Cleaning raw wool and spinning.

My MIL, who is currently working in New Hampshire sent me a birthday gift a few weeks ago. A giant box of raw alpaca! Two big bags one, creamy white, and one a rich auburn brown color. I was daunted by the thought of washing it all. I've never done it before, but I have been reading, and watching a ton videos of people doing it. So, after a few more days of research, and some tool making I dove in.

The first thing I needed was a skirting table. I'm the type of person that would always prefer making my tools rather than buying them. And have you priced a skirting table lately?! Yowch, they are expensive!

I went to Lowes, and bought some 1.5" thick pvc pipe, cut it into 3x5 pieces, and made a rectangle out of them. Then I covered it in plastic bird netting which was all I could find. I'm getting some sturdier plastic chicken wire from my mom when I remember. I just zip tied the netting to the pvc rectangle. Presto, a skirting table that didn't even cost 15.00! I use my husbands saw horses, and it works like a charm.

So, after getting the big clumps of debris, and other unmentionables out of the wool, I filled my lingerie bags with fiber and started soaking them.

Shoot, wishing I had taken photos of all of this, but was way too busy and forgot. Next time!

I washed my wool in my kitchen sink, I filled it with the hottest water my sink could provide, and a kettle of boiling water which got me a temp of 140 or so, which seemed to work perfectly. I added about 1/2 cup of liquid dish soap (not dishwasher detergent do not use that) making sure not to make the water sudsy. After that I very slowly, and gently pushed the bags into the water and let them soak for a half an hour.

Seeing how dusty and grass ridden this stuff was, I was skeptical that simply letting them sit would get everything out, but it did! I still have some grass to pick out, but for the most part it came out beautifully.

I've only cleaned a small fraction of what was in the box, and what I've done is enough to last me for a long while. Right now, I'm using big slicker brushes to card the fiber. They aren't the greatest tools for the job, but I'm saving my dollars for hand carders or a pair of combs. I can't decide which I want more. I don't mind spinning carded rolags, or combed top, it's really more of a question of which is a better process for the alpaca. If any spinners can give me their opinion or advice on combs vs carders that would be great!

So that's what I've been up to. It's getting warmer everyday and flowers are beginning to pop up here, and there. Could winter really be ending?

It's been awhile.

Sorry it's been so long since I have posted anything. I've been busy (and lazy). I found a local yarn shop that sells spinning wool, which has given me no end of joy. This is just the first of many purchases to come.  It's a beautiful blue Suri Alpaca. This is such a gorgeous color, this picture does it little justice.

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I heard that alpaca is slippery stuff to spin, but I have found that I actually like it more than the wool I just finished. I taught myself, (after lots of cursing) the long draw technique. It's so much fun, now that I know how to do it! I'm still very inconsistent, I find that I draw it waaayy too far out, and the single just snaps into nothingness, but I will keep practicing.

I've also been doing some dyeing. The last bit of my Polwarth wool I wanted to do something fun with, so I decided to knit up a pair of thrummed mittens for my MIL. I didn't want to use boring white, so I dyed it. Unfortunately, it did not come out as it looks in the first pictures, (most of the color mixed together once I put the heat to it), but I'm happy with the results. 

Isn't it a pretty fuchsia color? 

 This is the finished wool that I dyed. I know it's looks like it's all gold, but in actuality it has pinks, and greens running through it. It looks great with the fuchsia yarn. I'm still getting used to dyeing with heat, I get a little better each time.

I've also been thinking about joining the Weavers Guild of Saint Louis. I'm apprehensive, I'm not a social butterfly, I want to learn as much as I can, but it's hard to make that leap to join a group. I wonder if any of my readers are a part of a guild (knitting, artists, weavers etc)? What do you do? What have you learned from being apart of a guild? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I wish I had taken a moment to take pictures of the finished mittens, but I was so excited to send them off that I forgot! So that's what I've been doing lately, along with working, and wishing for Spring. Will it ever come?

Apparently blizzards make productivity go up.

At the moment, Saint Louis, and the surrounding areas are being hit by a huge blizzard. Last night, everything was given a thick coating of ice, and we are expected to get almost 20" of snow today! This is on top of the few inches of snow that is still on the ground from the last big snow. I have never experienced anything like this in my lifetime. I mean, I live in the Midwest, I know hard winter weather, heavy snows, sleet, and flooding, but a blizzard is something almost unheard of in my area. Just about everything is shut down, I have yet to go to work this week, and I thank god my husband has the ability to work from home. 

That being said I have been very productive these last few days. Cleaned house and did the mountain of laundry yesterday. Today I've been able to dye some singles in preparations for my first three ply yarn.  I took lots of pictures of the process.

These are my singles getting all tied up, (yes a niddy noddy is on my list of tools to purchase), this giant shoebox lid works well for now.  The fiber I used is Polwarth top roving purchased from Paradise Fibers.  This is a great fiber for a beginner like myself, it's easy to draft, and is not too expensive.

I'm pretty proud of the consistency of these singles.  When all is said and done I'm hoping this will be a medium weight yarn, but right now I'm not very good at gauging what finished yarns are going to look like.

Below are the two colors I have decided to use: tangerine and teal. The third ply in this yarn will be a dark peacock colored thread. I know from experience that RIT dyes aren't always great at giving yarn a rich color, but for my first time dyeing singles, I wanted something I'm familiar with. Maybe with the next dye session I will spring for more vibrant dyes.

Here's the dyes all mixed up and waiting.

