Tour de Fleece 2014

It has been eons since I have posted here!  Things always seem to get in the way.

I decided to participate in the Tour de Fleece this year.  I joined the wonderful Babe group as there are some terrific people who have Babes.  I always find it is a good community and very encouraging!

My goal was just to spin every day.  I didn't set any amount of fiber or anything else.

Unfortunately, I didn't meet that goal.  *sigh*  However, it was because I woke on Friday night/Saturday morning at 3:30 in the morning.  My stomach was cramping...  Won't bore you with all the details.  But the short version is that I am fairly certain I either ate something that didn't agree with me or I had a stomach bug.

So for day 16 & 17, I didn't spin.  I barely even moved for that matter.  Blah!

On the plus side, I did spin every other day.  So hey, I had two rest days.  Of course, they weren't the same as the TfF, but it is all good!  *smile*

It just felt *really* good to get back to spinning.  I don't think I had spun at all in over a year.  The last thing I have listed for handspun was added in Feb. 2013!

Finished yarns:

DyeingforColour in the Nobility III colorway

Superwash Merino Firestar blend.

Ravelry link

Pics don't do it justice.  Nice shimmer but not overpowering.  Lovely purples & black with gold shimmer.  Beautiful fiber & the prep is amazing.

4 oz.

WPI 8-13

~200 yards

Semi woolen spinning.  Lots of loft and squishiness.  Lovely.

My DD has already claimed it for mittens.  Might work really well for them.  So it might be hers...  We shall see.  I really like it too!

The fiber came from Dyeingforcolour's Etsy shop.  Lovely fibers at very good prices.  And the prep was sooo nice on this.

The First Draft Merino/Silk in Coldilocks Colorway

From the fourth Dresden club.

Ravely Link

Came in a braid.  I divided it in half.  Then I took one half & divided it into eight more strips.  The other half I drafted out so there were longer color repeats.

The trick was that with the half that I drafted, it came out thicker than the one I split further.   uneven.  I still had about a third of the spool left of the one I had drafted out thinner.

6 oz.

WPI 14-21 WPI (average around 18)

~560 yards

Brown Alpaca

This fiber was sitting on a bobbin.  I know it is alpaca from the feel.  But honestly, I don't have a clue how long it was on that bobbin!

I think it is part of the NorthStarAlpacas Roving from Sonata & Berringer that I spun.  I had blended that with a black for a project.  Though honestly, I am not certain that is what it was.

Unfinished Spinning:

Loop BULLSEYE Bump in Hidden Passions colorway

Ravelry Link

 

Lovely colorway with reds, purples & black.  Made specifically for me and has my fav colors!

Started this when I got it in April 2012.  Set it aside for the TdF in 2012.  Then picked it up again about a year later. 

I figured I would spin it for the Tour de Fleece this year!  It spins super fine.

I finished the single on the last day of the TdF.  I am planning on letting it rest a bit & then Navajo plying it.  I wish I felt like I did it justice.  I think parts are thicker.  So I really wonder how this will come out when I ply it.

I am going to post this.  If I don't, who knows when I will!!  *laugh*

Tour De Fleece 2009

I know, I know. This is long past due. But July was a rough month and this is the first I have gotten to post pics and write a bit about it.

I started the Tour with a lot of vigor. I spun a lot over the July 4th weekend, taking my Babe Double Treadle Production wheel with me to the Adirondacks. It was lovely getting to spin there.

Problem was when I got home from the long weekend, my cat was sick. I have posted about her on my non-knitting journal. If you read it, you will see that it was a rough month. In the end, I had to let her go. It still hurts so much. But it was her time to leave us I believe. I still get all teared up just thinking about her. I miss her a lot.

Between all the trips to the vet, caring and spend time with her and the sadness involved, I didn't get as much done for the Tour as I hoped. But I did complete 8 oz. of fiber.

I spun a single of the 4 oz. of DragonFibers Superwash Merino/Tencel fiber over the July 4th weekend. It is lovely to spin. I really want to pick up more from DragonFibers as they do some lovely fibers.

Thanks Silvercat for sending it. It really is lovely stuff.

DragonFibers Superwash Merino/Tencel Fiber from:
http://DragonFibers.etsy.com
Colorway - Heart of Darkness
Present from Silvercat

Though I confess, the pinks in there are *bright*. It is the reason I knew I didn't want to do a Navajo ply with this one. It just would have been too bright in sections.

