What a Difference a Good Soak Makes

 

So I think I was way too hard on Falkland.  I think I was trying to get it to do what was in my head instead of letting it do its thing.

With the Into the Whirled batt, I was struggling with it to start.  I wanted a shawl in a nice light weight yarn.  I did the two ply to make a shawl.  But it didn't want to spin thin.  It wasn't having any of it.

So I finally said screw it.  Let it do what it wants.  I spun it thicker and let it plump. 

But I confess I was pissed at it for thwarting my plans.  I was grumpy.  But I wanted to finish it.

With the help of my DH, it got wound into a skein.  It was big & plump.  But I was still suspect.

But when I pulled it off the swift, it was really beautifully balanced.  Hanging nice & straight.  Huh.

Then I put it in its bath.  It needed a big bucket.  It was too plump to fit into the place I normally soak anything that is 4 oz. or less.  Huh.

I pulled it out after about 20 minutes.  Even wet, it felt really nice.  Fluffy.  Light.  Sweet.

I rolled it in the towel and stomped on it to get the water out.  When I took it out, it sprung right back.  It was happy and lofty.

I was thinking I needed to thwack it.  But after a few times, I knew it didn't need a thing.  It was lovely.

I am still pretty stunned...  It just wasn't at all what I expected.  Yet, I want to put it on my needles *NOW*!  Even damp, it feels so lovely.  So springy and yummy.

Wow.

What a difference from the way I felt spinning it.  I am really amazed.

I will see if I still feel the same way when it dries tomorrow.  But I really feel like I will.

Of course, I have *no clue* what I will do with it.  But I am so thrilled.

And I am also thrilled I made such a balanced yarn on my new-to-me Ladybug.  After too much twist in the first skein I created, I was worried.  But it wasn't about the wheel.  It was about me learning what she needs from me. 

Wow...

So very happy right now.  Of course, it is making me not want to take tonight as a rest night from spinning!  But I think it is wiser to prep for the mammoth plying ahead.

Tour de Fleece 2015 Update

Work has been crazed.  So I have been taking pics, but didn't have a lot of time to *do* anything with them!

I finished the Into the Whirled batt singles by the end of day Two!  It also plied up quickly.  So I suspect there won't be tons of yardage, but it was fun. 

I confess that I just didn't care for the Falkland.  But, could just be me.  The colors are gorgeous!  And the batt was beautifully prepared.  So I am definitely curious how it came out.  Tonight's project is skein it, soak & thwack it. 

So because I am me...and I am crazy, I took on the two Bump project.  *gulp*

But to my amazement, I have finished my singles!  WOOHOO!!  *happy dance*

Mind you, I finished the Water Ballet Bump at 2:45 am last night.  On a WORK NIGHT.  Zzzzz.   Ummm...what?  *grin*

But I have created lovely collages for each.

Ultraviolet

Water Ballet

As per usual, my camera doesn't do the colors justice.  It is hard to get decent pics with a flash.  But I tend to spin after work & dinner.  So on weeknights, I am generally not touching the wheel until about 7 on days I work from home & after the kids are in bed on days when I am in the city. 

I think the colorways will look amazing together.  I am giving the singles a day to rest & will start plying tomorrow.  I am under some delusion that I can finish it in a day.  *laugh*  My last Bump took *days* to ply.  Just hoping I can make it for the end of the TdF!  *fingers crossed*

Already have plans for the finished yarn...  A lovely sweater for my darling daughter.  A nice feather & fan perhaps to show off the striping effects.  I think it will be lovely. 

Of course, I am hoping that I don't overtwist it.  I have had that issue with the new wheel.  I am still getting used to the Ladybug.  But overall, I think I am getting better with her.  And the yarns are getting better the more I spin.

Also, I have been watching a ton of spinning videos.  And believe it or not, I never had seen anyone pull out singles or plied yarn to check the twist!  Now that I understand about that, I think I am getting better about more consistent and less overtwisted/overplied yarns.  And at least one pointed out that you can always add twist in the opposite direction if needed.  Duh!  *laugh* 

I think I am going to do that with the Gale's Art Alpaca/Silk I spun first on the wheel.  That may help.  Mind you, that may only apply to overplied yarns...but worth a shot.  Or I live with the fact that when I knit it, it will bias and try to use that in the design.

