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.


*********************************************************************

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 

***********************************************

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



****************************************

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:



*************************************************