I added the first hank into the teal, it looks like I beautiful color, I just hope it looks that good when it's all done.

And now the second hank into the tangerine, this is also a beautiful color, but has a very odd smell to it. Not bad, just odd I should have looked to see what they use in this particular dye.

I let them soak for about 10 minutes before checking them out, looks good so far!

I let the orange sit in the dye for 30 minutes, the blue I let sit for an extra 10 minutes it seemed like it needed a bit more time. After that, I gently rinsed them both in lukewarm water being careful not to let anything felt up. I just kept rinsing until the water ran clear. Then I squeezed the water out (gently) and rolled them each in a towel for a few minutes to soak up the water. At the moment they are hanging up to dry.

This tangerine color is just gorgeous! The teal is also pretty, not quite what I expected, but I knew it wasn't going to be the vibrant teal I had hoped for.  These photos make it look rather gray, in person it looks more green.

I gave them a twist to see how the two will look plied together. Not too shabby.

With the peacock thread running through it I think it will be fantastic yarn. I hope doing a three ply isn't as cumbersome as I suspect. I've been researching a lot of videos, and have picked up a few techniques that I'm gonna try. I will take lots of photos of the finished product. Wish me luck.

I'm leaving you with a photo taken from my window, let's just pray the power stays on, and no ones pipes freeze!

Have a great day everyone!

Saturday Shopping: Shop locally Saint Peters Missouri

I have a very busy weekend ahead of me, so I'm doing my Saturday Shopping post a day early.  I've been busy with work, spinning, and just daily life in general that I haven't had time to pick a specific topic to write about. However, this evening, I've decided to search locally for what Saint Peters, Missouri has to offer.  I am very impressed at what is being made in my fair city.

   Arched Tea Light Candle Holder

   Created by: WoodnCraft

Beaded Gold and Red Earrings

Handmade BY: SouthBreezeDesigns

Set of Four Shotglasses

Created By:  Cre8ivecat

Chicken Heart Sculpture

Handmade By: lloydfineart

Winter Oaks

Created By: nolankowalski

This is just a small tasting of what St. Peters has to offer. I am so proud to be able to showcase some of  my fellow local artists. The really great thing is that the number of artists in St. Peters seems to be growing everyday! I encourage everyone to take a look at the local artists in your area. Appreciate them, patronize them, and try to spread the word on their amazing work.

Have a great weekend!

Saturday Shopping

I've been seeing more, and more life like creatures being made by needle felting. From tiny mice, to dogs that look as if they could starting playing at any moment. It makes me smile, and stirs the child with in me when I see them. Whether life-like, or whimsical this collection of items are truly amazing. Let's take a moment and appreciate the talent these artists have.

 It looks so real doesn't it?

Shih Tzu Sculpture

Handmade by:  Firbreheart

He's ready for adoption!

Needle Felted Kitty

Created by: BayColonyDesigns

If you look close enough you might see it breathe.

Needle Felted Snow Hare

Handmade by: sarasark

The cuteness level here is insane!

Created by: Feltedcreatures

The sweetest little hamster I've ever seen!

Handmade by: novembrin

How can you look at these and not smile? The cuteness is enough to make my head explode. This has successfully brighten this dreary, cold day of mine! I hope it has given you a smile too!

Snow Day

I was blessed with a snow day today. It isn't often that I get them, so I was going to make the best of it. I slept til 10, had a good cup of coffee, and got to work. I've spent my day retaking shop photos, with my new table top photo lab. I am so happy with the way my photos have turned out. Here are some before and after pictures:

Before Photo Lab

Taken with Photo Lab

Black Damask First Aid Kit 

Before

After

Eensy Green Compact 

Such a difference it has made! Here I thought my photos weren't to shabby, but now I wonder why anyone ever bought anything from a shop that had such awful photos! I can't believe how easy it was, if you own an online shop I highly recommend purchasing a tabletop photo lab, it is worth every penny! You can get them as simple or as extravagant as you want, there's many to choose from.

I also weeded my shop and deactivated a lot of things that have just been sitting. I'm thinking it will either go into clearance, or just stay deactivated I haven't decided. What do other Etisans do with older items that just sit?

Sorry it's such a short post I have been busy!

 

Sunday Shopping

Since the holidays are now officially over, I will resume my weekend shopping section. This week, I will focus on yet another craft that I cannot do. Quilting. I love looking at them, trying to figure out how they're pieced together. My brain hurts when I think of all the precise pieces that need to be cut, and the hours bent over a sewing machine. I have tried only  a few times to quilt, but I believe it's a craft for people who like order. A preson who's motto is "a place for everything and everything in it's place".  This unfortunately is not me which why quilting is a struggle for me. 

So snuggle in, it's cold out there, and do some shopping.

I love this color in this, it looks so cozy.

 

Dream in Color Lap/Throw Quilt

Created By: Quiltville

The workmanship that went into this quilt is amazing.

Veggie Wall Hanging or Table Top Quilt

 

Handmade By: judiheindesign

 

Wouldn't this great on a sideboard for summer?

Extra Long Table Runner 

Handmade by: OriginalsbyLauren

Again the work put into quilts is staggering. This even makes me a little dizzy!

King Size Blue and Brown Weaver Fever

Created by: 4quiltsandmore

This looks just like stained glass! Gorgeous!

Rainbow Rose Mini Quilt

Made by: TerryAskeArtQuilts

These artists do just brilliant work. All the time, and effort that goes into each stitch should be appreciated by everyone. 

I hope everyone had a lovely New Years!