Every Which Way but Loose.

Anyone that has been spinning for some time has accumulated a stash of wool.   On the project I made, it doesn't matter if the wool is processed by a mill or at home.   I made a very interesting yarn and used up some of my wool and made a table runner and mat.  Directions for how I did it are as fallows.

Begin by pulling out 10 or more different fibers to spin.  (more are better)  Just grab a handful of each.  Vary the type of fibers and the colors.  If you have mohair, silk, Angelina (sparkle), curly locks, soft wool, rug wool, or ugly wool, it is fine to use for this yarn.  I start spinning with one of the yarns and I spin from lace-weight to bulky varying the spinning style.  This is a project were you can try different spinning techniques.  Some of the fibers I pull the locks apart with my hands, some I have to card or flick card.  I like to obtain  as many curls as possible in the yarn.  This is a two ply yarn.  Both plies can be done this same way.  The way I prefer is to make one ply varied as described here and the second ply with one solid, bright-colored fiber spun neat and thin.  This ply yarn will tie all of the various types and colors of yarns together.  It can also brighten the yarn or make it duller depending on what you use.  Examples would be:  If you use an orange or yellow, it will brighten it.  If you use a duller wool color such as gray.  It is possible to use a thin crochet thread or other thread for plying.   Little bits of interesting wool placed here and there also add interest to this yarn.  

The above picture shows a skein of yarn made this way, along with other fiber.  In order to make the table runner, I cast on 39 stitches with number 10 knitting needles.  I knit the first 6 rows, after that, I knit the first 4 stitches and the last 4 stitches in every row.  Aside from the beginning and ending 4 stitches, I knit one row and then purled one row---stockinette stitch.   The last 6 rows I knit binding off on the sixth one.  I will probably go through and brush up some of the fibers and allow them to fluff up a bit more.  They do make a mohair brush for this, but I think most any brush would be fine as long as they don't get caught in the fiber.   

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Thank you for viewing!!!  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

Lots and Lots of Wool

I have lots and lots of wool ready to spin and lots of wool ready to prepare for spinning.  Some are pieces left over from completed projects and some are complete fleeces from a sheep.  The ready wool pile comes from various sheep breeds, angora from angora rabbits, mohair from angora sheep, flax which becomes linen,  sparkle from nylon and Mylar, silk nips, corn protein fiber, and various other odds and ends.   I decided to spin little bits from all of it and make one skein of yarn. As I spun the yarn, I allowed some of the kid mohair curls to show and any lumps or bumps in the wool to show.  I thought this would give the piece more interest.  Once this was made, I crocheted the yarn into a large circular hot pad/trivet.  In the center area I added another layer of blue yarn and then a second layer of green mohair around that. The final step was to wash and shrink the hot pad/trivet, making it felt, but keeping the fuzzes.  It is 9 inch in diameter and one of a kind .  It reminds me of a rug from grandmother's house.  I plan to make more of these.  They say happy!  Have a happy week!  Dawnie

The completed project.

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3 Color Shawl

Sometimes it is so much easier to make knitted or crocheted items using one color of yarn or one which has multiple colors in the design of the yarn.  I hesitated to place an edging on the shawl I am making, but it added so much to the beauty with three colors.  First, I knitted a plain shawl with a mohair/cashmere/wool blend royal blue yarn.  Once that was completed, I crocheted around twice on two sides with a double crochet stitch.  On the first row I made three double crochet stitches in each stitch, so there would be a ruffle.  On the second row I only crocheted one stitch in each of the previous row's double crochet stitches.  I used a medium blue mohair and silk yarn for the third row and I double crocheted along the two sides.  Along the final row, I used a pale blue mohair and silk yarn and I single crocheted each stitch and followed it with three chain stitches, thus giving the edge tiny loops.   I am almost done with the shawl, but I wanted you to see the difference between the use of two edge colors and with the addition of the third edge color.  When the shawl is tied on, it gives the look of a flower.  What have you been working on?

Blessings to you and yours!  Dawnie