A House Full Of Fiber

I finally got some good acid dyes.  I've only ever used the basics... egg dyes, kool aid, etc.  I now have 10 colors of Jacquard Acid Dyes.  They are soooo amazing to work with.  I purchased about 5 lbs of fiber from the Sheep Shed and went to town dyeing.  The house smelled like wet dog/sheep for a few days, but in the end I got some lovely dyed fibers.  Some of which are for sale in my Etsy Store and some I've been busy spinning up.  Don't forget to use that code I posted a few days ago for a 10% discount!  ATU42

Here's what parts of my house looked like.... a soggy wet mess.  I can't wait for the weather to be good enough to hang thing outside to dry in the sun.

 I made some mini skeins and dyed them in the base colors that I have so I can have swatches.  I also mixed some colors and made samples for those too.  I ended up knitting those little samples up into squares for reference later.

Spinning Adventures

I've been busy spinning the past few months.  Sewing has been on the back burner since Christmas.  I still have to post photos from the holidays.... maybe later this week.  After Christmas I received a jumbo fly wheel for my spinning wheel.  I can't believe what a difference it has made.  Those large bobbins can hold soooo much more fiber and I've had no problems with bulky and funky yarns.  I'm just loving it.  Below are some of my handspuns so far this year.  Some have already been knit up or are in the process of becoming something.  The rest are either sold or currently in my Etsy shop.  I'm offering a 10% discount to any of my readers in my shop.  Just use the code ATU42 when checking out!

Massive Batts From Etsy

My mail lady delivered so many yummy packages this last week.  It's funny, but I received 4 packages from 4 different Etsy vendors on the same day.  All ordered at different times.  I'll post them all over the next few days.  But, I'm starting with these yummy batts.  I purchased one of these from Jahtsemer Serene To Extreme Fibers on Etsy.  I've wanted to purchase one of these forever, and with the free shipping it was the time!

My eldest daughter and I opened the package... she wanted to rip it all out, but I told her that we were going to pull one thing out at a time and savor the moment.  With a huff she agreed.

First out of the bag was this pink batt called "Pink Poodle" 4.4 oz with merino lamb, shetland, romney, cvm bamboo, faux mohair and angelina.  My daughter said "It's pretty but it's pink"  Hehe... she either hates pink or loves it.  Right now she is in love with super bright electric pink.  I think it's so pretty and soft.  In fact, it was the first I spun up too.  It made up 3 skeins as I couldn't fit all it's yummy goodness onto my small bobbin.  I think it's time for a jumbo bobbin.

Next out of the bag was was a sparkly purple batt called " Thai Bazzar" 3.9 oz SW Merino, cashmere, milk fiber, bamboo silk, puller sari silk, and glitz.  We both really oohed and ahhed over this one.  It's just so sparkly!

Next was a jumbo batt called " Mancala Mama" 5oz. SW Merino in top and cloud, banana fiber, faux angora, and faux cashmere.  I would never never pick these colors normally.  But, seeing them all together like this kinda makes me drool.  My daughter proclaimed it her favorite and she can't wait for me to spin this one up.

At this point I couldn't believe there was more in the bag.  My mouth was hanging open and my daughter was giggling.  My hubby was looking at both of us like we were crazy.  My hand went in the bag one last time and pulled out a batt called "Moody Blues" 3.5oz SW Merino, BFL, cashmere, mulberry silk, and faux mohair.  My daughter says this one looks like the ocean waves.  It totally does.  I'm spinning up this one next.  It reminds me of my parents who live at the beach.

So, in review of this Etsy store....Her fibers are amazing, she is crazy generous, and I would encourage anyone who is even remotely considering buying from her to go ahead and do it!  Don't walk... run! 
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It's So Fluffyyyyyy!!!!

Piles of handspun goodness is covering my workspace.  I got the bug to spin last week and I just can't seem to stop.  And who would want to?  I mean, just look at that pile of yummyness. And, this isn't even all of it.  I've spun more since this picture was taken last weekend.  Below are all of them singly (except the bottom left two)

 First up are the two Icelandic skeins.  I dyed both of these ages ago.  The top darker green one was slightly felted from the dying process.  It actually spun up quite well as a bulky yarn with some slubby goodness.

