and getting the same lengths lashed on the comb to begin with (I had jokingly toyed with the idea of tattooing a ruler on my hand but <a href="http://twitter.com/sockpr0n">my twitter friends</a> thought it may be a bit... intimidating outside the fiber world ;)) and this fleece was no different. You may remember how my <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/04/differences-in-carding-and-combing.html">half grey, half white stapled Romeldale lamb pulled off into a striping sliver</a>? The half grey, half brown Corriedale lamb here did something similar.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3746700095/" title="P1070068 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/3746700095_91ae613917.jpg" alt="P1070068" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I've laid the first end of the sliver (bottom) against the last end of sliver pulled off of the combs (top)-- it may be hard to see, but the first end is not only darker, but has more crimp than the lighter colored last bit. I could tell when spinning just by feel that the end of the sliver was approaching-- the last length (it was not very much for each sliver) was discernably softer, more downy soft feeling than the rest. I <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/05/halfway.html">washed the fleece in lock formation and sorted for length</a>, so I don't think this is an issue of sorting prior to combing but that each set of combs did its job in sorting the longest fibers out even though they were grown in and amongst the naturally locking staples. I also don't think it's a coincidence both were lamb fleeces that changed dramatically in color and perhaps type over the course of a year. Dunno, but it makes me love lambs even more :)<br /><br />I'm not a purist in combing, I don't mind mixing staple lengths among the sliver and don't strive for a true worsted (that would require all fiber in the sliver to be the same length). I sort it to try and reduce waste-- which is why I didn't just remove the last few inches of sliver on each bit. I also like the idea of random shots of concentrated lighter grey the last few soft inches showing up in the 3-ply yarn... I spun one bobbin from only slivers from the English combs, one bobbin from slivers from the handheld Vikings, and one by alternating slivers... we'll see once I start knitting how those work up, if they stagger like I think they will.<br /><br />So yay for TdF, and tell my yarn to hurry up and start drying! I can't wait to get knitting it up :)<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-49847365161714026402009-07-13T23:26:00.000-07:002009-07-14T03:41:52.702-07:00weekend at brownies (day seven thru nine)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3718938819/" title="P1070029 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3718938819_54f9a937e7.jpg" alt="P1070029" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />day 7-9 of tour de fleece 2009<br />one lone bobbin down<br /><br />A face only a mother could love? Cos really, not something that gets you all hot and bothered.<br /><br />Like?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3671380736/" title="P1060772 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3312/3671380736_6e77639679.jpg" alt="P1060772" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/index.html">A Verb for Keeping Warm</a> <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/cashmere1.html">cashmere/silk</a>, "Intergalactic Space Travel"<br />(June 2009 <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/fiberclub.html">ultra fiber club</a>)<br /><br />Or maybe you go both ways. All I know is that I am itching to spin some color once Tour de Fleece is over.<br /><br />Back to brown(/grey) :)<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-44828114503352044852009-07-10T16:45:00.000-07:002009-07-10T18:00:14.682-07:00day six and finally spinning<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3708717476/" title="P1060994 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3429/3708717476_9f20e480bd.jpg" alt="P1060994" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />day 6 of tour de fleece 2009<br />finally spinning<br /><br />Finally! :)<br /><br />It is slow going for me so far... My short term goal is to fill three bobbins relatively full and ply them into however many skeins I need to to clear the singles, then start spinning again. I could spin all of singles at once and just do one straight shot at plying, but I'm reallyREALLY looking forward to plying as a rest in spinning. So, it'll be lots of brownish grey singles on bobbins for me over the weekend and beyond.<br /><br />As far as my bobbin progress shot goes... <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7006191">spinning wheel cupholders</a> are rad, but I think my spinning wheel tripod is pretty up there too :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3708719660/" title="P1070002 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2618/3708719660_24099e7409.jpg" alt="P1070002" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HAVVFG?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000HAVVFG">Joby Gorillapod-SLR</a><br />(there's also a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CVU4HE?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002CVU4HE">newer gorillapod-SLR version with a bubble level</a>)<br /><br />It's a tripod with prehensile legs (doesn't that word just do it for you?!) that can wrap onto slim objects and hold <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CCLBSU?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001CCLBSU">my Panasonic Lumix</a> (and any other camera with a tripod hole) in odd ways as well as traditional tabletop tripod ones. The clearance is also good enough on the Schacht for the flyer to turn and spin while <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CCLBSU?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001CCLBSU">the camera </a>is attached... so of COURSE I had to take a video while spinning some (more) singles.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="640" height="360"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=3100733bd9&photo_id=3708703134&flickr_show_info_box=true&hd_default=false"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=3100733bd9&photo_id=3708703134&flickr_show_info_box=true&hd_default=false" width="640" height="360"></embed></object><br /><br />Don't you love the whoooosh? You don't normally hear that (or the taptaptapping of the camera strap against the footman's chamber door :)) It'll be fun to take another video of a heavier weight or multicolor single being spun so you can see it actually filling up on the bobbin... can't think about that til TdF is over though! :)<br /><br />Happy weekend!