Today I got three very nice jacob fleeces from Never Winter Farm.
One is a Hogget (first shearling) very nice colors staple length about 5" and first impression it feels soft as next to skin soft. second fleece is from a ewe. It is almost white just a little color spots in there. it has a nice crimp and also very soft.
Third fleece is a ram fleece. very dark with some white. The smell is unmistakenly old man but shuld wash out easy.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Black Wesh Mountain
The fiber study group on Ravelry had Black Welch Mountain to study for April and I was lucky to get two nice fleeces from Desert Wyr http://www.desertweyr.com/
When the package arrived i opened and this was the very first time i was able to lay a fleece out in one piece. This was black as can be. Just the tips a bit rosty colored.
This fleece was very clean with just some tiny spots of scurf that washed out and what was still in after washing did come out after combing.
It has a staple length of 3 1/2 inch and a nice crimp. Left unwashed, right washed.
i spun it worsted sport weight two ply. it has a bit elasticity but not as much as corriedale.
because spun worsted it still has a lot of luster and feels very smooth. Yup, soft as in next to skin feeling.
Next i mixed a bit green merino/silk blend in before spinnning.
The knitted sample looks a bit tweedy and i like it.
My husband liked it too and has claimed this fleece for a sweater. :)
When the package arrived i opened and this was the very first time i was able to lay a fleece out in one piece. This was black as can be. Just the tips a bit rosty colored.This fleece was very clean with just some tiny spots of scurf that washed out and what was still in after washing did come out after combing.
It has a staple length of 3 1/2 inch and a nice crimp. Left unwashed, right washed.
because spun worsted it still has a lot of luster and feels very smooth. Yup, soft as in next to skin feeling.
The knitted sample looks a bit tweedy and i like it.
My husband liked it too and has claimed this fleece for a sweater. :)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
fiber study and other fibery stuff: how to begin?
fiber study and other fibery stuff: how to begin?
When I started spinning last summer with a little home made spindle that I got as a present more then five years ago, I had absolutely no clue where this all would lead me. I was always knitting and sometimes crocheting but never thought I would like to make my very own yarn.
I forgot the little spindle for more then five years and remembered when i traded a milking goat to somebody with icelandic sheep.
I got a couple of roving and no idea what to do with it. When I came home, I remembered the little spindle made with a dowel and a CD. This was the magical start. To see the fiber transform into a yarn fascinated me that I wanted a "real" spindle.
Searching the internet for stores in my area that could help me, I found the Spinning loft and Beth Smith in Howell Michigan. She picked out some spindles for me to try and I went home with an acorn spindle and some roving.
It did not take too long until my first spinning wheel arrived. This was a Kromski Symphony.
Because I also wanted a wheel that i could take to places, i was looking for a more compact travel wheel. I was not really fond of the Sonata from kromski and was looking at the jensen wheels. I had heard very good reviews on them and I decided to get a Jensen Tina II
That wheel was such a delight to spin that i wanted another one from jensen. Ths time I got the opportunity to add the 30" Ashley in a beautiful birdsbeye maple with a big knot in the table.
Not only is this a very decorative wheel, it also spins like a dream. So effortless.
When I started spinning last summer with a little home made spindle that I got as a present more then five years ago, I had absolutely no clue where this all would lead me. I was always knitting and sometimes crocheting but never thought I would like to make my very own yarn.
I forgot the little spindle for more then five years and remembered when i traded a milking goat to somebody with icelandic sheep.
I got a couple of roving and no idea what to do with it. When I came home, I remembered the little spindle made with a dowel and a CD. This was the magical start. To see the fiber transform into a yarn fascinated me that I wanted a "real" spindle.
Searching the internet for stores in my area that could help me, I found the Spinning loft and Beth Smith in Howell Michigan. She picked out some spindles for me to try and I went home with an acorn spindle and some roving.
It did not take too long until my first spinning wheel arrived. This was a Kromski Symphony.
Because I also wanted a wheel that i could take to places, i was looking for a more compact travel wheel. I was not really fond of the Sonata from kromski and was looking at the jensen wheels. I had heard very good reviews on them and I decided to get a Jensen Tina II
That wheel was such a delight to spin that i wanted another one from jensen. Ths time I got the opportunity to add the 30" Ashley in a beautiful birdsbeye maple with a big knot in the table.
Not only is this a very decorative wheel, it also spins like a dream. So effortless.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Tunis
Last year I bought just under two pound of raw tunis fleece from the spinning loft in howell.
After having it sit for a while in a plastic drawer, i finally got it out in march.
I divided the fleece and put it in mash bags for gentler handling. Then I pre soaked in cold water over night before I washed it with 140F hot water and Orvus paste. I only needed two washes to get it clean. After rinsing and a short spin in the washing machine, I spread it out for drying and after 1/2 day it was dry and i could start combing.
There were some weak spots and it was a bit of work to get the nepps out but after it was done, it looked very nice.
The loveley color from the tunis lam got lost after washing and i ended up with almost white with just a hint of a beige tone. I blended a sample of the fiber with raw tussah silk and the honey color added a bit more of color to the fleece and it got the warm beige tone back.
the fleece before washing
on the left the tunis without the tussah
right the color of the tussah silk
and on the bottom the sample knitted with the tunis tussah blend
I spun it worsted two ply wpi 12 and knit the sample with needle # 6 (4mm)
Now need to decide if i leave the color or dye it????
After having it sit for a while in a plastic drawer, i finally got it out in march.
I divided the fleece and put it in mash bags for gentler handling. Then I pre soaked in cold water over night before I washed it with 140F hot water and Orvus paste. I only needed two washes to get it clean. After rinsing and a short spin in the washing machine, I spread it out for drying and after 1/2 day it was dry and i could start combing.
There were some weak spots and it was a bit of work to get the nepps out but after it was done, it looked very nice.
The loveley color from the tunis lam got lost after washing and i ended up with almost white with just a hint of a beige tone. I blended a sample of the fiber with raw tussah silk and the honey color added a bit more of color to the fleece and it got the warm beige tone back.
right the color of the tussah silk
and on the bottom the sample knitted with the tunis tussah blend
I spun it worsted two ply wpi 12 and knit the sample with needle # 6 (4mm)
Now need to decide if i leave the color or dye it????
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