Dark multi green Icelandic wool. Worsted - Bulky Wt. 86yrds. 2.5oz.

 

 Lime green Icelandic wool. Fingering - sport wt. 115 yrds. 1.4oz.

"Kitchen Sink" Skeins.  These are my first inclusion handspuns that are this crazy.  I literally went through all my sewing trims, yarn remnants, and misc. bits of wool and locks.  Then I picked a base fiber.  Then I just went to town spinning everything I could into these beauties.  I can't say how much I love them!  The white one is mostly sari silk, locks, and some commercial art type yarn pieces.

 Black "Kitchen Sink" skein.  Singles. 55yrds. 3.8oz. (Alaina loves this one and wants a hat)

 White "Kitchen Sink" skein.  Two ply with coils. 

Merino Tencel from a person on Ralvery.  I hated spinning this so I stopped about 1/4 of the way through my 4oz roving.  But, after letting it sit on the bobbin and then plying it, I'm actually really liking it and I think I'll spin up the rest of it.  Light Worsted Wt. 1.4oz and 115yrds.

OMG Tailspun.  My first and certainly not my last.  I had sooo much fun spinning this one up.  First I spun up the locks, then I plied it with some gold thread.  It's crazy soft and so colorful.  2.4oz and 38 yards.

 This one is from a roving that I got on Etsy.  100% Superwash BFL Worsted Wt. 4oz 225 yards.

 More to come later this week.  If I'm not to busy spinning!

Dusting Off My Spinning Wheel

I've been busy the last 2 weeks spinning up tons of the fiber that I have laying around the house.  Some of these beauties will be heading off to my Etsy store.  Others will remain here with me to either be looked at or used.  I was planning on a lengthy post about my love of spinning, but I decided to just skip to the yummy yarn goodness!

First up is an awesome art yarn.  I had a bag of junk from my drum carder.  In the bag was also some random feathers and boa pieces.   I fluffed up the whole bag and put it into a box next to me.  Then I just grabbed pieces and let it spin up as it wanted to.  I'm crazy about how it turned out.  It's already about 3/4 of the way knit into a small bag.  Stats:  Various wools and about 80 yards.

 

 Next is 700 yards of SW BFL goodness.  So far BFL is my favorite to spin.  It spins soo nice and evenly.  I plied this with some cashmere and nylon stretchy lace weight recycled yarn.  It's extremely soft and squooshy.  I'm thinking of making some long arm warmers with it.

 

 This one was spun from my "Earth & Sky" Batt.  It's about 190 yards and I plied it with string and bead with some coils in it.  Mixed wools including bamboo.

 This one is about 50 yards and was just some random junky greens and some funky pieces of dyed corriedale bits.  It's another art yarn.

 

 This one just makes me swoon.  It's 70/30 Merino Silk.  2 Oz and and 210 yards.  I plied it with some thread and matching beads.  The oblong pinkish purple beads are left over from a necklace my hubby made our oldest daughter years ago.  Her favorite color right now is purple so this is destined to be a scarf for her.

 

 I wish I remembered more about what this one is.  I know it's Merino and the colors are soooo much prettier in person.  It spun up very lofty and squooshy.  It's alread a shawl.  I still need to block it and take photos of it.  That'll be another post.  It hink it had about 250 yards... maybe more.

 

 

 I think this one is my favorite. The deep plum is merino and the blue heathery one is merino / silk.  I spun this so I would have long pulls of plum and then long pulls of the blue/plum.  So, it'll stripe.  It's got 238 yards in just 3 oz!  I think this is my best job so far on even fingering - sports weight yarn.  I'm still needing so much work on making fine yarns.  But, I'm thrilled with this one.

 

 

Last but not least is this Merino / Tussah Silk blend two ply.  It's in southwest colors.  Not my favorite, but I'm very happy with my spinning and the finished yarn is extremely soft and very pretty.  4 oz and 225 yards.  I'd say it's a heavy worsted weight.