I debated what to ply with the DragonFibers. I wanted something superwash as I was figuring this was going into something baby related. And given my wooly allergies, I don't really want to have any wool on the baby other than superwash. Superwash is specially treated and doesn't set off my allergies so I am hoping she has the same response.

I tried predrafting some superwash fiber I bought from Etsy in a darker colorway. But honestly, I am not thrilled with the way it was drafting. So I put it back and looked at my other fibers. I have a lot of fibers that either didn't match or weren't fibers I want to put against baby skin.

I finally remember the superwash/silk blend I bought from The Fiber Denn. http://thefiberdenn.etsy.com It is a beautiful fiber. And the silk gave it a nice long draw with some great petability. I figured the silk shimmer would compliment the shine of the tencel. So they would work well together and the violet wouldn't seem dull by comparison.

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

So I plied the two singles together and got ~398.0 yards of the two fibers together. I had some of the Fiber Denn single left. I was able to make a small skein that was about ~47 yds.

Honestly, this was the only thing I accomplished for the Tour. I am saddened that I didn't get more done. But under the circumstances, I actually did pretty well. I didn't spin every day that I should have. But given things with my cat, I got a lot more spinning done than I would have otherwise.

Spun on Babe Double Treadle Production Wheel. I love my Babe wheel. *smile*

I will confess though. I haven't done any spinning since the Tour! Ack. Once this was off my wheel, it has been dormant. I have been working on baby knitting or just too wiped to do anything.

Less than 6 weeks until my due date. So it isn't surprising that I am a little preoccupied. *laugh*

Xmas Wish List

@(#*!! *sigh*

I had a post I started yesterday. My puter locked up on of the programs I was working in. So I needed to reboot. And apparently save now only saves it while the browser window is open. *grumblegrowl* Ah well

Things are a zoo at work. I really have been overworked and majorly stressed. So toying with things I want for my wish list is a nice momentary diversion. I need something to keep me relatively sane at the moment!

I know I am not getting this stuff. But hey, I figure it is always nice ideas for my hubby for our anniversary or my birthday. *grin* Though a lot of these are pie in the sky dreams! *grin*

Spinning Wheel

I know I know. I really thought that people with more than one wheel had more money than was reasonable. *laugh* But I can see the appeal. Also, the wonderful Nels at Babe created a new wheel design *after* I purchased mine. The lovely Production Double Treadle with Flyer Lead. The flyer lead offers more control than the one I have currently with is bobbin lead. However, there is a Flyer Lead Conversion Kit ....hmmmm. More reasonable indeed and doesn't require a new wheel.

Not that I don't want a new wheel. I have drooled over some of them. I love the hand carved ones by Golding. *sighs* But not in this lifetime unless someone gives me a lot of money. Though there are ones that are closer to reality. *grin* The Schacht Ladybug looks appealing. Though in reality I should *try* a wheel before buying anyone. But hey, if a nice spinning wheel appeared and needed a good home, I wouldn't discriminate. *grin*

Drum Carder

Yep. Still pie in the sky talk here. *grin* I would love to be able to blend my own fibers. And hey, I want to be able to do a whole batch at once of course. *laugh* Okay. So I am lazy as well as greedy.

Fiber Of Course

So many lovely fibers. Mmmmm... There are so many yummy ones on my etsy wishlist. And then there is my Loopy Ewe wishlist. *grin* Not to mention so many luscious ones available elsewhere. Always willing to try out new ones. *grin*

Yarn of Course

See above. There are also lots of other folks I want to try. I want to get some sock yarn from Cables and Lace. I adore their colorways. So yummy. Given you have seen my tastes in colors, you probably have an idea which ones I need. *grin* So many other vendors I want to try too. Too little time to list them all today. *grin*

Orifice Hook by RainyDaysWoolyDogs

If the Jack Skellington orifice hook is still available after Xmas, it is sooo mine! Though of course, that got me thinking about other things that I am betting Stephanie could do. *grin* I thought about one with Death from Sandman. But then I recalled what happened when I tried to call my wheel Morpheus and how it didn't like that at all. So perhaps getting Death too close to that might be a bad idea. *grin* Though the wheel's name is Door from Gaiman's Neverwinter. So they would be distance cousins in a way. *chuckle*

Knitpicks Harmony Needle Set

I know, I know. I have the Options. But don't certain yarns require something more grippy? *grin* Actually, I have started buy these in the sizes I use regularly.

