So.... my intention was to post about a Christmas present today.
I've been working on it off and on for the last couple of months and have been very close to being complete for a few weeks.... but I've been doing more ripping out than finishing. :-/
So finally last weekend, I decided that I was not going to finish this project.... at least not for this Christmas.
So today, you get a cryptic post from me, hoping that all of your holiday making was successful.
Happy Hanukkah, Christmas, soon-to-be New Year, and Fiber Arts Friday!
Friday, December 27, 2019
Friday, December 20, 2019
Fiber Arts Friday: Mending
About a month ago, my favorite Patagonia jacket ripped. :-(
Yes I know they will repair it for free, but I was on the road and was going to need my jacket during that trip.
So I stopped by a Local Yarn Shop (LYS) and found an interesting wool/camel thread and some sewing needles.
I stitched my jacket up as best I could using a Whip Stitch while bleary-eyed, late at night.
This is not a great stitching job. Obviously I had a hard time keeping the feathers in, but it is functional.
I felt bad about the quality of my work for a few days, especially since creative mending is so popular right now. However, I was happy to be wearing my jacket during the very cold weather a few days later.
Then my jacket tore again last week. sigh.
I don't know if it's getting snagged on something under the airplane seat in front of me or what.... but again, I was in need of the jacket in short order.
This time my seam is better. I used the Blanket Stitch and was both more rested and had better light than the first repair.
I suppose my poor repairs invalidate the warranty on my favorite jacket. But I do enjoy the fact that I can repair my own garments and therefore extend their life and keep them out of the landfill.
Happy Fiber Arts Friday!
Yes I know they will repair it for free, but I was on the road and was going to need my jacket during that trip.
So I stopped by a Local Yarn Shop (LYS) and found an interesting wool/camel thread and some sewing needles.
I stitched my jacket up as best I could using a Whip Stitch while bleary-eyed, late at night.
This is not a great stitching job. Obviously I had a hard time keeping the feathers in, but it is functional.
I felt bad about the quality of my work for a few days, especially since creative mending is so popular right now. However, I was happy to be wearing my jacket during the very cold weather a few days later.
Then my jacket tore again last week. sigh.
I don't know if it's getting snagged on something under the airplane seat in front of me or what.... but again, I was in need of the jacket in short order.
This time my seam is better. I used the Blanket Stitch and was both more rested and had better light than the first repair.
I suppose my poor repairs invalidate the warranty on my favorite jacket. But I do enjoy the fact that I can repair my own garments and therefore extend their life and keep them out of the landfill.
Happy Fiber Arts Friday!
Friday, December 13, 2019
Fiber Arts Friday: Tempestry, New Normal
I learned about the Tempestry Project a while back. I don't exactly remember when, but a friend of mine was working on one.
Using data from NOAA, The Tempestry Project creates custom wall hanging kits to represent the daily high temperature at a given location during a given year.... for example, Fort Collins, CO, USA + 2009 + crochet.
I had been wanting to make one, but had not settled on a year or location. Then earlier this year, they announced they were working on a project called New Normal.
The New Normal kit takes the Global Annual Average High using NASAGISS data and compares that to a baselined average over 1950-1980.
The more blue the color, the colder the average compared to the baselined average. Likewise, the more red the color, the warmer the average was when compared to the baselined average.
I think this is an excellent representation of the threat we're facing.
This project is available in both a wall hanging or scarf as well as knit or crochet.
I have a few other projects in the queue, but I am looking forward to making my own New Normal Scarf.
Happy Fiber Arts Friday!
Using data from NOAA, The Tempestry Project creates custom wall hanging kits to represent the daily high temperature at a given location during a given year.... for example, Fort Collins, CO, USA + 2009 + crochet.
I had been wanting to make one, but had not settled on a year or location. Then earlier this year, they announced they were working on a project called New Normal.
The New Normal kit takes the Global Annual Average High using NASAGISS data and compares that to a baselined average over 1950-1980.
The more blue the color, the colder the average compared to the baselined average. Likewise, the more red the color, the warmer the average was when compared to the baselined average.
I think this is an excellent representation of the threat we're facing.
This project is available in both a wall hanging or scarf as well as knit or crochet.
I have a few other projects in the queue, but I am looking forward to making my own New Normal Scarf.
