little bit of crazy leaking out

 I bet you all had just about given up on ever seeing any fiber content on this blog again.  Well, I fooled you . . . right? . . . no? You mean you all knew I was just a slacker and eventually I would post again?  Okay, that works too.

I signed up for the Tour de Fleece (ravelry), (there is another one, but this is the one I found out about first, so, whatever) and I’ve actually been spinning.  I KNOW, I’m shocked too.

Stages 1-5: July 5-9

Alpaca Merino batts purchased at Black Sheep Gathering 2008. The batts actually had quite a few noils/second cuts (or the merino wasn’t treated quite as gently as it likes to be).

Stages 6-9: July 10-13

Finished spinning the DragonFibers Merino/Bamboo, I had prolly finished 1oz of the 4 before the start of Tour de Fleece.

Stage 10 and Rest Day 1: July 14-15

I thought the first rest day was on Monday, so I took Monday off, then I took Tuesday off, cuz, well, it was a rest day. 

Stages 11- 14: July 16-19

Spun up 2 bobbins of Romney to ply with a previously spun hand dyed roving.

Stage 15: July 20th

Ply and wash the Alpaca/Merino.  A bit ‘rustic’ but I like it.

Rest Day 2: July 21st

Already took 2 rest days so went ahead and spun today.

Ply the Merino/Bamboo and realize that the plying was very sloppy so you have to run it through again. 

Stage 16: July 22nd

Re-ply and wash Merino/Bamboo. 

Resulting yarn is a Sport wt. and ~360 yards.

. . . about my knitting/fiber goals for next year. With only 10 days left in 2007 it is apparent that some of my goals for 2007 will not be realized (no, I’m not going to make it easy for you and link to my list of 2007 failuresgoals) and that perhaps I should go for more general goals in 2008.

• Knit sweaters:  I already have several ready to cast on. (Peace Fleece KAL, at VYT, cardigan for mom; yellow Peace Fleece cardigan for Bug, Kauni, handspun sweater, Laughing Carrots, EZ colorwork sweater)
• Steek:Eeek, a steek! This one is a bit scarey for me, but if I do knit up Kauni or the EZ cardigan this year, well, there’s a steek.
• Spin a fleece:  This is a big one, but I have four fleeces waiting to be spun up and I keep buying hand dyed roving from my friend the roving pusher. Must spin more.
• Knit socks: Once again, sock yarn stash, must knit socks.  If I keep a pair on the needles all the time socks will be knit.
• Shawl or wrap: And again I have the yarn and patterns for several projects waiting, and waiting, to be cast on. Swallowtail (or Mermaid Wrap) in Handmaiden Sea Silk, Touring Wrap in Fleece Artist Suri Blue, Juno Regina (or Estonian Garden Wrap) in Elann Pure Alpaca Fina, Victorian Shoulderette in Wolf Creek Wools Alpaca (or Silky Wool).

I’m sure I’ll think of something else, but I think this is a good start.

This evening I didn’t knit and I didn’t spin, I sat and picked and flicked a fleece I bought at OFFF.  Very therapeutic, except when I clawed my finger with the flicker a couple of times.  Apparently I am a slow learner.  Even though I worked on the fleece for a couple of hours the bag of fleece still needing to be picked looks no smaller.  Looks like pick a little, spin a little, pick a little more, will be the plan of action on this one.

I’m still trying to decide if I want to spin the finn in the grease, it’s quite clean, and so soft.

The Unoriginal Hat is finally dry so pictures tomorrow.  Yes, Aunt left today, will have to mail it to her.  Lesson learned, don’t wet block when it’s cold and wet when you need it done the next day.  Doh!

 . . . I have been knitting.  I’ve been working on a sweater vest, nothing ground breaking, but a fun little knit. 

Haven’t been spinning much lately, though.  Finished up the 4oz of Candy Corn BFL (at least I think it’s BFL) but haven’t started the brown roving to ply with it.  Did the prep on the Spook Targhee, but haven’t even set up the wheel since then.  It’s ok though, I seem to go thru this, spin or knit, not both, and right now it’s the knitting.