Knitting Software

I didn't think of this one yesterday. So of course Knitpicks sent a lovely reminder today. Knitting software. I think I would most like the sweater one. Funny given I have yet to actually make an adult size sweater. *laugh* But it speaks to the geek in me. Though the sock & stitch ones also look very cool. In reality though, I would like to see a demo of these before I would spend the money. The charting one could just be a more expensice version of Knitpro which works really well. And I kinda wonder if the sock one would be all that useful.

Spinning & Knitting Books

Yes. I know I have a lot already. But I want more. *grin* I have read mixed reviews of Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning. Love or hate the guy, people seem to agree it is a good reference book. Of course, there are oodles of goodies on my Amazon wishlist.

Enough dreaming for now. I am sure I could add more. Time for me to get back to work! I would like to get home before 9 tonight (which has been my average time leaving the office this week. *sigh*)

Time to Go Home...?

I confess. It is only 9:45 and I am ready to go home! *sigh*

I am feeling like completely zoned out. Most to do with election stuff that I will not go into here. But I have to say, I really *wish* they would write the questions in plan English. I am an intelligent person. But honestly, I am not sure if I voted in the way I *wanted* to vote. *shakes head*

I was debating balling up some of the yarn I dyed over the weekend to start on some Xmas knitting. It wasn't dry last night so I couldn't do it then. But I really wanted to cast on something today. But sorting through election stuff took up the morning. So it would have to wait. And I have a good book I am reading.

I get on the train. No knitting. But I have my book. Ummm. No. Actually my book is sitting at home on my nightstand! *groan*

I was beginning to think today just wasn't my day.

Then I got mail from Nels at Babe Spinning Wheels. He asked for my address. He is sending a new bracket & bolt. Hooray! That is the good news for the day. *smile* When I have ordered stuff from him in the past it has arrived in 2-3 days. So I am hopeful I will have a working wheel by the weekend. *smile*

I have to say, I really love Nels. He is great about correcting things and super friendly.

I have been eyeing the Production Double Treadle with Flyer Lead! They didn't have this when I was looking at my wheels. This is Scotch tension wheel vs. Irish/German. It gives greater control. I am really thinking I might need to get that at some point.

I do think this experience taught me not to overfill my bobbins. I think that might have been what contributed to the stress with the bracket. There was only 4 oz. of the Three Bags Full. But I had to struggle to get the last bit on to the bobbin. I should have used the plying bobbin & flyer. But I don't like the ratio on the plying bobbin is so much lower (it is something like 4:1 where as the higher ratio bobbin is around 7.5/8:1). I like plying with a higher ratio.

Usually I can get 4 oz. plied on the normal bobbin. But I think because I was spinning this woolen to keep it nice and soft that there was more air in it. So it didn't fit well on the regular flyer. *sigh* Live and learn.

Mind you, I have sincere doubts that was the entire issue. I suspect the fact that this was a teaching wheel before I got it means it saw some hard use before I ever touched it.

I don't regret buying the wheel used. But I will admit, I really want to buy a wheel new now.

I do regret not trying the Hitcherhiker wheel while at Rhinebeck. It is small & wooden for the same price as the Babe flyer wheel new. Maybe next year.

Productive, Yet Sad Weekend

I really am feeling like this was a productive weekend.

Friday, I finished the Falling Snow Stocking. My first piece with a lot of fair isle knitting. I think it came out pretty well.

Falling Snow Stocking

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

Pattern:

Falling Snow Stocking by Jennifer Hoel

http://jenniferhoel.wordpress.com/2008/01/25/paiges-christmas-stocking/

Made for:

Xmas Present - Millie Maybe

Needles:

US 8 / 5.0 mm Knitpicks Options

Yarn:

Bernat Lana in Marine - 09135

0.4 skeins = 86.8 yards (79.4m)

&

Bernat Lana in Denim Blue - 09116

0.4 skeins = 86.8 yards (79.4m)

Purchased at Smiley's Yarns Sale in NJ

Decided to do this as part of the Oct. 2008 Sock Knitters Anonymous KAL. I figured it would be interesting and get me to do a good deal of fair isle work. So I learned a lot.

I cast this on in the car on the way to Rhinebeck. I am definitely learning that doing one strand continental helps a lot. So I am glad I learned how to do it. Not speedy with continental by any means, but I am able to do it.

I am not sure who I will give this to for Xmas honestly. Probably my sister Millie as she likes blue.

Because I used a thinner yarn that the pattern called for, it isn’t as large as the original pattern. But it is still a good size stocking.