<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-12148719135966867332009-07-09T23:15:00.000-07:002009-07-10T00:37:00.402-07:00sample spinning to spec (day five times fast)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3705819801/" title="P1060968 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/3705819801_1a9284c215.jpg" alt="P1060968" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />day 5 of tour de fleece 2009<br />spinning and knitting swatches<br /><br />Yesterday felt like a bit of a time suck projectwise... I spent the day spinning little samples of singles at different tpi/wpi, plying 2 and 3-way, and knitting them up into swatches. And watching them dry. :) I should probably have done this before the Tour de Fleece started (I did knit the <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/alpaca11.html">alpaca/silk</a> swatch before), but since it was such a last minute decision for me to attempt the TdF... hindsight and all :)<br /><br />As I've mentioned, I am just in love with <a href="http://cocoknits.com/">cocoknits</a>' new pattern <a href="http://cocoknits.com/knit/garments/women/yvonne.html">Yvonne</a> and am spinning for it for the Tour de Fleece. The original is knit in <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/">Verb's</a> <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/alpaca11.html">Alpaca/Silk yarn</a>, which I've actually used before (for weaving, the <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/03/simple-patterns-on-rigid-heddle.html">longskinnytextured scarf</a>) and it's a *really* nice yarn. I <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G6BLWE?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000G6BLWE">frankensteined it</a> (it's a 3 -ply), and used the bits and pieces and the original whole as my jumping off point in deciding the kinds of samples I wanted to spin. I decided on the 3-ply, tightly plied (relative to the original) sample with the 32wpi singles.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3705821787/" title="P1060979 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2459/3705821787_ffeceb9aca.jpg" alt="P1060979" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Aside from being a 3-ply, and knitting up at 5 sts/inch on US 6's, the corriedale and the alpaca/silk yarns are pretty different. Of course the alpaca/silk is going to be much drapier than the crimpy corriedale, and I could have spun and plied the corrie more loosely to try and mimic that effect of the original yarn, but decided against it. First, close but no cigar on that one-- my crimpy, sheepy fleece is just not similar to the alpaca/silk fibers of the original yarn to begin with. I chose wool and want that to be a highlight, not fought against. Next I'm worried about pilling, I loveLOVE my <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/10/handspun-wisteria-sweater-from-twist.html">handspun Wisteria</a> but have to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00103URIQ?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00103URIQ">give it a good shave</a> before wearing. Maybe if I had spun a 3-ply worsted instead of two I'd have less of a problem (but it might have been less soft and huggy too, don't know cos I didn't sample). This sample feels like it will hold up well to abrasion and wear, and hold its shape. I'm also biased towards tightly spun and plied yarns because I like the way they look, sock yarns and no... and in this yarn the crimp of the lamb's fleece busting out from the ply looks as squishy as it feels, can't say no to that. All over in love with the wooliness of it all :)<br /><br />This is all pretty new to me (spinning to spec, and not to the fiber)-- I've even strung up my <a href="http://www.mielkesfarm.com/spin_card.htm">spinner's control card</a> on the wheel to spotcheck my singles as I go. (Have you seen <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7140">girlontherocks</a>' <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=17471239">wpi spinner's gauge card</a>? not to mention her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27524865">owl needle gauge</a>? too cool.) It's helping, but I hope by the time the project is over I hope I get a better sixth sense about knowing my singles are consistent and not having to secondguess as much as I have been. We'll see :)<br /><br />Speaking of <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/03/bitten-by-my-schacht-matchless-and.html">my Matchless.</a>.. two nights ago I finished combing the wool kind of early in the night and I decided to get the wheel ready for spinning the next day. After oiling I pulled out my tub of <a href="http://www.goodiesunlimited.com/woodbeam.html">Wood Beams</a> (handmade oil/wax wood paste by <a href="http://www.goodiesunlimited.com/">goodies unlimited</a>, smells so good) and gave him a rubdown til he shone. I know there are many lucky souls out there hiphoppity about the <a href="http://www.schachtspindle.com/home/feature_five.php">40th anniversary cherry Matchless</a> (and rightly so!), but sitting crosslegged on the floor in my pyjamas in the middle of the night, turning him over in my hands this way and that, I couldn't help but fall even more head over heels for my big vintage boy and his lovely darkening and flecked maple.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3701186919/" title="P1060955 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2554/3701186919_c9d81f3f7c.jpg" alt="P1060955" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />Definitely a nice way to start this project. Lots of love, for both of us.<br /><br />Hoping to get some yardage under my belt tonite, the only thing.<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-80831616094075783782009-07-08T23:19:00.000-07:002009-07-09T00:51:51.325-07:00comparing wool combs day 4<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3701992208/" title="P1060939 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3431/3701992208_550f9e182c.jpg" alt="P1060939" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />day 4 of tour de fleece 2009<br />650 grams combed total<br />544 grams sliver (106 grams waste not pictured)<br /><br />As usual, coke can for scale :)<br /><br />The foam boxes my slivers usually hang out in were overfull twice over, so I'm storing the little nests <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/04/fleece-storage.html">in the cleaner's supply bags</a> as they wait to be spun. Their tops are folded over to give you an idea of the color and variation in the fleece outside the plastic but are pretty much full to the top. I stored the original washed locks in one of these bags and it wasn't even halfway full, lots of air in the little bits! :)<br /><br />I used my handheld 2 pitch combs all day yesterday like on day 3, hitting 13% waste yet again. Looking at my numbers above it seems I've averaged ~16% in waste fibers over combing the entire fleece, not bad at all. I went ahead and used one bag for the slivers I dizzed from the English combs and one for the slivers from the Vikings; I'll definitely be looking for differences in spinning them but mainly it's to try and break up any possible color banding/striping as I spin. If I can alternate or spin odd lengths I'm hoping to break any repeating color effect the finished yarn may have-- I'm also going to be spinning a 3-ply which will help as well.