Monday, May 2, 2011
NEW Wheel!
Amongst other things, my weekend project was to stain and assemble my NEW Ashford Country Spinner! I LOVE the way she turned out! Got to spin on her a little bit last night, I think this is going to be a wonderful new relationship!!!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Michigan Fiber Fiesta - May 14th
I got accepted to vend at the Michigan Fiber Fiesta May 14th at Klackle Orchards!!! No updates until after the festival in my etsy shop, as I need to stockpile. If you're local come visit me and say hi!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Current Projects - Weekly Rundown
ON THE WHEEL - I went stash diving and came out with some vintage luxury blends from Exclusively Linda Lee. I'm spinning some Merino/Cashmere and LOVING it. I heart SUPER soft fibers! Linda recently trained and turned over her fabulous dyeing to Rachel, GirlMeetsSpindle on etsy, and she is definitely doing Linda's beautiful colorways justice! I can't wait to deplete my "vintage" stash so I can order more!!!
ON THE DRUM - Nada. (Bad fiber artist, BAD!)
IN THE POT - Nada. (Eeeek!)
IN THE SHOP - TOO much fun with my boys on Sunday. We went to the park, flew kites, swung on the swings, and then the hubby and I went golfing while Cully had some Grandma time. :) GREAT day, but no update this week. :( NEXT week I PROMISE!
ON THE DRUM - Nada. (Bad fiber artist, BAD!)
IN THE POT - Nada. (Eeeek!)
IN THE SHOP - TOO much fun with my boys on Sunday. We went to the park, flew kites, swung on the swings, and then the hubby and I went golfing while Cully had some Grandma time. :) GREAT day, but no update this week. :( NEXT week I PROMISE!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Current Projects - Weekly Rundown
ON THE WHEEL - NOTHING! Eeeek, I can't believe it, I have everything plied and skeined and have a bunch of empty bobbins! Must change this FAST!
ON THE DRUM - Next up are some 'Unique' batts for the shop! In case you are unfamiliar with my batts, I categorize them by Marbles, Unique Batts, and Inside Out Batts. Marbles are the prestripped roving balls, Unique Batts are moderately smooth with hints of texture, and Inside Out Batts are my HUGE texture fleece filled batts carded in the style taught at Pluckyfluff workshops by the ever-so-talented Lexi Boeger.
IN THE POT - FLEECE! Dyeing up some Shetland from Windswept Farms
IN THE SHOP - Missed my usual Sunday update due to a HUGE storm that rolled through yesterday knocking out our internet. Will be updating later today.
ON THE DRUM - Next up are some 'Unique' batts for the shop! In case you are unfamiliar with my batts, I categorize them by Marbles, Unique Batts, and Inside Out Batts. Marbles are the prestripped roving balls, Unique Batts are moderately smooth with hints of texture, and Inside Out Batts are my HUGE texture fleece filled batts carded in the style taught at Pluckyfluff workshops by the ever-so-talented Lexi Boeger.
IN THE POT - FLEECE! Dyeing up some Shetland from Windswept Farms
IN THE SHOP - Missed my usual Sunday update due to a HUGE storm that rolled through yesterday knocking out our internet. Will be updating later today.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
My Little Man
Just because I'm a proud momma, I gotta brag a bit. Here's my little man, 9 months old and absolutely the joy of my life. Being a Mom is awesome!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Unique Technique - Carding 100% fleece batts
I LOVE to card batts. I card smooth batts, chunky batts, EXTRA chunky batts, sparkly batts, fleecy batts, and more. I just LOVE playing with fluff! Here's my 1st little tutorial on how I card a 100% fleecy batt. Here I am carding some Boarder Leister X Corriedale fiber from HubbardHandspun on etsy. I purchased this fiber from Elizabeth already washed and dyed and it is simply yummy! (As is all of the fiber I've gotten from her, washed or raw.)
I am not going for a smooth card, but rather an organic "fleecy" look to the batt that will spin up relatively smooth but still have some natural texture. The first step I take is evaluating the fiber. As you can see this fiber is very clear of any VM, and has gorgeous luster and a nice wavy crimp. It is ready to card!
Here is my #1 drum carder, a Louet Classic. I LOVE this drum carder and have had lots of luck carding everything I've thrown at her. She's definitely my work horse and I wouldn't trade her for anything!
As you can see I have started loading the main drum already. I prefer to card ALL fibers directly onto the main drum, bypassing the licker-in completely. I like the control I have carding this way because I can place fibers exactly where I want them to end up in the batt.
For "fleecy batts" I apply the fiber using 2 methods. The first, as you can see here, will create smoother portions in the batt. This fiber has been slightly fanned out by hand only.
