12 posts tagged “fiber”

Busy fiber week here...

At Maryland Sheep and Wool, I purchased a plastic bag full of nasty, filthy Lincoln fleece bits for only $2.00. I finally got a bit of it washed, and ready to comb. I think some of it might be too matted and/or felted to use, but some of it is most definitely spinnable!
One Fiber Trends Felted Clog is nearly done - just a few more rows. And I've started a Sunday Market Shawl from some lace weight hand-dyed yarn that was sent to me by a fellow online knitter and dye gal. Very lightweight, very pretty, and so easy! Cast on, and in the first row, you knit 2, do a yarnover, knit 2, do a yarnover, knit 2, yarnover, etc. Then simply work garter stitch for as long as you want the shawl. In the next to last row, you drop a stitch, and unravel it down to the yarnovers. Such a nice effect, with lots of mindless knitting to take along for the next week or so.
The HitchHiker Spinning Wheel is SO much smoother now that it's received a little tweaking. Everyone in the family now comments about how much more quiet it is! I'm currently working on some Northern Lights "Autumn Twilight" roving. Not sure what it will become yet, but it's such a pretty, subtle color!

I'm also finishing the toe of the Periwinkle socks, so I'll have pics of those soon. Happy fingers! 

Among the memories, the following items will keep me busy throughout the coming year:

Lovely Bosworth Mini Purpleheart, which spins like a dream! I finished the little bit of sample fiber Sheila gave me, and love it! I also crafted a mailing tube into a handy spindle carrier.
Some merino blend that was only .85/ounce, so I got it for practice. Lovely blended brights from Persimmon Tree Farm - a vendor I returned to after last year's success. The braid is a merino/tencel blend, and I just couldn't pass up the sheen!
Three additions in the equipment arena... the Bosworth spindle, an Ashford Mini Niddy-Noddy, and the treasure - Indigo Hound Double Row Viking Combs. Yay!  And finally, some periwinkle and lilac wool, along with some sparkley goodness - all for practicing my combing skills.

Among the memories, the following items will keep me busy throughout the coming year:

Lovely Bosworth Mini Purpleheart, which spins like a dream! I finished the little bit of sample fiber Sheila gave me, and love it! I also crafted a mailing tube into a handy spindle carrier.
Some merino blend that was only .85/ounce, so I got it for practice. Lovely blended brights from Persimmon Tree Farm - a vendor I returned to after last year's success. The braid is a merino/tencel blend, and I just couldn't pass up the sheen!
Three additions in the equipment arena... the Bosworth spindle, an Ashford Mini Niddy-Noddy, and the treasure - Indigo Hound Double Row Viking Combs. Yay!  And finally, some periwinkle and lilac wool, along with some sparkley goodness - all for practicing my combing skills.

Wanted to take a moment  to archive the beautiful winners that caught our eye in the project room of Maryland Sheep and Wool this year.

So many unique items! This teeny, tiny sweater was just amazing. Insubordiknit's fabulatastic Vitreous Humor yarn won a ribbon!!! And the portrait in this felted Darfur piece caught Rachel's eye - she wants to try something like this herself.
Many of the garments were so delicate and beautiful. The latest craze is definitely felting into silk. So soft, and the colors are very subtle. The felted peacock was stunning.
Many of the felted animals were funny, intriguing, and filled with skill that defies my hands. The frog was so witty, with his little curly-ques and sparkles. The dinosaur puppet was so realistic (you know, based on all those dinosaurs we see) - and so lump and bumpy and reptilian. The prize-winning bear was so cute - and so full of detail... even raw insides where he had bitten into his fish dinner!

I picked up my spindle again... this time, it was my supported ceramic spindle from last year's Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. The roving was purchased there as well, from Persimmon Tree Farm. I'm not sure what I'll make from this tiny bit of yarn, but it was fun, including making the smaller Nilla Noddy! :-)

Had a wonderful time last night, meeting up at the Frederick Borders with some Ravelry folk. It's really inspiring to see what everyone else is working on, and to chat fiber without anyone getting tired and wanting to change the subject!

In other fiber-y news, I finished my first sweater! It's from Saturday Sweaters, and is SO comfy. I received the yarn in trade for knitting some felted bags for my LYS, and then only had to buy ONE ball in order to have enough to make the sleeves the right length.

I'm just about done with my first lace, out of my first handspun (of any significatn amount, that is):

Finally, I'm working (as always) on a pair of socks. It's my Plain Ol' Socks pattern -sort of a mix of the "best of" the basic online patterns. This pair is in a sage green Fixation, which should be very comfy and soft and stretchy.

I'm really, really, really enjoying my fall knitting.

I've finally got some fiber-related stuff to post! I finished a simple pair of purple socks, made from Fixation, so they're a bit stretchy and very comfy. I'm currently beginning the second sock of my next pair, in a colorway I really love... I think I'll wear it a lot with jeans in the fall. I remembered to do the band on a smaller needle, so they'll fit a little more snugly. The first sock is a perfect fit, and I got the stripes to match, at least so far!

I started a Vox Group called Spinning, not because I'm any great spinner, but simply because there wasn't a spinning group yet, and there should be.

If you spin, and want to join, please do so! It's lonely by myself :-)