Using Nylon Buttonhole Thread in Spinning

I have been spinning some lace weight fiber.  I get bored easily and need to try something different.  That is why I vary the size of the wool, the breed of wool, and the color of wool I spin.  I also like to add to the wool some sparkle, silk, recycled sari silk, banana fiber, corn fiber, recycled denim, pineapple fiber, etc.  In the picture above on the bottom right side, the trivet is made from lace weight BFL fiber in mostly fall colors.  The skein of yarn on the top right is the same yarn as the trivet.  On the left side it is the same yarn, but it is auto wrapped with vintage nylon buttonhole thread as I was spinning the yarn.  The thread is allowed to do pretty much as it pleases and mostly dangles by the orifice.  There may be a lot of thread in one area and less in other areas.  It gives the yarn an interesting look. I loved the look of the yarn with the vintage cameo buttons.  I tried to give you a visual of them with the yarn.  The nylon thread will catch the light on occasion.  A brighter colored thread or a thicker thread would give the yarn more interest and zest.  I hope you have a great weekend!  Dawnie

Did you ever want a fireplace mantle cover with a little pizzazz??? Look at this. It is fresh and exciting.

 New dresser scarves, buffet covers, or fireplace mantle covers with little fiber locks.

The beginnings of my buffet cover.

After I got this far, I decided to purchase a felting machine.  It is like a sewing machine, but it does not have thread, just felting needles.  Felting needles resemble fish hooks on the ends.  This allows for the wool to be felted or small amounts to be pushed to the other side of the fabric. 

https://www.amazon.com/Janome-Needle-Felting-Machine-Exclusive/dp/B015YCBBRO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1533079677&sr=8-
3&keywords=felting+machines

I tried the edge of a decorative pillow with the new felting machine.  It worked very well and goes much faster than by hand with 1 to 3 needles.  

The recent accident in Branson, Missouri where Tia Coleman lost 9 family members on a Duck Boat that tipped over, really got to me. I have been on vacation in Branson and have ridden on a duck boat. After reading that her deceased husband was found with all 3 of their deceased children and about the promise he made of always taking care of her and her children.  This family must have been remarkable!  Can you imagine the love and compassion this family had for each other! 

These are the quotes from the KAKE news article:"Somebody told me that when they found my husband, he had all three of my babies," Coleman told Anderson Cooper on "Anderson Cooper Full Circle," a daily interactive news show on Facebook Watch. "So the reason I couldn't find them is because he was protecting them."

"That right there will keep me fighting for my family forever," Coleman said. "To know that he did (was) exactly what he always told me when we first met: 'I will always take care of you and our children.'"   

I challenge each and every one of us today to stand tall and take responsibility for our children and grandchildren.  Model the correct behavior and show them the right way to care for family. 

My new powder puff.

I found a use for vintage broaches.

https://www.joann.com/how-to-make-a-rit-dye-room-refresh/30913745P3.html#icn=inspirationLP&ici=Nav&start=1
Interesting roving wall hanging

Fermented Suint Vat Wool Cleaning Method

There is a method of cleaning wool that is becoming popular, even though it is not a new method.  It is where wool is placed in water and allowed to ferment.  Sheep make suint which is their sweat.  This is a natural cleaner. One of the best places online to view this method is at: 

https://mozfiberlife.wordpress.com/fsm/


Thanks for viewing!  Dawnie

Outdoor drying of dyed BFL fiber

Drying dyed BFL wool fiber.  Thank you for watching!  Dawnie

What is it?

A couple of months ago I started a project.  It was going great until I got 3/4 of the project done.  My problem is that the fiber locks tend to matt and connect to each other.  I probably got a little carried away with using the number of locks I used.  I also used both ends of each lock and the part of the lock that was toward the sheep does not stay together like the other end of the lock does.  If this project is made for me, it is not an issue, but someone else may not want to separate the locks prior to each use.  I really need to attach each lock a little differently in my next project since these locks are able to pull out too easily.  I crocheted around the center of each lock.  I really needed to use the center of each lock as part of the stitch and it would stay in place better. 