<br /><br />I can't see any differences in the sliver from the different sets of combs by eye. There is definitely a weight difference-- I randomly pulled 6 nests from each bag and weighed them, 22 grams for the 2-pitch and 34 for the 4-pitch. It doesn't sound like a lot until you start thinking about that difference over a whole fleece's worth of fiber (and that you'll expend similar amounts of energy for each combful, assuming each took the same number of passes before a spinnable sliver was formed.) Also keep in mind that the sliver from 2-pitch combs is not going to give you a "true worsted" spinning experience if it's important to you (all lengths in your sliver will not be the same as they will with higher pitch combs), but for me that's not a big deal since I default to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0914842870?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0914842870">Paula Simmons' draft against twist/spinning for softness and speed</a> spinning anyways.<br /><br />I still don't have a preference for either/or, I think they both will have a happy place in my tool stash for a long time coming. I wanted to share comparison pics of the difference in size/tine spacing and circumference, just because I like these forest-thru-the-trees images :) I also am including comparison pics of the Valkyrie Standard combs, also no longer in production.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3660951031/" title="P1060817 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3660951031_7af21f555b.jpg" alt="P1060817" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />craftsmith 4-pitch "fine" English combs<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3660945141/" title="P1060818 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3643/3660945141_368479e806.jpg" alt="P1060818" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />valkyrie 2-pitch "standard" Viking combs<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3661742704/" title="P1060816 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3328/3661742704_af35859521.jpg" alt="P1060816" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />valkyrie 2-pitch "fine/mini" Viking combs<br /><br />Note that the Valkyrie standard set has the largest diameter tines of all 3-- where the Craftsmith and Valkyrie minis are much closer in terms of tine size. There's also the issue of how those tines are spaced, not only next to one another in the row but how far the subsequent rows are spaced as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3660957833/" title="P1060822 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2434/3660957833_d0bcc8aee5.jpg" alt="P1060822" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />valkyrie standard (left) and mini<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3660953331/" title="P1060825 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3660953331_7ec6df1a13.jpg" alt="P1060825" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />craftsmith 4-pitch fine (left) and valkyrie standard<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3660955555/" title="P1060826 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3660955555_a9fda5d3f5.jpg" alt="P1060826" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />craftsmith 4-pitch fine (left) and valkyrie mini<br /><br />The rule of thumb is going to be the finer the tines and the more they're spaced together, the more appropriate they are for finer fleeces. (Think of the more teeth per sq inch in carding cloth/finer fibers rule, same idea.) The larger, wider set tines of the Valkyrie standard set (or other "standard" Viking sets) will be optimal for coarser fleeces... or other applications like blending, pre-combing, etc. I'll definitely be trying the standard set on some (more!) new fleeces... but that's enough for tonite :) I need to get spinning!<br /><br />Miss you.<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-69901801111035536152009-07-07T22:29:00.000-07:002009-07-08T02:44:03.119-07:00combing fleece on handheld valkyrie vikings, day 3<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3696653162/" title="P1060922 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3696653162_86c2119991.jpg" alt="P1060922" width="375" height="500" /></a><br />day 3 of tour de fleece 2009<br />514 grams combed total<br />426 grams sliver (88 grams waste not pictured)<br /><br />Yesterday I spent my Tour de Fleece time combing fleece (again), but this time on my new-to-me set of Valkyrie handheld 2-pitch Viking combs instead of the <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/01/combing-with-english-wool-combs-pic.html">Craftsmith 4-pitch fine English set</a>. I swapped for the Valkyries on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/spin-or-dye-swapping">Ravelry Spin or Dye swapping board</a> (along with a bunch of other stuff I should show you sometime, super awesome forum for spinners, dyers, and raw fleece junkies) for some of my unloved stash and I'm glad I did.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/01/combing-with-english-wool-combs-pic.html">I love my big combs</a>! For a while now though, I've wanted to be able to sit and comb. It sounds silly, but the first day of TdF I stopped combing for the day not because of time or upper body fatigue, but because my legs were starting to hurt. I'm not used to standing in one place for a long time at this point in my life, and the time does take a toll when trying to comb for volume and not just the day's spinning.<br /><br />So yesterday was all about the Valkyrie handhelds... their "mini" size. Valkyrie isn't making these anymore but sometimes you can find them used (their tines are not stainless, be sure to ask on their condition if you find a set.) They are great, solid tools. I also swapped for the "pad" that holds the combs so you can pull off the sliver with both hands, or I suppose use it more as a fixed station to swing at like a large set. The appeal for me with these was to be able to use them freehand so I use it to be able to pull sliver off more easily.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3696658750/" title="P1060923 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/3696658750_76985a2f09.jpg" alt="P1060923" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />(sunlight's giving the fleece a gorgeous, not true color)<br /><br />I've been weighing my waste fibers and finished sliver as I've gone along on the TdF challenge, more for curiosity than anything (I didn't plan on using the Valkyries for combing to compare.) It is worth noting though that yesterday I hit 13% waste using the handheld 2-pitch versus the ~20% when using the 4-pitch English. It makes sense, more tines catching more waste. The fleece is also a shorter staple than probably optimal for the English set (3").<br /><br />I also was using one less pass on the Viking set than the English (3 vs 4)-- since I use the English as a "fixed comb" (the stationary comb never leaves its pad), I need to pass fiber by a multiple of two (taking off, putting on) before dizzing off. With the Vikings as handhelds, I keep the stationary comb in my left hand and the working comb in my right, transferring fiber from left to right. Once I'm ready, I just switch hands (the full fiber comb goes to the left, the empty/now-working comb to the right) so I can transfer fiber in any number of passes before I decide to diz off.