So overall, still very happy with my purchase of the Ladybug. The only thing I second guess at all is if I shouldn't have bought new.  But I wouldn't have ever gotten the Woolee Winder that way.  And I *really* love not switching hooks.  There is a whole lot to be said for that.

So much so that I bought the bulky flyer!  *smile*  And am mostly happy with that.  Though the only downside has been that the maiden sits too low with the Ladybug.  So I had to tweak it some & twist the eye slightly so it doesn't bang against a screw on the Mother of All.  But it works.  And is very lovely...  So I am a happy gal.  *smile*

Dinner time.  Then some skeining.  The big excitement.   I don't think I am going to put anything else on the wheel for singles.  I was debating it.  But I don't think it is wise.  If by some miracle I finished plying tomorrow...  *ROFL*  I might take a bit of fiber with me.  But I am aware that with the travel, it is *extremely* unlikely I will finish up anything else for the TdF. 

And We're Off - The Start of the Tour de Fleece 2015

So it begins! 

I am doing the Tour de Fleece for another year.

It is the first year with the lovely Lady Rue.  She is terrific.

I signed up for toooo many teams!  Six in total.  Two fiber specific - Loop & Into the Whirled.  Two wheel specific - Schacht & Babe.  Two others - Spin Your Stash & Browncoats.  The prior is pretty obvious.  The latter is a Firefly group.  I don't have any Firefly specific fiber.  But they don't care.

Day 1 - July 4th

On day 1, I spun over half my lovely Into the Whirled Falkland batt in the Excursion colorway.  I started on the second half as well. 

I scored this lovely at Maryland S&W. It is a beautiful colorway.  So much I love it that I also got sock yarn in the same colorway!  *laugh*

Loads of pics on the project page.  I look pics of each color & some of the transitions. 

It is *definitely* a learning experience.  I haven't ever spun a batt with color transitions.  It is interesting.  I like it.  But it does require some attention.  For some of the transitions, I worked across the row.  Others that were solid color, I could just a chunk of fiber in whatever worked for the fiber.

I was originally thinking a shawl with the yarn.  So I started thin & then realized that wasn't gonna work.  It needed a more woolen touch. 

I really like it.  But I have to confess, I don't think I like Falkland.  It is a bit tough for me.  I am definitely curious to see the finished yarn.  I think it is kinda gonna surprise me.

Though I also learned what *NOT* to do!  A bobbin of some samples I had spun were resting on the on board Lazy Kate.  They kept spinning. I thought it was about the wind of wheel spinning making them turn.  It hadn't happened before.  But the probably was less than a couple ounces of fiber on the bobbin. 

Remember the wheel is new to me.  Only got it in May.  So I am still getting used to what it does.  So I thought cool.

Yah.  About that.  Not so cool.

Here's what happened...

The single wrapped around the shaft of the wheel!  It means it got wound around it. 

I am soooo grateful that they were different colors in the samples.  And it changed from grey to this blue/black colorway.  So I could see that it wasn't the same.  *sigh*

So that killed almost half an hour.  Getting it unwound and back on the bobbin.  Mind you, it was tons quicker when I pulled the bobbin off the Kate & just treadled if off the wheel.  So part of my time was about me not doing it in the most efficient way.  But live and learn...

Day 2 - July 5th

Day 2 went pretty smoothly.  The second half of the Into the Whirled Falkland batt got completed. 

Though I learned a valuable lesson.  Never watch a movie with the assumption that the kids are playing.  So you will be able to spin in peace & watch it.

I long time guilty pleasure of mine is Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.  Yes...the musical from the 70s with the Bee Gees & Peter Frampton made up of Beatles songs.  Don't you judge!  *smirk*

The kids are 4 & 5 1/2.  I really figured they would look at it once and wander back into their room to play.  But instead, Elder Munchkin wanted to watch it.  And Little Guy didn't want to play alone.  So there was a whole lot of them asking who the bad guys were and them asking what was happening.  And me thinking I should just turn off the movie as there was a whole lot of explaining that I didn't want to do...

