Fiber Arts Friday: Rill Scarf, part 3

I've been working on my Rill Scarf a little bit here and there.

I am now into the straight section.  But it's going to be a while before I get to start decreasing.  ;-)

The scarf is at 11.5 inches, I think I'm going for about 60 inches.

How are your fibery pursuits?

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Mending Holes

I noticed a small hole in my Palindrome Scarf before Thanksgiving.  :-/

I set the scarf aside and then fixed it over the winter holiday.

I didn't do a good job, but the stitches are secure.  I'm going to have to research on how to do this better since I have a bigger hole to fix in something else.  :-/

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Be sure to share what you've been up to.

Alpacamundo Monday: Mud!

It's been warm lately, and was especially while I was washing out the water tanks over the weekend.

Pearl took advantage of the mud.  Too bad I missed her rolling around in it.

Fiber Arts Friday: Collecting Tibetan Mastiff Fur, part 3

I think it's safe to say that Nobu is done shedding for 2017.

 

I may get a little more chiengora off of her neck, but we're well into the point of diminishing returns.

So to answer the initial question that got this series started:  How much yarn can one expect to get from a good-sized female Tibetan Mastiff?

First, it depends on how much fiber you collect:

Nobu:  7 1/8 oz of fur collected
Nobu's Mother: 12 3/4 oz, so far
Nobu's Sister:  18 7/8 oz, so far

Second, it depends on how thick the yarn is spun.

For reference, a pair of socks requires about 4 oz, and this scarf used about 7 oz.

In the case of Nobu, I suspect this is less than half of what she shed out.  Much of it went with the wind and I binned the undercoat from the tail and britches.  There's a short explanation for why is at the end of the first post in this series.

In the cases of Nobu's Mother and Sister, I was able to start collecting earlier in their shedding process and both are nearly finished.

Once the rest of our dogs have finished shedding and the weather is a bit nicer, I will start washing the chiengora and may start spinning it by fall.

How are your fibery pursuits going?

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Santa Hat

A few years ago I made a Santaclava for my brother.

I enjoyed making that project a lot.  I pretty much giggled the entire time I worked on it.

So while at one of our Christmas celebrations last year I remembered that I had a Santa Hat packed away, but really preferred the one I made for my brother.

So on Christmas Day I cast on a Santa Hat for myself.... just a little smaller and with less facial hair.

The best part being that this was made with left over yarn from the original Santaclava.

It just needs a bath, but I'm calling this one done.  Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Alpacamundo Monday: Quiet Weekend

As they say, I've been burning the candle at both ends for a while.  So with Hubba gone for a hunting trip over the weekend, I decided I needed some quiet time and cancelled or postponed most of my people-y things.

I brushed a few dogs that are shedding and gathered nearly two pounds of chiengora.

I spent some time with yarn and a favorite movie.

Spent some extra time with the alpacas and dogs.

I'm feeling recharged and have a massage scheduled for later today.

Fiber Arts Friday: Black vs Black

Two projects.  Both made with commercial, dyed, black yarn.

One is Alpaca.  The other, Merino Wool.

One is plied.  The other, a single.

Two very different textures.  Two very different colors.  Both black.

What have you been up to?

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!