When applying the fiber to the drum I hold it with my thumb and fingers perpendicular to the rotation of the drum. I hold the lock tips out allowing for the drum to pick up small amounts of the fiber as I crank it.
Now I am going to add some "textured" spots to the batt. This fleece is not going to be carded as smoothly as the other. First notice that the fiber I am about to apply is NOT teased out at all.
When applying the fleece for texture I hold it differently and allow it to go on to the drum in a chunkier manner. In this step I point my thumb towards the drum and when the fiber takes to it I almost pressure it right onto the drum as quickly as possible.
When all the fleece is loaded it is time to remove the batt!
Here is a picture of the bottom (drum side down) side of the batt on my rolling table.
Here's the batt all rolled up and finished!
This particular batt is part of a set of 3 varying blue tones for a color gradient yarn. Here are the 2 batts I have done so far along with the starting fiber for the 3rd.
Like I previously said I am NOT conventional in some of my methods. Some people may gasp at my approach, but please remember I am just trying to share how I do things. "Right or Wrong" it's how I enjoy doing it and the results make me happy. So to those that think I'm "wrong," please leave. lol No, no, no, I'm just kidding, but please do respect that it's just a different approach. Next time you're at your carder give it a shot, you might be pleasantly surprised with your results too!
I am not going for a smooth card, but rather an organic "fleecy" look to the batt that will spin up relatively smooth but still have some natural texture. The first step I take is evaluating the fiber. As you can see this fiber is very clear of any VM, and has gorgeous luster and a nice wavy crimp. It is ready to card!
Here is my #1 drum carder, a Louet Classic. I LOVE this drum carder and have had lots of luck carding everything I've thrown at her. She's definitely my work horse and I wouldn't trade her for anything!
As you can see I have started loading the main drum already. I prefer to card ALL fibers directly onto the main drum, bypassing the licker-in completely. I like the control I have carding this way because I can place fibers exactly where I want them to end up in the batt.
For "fleecy batts" I apply the fiber using 2 methods. The first, as you can see here, will create smoother portions in the batt. This fiber has been slightly fanned out by hand only.
When applying the fiber to the drum I hold it with my thumb and fingers perpendicular to the rotation of the drum. I hold the lock tips out allowing for the drum to pick up small amounts of the fiber as I crank it.
Now I am going to add some "textured" spots to the batt. This fleece is not going to be carded as smoothly as the other. First notice that the fiber I am about to apply is NOT teased out at all.
When applying the fleece for texture I hold it differently and allow it to go on to the drum in a chunkier manner. In this step I point my thumb towards the drum and when the fiber takes to it I almost pressure it right onto the drum as quickly as possible.
When all the fleece is loaded it is time to remove the batt!
Here is a picture of the bottom (drum side down) side of the batt on my rolling table.
Here's the batt all rolled up and finished!
This particular batt is part of a set of 3 varying blue tones for a color gradient yarn. Here are the 2 batts I have done so far along with the starting fiber for the 3rd.
Like I previously said I am NOT conventional in some of my methods. Some people may gasp at my approach, but please remember I am just trying to share how I do things. "Right or Wrong" it's how I enjoy doing it and the results make me happy. So to those that think I'm "wrong," please leave. lol No, no, no, I'm just kidding, but please do respect that it's just a different approach. Next time you're at your carder give it a shot, you might be pleasantly surprised with your results too!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Current Projects - Weekly Rundown
ON THE WHEEL - Corespinning Merino, Silk, Firestar batts I carded. Will be finished with the "Unique Technique" hopefully to be featured in an instructional YouTube video!
ON THE DRUM - Blending some dyed lambswool. It's Border Leister X Corriedale fleece from HubbardHandspun and I am blending them into color gradient fleecy batts. Yummmm-o!
IN THE POT - Just dyed some merino/seacell (Green and Purple) and scrappy odds and ends (Red) for carding. Currently on the drying rack.
IN THE SHOP - Just updated the shop with new Marbles. Marbles are pre-stripped batts rolled up and ready to spin. When I get ready to spin from a batt I will unroll it, strip it, and start spinning. I’ve already stripped for you, (lol) hence Marbles are ready to go right out of the bag!
ON THE DRUM - Blending some dyed lambswool. It's Border Leister X Corriedale fleece from HubbardHandspun and I am blending them into color gradient fleecy batts. Yummmm-o!
IN THE POT - Just dyed some merino/seacell (Green and Purple) and scrappy odds and ends (Red) for carding. Currently on the drying rack.
IN THE SHOP - Just updated the shop with new Marbles. Marbles are pre-stripped batts rolled up and ready to spin. When I get ready to spin from a batt I will unroll it, strip it, and start spinning. I’ve already stripped for you, (lol) hence Marbles are ready to go right out of the bag!
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