Sunday, April 9, 2017

Yop Update 41



Finally we had a day without rain so I could start the soak of two of my fleeces.



This is a Babydoll black fleece - only about 1/12 of the raw fleece I have, but I want to see how it spins up before proceeding to wash more of it.

This fleece was so filthy it took at least five soaks before the water ran clear. It is full of straw and grass and I picked out as much as I had patience for - the rest will be dealt with when I card it.

Here it is after drying:



While I was doing the first 24 hour soak I started to hand card a Shetland fleece I had washed a couple of years ago. I am new at hand carding and the whole right/left confusion got in my way while I was learning via Youtube but I persevered and ended up with a whole bag of rolags. (which is only 15 gms)







Below is a Friesian fleece from my son. It was much cleaner but FULL of lanolin. I want to keep the lanolin because I am going to spin this for a Cowichan sweater so I soaked it overnight in cold water and it only took one rinse the next day before the water ran clear.

Luckily the sun came out on Tuesday so it could dry in the sun. (Unlike the babydoll that took so long to wash I had to dry it inside.

Here is the raw fleece:


and here it is drying in the sun:



and here are my first three rolags off the hand carders:



Needless to say with all the wool washing my hands are soooooo soft.


As far as knitting goes I started a new colour combination for my Iona:



but, that is as far as that got because I decided on Tuesday to make this doubleknit hemp potholder for a friend's birthday (which was yesterday).



She was born in the year of the Snake, so this is the Chinese character for Snake.

When my hands were complaining form knitting with the hemp I decided to use up some stash by starting two sweaters:

An Elizabeth Zimmerman Surprise Sweater for me using these colours:



and a Dizzy sweater for a little girl (tba) by Holly Yeoh with these:



I don't have enough pink, but I have some white which I will dye to match as closely as I can.

I haven't actually cast on the Dizzy yet. Well, technically I did, and knit about an inch before realizing the first wool I chose wasn't going to work. It was alpaca and too fluffy so the stitch definition wasn't showing through.

I have cast on the Elizabeth Zimmerman sweater after swatching and futzing about with her numbers to figure out how many stitches to cast on. The answer is:

333!!

Oh my, each row seems to last f o r e v e r!

Let's see.....what else?

Nothing. That was my Yopping week. I hope to have some spinning to show you next time.

15 comments:

  1. Look at all that spinning you will be doing. I like your color choices for you surprise sweater. Iona looks interesting. I have enjoyed watching it. Nice hot pads to. You have been very busy.

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    1. the pot holder was a nail biter, but I finished it with a day to spare!

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  2. Let's see... what else???? Oh my goodness, that looked like a very busy week already. So interesting to see the fleeces washed and carded. I admire your patience! And I'd be interested to hear your comments about the differences in the fibers themselves. I do love a lanolin-rich yarn!

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    1. washing the fleeces was back-breaking - tipping the big basin to re-fill and rinse. Thank goodness hubby was around to help.

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    2. I was wondering how physical all of that washing and carding was for you. I wondered if it was a lot of stress on your arms and wrists but hadn't thought of the softness of the lanolin on your hands until you mentioned it. That part sounds lovely! I admire your physical tenacity.

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  3. I'm sure it will be worth all the effort, and I imagine that spinning is a mindful meditative occupation. Well, if the spinner ( what's the real word for that) is as experienced and talented as you are. Me... I'd be as frustrated as all fuck by my own ineptitude.

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    1. it can be meditative, but then suddenly I think - wow, this is meditative - and then it all goes to hell.

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  4. Beautiful fiber and thank you for showing some of the steps. I would love to do that some day but right now I have enough on my hands..lol!
    Your potholder looks pretty complicated but what a lovely gift. 2 sweaters...wow...you are ambitious but unlike me, you will finish yours! Ha! Ha! Have a great week!

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    1. The sweaters are pretty mindless tv knitting, and good for stash busting. The EZ sweater is a mind boggler for sure - so I am trusting the pattern that it will fit. If not if will be a gift!

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  5. Well, that looks quite enough! All of those fleeces are splendid, but it looks like quite a job to sort them out. Love the potholder and the colours for your sweater are gorgeous.

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    1. Yes, the fleeces are time consuming but I really wanted to at least once make a fleece to sweater for myself.

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  6. Wow that is more than enough to be getting on with by anyone's standards! :-)

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    1. funny but I always think I should get more accomplished! Silly me.

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    2. We have high expectations of ourselves sometimes, don't we?

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  7. I found the pictures and explanation of preparing your fiber interesting. The fleeces look scrumptious after they dry! I imagine that darker fleece spun into a beautiful multi-toned yarn. How wonderful that will be to create something with.

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I look forward to reading the comments. It makes me feel like I am not just posting into the void.