That's it for now.  I'm off to spin up some thick n thin while the boy sleeps!

I Dusted Off The Ole' Kiwi

It's been since before Christmas that I spun anything. I finally dusted off (literally) my kiwi and went spinnin'. I've finished 4 spools of yarn. I got in some really really pretty rovings so I'm excited to do more in the next few weeks.

Up first are my favorites. These are superwash wool. I spun these to be singles. 4 oz. total. I'm not sure the yardage yet. I'm letting them rest on the bobbin before I take them off. I love the colors. The yarn will be self stripping. I'm thinking these will make adorable long arm/wrist warmers for one of my daughters for next winter.
The next two are from the last batts that I made up before shipping off my drum carder. Yeah...you heard me right. I sold the drum carder. Anyways, I used up a ton of Phat Fiber loose fibers in the redish skein and the other grayish one is a mix of purples, blues and grays. The gray one is plyed with dark gray cashmere recycled yarn. I love the redish singles one. It has gorgeous locks and sparkles everywhere. I'm guessing there is about 15o yards in that one. And, maybe 175 yards in the gray one. Any suggestions as to what to do with these?

September Phatty

Yesterday I received my September Phat Fiber Box. I love getting this box every month. This month the theme was "Myths, Fairytales, Legends, & Lore". There are sooo many pretties in this box. Last night I sat down and spun up all the fiber samples and the yummy yarn samples have been added to my other phatty yarn samples from previous months. I'm saving up all yarns made/received from the Phat Fiber Box to make a larger project. For the sock/sport weight yarns I'm thinking about making some tall wrist / arm warmers. And, for the larger worstedish weight yarns that I have been spinning from fiber samples I'm thinking of a shawl or a very wide scarf. Anywhoo..... Here are the box pics. I'll post pics of the finished yarns today or tomorrow.
The box top and the "flat stuff" - In here there are some gorgeous pearl buttons, and a stitch marker. As well as a postcard and a matchbox note pad.
The fluff was plentiful this month. Just look at all those yummy colors. They all spun up beautifully, but I think my personal favorites are the "Dark Crystal" one (it's purple and in the backish) and the two batts in the middle. One is called "Fairy Farts"!
The yarns are so pretty this month. I think my favorites are the ones in the package (can't really see them here) and the bright blue one.

I Hit The Button Load!

It's been really busy the past few weeks. We've been painting, cleaning, and destashing all over the house. We had a big garage sale this last weekend. It always feels so good when were done unloading extra stuff. Monday I did manage to bring home more stuff though. I stopped at Value Village to see if they had any hardcase suitcases. The vintage kind maybe in a happy color like blue, yellow or green. Anyway... no suitcases but they did have a ton of crafting supplies. Usually I don't find much there but I sure did hit the mother load. Here's what I found:
A doll clothing fabric panel. This is soooo awesome! I've been wanting one of these for a long time but haven't found one until now. It's got two outfits for 18" dolls. One is a jumper and the other is a red dress. The girls will each get one outfit for christmas. I also found 2 more sweaters to recycle.
These I just couldn't resist. 3 balls of Katia Magic arcylic and wool yarn. It'll self stripe and it's perfect for Rachel's bavaclava that I'm going to make her. In the button load I found some some buttons that matched perfect!
I hit the button load! I found 4 bags of buttons. They obviously came from the same donator because I found buttons in differnent bags that go together. These aren't just plain ol buttons either. About 90% of them are fun, big, colorful, and decorative buttons. I love love love them all! And, best of all... There are at least 2-6 of every button! I love buttons.....Last but certainly not least. I found some wool roving! I never in a million years thought I would find roving at the thrift store. I have no idea what kinda wool it is. It's pretty scratchy and a funky color. I'm going to spin it up this weekend and see what happens!
I've also been busy spinning and recycling yarn. The pic at the top of the page shows my most recent yarns. Today I've got to finish my Phat Fiber samples for September. I can't wait to get my hands on my drum carder. It's been sitting unloved for far to long.