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3696663814/" title="P1060925 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3485/3696663814_b3e98cbe01.jpg" alt="P1060925" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5509933">gvpencheff</a> diz and one of my dining table chairs<br /><br />It is nice, being able to comb anywhere I like. Here I'm set up on the couch, watching <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EN71DG?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001EN71DG">star wars</a> with the kid and making sliver with the Valkyrie pad attached to a chair. Tonite I'm combing at my desk watching <a href="http://hulu.com/">Hulu</a> :) I think I'll be done with TdF combing tonite!!<br /><br />I like both sets, English and Viking. (Really!) I think a truer test as far as waste production goes should be made using a slightly longer stapled fleece-- I think my numbers were higher than normal on the English because of the short staple. (I also did not <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/01/combing-with-english-wool-combs-pic.html">plank</a> on either set.) There is also the body tradeoff... I found standing for several (several!) hours with the English set to be tiring on my legs, but I never feel tired in arms or upper body <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/01/combing-with-english-wool-combs-pic.html">since I let gravity do most of the work</a>. With the handhelds I could feel my arms and hands get tired just from repetition and grip, not as much a strength issue. Keep in mind I'm also trying to power thru combing to get to spinning for the Tour; I'm not doing it to the point of exhaustion but it is probably more than I'd usually do any other time. I do get more volume off of the big combs with less effort (fewer passes for weight combed, etc.), but it becomes a cointoss with everything else considered.<br /><br />The make of the handheld Valkyrie combs overall is very nice. Like I said the Valkyries are no longer in production, but the new sets designed by Robin Russo and manufactured by her husband Pat under the name "St. Blaise" are very similar and in several ways nicer (the pad can be used for storage/hackling across, finished cherry wood as opposed to unfinished, commercially available now etc.) You can order St. Blaise combs from your favorite fiber pusher; I just was drooling over a set at Verb (<a href="mailto:kristine@averbforkeepingwarm.com">they'll ship if you're not local</a>.)<br /><br />Off to finish my tiny pile of locks and oil up the wheel for spinning tomorrow. Yay!<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-89236671883764287242009-07-06T22:46:00.000-07:002009-07-08T02:43:27.356-07:00handcombing wool two and natural dyeing 1(01)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3695840045/" title="P1060904 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3602/3695840045_8318371ccd.jpg" alt="P1060904" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />day 2 of tour de fleece 2009<br />362 grams combed total<br />294 grams sliver (68 grams waste not pictured)<br /><br />I had to start putting the sliver in <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/04/fleece-storage.html">cleaner's supply bags</a> since my foam boxes couldn't hold any more after this picture :) (<a href="http://stitchitpodcast.com/">meghan</a>, these are the boxes i was telling you about from a while back!)<br /><br />Not a bad showing, especially since Sunday was my last installment of the 3 week "Natural Dyeing 101" class I've been attending at <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/">Verb for Keeping Warm's</a> <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/workshop.html">Workshop in Berkeley</a>. In the two previous weeks, <a href="http://site.averbforkeepingwarm.com/myblog.html">Kristine</a> had taken us thru mordanting...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3696227643/" title="P1060707 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3501/3696227643_13f4e2b302.jpg" alt="P1060707" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...dyeing and dyestuffs...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3697032174/" title="P1060704 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3697032174_411c88e9a5.jpg" alt="P1060704" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...and yesterday was washing all of the beautiful BFL we had created.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3696231033/" title="P1060899 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3485/3696231033_6ccf23ae7d.jpg" alt="P1060899" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />I knew how <a href="http://www.yknit.com/index.php?post_id=435193">intense the setup and work involved in natural dyeing was</a>, but didn't body-know it. It really did take us three weeks to get from white wool to color, which is just crazytalk to me when <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/search/label/dyeing">I think about dyeing with acid dyes</a> and being said and done in a matter of days (drying time occupying most of that).<br /><br />I'm glad to have taken the class-- <a href="http://site.averbforkeepingwarm.com/myblog.html">Kristine</a> is an excellent teacher who fielded our questions like no book ever could. I know she'll offer the class again in the fall (after the cakewalks of vending at <a href="http://www.socksummit.com/">sock summit</a> and <a href="http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=75fa002b-c93a-493d-9633-ece9365ff290">soar</a> :))... and it'll be a prereq to further classes such as cochineal, natural dyegardens, and indigo (<a href="http://knitspot.com/?p=874">lovely indigo discussion on anne's blog here today</a>) that I'm already looking forward to.<br /><br />For me, I was mainly interested in natural dyeing as it would apply to dyeing fleece... it really has gotten out of control here again fleecewise and for some reason, dyeing fleece would make it somehow more acceptable to have a wall of fleece come avalanching down in my closet as a regular occurance. Anyhow, I was able to take away enough information about natural dyeing to actively start daydreaming about how some of these colors would look over <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/09/unicorn-fiber-power-scour-versus-dawn.html">fleeces washed in lock formation</a>, naturally colored and no...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3696234193/" title="P1060913 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3696234193_de92575c61.jpg" alt="P1060913" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Back to combing :)<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-14302551268994881702009-07-05T23:51:00.000-07:002009-07-08T02:42:59.689-07:00handcombing wool, day one<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3692740827/" title="P1060878 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3692740827_6b0283362a.jpg" alt="P1060878" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />day 1 of tour de fleece 2009<br />170 grams combed total<br />134 grams sliver, 36 grams waste<br /><br />Have to admit, kind of pales when I already see others'<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/tour-de-fleece"> finished yarns and full bobbins</a> :) I do enjoy seeing the brown overtake the grey of the <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/05/halfway.html">half-colored fleece</a>, though it's a little less in different lights and makes me realize I was right... I have too few grey colored fleeces in the stash.