cleaning a fleece

Last weekend I decided to start processing this fleece.  It is an awarding winning fleece that I purchased at SAFF in North Carolina.  Getting to touch all the fiber is always so lovely.  I really do not need anymore, because I have so much to process, but I am off to the Taos Wool Festival this weekend.  More fiber.  More animals.  More mountains.  Possibly some restraint when it comes to purchasing fiber.  Maybe not.

I spent hours picking through the fleece.  Getting straw and dirt clumps out of it.  Because it was such a well kept sheep, there really was not a lot of there crap to clean out.

I washed it in the bathtub with a very gentle soap.

And now it is drying.  Soon it will be dry enough for carding and spinning.  It is another of those meditative tasks.  The problem with this fleece is trying to decide what I want to do with it.  It is just a lovely color and softness that I have too many ideas.  I do have more fleeces to process, even some I can dye.

More experimentation!

starting christmas preparations

When we were up on the mountain, I stopped by the local yarn and fiber store.  I picked out fiber for Christmas presents.  I have to spin all this before i can start that work.  But I have some hats and mitts planned.  I find the spinning very relaxing.  I laugh because I really do not even look at yarn anymore unless there is something very specific needed.

I also got the best compliment at the yarn store.  My Beloved was wearing the sweater I had made him, where I had spun the yarn and crochet it.  I was wearing a shawl I had crocheted.  The owner of the shop said I really showcased what crochet can really be.  She does not like crochet fabrics usually because most people make it bullet proof.  Think of a sweater made like a bullet proof vest.  She is right.  Most crochet is like that.  The compliment really made me smile.  Warmed my heart a bit as well because crochet is looked down a lot by knitters.

spinning the last bit of sunshine

I am spinning the last bit of Sunshine's fleece.  The sweater I am making with it has one more sleeve to go and it is all done.  I am fairly excited because I think it has the best sleeves on it I have ever made.  I modeled it one sleeved for a lady at work and she loved it.  For her, it would be a little different.  For me, it will almost be a winter sweater that will need no coat.  

Spin yarn.  Crochet one sleeve.  Weave in three ends.  Add hooks.  That just does not seem that much farther to go.

I am hoping I will have just enough Sunshine left for mitts for me and a hat for Small Mister.  Then he will match Poppa a bit.  He had to talk to his Poppa twice today so I miss him even more then normal.  Google hangouts sure help.

experiments in dyeing

I got asked about how the dyeing went by a friend today.  I meant to post about it last week but we went to look at holiday lights unexpectedly.  And I had my sinuses make me dizzy.  Making dozens of cookies slightly dizzy is odd.

So here is the dyeing post.  

The avocado pits were cut and boiled and wool was added.

Then I used some magenta dye from the art store for a different batch of wool.

I was thinking the magenta might work for some of the females in my life.  Maybe some of the males too.  I have a few who like bright intense colors.  Actually, most of the males in my life like bright colors.

The avocado pits did not seem to work very well.  They create a salmon or pink color.  I think I needed more and maybe a different fiber.  They seem to work best on silk.

The magenta turned out so well I want to card and spin it.  I actually have some of the original fleece as yarn.  I was thinking more magenta after I crochet it into a garment or maybe chestnut.  I would over dye the avocado pit dyed fleece with the chestnut.

There are just not enough minutes and hours in the day currently for all that I wish to do!