To be or what to be?

That is the question... what should this yarn be?



It is to be a sweater but has had quite a history thus far and is still not even completed yarn. Truly it is still in it's infancy stage but has a story to tell.

First, this fleece was to be a learning project. I bought Shetland lamb fleece as one of my first spinning projects to see what it was like to spin such a very short staple length. I hated it, and then carded it with a little bit of silk to help compensate for the short staple and spun it into a single. I also decided I do not like spinning such a short staple (~1"). That was last year (Fall 2007).

Then this year (Summer 2008), I decided I've spun too much yarn that just gives me enough for small projects like scarfs, hats and socks. I decided if I found another fleece that could match this I could ply it with the shetland and have double the yardage and make a sweater for Troy. Since Troy's last sweater was way too small (and he's a pretty small guy).


I mentioned that I was on the look out for a dark brown or black fleece to Heidi. Very shortly after that she provided me with Blossom's fleece from the spring shearing of 08. It was perfect! It was dark grey (almost black) with white guard hairs as Blossom is a Lincoln/Romney/Shetland cross (I think). And ironically she is best balls with Tizzie who was the first sheep's fleece I spun from Heidi (for Troy's too small sweater).

I have been spinning the Blossom fleece and plying it with the Shetland lamb and it is turning out to be a terrific wool. Very springy, interesting and durable.

Next thing you know Troy starts getting honest about his 'sensitivity' to wool. He is VERY fussy about what gets put next to his skin to the extreme that an alpaca scarf I knit him is 'ichy' according to him. It must be the guard hairs left in the alpaca cause it so super soft (and expensive!). Just recently I finished a cashmere/alpaca/wool scarf for him and that is soft enough for his 'delicate' skin.

SO... now that I know how he reacts to anything but cashmere, I've decided this yarn will not be for a sweater for Troy. He will not appreciate it's texture, durability and pure woolness.

That is actually great news cause I am going to use it for a sweater for me! Now, which sweater...

Here are some choices I'm musing over:

- February Lady Sweater
- Garter Yoke Cardigan (Knit.1 Winter 2008)
- Go Retro (Knitter's Winter 2008)
- Garter Stitch Collard Jacket (Eco Wool)
- or a made up pattern?

Of course the yarn does not fit any of the above exactly. It seems to be a heavy worsted and I'm currently knitting a swatch with 5.5 mm needles.

Any suggestions?

Upgraded to Fiber Studio

I have upgraded my spinning room to my Fiber Studio!

With the addition of the weaving loom it is no longer simply a spinning area, but is used for weaving, fiber preparation, spinning and knitting.



That's a lot to do in this small oasis!

Shawl work in progress:


Two boxes of hand flicked Romney ready to be spun:


Spinning project underway:


This is shetland lamb that was carded with tussah silk and spun into singles last year (brown on the right). Now I've carded some of Blossom's (one of Heidi's flock) fleece (Lincoln, Shetland cross) and am pulling it into roving through a diz before I spin it and ply it with the brown shetland. It's making a chunky natural looking wool I hope to knit into a jacket/cardigan for me this winter.

Mom's Black Vest... Shhh....

This is my Mom in her new black vest.



Please don't tell her I posted this... she'll kill me cause her hair's messy LOL



She modeled it so well I just had to share. Not to mention this project was 15 months in the making! Should have only taken probably 2 months, but I must say that working with black sock weight yarn in a house plagued with white dog hair is not my favorite thing to knit.

But it's done! And it was in time to be a Christmas present too!

New stuff

I got 2 terrific new books: "Knitting Never Felt Better" and "Shear Spirit". The felting book is awesome because it has MANY swatches of before and after they have been felted. It's great to use as a reference to see how a pattern will turn out (roughly) if you felt it before you actually do.

And I've already started this great sock pattern Welsh Traveling Socks out of Shear Spirit. This book is a must have if you love country side farming stories, amazing photography of the cutest animals and terrific patterns too!

Yarn: Knit Picks Imagination

And look what Santa gave me...


A loom stand!!

Now I must go and warp the loom :)

It's a New Year!

Welcome to 2009! I hope everyone had a wonderful December and Holiday season. I have been very busy producing fiberlicious stuff, unfortunately not blogging about any of it.

Here is a quick preview of our holiday season:

First was Christmas in Campbellton (where my husband's mom lives)


Next we came home for a second Christmas with my parents.


It was fondue night and Trent, Troy's brother, got right into the cooking.


And Mom finally received her much anticipated black vest.


Next I finished some spinning while Troy went back to work for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (sucker LOL)


Blended Polworth and Soy silk purchased at London-Wul

Then it was New Year's Eve and we headed to Laurie and Ryan's New Year's Eve wedding.


It was so beautiful and a terrific night filled with live jazz and dancing.


Now on New Year's day we are hiding from the cold blizzard outside and I'm keeping warm with a beautiful Odessa hat that my friend Kim made me for Christmas and my new Cashmere/Merino/Silk handspun scarf/wrap.




Happy New Year everyone! And here's to blogging more often in 2009!