Another live & learn experience...  Whee.

Second half of the Into the Whirled Falkland Batt in the Excursion colorway.  Singles done & resting.

I LOVE the colorway and am sad to be done with the singles.  But it will be interesting trying to match up the colors when I ply it.  I hope I am up for the challenge.  Maybe I should do that on one of the TdF challenge days.  We shall see!

The white bobbin in the pic are some samples I spun pre-TdF.  There are actually nine different fibers on it.  Little bits & bobs from a terrific Etsy seller.  I plied them yesterday to get them off my bobbin for the next project!

That plying actually helped when it comes time for matching up colors as I was plying them from a single bobbin.  So I had to break the singles to match up the quantities.  Worked well.  And was useful in figuring out how to manage the yarns.

Day 3 - July 6th

Today, I am letting the Into the Whirled singles rest while I start on some of the Loop fiber. 

 

This is a beautiful purple Bump I was hoarding from myself.  My terrific SIL picked it up at Maryland Sheep & Wool in 2010.  I ended up sick so I couldn't make it that year.  She was so great to get it for me. 

It never made it into my Ravelry stash.  So it was pretty much forgotten until the move last year unearthed it again. 

I realized that with the sparkle, I should really let it go.  The deep purples are sooo very me.  But the sparkle, not so much. 

Since it is only Day 3, I am tackling two Bumps & plying them.  *gulp*

I realized that I can *probably* eke out a sweater for Elder Munchkin with two Bumps.  So I am hoping to keep this on the thinner side, but with enough loft to make it lovely to wear.  I am crossing my fingers I finish the two Bumps in time.

 

I am going to pair it with Water Ballet which I picked up specifically for my daughter. 

Here's the pic:

https://img1.etsystatic.com/049/0/5140402/il_570xN.725028073_e2xp.jpg

I think the two will be super stunning together!  But it is hard to go wrong with any Bump.  They are such a joy to spin & such amazing colors.  Yum!

Day 4 - July 7th

I hit the black hole!  The fiber is super dark.  I think black with silver sparkle.  (Need to look more in daylight...)

;

And so I only took two pics.  Even that was pressing it to make a point as it is yet more black with silver!!

It is also tricky because I am spinning at night.  So I have to take pics with the flash.  And the sparkle & flash aren't a good combo.  But hey, it is what it is.

Okay!  I am posting this.  Otherwise it will continue to sit here.  Whee.

July Already??!

Wow!  It is July 1st.

What does that mean?  The Tour de Fleece begins in just three days!  It begins July 4th.  And runs through to Sunday, July 26th.

I have signed up for *five* groups:
Schacht
Babe
Into the Whirled
Loop
Browncoats

I actually debated more.  *laugh*

The Babe one has become really freeform.  Someone asked if she could join.  She said someone has her Babe, so she won't be able to spin on it.  The moderator said that was okay.  *laugh*   I think one of the main folks on the board has switched to other wheels.  But she still sells mods for Babe wheels on her Etsy shop.  So she is okay with that.

Mind you, I don't think I can ply anything large on my Ladybug anyhow. *sigh*  It is disappointing but the Woolee Winder bulky flyer is sitting too low.  If I switch a plastic piece so that it sits higher, I can get it to spin.  But then the moving eye hits a rounded head screw at the center of the Mother of All.  (Yes...that really is a part of the spinning wheel.  *laugh*)

I emailed them but didn't get a response.  I have heard on their forums that email is not good with them.  I just haven't been able to bring myself to call.  I *hate* phone calls!  *sigh*  But I should...  But it does mean if they want the flyer back, I will not have it for the Tour de Fleece.  *pout*

So, as you would figured, the two fiber specific groups mean I have to spin *their* fibers.  Which is a joy. 

First on the wheel will be the Into the Whirled batt I got at Maryland Sheep & Wool.



Lovely lovely lovely! 

Of course the trick?  I have no idea *how* I want to spin it.  Which makes it a bit challenging!  *laugh*

I think it needs to stay as a gradient.  It is too lovely not to keep that.  But then I have no idea what I will knit with it.  Though I am leaning towards a shawl to show it off.