I have been thinking about getting out the knitting machine, it’s my Aunt’s and it’s been in my garage for too long.  Need to figure the thing out and see if I can create anything on it.

 These are samples from my all day class on Friday with Susan Forsythe.

By the end of the class I had a need to buy fleeces, lots and lots of fleeces.  I had a need to flick them, to comb them, to card them and then finally to spin them.  I resisted, I guess it helps that the vendors were only setting up, not actually open.  In spite of that fact, I did manage to buy these . . .

Back at the hotel that night I finished off the Bluebells and Buttercups Superwash from Dragonfibers, and plied it.  Love the colors.

Saturday there was the much shopping, but no buying.  I know, I was shocked too.  My class in the afternoon produced these samples . . .

I learned how to andean ply in class.  I had tried it before, but this was the first time I had it work the way it’s supposed to.  The yarn barf on the bobbin, that we will not speak of, it is cursed. 

This beautiful skein of alpaca, from Sweet Grass Wool, was a birthday gift from Emma.  (Thanks Emma!)

Sunday was the parking lot fleece sale, where I walked away with a Finn lamb.  This is the softest fleece I have ever felt.  Look at that crimp.

And this is the washed Romney from Iron Water Ranch. 

Sampler packs from The Dizzy Ewe.  Breed Variety Pack:  BFL, Corriedale x, Shetland Moorit, Merino, Jacob, and FInn.  God’s Critters Variety Pack:  Angora Bunny, Tussah Silk, Fine Count Alpaca, Merino and Young Mohair.

My last purchase of the day arrived today . . .

. . . and is now in the freezer.  

 This last weekend was the Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival.  Friday, I picked up Annie at 4:20am . . .

. . . and Emma at 4:45am . . .

 . . . both agreed it was way to early. We made a quick stop to stretch our legs, top off the gas tank and get a nice view of Mt St. Helens with the sun rise.

Upon arival at the fairgrounds we met up with Betty and she and I headed off for an all day class with Susan Forsythe and by the end of the day I was in search of a set of Forsythe MiniCombs and even though none of the vendors was officially open I managed to purchase a set. oops. 

Although we were up before the crack of dawn, we managed to stay up late, spinning, in our hotel room.

We arrived Saturday and things were really cooking, so many vendors that every time you walked through there was something new you had missed the first time around.  It was amazing, but never felt overcrowded since the vendors were spread out over two buildings, the open grassy area and the barn.

There was another class in the afternoon, this time with Janelle of Chameleon Colorworks.  I now understand the fractile stripe article that was in Spin Off Summer ‘07, along with three other methods of spinning painted rovings.  Dinner was wonderful as we met up with Betty and her mom, Martha, a good time was had by all.  For photographic proof, see Emma’s blog, here.

Sunday was bad for the budget.  The parking lot fleece sale . . .

Emma and I were looking at some Finn fleeces, so soft, and I swooped in bought one of them while she was still deciding.  All’s fair in war and fleece sales.  There was more wandering and shopping, no classes for us today.  Here is Annie with her alpaca shawl and new basket, I wish I had bought one now, but there’s always next year. 

In addition to the Finn fleece I bought a washed Romney fleece from Iron Water Ranch, pics tomorrow.  Emma and I also bought a lamb, we opted not to get the head, and it will be FedExed to us to be placed in the freezer.  Grass fed, no hormones from SuDan Farm. 

The ride home was uneventful and we resisted stopping at Ikea for some tax free shopping.

ETA: On the way home hubby called to see how far from home we were.  I may have told him I would call before we headed out, oops.  I asked how the weekend had been for him, it was the first time I had left him with the kids for more than a day/afternoon.  He told me he had grand plans of what he was going to get done while I was gone. Ha!  The quote, directly from his lips was: “I was bitch-slapped by the baseball bat of reality.”  Yeah, staying home with the kids isn’t as easy as it looks is it!?

I can’t wait until next year!

Here is the first finished yarn off the new wheel. The roving is 4oz of targhee, hand dyed by Emma of DragonFibers, in the colorway Oceanic.

    

Although it did end up being thick and thin in places all over, I am quite pleased with the plying, it is a tighter ply and over all more even.  I believe it ended up being about 260yds, I need to recount.