There is a bit of puckering when I pulled the yarn too tight. But overall, it looks good. Not bad for my first fair isle project. *smile*

Saturday was spent dyeing yarn. I picked up 12 balls of Lily Elite Cotton at the Smiley sale in NJ. I figured I could make dish towels out of it for various people for Xmas. So I stirred up a lot of different dyes.

Alos, I dyed the Trellis sweater I did for my niece, who I thought was a nephew when I knit the light blue sweater. *laugh* I have to take some pics after I have washed it. I want to machine wash & dry it before giving it to them. I have only handwashed it with the dyeing.

I also dyed the Panda cotton sock blank I got from WhimzyPinzy on etsy.

http://WhimzyPinzy.etsy.com

The yarn 50% Bamboo 24% cotton 21% elastic. I really like dyeing the sock blanks. It is much easier than the long skein method! I am curious to see how this knits up.

I spent Sunday rinsing... And rinsing... And... *sigh* I do love the colors in the Procion dyes. But it does mean a lot of rinsing. Ah well. They did come out well I think.

I sat down to do some spinning in between soaking yarn. I got the Three Bags Full plied. I am happy with it. It is super soft.

Then, I sat down to start some new fiber that I got at Rhinebeck. I was just starting it when snap! The bracket that attaches the rodman to the wheel broke!! *whimper*

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

I wrote Babe immediately. I am really hoping that Neils will reply soon. I have heard he is great about repairs. My biggest concern is because I bought the wheel used, I am not sure if that will apply to me. *sigh* I can only hope it will and that it will be repaired quickly. I try to spin a little each day. I find it is a good way to relax. *sigh*

Happiness Is a Long Weekend with Fiber

I am pretty happy. I took off last Thursday & Friday as well as this Tuesday. So I got a super long weekend.

Friday was my birthday. My husband bought me a POUND of black alpaca roving! He bought it from someone in Minnesota/Missouri/some M state in the middle. *chuckle* He found it through Localharvest.org. He was trying to find something close, but that is about the closest he could find. It is yummy stuff. *sigh* It has some pre-drafting done so it should be lovely to spin!

Thursday I asked Paul if he wanted to go up to the Adirondacks which is always pretty unfair as questions go. I don't know if he has ever said no! *laugh* We are still going up Columbus Day so I didn't know if it was really feasible. But we decided that if we brought groceries and didn't eat out much we should be good. So we head off Friday morning.

In the car on the way up, I finished the Argosy Scarf in Unique Designs by Kathy Handspun. I *really* need to take some pictures of it. But I want to wait until I block it. Which if I am good should be tonight. But I don't honestly know. It is already 6:30 pm and I haven't left work yet. So we shall see.

I like the pattern a lot and think it works well in Kathy's Handspun. I am hoping it will look even better after it is blocked. *crosses fingers* I will post more details when I get the pics done.

I have some Scout's Swag Superwash/Tencel Sock Yarn in Socktoberfest that I got from a trade with Silvercat. It has some orange in it which really isn't my colors. But I figured I really should do them up for Halloween. (There is also greys & purples which definitely are my colors! *smile*) So after finishing the scarf, I cast on the Zombie Socks. (Ravelry only pattern)

I wasn't sure if the pattern wouldn't be way too busy for the yarn. But I really like the way it is coming out. I got about 6 hours of knitting on the way home on these as well. I really like them.

The pattern has drop stitches which isn't as scary as I feared. I think these will be fun. Though the drop stitches do cause gaps. And I do wonder if they will indeed be warm enough for Halloween! But just have to see.

Saturday I stopped at the Adirondack Woolery in hopes of picking up some more roving. No luck. It was during their hours. But my guess is that the women who run the place were away for the long weekend. Too bad as I really want some more of the grey sliver roving and maybe some other stuff. Their prices were good so I will stop by over Columbus Day weekend.

Paul and I walked around the Newcomb Visitor Interpretive Center.

We did the Sage Jr. trail (yellow) and most of the Sucker Brook Trail (blue). There is part of the Sucker Brook trail that you skip to make a longer loop. I think we did the Peninsula Trail (green) a couple years ago. And I know we did the Rich Lake Trail (red) in the past as well. It was a beautiful day.

Though of course, fiber was still lingering in my mind. So I asked Paul if he wanted to wander off to Lake Placid. Luckily, he can be bribed with the lure of some tasty Ubu at Lake Placid Pub. (And I was smarter than to every think about yarn shopping *after* the beer... I need every bit of willpower I can get! *grin*)

On the way there, we stopped at Adirondack Yarns.

in Lake Placid. I really like the place. I stopped there last year. That is where I got hooked on Catalina yarns last year.