<br /><br />Sarah aK: (a) <a href="http://teleknitter.blogspot.com/">teleknitter</a> helped me on that one, recently...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3670549827/" title="P1060833 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/3670549827_d5f09a09ff.jpg" alt="P1060833" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />"Florence," <a href="http://www.cvmsheep.com/">CVM</a> from <a href="http://teleknitter.blogspot.com/">teleknitter yarn farms</a><br /><br />No, I can't believe the crimp either :) Flo's already been washed up and stored waiting for inspiration to strike; she's actually half a fleece, around 2.2# raw and ishouldhaveweighedherscouredbutobviouslylessthanthat and even less once I'm done combing :)<br /><br />Combing for the tour is going to be a good way for me not only to work on building up more muscle memory with the combs, but also to be able to track where I'm hitting re: waste fiber. <a href="http://www.whitefishbayfarm.com/coloredwool.htm">Velveeta</a> is a shortish stapled fleece, 3"... so I'll see more than if she were longer and less likely to get caught in the tines. She is also a lamb's fleece so I'm getting the lamb tips in with the waste as well, but 20% loss isn't too bad. I'd like to get it lower but I also admit I'm working more for speed than cleanliness with the deadline ahead.<br /><br />I am also still deciding on how much to comb prior to spinning. <a href="http://cocoknits.com/knit/garments/women/yvonne.html">Yvonne</a> only calls for a little under 1300 yards over 13 ounces, and I'm pretty sure I read <a href="http://cocoknits.com/">Julie</a> say that she didn't use all of the 3rd skein when knitting her sample. I don't mind combing, and part of me thinks I should just get it all done so I don't have to go back and stop to comb if I run out while spinning... but another just wants to get in front of the wheel right about now.<br /><br />We'll see :) Off to finish more prep before my day is thru :)<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-49844145734989746402009-07-04T17:38:00.000-07:002009-07-04T17:58:23.656-07:00tour de fleece 2009 day one<div style="text-align: center;">I've missed you more.<br /><br />I joined the <a href="http://www.tourdefleece.com/">Tour de Fleece</a> this year (via <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/tour-de-fleece">Ravelry</a>) because I can't live in my pyjamas behind shuttered windows like the past months anymore. I needed an intense distraction from the choke of my heart and the TdF was a last minute decision to get me moving and burying, or at least on my feet.<br /><br />I'm not going to spin the whole 22 days-- instead I'll comb <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/05/halfway.html">the latest lovely corriedale lamb fleece</a> from <a href="http://www.whitefishbayfarm.com/farm.htm">Whitefish Bay Farm</a>, spin it and knit <a href="http://www.cocoknits.com/knit/garments/women/yvonne.html">Yvonne</a> from <a href="http://www.cocoknits.com/">CoCoKnits</a> before the end of the challenge.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3687846499/" title="P1060867 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/3687846499_0c8d8b7e55.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060867" /></a><br /><br />Ready to go. Or at least move.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3688651722/" title="P1060871 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3688651722_a617943906.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060871" /></a><br /><br />(Not really ready. But still.)<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-15555855471409492512009-05-13T14:43:00.000-07:002009-05-13T22:05:13.502-07:00halfway<div style="text-align: center;">Everything's halfway done 'round here (glass half full?)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3529519138/" title="P1060341 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2177/3529519138_6181af1994.jpg" alt="P1060341" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />warp: <a href="https://www.tactilefiberarts.com/">Tactile Fiber Arts</a> <a href="https://www.tactilefiberarts.com/store/store.php?crn=241">superwash merino/tencel</a>, "orchid"<br />weft: <a href="http://www.handjiveknits.com/">Hand Jive Knits</a>' Nature's Palette, "odd duck 5"<br /><br />This wrap has been done longer than it took to weave... I want to do something different (read: not overhand knots) to finish the edges but can't decide, so it's just been sitting around waiting to be fulled for almost a week. Really pretty though-- I think once done the tencel blend from Tactile will shine-shine and the Nature's Palette will puff up even more.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3529504208/" title="P1060305 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/3529504208_ff106cd445.jpg" alt="P1060305" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />I've been almostthere with the "Sunny Side Up" <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/silk2.html">merino/silk</a> from <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/">A Verb for Keeping Warm</a> for what seems like ages-- usually I don't want such a fun color to be over, but I was hoping to have something finished to wear to <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/keepfleece20091.html">Keep the Fleece/Sheep to Scarf</a> this weekend. Admittedly all my fault (again), I got sidetracked playing <a href="http://www.hasbro.com/games/family-games/jenga/">Jenga</a> with fleece.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3528699099/" title="P1060323 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2255/3528699099_1b599199a3.jpg" alt="P1060323" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Very little makes me as happy fiberwise as arranging locks for washing when the fleece is as greasy and willing as this one. From <a href="http://www.whitefishbayfarm.com/fleeces.htm">Whitefish Bay Farm</a>, "<a href="http://www.whitefishbayfarm.com/coloredwool.htm">Velveeta</a>."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3528695695/" title="P1060317 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3528695695_848033d625.jpg" alt="P1060317" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Buying a fleece from <a href="http://www.whitefishbayfarm.com/fleeces.htm">Whitefish Bay Farm</a> is a crazy ordering experience-- they publish their list of available fleeces (no photos) and a time they will start taking orders, and its off to the races. I was hitting redial on the phone for an hour and half trying to order (just!) one, and didn't get my first, second, or even third choice. Crazy thing is, I am always super pleased with what I do end up with. Maybe cos both times, the lamb fleeces from WFB were some sort of magic and <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/10/handspun-wisteria-sweater-from-twist.html">shifted color midstaple</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3528702959/" title="P1060328 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3528702959_0b79d38f10.jpg" alt="P1060328" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Halfway indeed :)<br /><br />Miss you, only thing more than half.