More hats to warm cold heads this winter..............

Thank you for viewing!  Dawnie

What are you making???

When plying, don't hesitate to ply unmatched yarns.  An example of plying 2 unmatched yarns is in this crocheted trivet where I plied Dutch Spotted Sheep (Bonte Schaap) and a varied green yarn with lots of sparkles.  This batt is named Irish Blessing and contains Merino, Alpaca, Corridale, BFL, silk, and Angelina fibers.   It comes from Fawkes Farm.  www.etsy.com/shop/FawkesFarm.  Unfortunately, most of the sparkle doesn't come across in the picture.  I put a green button in the center of this trivet.  The button makes the trivet look complete.

I am in a couple fiber clubs.  They send fiber in colorways I would not have picked out if I went shopping.  This is an example.  A mostly gray Merino wool top with an orange and a light teal.  It really is not pretty.  I had to make it fun, so I added fun fibers with the Merino wool.  BFL in golden and orange, BFL in light teals, Nylon sparkle, mulberry silk, and orange kid mohair.  All natural fibers except for the sparkle.

Blending on a hackle and using a diz to remove the fiber from this hackle.

After spinning

Top of the hat.

After this, I spun the Merino top and made it a two-ply yarn.  I single crocheted a border and placed 8 squash colored buttons around the band.  This hat can be worn by male or female, but I think most men would not want the buttons on the bottom border. 

 As you may have noticed, buttons may give a hand-made item a finished look.  For the last row, I like to crochet around the stem of each stitch in the second to the last row, which gives the bottom of the hat more support and doesn't allow the hat to stretch out of place. 

 Another crocheted, hand-spun yarn trivet.  As you see, there is a button in the center.  This button is not flat, but the raised stitches around the decorative center allow for most items to sit level.  

I hope you had a wonderful Easter!  Dawnie

Hand Carder Covers and Spinning

 

Some bloggers make a living from his or her blog.  Not I (obviously).  When I mention a company I do it because I really like them, not because they are paying me.  I recently purchased 2 sets of hand carder covers.  Hand carders are used to comb wool prior to spinning it.  Hand carders can be pretty dangerous when they are not used since they are sharp wires.  I found a lady on Etsy that makes covers for the hand carders.  She does excellent work --- not a stitch out of place.  If you ever need to purchase a cover, look for Michelle Lee at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TextileSanity
As a bonus, Michelle sent me some wool rolags ( little long rolls of combed and blended wool).  These were made in a Merino wool and a silk blend called Eternal Love.  I had to spin these lovely rolags up.  It made a beautiful yarn, as you can see from my pictures.

 I hope you have a great weekend!  Dawnie

PS  Don't forget to go to my website at: https://www.slipperywhenwetsoaps.com or my website at: https://www.custercottage.com or my Etsy shop at:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/CusterCottage