Happy Fiber Arts Friday!
Friday, December 6, 2019
Fiber Arts Friday: Shave 'Em to Save 'Em, Tunis
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| source: Better Country Farms |
Tunis - This roving is so spongy!! I'm very much looking forward to spinning it!
The staple is about 1.5 inches
It took me a bit to get my form down. The 1.5-inch staple felt short, especially after spinning the Lincoln. This drafts very differently from the Lincoln, Karakul and Navajo-Churro.... it reminds of Southdown Baby Doll and perhaps the Black Welsh Mountain.
In fact, it's so much slower to draft than everything else I've spun recently,
that I started pre-drafting the roving.
... until Ruby the cat go a hold of my bump. :-/
Some of the roving was split, which spun faster, so I split the remainder of the bump as I worked on it.
Since this sample was in a center-pull bump, I'm decided to spin in one shot, then ply from a single cake. The bobbin starts to get really heavy, especially if I'm not diligent about balancing the yarn across the length.
and it's about all my ball winder can handle.
According to the Livestock Conservancy, Tunis are one of the oldest livestock breeds developed in the US. They can trace their heritage to a pair that were gifted to George Washington by the Bey of Tunis in the late 1700's. They were common until the Civil War, when the majority of the southern stock was destroyed.
Tunis were primarily used for meat and wool, though are also good milkers. With a docile temperament and both sexes being polled (without horns), they are easy keepers and appear to be gaining in popularity.
The staple is about 1.5 inches
It took me a bit to get my form down. The 1.5-inch staple felt short, especially after spinning the Lincoln. This drafts very differently from the Lincoln, Karakul and Navajo-Churro.... it reminds of Southdown Baby Doll and perhaps the Black Welsh Mountain.
In fact, it's so much slower to draft than everything else I've spun recently,
that I started pre-drafting the roving.
... until Ruby the cat go a hold of my bump. :-/
Some of the roving was split, which spun faster, so I split the remainder of the bump as I worked on it.
Since this sample was in a center-pull bump, I'm decided to spin in one shot, then ply from a single cake. The bobbin starts to get really heavy, especially if I'm not diligent about balancing the yarn across the length.
and it's about all my ball winder can handle.
According to the Livestock Conservancy, Tunis are one of the oldest livestock breeds developed in the US. They can trace their heritage to a pair that were gifted to George Washington by the Bey of Tunis in the late 1700's. They were common until the Civil War, when the majority of the southern stock was destroyed.
Tunis were primarily used for meat and wool, though are also good milkers. With a docile temperament and both sexes being polled (without horns), they are easy keepers and appear to be gaining in popularity.
The Tunis are listed as Watch, meaning that fewer than 2,500 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 10,000. Also includes breeds that present genetic or numerical concerns or have a limited geographic distribution.
According to the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, the American Tunis actually descended from the Tunisian Barbary sheep. They are a fat-tailed breed, making the meat tender and tasty.
Final Yarn: Tunis
Single Duration: September 27 - November 25, 2019
Ply Duration: November 25 - 27, 2019
ounces: 3 5/8
yards: 218, 2-ply
wpi: 14
Ready to Submit: November 29, 2019
SE2SE Status:
Total Breeds: 22
Breeds Sourced: 16
Breeds Spun: 7
Breeds To Go: 15
Months Remaining: 25 (12/31/21)
According to the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook, the American Tunis actually descended from the Tunisian Barbary sheep. They are a fat-tailed breed, making the meat tender and tasty.
This is one of the four rovings sourced from Aspen Kid. While this roving is from a farm in Arizona, it feels good knowing that I am able to support both a conservation breeder and local distributor of rare breed products. :-)
Final Yarn: Tunis
Single Duration: September 27 - November 25, 2019
Ply Duration: November 25 - 27, 2019
ounces: 3 5/8
yards: 218, 2-ply
wpi: 14
Ready to Submit: November 29, 2019
SE2SE Status:
Total Breeds: 22
Breeds Sourced: 16
Breeds Spun: 7
Breeds To Go: 15
Months Remaining: 25 (12/31/21)
I feel like this fleece would be really nice in a sock yarn.... lots of bounce. I'm looking forward to working with it more.
Happy Fiber Arts Friday!