<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-87332911564971162902009-05-04T20:40:00.000-07:002009-05-04T22:44:30.987-07:00shetland triangle and verb for keeping warm retail workshop<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">before i ramble on and on :) -- congratulations belong to </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://barefootrooster.wordpress.com/">barefoot rooster</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> on </span><a href="http://random.org/"><span style="font-style: italic;">random.org</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> drawing your comment (#1!) and winning the <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/04/drowning-in-silk.html">aVfKW Ultra Club merino/silk</a>! e</span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">mail sent :)<br /><br />now, onto the on and on...<br /></span><br />I think I love gift knitting because I get to make awesome things I wouldn't necessarily wear myself, and when it's a fit with the recipient everyone wins. I loved making this for my sister :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3502461812/" title="P1060004 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3578/3502461812_63ced00ffa.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060004" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931499918?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1931499918">Shetland Triangle</a><br /><a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/04/drowning-in-silk.html">Handspun</a> 2-ply tussah silk and sw merino/cashmere<br />Spun and knit over 4 days in April<br />US 10.75 needles (7.0mm)<br /><br />The goal was to make something machine washable (or, at least spot washable/easy care) that she could wear easily as quick cover for nursing baby. I knit it on huge huge needles (7.0mm) to really stretch out the most fabric widthwise I could when knitting, but only lightly blocked it by shaping the edges with blocking wires and lightly stretching to dry. I worried a severe blocking would mar the pattern (already a bit indistinct with the huge needles)... and that my sister is smaller than me and I didn't want it to overwhelm her frame.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3502447750/" title="P1050987 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/3502447750_ddd086576a.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P1050987" /></a><br />(our mom)<br /><br />I think the size looks perfect when worn, and provides just enough cover to overlap in the front (and bonus-- be able to see baby at the same time.) I used my gigantic (8'+!) Mmmalabrigo <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html">Clapotis</a> when I was still nursing as a cover, and my son loved the dropped stitches when he was a little older-- poking fingers thru, playing hide and seek behind the fabric. I am so happy my sister has so much ahead of her :)<br /><br />While the goal of the project was met, it was really the yarn I was excited about.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3501643123/" title="P1050993 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3501643123_175efe862c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P1050993" /></a><br /><br />When I spun the tussah silk I knew I was aiming for long stretches of color, but really had no idea of their impact when plied with the white until I saw the striping of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931499918?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1931499918">Shetland Triangle</a> appear. They look planned... and how I love when the yarn does the work for me :) I also appreciate their subtlety; my sister isn't a knitter and what speaks to me isn't necessarily what'll float her boat. (<a href="http://www.knittingfever.com/c/noro/yarn/">Noro</a> springs to mind-- I never really dug the color striping and coordination until I knit with it and saw it jump off of my own needles.) I think the white here offsets the striping impact, in that it's not the only thing you see.<br /><br />For me, the only thing I see is the silk, and the baby indigo blue that looks white until you really look :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3502466666/" title="P1060012 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3594/3502466666_5bd6d3fb6b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060012" /></a><br /><br />I don't think my photos captured this shawl well at all-- big scale photos don't show the silk which for me makes my toes curl. (missing that)<br /><br />I also really dig that I did what I intended to do-- spin and ply the silk tightly with the lower twist merino/cashmere, and have the white ply sort of jump out of the silk's grip in both yarn and finished object. The result is so soft and shiny... I hope she likes it too! What's great is she saw me spindle spinning during my last visit and was fascinated-- I think she'll be one who appreciates the start-to-finish of this project.<br /><br />I couldn't resist showing it off before mailing, so when I heard that <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/index.html">A Verb for Keeping Warm </a>was having a celebration to welcome their new full time employee <a href="http://www.dyegarden.com/">Adrienne</a>, I packed it and the kid up and headed to <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/workshop.html">the WorkShop</a> where I got to show Kristine what her fiber grew up to be and see this ground-up retail store for the first time.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3495662187/" title="P1060226 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3495662187_f6577df570.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P1060226" /></a><br /><br />You walk in and immediately its spindles and fiber and yarn and wheels and gentle assault on the senses as you take it in and realize how much work is hanging on the walls around you. It still kneecaps me, knowing how much work (physical, time intensive work) goes into dyeing with natural dyes. I love acid dyers, love food grade colors, but also know the time it takes me to dye a length of roving doesn't hold a candle to maintaining an indigo vat, premordanting raw wool, all of the etc. steps. (I won't go on about natural dyeing and the steps involved, but <a href="http://www.yknit.com/index.php?post_id=435193">you can hear Kristine</a><a href="http://www.yknit.com/index.php?post_id=435193"> talk about this</a> a little bit on the <a href="http://www.yknit.com/">YKnit podcast</a> a 'cast or three back.)<br /><br />With all the work and the subsequent higher cost these yarns and fibers have to fetch to maintain a living wage for everyone involved, I can't be happier that Verb's business is flourishing enough to hire a full time employee. Appreciation for handwork, handmade, slow artisanal crafts... sounds like what all knitters and spinners want :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3496475460/" title="P1060221 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3313/3496475460_40d97322ba.