For the Loop, I am not sure which of my four Bumps & the Spontanious Cloud will end up on the wheel.  I have two Bumps that are for me.  Two are for Elder Munchkin.

I suspect it may come down to how long it takes for me to spin the ItW batt.  Since I am participating in Stash Dash this year, I *want* more yardage.  A lot of years, I want to go through as much fiber as possible.  But with Stash Dash, it is the meters that matter!

If I think I can stretch myself & get two Bumps spun, I will probably try to get the ones done for Elder Munchkin & ply them together.  But if that isn't gonna happen, I will probably do one of the two Bumps I got for me.  Though I did get the Clouds to pair with them.  So I am honestly not sure...

Mind you, I *really* wanted the WW bulky flyer for TdF.  I figured I could play with some things like maybe some core spinning even...  *sigh*  The orifice is *big*.  So I figured it could be a whole lot of fun.  *sigh*

Okay.  Off to call them.  Wish me luck.

Stash Dash 2015

The Knit Girllls have been putting forth this idea of a Stash Dash for several years now.  The idea is to use up your stash.  The Empress is Laura (aka Lala on Ravelry.)  She decides on the rules.  *grin*

This year, they had three options.  Either 3K, 5K or 10K.  I decided to go for the 5K this year. 

I made a lame attempt last summer.  And didn't get anywhere close.  I figure with the 5K, it will push me to finish the sweater I started in 2012!  Also inspired by a podcaster.  That was Carin from Round the Twist's year of the sweater.  Though she also got crazy busy and didn't meet her own goals. 

DH's sweater is 1700 yards.  So if I don't finish it, I won't be able to finish the 5K.  All it needs is the button band & pockets.  That is it.  Yet it lingers...  But I have been watching the Craftsy class on Button Bands & Buttonholes.  I think once I sit down and pick up the stitches, it should be really easy to finish it.  We shall see.

So far for Stash Dash, it is all spinning!

There is the The First Draft SW Merino in the Blood Moon colorway.

http://ravel.me/akasha/sm6

It came in at 540.5 yards for 4 oz.!  That is the finest I have spun a three-ply! 

Pretty happy with it.  The only thing is I didn't put enough twist in the ply.  So I don't think I can use it for sock yarn which was the original intention...

Second was the ply that never ends...  *groan*  I kid you not.  A WEEK of plying.  Oof!  But at 1060 yards!  It is a monster!  DH says it looks like something out of Star Trek.  So I named it the Purple Trible.

http://ravel.me/akasha/dcsfmsb81

This is the pre-bath pic.  Seemed to fit the name.  It actually balanced out more, though not perfectly.  There are some overspun bits. 

Next was the Dreams in Fiber Superwash Merino Pencil Roving in the Rose colorway.  Super soft & squishy.  Love the fiber.  Beautiful to spin & after the bath, it was sooo softy & squish!

http://ravel.me/akasha/smpr

381.5 yards.  Bit heavier than fingering.  But fat and soft and sweet.  Love it.  Definitely want to have it close to the skin. 

The pic isn't great.  I think I overcompensated for the lighting & pumped up the saturation too much.  But it is a wonderful yarn.

So all in all, three yarns and over 1982 yards.  1813 meters for those of us who are American & need it figured out.  Like me!   

That puts me at over 3000 meters to go.  But if I finish the sweater I started for my hubby, the Catkin Shawl (which is about 2/3rds done) and the socks on my needles, that puts me at only about 700 yards/636 meters left.  With the Tour de Fleece coming, I shouldn't miss the mark *if* I focus on the WIPs and finish them.

I don't want to count my chickens...  But I really think I have a shot this year.  It is all about finishing that sweater though.  I could make up the other yardage with spinning.  But given the amount of time it took to finish the Tribble, that isn't just churning out another before the end of the summer... 

Stash Dash ends August 14th.  So almost two months.  But time flies.  And I am not taking vacation until the *end* of August.  I will take a day here or there.  But mostly to do stuff with the Littles.  So not so much knitting time!  But fingers crossed.  I can get make it!