Monday, October 13, 2014

Halfway into October!!

The weather, the produce ( berries, fruits, greens) , travel (to France) have been so good all summer and September and indeed  October so far, have all been so good that I've neglected to do any blogs despite having doing some spinning and knitting. I am spoilt by the seasons recently and most of my photos relate to that so should (and will) be put on my "Love The Seasons" blog".
Huddie survived the dog kennel ('though appeared pretty deaf for quite a while after we sprung him) and continues to enjoy his retirement despite his 13.5 plus years.

I miss Rufus, the beautiful fluffy red cat who was brought down by severe fly strike (I din't know cats got this, 'though I had recently postulated that this could happen as perhaps I should shear him - careful what you let yourself think!). He was due his next dose of anti-parasitic meds. by a few days before "Lucy" got him. :( :( :(.


Let me look for any fiber photos that might have accrued during that time…. wow it's almost ll food and flowers and scenery….

must rectify that soon!

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Sunday, August 3, 2014

FeltstudioUK BFL hand-dyed roving spun

The weather turned - rain and dark recently - but the spinning goes on.
The Blue Faced Leicester hand-dyed roving has become 193 grams of chain-plied Sport weight yarn.
I spun the singles on the new drop spindle and chain-plied it on my e-spinner.
It was nice work.
The color repeats are roughly aligned so that the blues, violet, green and earth are not too smudged out although there are areas of barber pole.
It is soft and moderately "drapey".

A Little bit of the singles left over:

A little of the roving left over


The chin-plied hand  with the new drop spindle



A very rounded yarn.

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Monday, July 21, 2014

New Drop Spindle - a delight

In addition to the BFL roving I bought at Woolfest, I also fell for a lovely hand-made drop spindle (I will  find the makers name). It just suited my hand - such an opportunity to test-drive several spindles and find the one that suits.
Here is is employed in spinning the BFL roving into singles which I'm chain-plying on the spinning wheel to keep the color sequence.


Hope to ply the 180 gms then post its finished yarn in about……a week? We'll see.


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Woolfest, Cockermouth

I was lucky enough to attend Woolfest in Cockermouth, Cumbria this June.
Really, really enjoyed all the stands, the sheep pens among the stalls, the demos in the mart ring and the general atmosphere.
Took many photos and have added some here :
I bought a pair of these Rovings from FeltstudioUK - it is dyed Blueface Leicester, one of my favorite fibers:




Many sheep breeds - a demo about Herdwick
Other breeds such as Soay, Jacob, Texel, Ryeland, Manx Loaghtan were represented in the ring and amongst the stands:






 Lovely wools and crafts













And that just a little taste 

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Friday, July 18, 2014

Gras and Mint

I hand dyed two lots of my DAU fleece in green, one set lighter than the other.
It spun up into a springy double-green marled yarn, probably would make a nice hat or gloves or home accessory.


184 gms, 347 yards, 12 wpi

Mini swatch - 12 sts and 12 rows ss on 4 mm needles



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Bling batt spun

I made these batts from approx. 45% merino roving, 45% my DUA sheep's fleece hand dyed and 10% gilded nylon roving.


Spun and on the swift:



Center-pull balled:



247 gms, 622 yards, 11 wpi


A little swatch - 11 sts - on 4 mm needles:



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Thursday, June 12, 2014

More multi-color yarn

Mauves, greens blue-greys - I like this one:

Mixed batts for singles:











                                        Plied:




The hank is drying and I will take its measurements and wind it tomorrow.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Gorse and heather yarn ball

The yarn that spun from the formerly posted Gorse and Heather batt:








I've put the details on Ravelru (oisin10708) and in etsy (droimAnUan)

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