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P1060221" /></a><br /><br />Another cool thing about the WorkShop is that its creation stayed true to the business' vision: it started with a <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/10/spinning-fiber-clubs-and-sale.html">small truly empty space</a> that was insulated with recycled denim fiber, panelled with findings, windows and doors from Urban Ore, painted with remaindered paint from SFMOMA and floored with carpet from the same.<br /><br />And it's just a neat place :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3496477698/" title="P1060223 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3496477698_2fbda6246b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060223" /></a><br /><br />I couldn't get away from bringing some stuff home with me. It didn't help that my son was with me, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3496472630/">he was talking me into purchases all day</a> :) We finally agreed on two (not eight like he wanted!) bunches of <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/blle1.html">BFL</a> for a special something for him.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3495687773/" title="P1060227 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3495687773_353abd7b5e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060227" /></a><br /><br />I also picked up something special for me... <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/silk2.html">merino/silk</a> in "sunny side up."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3496508080/" title="P1060229 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/3496508080_4c74e5a699.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060229" /></a><br /><br />SO much prettier than my overcast photos show... and the last bit :( ...an end run of a limited colorway. <a href="http://ysolda.com/wordpress/2009/01/14/ishbel-pattern/">Ishbel</a> maybe?<br /><br />I also broke my not-a-real sock yarn fast after spying this beauty (and a sock pattern I've wanted since its publication)...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3495691949/" title="P1060232 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3317/3495691949_cca545d30e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1060232" /></a><br /><a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/merino.html">Creating yarn (Superwash Merino, 436 yd/4 oz)</a> in "Tide Pool" and "<a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/basharsobyma.html">Shaped Arch Socks</a>" by <a href="http://unravelingmarlowe.blogspot.com/">Marlowe Crawford</a><br /><br />I think I'll use handspun for the pattern and the yarn for a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596681098?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596681098">Cookie A Sock Innovation pattern</a> (I love <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596681098?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596681098">this book</a> so much I should write a book report ;))... I'm obviously on a project-planning binge :)<br /><br />If you're local/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Bay_Area">bay area</a>, A Verb for Keeping Warm is hosting a <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/classes.html">"Keep the Fleece" event</a> on May 16th, raising money for <a href="http://www.heifer.org/">Heifer International</a> by hosting a day of spinning and knitting scarves-- a "sheep to scarf" event in our own backyard. A perfect time to connect with local spinners and knitters, check out the <a href="http://store.averbforkeepingwarm.com/workshop.html">WorkShop Studio</a> in person, and raise some money to bring more fleece into the hands of the world. Again, just what knitters and spinners want :)<br /><br />What we want and what we have... but as always, out of time. Til then.<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-74590097434709997762009-04-30T13:52:00.000-07:002009-04-30T20:06:45.003-07:00crochet chain roving braiding<div style="text-align: center;">the first time i bought chained roving i was !!! ... so much easier to pull open and start spinning than when its braided. i'm surrounded by a bunch of superwash rovings and <a href="http://www.barknknit.blogspot.com/">barknknit</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/sockpr0n">asked</a> how i was chaining them up-- a few pics of the steps (and a minipreview of the new dyeing idea i had to try out)...<br /><br />take one end of the roving, lay the long end over the top of the short.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3488894579/" title="P1060067 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3488894579_4e477feeba.jpg" alt="P1060067" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />reach thru the loop, grab a length of the long end...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3489713706/" title="P1060068 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/3489713706_fd9985af07.jpg" alt="P1060068" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...pull thru...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3488900247/" title="P1060069 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3488900247_2cabb7ea35.jpg" alt="P1060069" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...making another loop.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3489717666/" title="P1060071 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3489717666_3d695ea93c.jpg" alt="P1060071" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />keep pulling the roving thru and making loops til you run out...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3489719968/" title="P1060084 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3579/3489719968_a98ec6702c.jpg" alt="P1060084" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...insert end into last loop...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3489722258/" title="P1060085 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3489722258_5a85927976.jpg" alt="P1060085" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />...pull taut and you're done!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3488909315/" title="P1060087 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3540/3488909315_4c2570ee13.jpg" alt="P1060087" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />yay!<br /><br />this and nine other superwash merino rovings will be listed in <a href="http://zero.etsy.com/">my etsy shop</a> tomorrow (may day!) at 9am (pacstandard). i'll have previews up in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/">my flickr stream</a> later-later today and can hold/reserve colors-- just send me a note.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">[8pm: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/">all photos uploaded</a>]</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3489710185/" title="P1060199 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/3489710185_eec9b125c8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P1060199" /></a><br /><br />happy spinning and dyeing!<br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20292173.post-59055380926367746682009-04-27T13:04:00.000-07:002009-04-27T14:45:41.630-07:00fleece storage<div style="text-align: center;">There is a monster in this house.