You are probably saying what is the project?  Well, I started out making a tea cozy.  Some of you are still saying what is that?  A tea cozy goes over a teapot to keep the tea warm. If you ever watch Brittish TV, you will see tea cozies on most kitchen tables.  This will still work as a tea cozy if it is used with a smaller teapot.  This can also be used as a hat.  I am modeling it for you.  It could also fit over a lid of a pot or casserole dish.  If any of you are from the older generation, you may have seen crocheted chamber pot or toilet seat covers.  LOL  This reminds me of one.  I just need to string a chain stitch through the outside edge to keep it on the chamber pot.  My grandmother had chamber pot covers in a stack of her old crochet items made by her and her mother. 

This could also be a hat.  There is a lovely model in the photograph.   Yes, it is me.  LOL
  

Over A Teapot

The colors are mostly a seafoam green with some teal, turquoise, and lavender.  The outside locks were dyed in a rainbow dye and are BFL.  The inside was crocheted with a yarn that has two plies and it is close to lace-weight.  It was spun from a Shetland fleece and died a light seafoam green.  

Add caption

Inside

What a lovely model.  LOL

This tea cozy goes real well with this teapot!

Two-tone yarn

I had to try spinning Coberger Fuch (German Fox) and Rhone wool.  I just got this wool from Sherry's Fiber Farm.  This is a small skein of yarn I made.  It is not a soft wool, but it is not really rough either.

I hope you are all doing well.  We are all fine.

Dawnie

Using Wool Locks

Wool locks can be used many ways.  I am making a rug at this time.  It will be a while before the reveal.  LOL  I have made trivets and placed the locks around the outside in the last row.  I like that look, but it is not real full.  I have placed locks into the wool and let them do their own thing and I get some great results.  I really like the look of crocheting or knitting a lock in a stitch.  The middle of the lock I feel will hold the lock in place the best.  It depends on what is made and who it is made for as to the best use of my locks.  I like to use hand-spun yarn when I crochet or knit the lock in place.  Of course, felting works well too.  I recently made a trivet for someone.  Her favorite color is blue, but other colors work fine too.  In the center of the trivet is a button containing a blue bird and a pink flower.  The locks are smaller locks and come from BFL (sheep breed) and dyed in various pink colors.  The yarn I used to crochet with is hand-spun.  It is mostly blue yarn, with one ply in blue with various colors and fibers, one ply in pink Merino, and one ply in pink cotton thread.  I started crocheting a circle in the normal style.  Once I had two rows crocheted, I would catch the center of a lock in a stitch and single crochet it twice in that stitch.  I would then put three stitches between the stitches.  If the trivet gets too big, I would crochet the second and third stitch between stitches together.  This method gave the trivet some fullness.  It is very fluffy and it can be shaken into place somewhat if it gets settled down.  Yes, I like shabby chic decor.  LOL

This looks like it is about 4" wide, but it is closer to 9 inches in diameter.

In the picture below, a little girl is telling me that I have too much wool.  LOL  She is being photo bombed in the picture by little Joy, the Toy Fox Terrier.  I don't get a lot of work done when the grand-daughter is here.  She likes to play tea and sit on my lap.  Trivets under teapots come in handy at our house.  

Satin Ribbon In Yarn

Some of the BFL wool I recently dyed, I decided to spin onto a core yarn or leader of 1/16 inch wide green satin ribbon.  I have plied yarn with this same type of ribbon,  It works fine but you have to ply it a with extra twist or the ribbon will hang off the yarn.  I purchase the ribbon from a party supply store on line in 100 yard spools.

I had a small piece of felted wool dyed pink.  I thought of doll clothes.  My grand-baby thought it would make a car seat cover.  LOL

I hope you had a great weekend!  Dawnie

More dying wool and spinning.

Thank you for viewing!  Dawnie