This years addiction may become Great Adirondack Yarn Co. *sighs lustfully*

I got this lovely Great Adirondack Yarn Co yarn. It is called Silky Sock. There were a lot of lovely colorways. I decide I wanted the Charcoal colorway.

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

It is 70% wool, 20% silk, 10% nylon.

This yarn feels so yummy. The silk makes it amazing to touch. I kept rubbing it against my face. Can't wait to see how this knits up.

I also got some Schaefer Yarn Lola in different purples.

Generated by Flickr Album Maker

It is 100% Superwash wool. I got some Lola at Rhinebeck last year and love it. It was th first superwash wool I purchased to see if it would irritate me. It definitely doesn't. It is super smooshy and soft.

Mind you, this is thicker so it definitely makes house socks/winter boot socks. But I love my Lola socks in the reds. So when I saw they had the Lola I had to get some more. The purple is brighter than I normally would get, but I really like it.

Sunday & Monday were a whole lot of spinning.

Most of the time was spent spinning the Adirondack Woolery natural wool carded with colored fibers into singles.

It is 6 oz. of natural colored wool carded with colored fibers. I purchased this at the Adirondack Woolery over the July 4th weekend but this is the first I have spun it.

I am spinning this for my mother-in-law for Xmas. I was going to create a 2-ply it with the same fibers. But given the random colors and the combos that could happen, I think that is a bad idea. I am going to pick up some other fiber to pair with it. But I don't know what yet.

I could use a grey easily as there it a lot of grey in the blend. But then there will be large segments that are all grey and I am not sure I want that. If it were for me, I would default to my beloved black. *laugh* I need to hold this against some reddish brown fiber. I don't know why, but I think that might really work well. I need to find the right one, but I am hoping to find something that would work.

Also, I am *very* tempted to go with something much softer. I found some of the wool in the blend is nice and soft. Some was hard with a lot of tight crimp. So I would like something else to balance that out and make a nice yarn. I am leaning towards alpaca. But I am not sure yet.

I also finished plying the Ember superwash wool from Etsy.

I got this roving from The Ranches Angoras aka theranch Etsy shop and had created the singles for the Tour de Fleece. I had already plied part of it but was glad to finish plying it.

This is my first 3-ply yarn. I am hoping to use it for socks. I will have to see if it has enough give or if I will need to do something else with the yarn.

So all in all it was a great long weekend filled with fiber. Hooray!

Definitely Not Morpheus...

The wheel did *not* like the name.

It was not at all happy last night. A nut came off the piece that attaches the treadles to the wheel! And the leather strap that is the brake came out of the velcro that holds it in place! *shakes head*

Paul fixed the treadle issue. The nuts had slipped loose and wasn't treadling correctly. But my darling hubby fixed it.

The brake was an easy repair as well. It is just velcro folded over a leather strap. The velcro was stapled at the sides to hold it closed. So I opened it, made a knot at the end of the leather, reglued it and then staple the sides again. Not a biggie.

It is really making me wonder if I shouldn't return this one and get a brand new one. The woman I bought it from made that offer. But I really am reluctant. It would be more money & I would be without the wheel for as long as it would take to get the new one. I do like this one. But I keep juggling the choices in my head.

Paul and I are going down to his folks this weekend. The woman I bought it from is on the way. So it makes me think I should decide before the weekend. I am not sure honestly. It does seem like the wheel may have taken some abuse while she was teaching with it. But heaven knows it could just be me getting used to it. I am just not sure. Thus the debate.

Inspired to Decorate & The Wheel May Have a Name

On the Ravelry Babe Wheel forum, I came across some amazing photos from a fellow Babe owner.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilithparker/sets/72157603889587188/

I love the way the wheel looks. It is really beautiful.

She used Deco Art Americana paints & added some chainmail she had. Amazing...

It got me thinking that it might be cool to decorate mine!

My first thought was actually black with red & gold flames. *laugh* But I kept churning the idea in my head. Wondering what to do.

Something popped into my head. Morpheus. I will have to see if the wheel likes the name. But I don't know why, it works for me.

I might be time to reread the Sandman books again. It has been a while. But I like the idea of black with silver and perhaps some other colors. Spinner of dreams. *grin*

I am not sure yet. But I figure I can see if the name fits.