<br /><br />It is my utility closet, burping up fleeces.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3480380661/" title="P1060044 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/3480380661_d744eb7fd3.jpg" alt="P1060044" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />(<a href="http://twitter.com/sockpr0n">I told you</a> it was bad <a href="http://www.girlontherocks.com/">Karrie</a>! :))<br /><br />It started out innocently, washed bags of lovely wool stacked in the back of the closet... there was space, and the fleeces filled it happily. Soon they started spilling out of their little corner and onto the floor of the closet between the shelving-- in boxes waiting to be washed, in oversized Ziploc XL and comforter bags, in shipping containers. It got to be where I was just stacking boxes on boxes, where I would forgo grabbing the toolkit or other non-fleece things that were <a href="http://www.rentlaw.com/tic.htm">TIC</a> with the fleeces because it was too much of a hassle to reach them.<br /><br />I know a lot of the problem was the boxes-- I have been storing unwashed fleeces and pindraft rovings in the cardboard homes they were shipped to me in, but still. So last nite, armed with an empty house and a <a href="http://www.cleanersupply.com/products/product.cfm?pID=3305">bunch of new zippered storage bags</a> from <a href="http://www.cleanersupply.com/">Cleaner's Supply</a>, I went to town and repacked everything.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3480385185/" title="P1060049 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/3480385185_64da577133.jpg" alt="P1060049" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />I feel a million times better! <a href="http://www.cleanersupply.com/products/product.cfm?pID=3305">The bags from Cleaner's Supply (15x18x9 "blanket bag")</a> are awesome. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/spindlers/605539/">I read about them on Ravelry</a> (mine are a different size) and bought 2 dozen-- they're on sale thru April but still at full price are a steal for their fiber possibilities. Yarn storage, anyone? :)<br /><br />I repacked the pindraft fleeces from <a href="http://morrofleeceworks.com/">Morro Fleece Works</a>...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3480388813/" title="P1060050 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3480388813_0093ace202.jpg" alt="P1060050" width="500" height="375" /></a><br />(about 2# each with plenty of room to spare/squish)<br /><br />Sidebar-- have I shared pics of the cormo I just got back from Morro?! <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/08/monterey-wool-auction-2008.html">I sent 2 partial fleeces</a> for blending together, 2/3 weightwise was a steel grey and 1/3 weight a black brown and Shari sent back this amazingly heathered roving...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3440071858/" title="P1050883 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3440071858_51d4625a0e.jpg" alt="P1050883" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Eee! :)<br /><br />Meanwhile back on the farm... I repacked all of the washed locks I had in the blue Ziploc XL bags too. The Ziplocs were great but too big and awkward, and these are perfect for being able to easily see the naturally colored rainbow at a glance.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3480437573/" title="P1060053 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3480437573_cb20e3d5ed.jpg" alt="P1060053" width="375" height="500" /></a><br />(<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/">flickr</a> has <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3480437573/">notes for each</a>)<br /><br />From the tops, too...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3481250566/" title="P1060054 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/3481250566_a02e5b659e.jpg" alt="P1060054" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />They're holding a good 4# of washed locks, the fuller bags. Unless they were monsters, I'd guess this size bag could hold most washed fleeces. They're a lighter gauge plastic than the comforter bags I've been keeping, but I'm really happy with these. They also have breathable side panels-- no squishing the air out of these and sealing, but I actually like the idea of a breathable bag (I'll be putting lavender/cedar sachets in each eventually as well.)<br /><br />I even repackaged the unwashed fleeces, keeping them in their shipping bags and putting those inside a <a href="http://www.cleanersupply.com/products/product.cfm?pID=3305">CS bag</a>. (I want to be able to reuse the blanket bags for scoured locks... don't want suint and grease rubbing off on the insides.) I didn't realize how much washing I have ahead of me-- 4 fleeces! One new one came this week, over 3 pounds in this teeny tiny box...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3480446225/" title="P1060056 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3546/3480446225_a9459ac22c.jpg" alt="P1060056" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Schacht Matchless bobbin for scale (with some gorgeous <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5101528">Dyeabolical Yarns</a> superwash merino I can't stop spinning!). Inside...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockpr0n/3481259812/" title="P1060059 by sockpr0n, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3481259812_a7e56dc4a4.jpg" alt="P1060059" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.whitefishbayfarm.com/coloredwool.htm">Velveeta</a>! :) <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2008/10/handspun-wisteria-sweater-from-twist.html">Another lamb's fleece</a> from <a href="http://www.whitefishbayfarm.com/fleeces.htm">Whitefish Bay Farm</a>.<br /><br />!!!<br /><br />Off to go admire my empty closet... I'll pull a winner for the <a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/04/drowning-in-silk.html">merino/silk </a><a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/04/drowning-in-silk.html">Verb for Keeping Warm </a><a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/04/drowning-in-silk.html">spinning fiber </a><a href="http://sockpr0n.blogspot.com/2009/04/drowning-in-silk.html">contest</a> next Monday (5/4) since the project is done and should arrive by its destination by then (don't want to ruin the surprise :)) Miss you, til then!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">ps, longshot but does anyone want to trade their copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1883010330?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1883010330">Aran Knitting</a> for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8251784352?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=8251784352">Poetry in Stitches: Clothes you can knit</a> **AND** <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1579902537?ie=UTF8&tag=sockpr0n-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1579902537">Knitting Fair Isle Mittens and Gloves</a>? email/<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/sockpr0n">ravmsg</a> me if yes :)</span><br /></div>aijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10719758263070679884noreply@blogger.com8