Fiber Arts Friday: Save Our Sheep Sweater, part 12

In order to resolve the 5-row discrepancy between the body and sleeves, and eliminate my losing game of yarn chicken, I TINKed back 3 rows on each sleeve, then knit 2 rows on the body... and I'm back to each breed band being a consistent number of rows between the body and sleeves.  Whew, my need for order has been resolved.  :-)

I have completed the waist shaping and have just started the hip shaping... and am now ready to begin the next Breed Band.

But first to re-consider the remaining yarns with the button options I've found thus far...

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Save Our Sheep Sweater, part 11

Picking up my Save our Sheep Sweater with part 11 as I approach the end of the Gulf Coast Breed Band... So far this summer, I have been able to get one or two rows completed most mornings before chores and work while it's still cool out.

I did two extra rows on the body before starting the increase shaping for the hips next.  At this point I have 52 rows + Bind Off or about 5.5 inches left to go on the body length.  But...,

Due to the decreases allowing for more rows on the arm than I planned for, it's looking like the Gulf Coast Breed Band on the body will be a few rows less than the arms.  I need to decide if I'm ok with it.... 

At the time of this writing, the delta is 5 rows and is expected to be 3 or 4 rows.  We'll see how I feel in a few days.  TINKing back 3-4 rows on two sleeves is not a huge deal to keep track of.

Otherwise with 52 rows to complete, and about 4g per row, I laid my sweater out and considered the last two breed band options...

I've decided to not include the Leicester Longwool for the Breed Band, for the same reason that the Navajo Churro is being left out of this sweater, lack of stretch.

Therefore, the Shropshire, is now set aside for the Button Band, and the next two bands are currently planned to be Jacob (grey) and Black Welsh Mountain (black).

I'm still expecting to be complete with this sweater in September/October.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Things That Work: Salt and Vinegar

When I finished making the Wavy Scarf for Ramen's Favorite, and washed it in preparation for blocking, this happened...

The above photo is actually after several wash and rinse baths.

This yarn was purchased at a Wool Festival about 10 years ago from a small farm/dyer.  None of the color came off onto my hands while I was working with it.  But since it was an indie-batch dye lot, I expected a small amount of dye in the basin after the first wash, but this amount was shocking... and completely surprising for it to continue beyond multiple washings.

At some point I remembered using salt "to set the color" after tie-dyeing with RIT dyes as a kid.  So I did a quick internet search and found this video.

I figured I didn't have anything to lose.  So I did a salt bath, followed by a vinegar bath, followed by another soapy bath, and several rinse baths.

The change after the salt bath was remarkable.

And a little better after the vinegar bath.

And finally, the last soapy bath

The fibers in this yarn are Superwash Wool, Silk, and Viscose.

So I'm hear to tell you that you don't have to buy anything special if your dyed items bleed.  You likely already have salt and vinegar on hand... and they are extremely cost effective.

Salt and Vinegar definitely work.

Fiber Arts Friday: Wavy Scarf for Ramen's Favorite

In late April, I finally had a vision for this wool+silk+viscose yarn I had bought in 2012.

It had no specific purpose in 2012, but I kept coming back to it, so it came home with me.  I figured it might make a nice wrap... and here we are, 10 years later... using US5 needles.

This pattern is improvised, but took inspiration from the Rill Scarf I recently ripped out and the Forever Wingspan of a few years ago.

This project consumed my fiber-attention for about 6 weeks.

> Bound-off, Before Edging:

> After Edging

>> Blocking

>> After Blocking

It has now been gifted.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

In the Garden: Freezing Eggs

I thought about it last summer when we had a glut of eggs, but didn't get to it with all of the other things going on.

Then I thought about it more over the winter during the desert of egg laying.

So I spent a little time looking up how to freeze eggs and found this to be a good source as to how and why.

I oiled a couple of muffin tins

Broke the yolks and added a bit of salt to each one.

Then put them into labeled freezer bags.

I lost track of how many eggs we ended up buying over the winter.  So my goal is to put up about a dozen dozen and have a few frozen thus far.

I'm looking forward to trying them over this coming winter.

Fiber Arts Friday: Estes Park Wool Market 2022, part 3

So with my homework having been (re)completed in March, I double-checked my supplies and tools for each class and spent a long weekend at the Estes Park Wool Market in June.

This was my first time taking a class at a Wool Festival... and I took two. :-)

I have attended talks and watched demonstrations before.... but it was really quite special to be able to focus two days on improving skills and knowledge.

Our new place is a little further away, but still extremely convenient for day trips to Estes Park.

Exploring the Drum Carder

My first class was Exploring the Drum Carder with Henry and Roy Clemes.

Prior to this class, I had only seen short demonstrations of carding in my initial Learning to Spin class.

I do have a second-hand half-sized carder that I have been using for several (11!) years, but now with this full-day class, I think my output will be much nicer to work with.

I'm looking forward to taking the next class in their series.

I also picked up a couple of tools that will help me use my old carder better.

Finishing with Excellence

This class was everything I was expecting.

Like the Carding Class, I have finished projects, but now I know a few more techniques to make those joins and weave-ins even more invisible.

We also spent some time talking about blocking techniques.

I truly enjoyed taking Paula's class.

Shopping

In addition to the tools listed above, I did buy some yarn and roving.

So while I have said that I generally don't like crazy dyed yarns, when I do buy yarn, it is often dyed.

I like that the colors at Estes were more muted than other markets I've been to in recent years (Yarn Fest, Stitches).  I especially loved the work of the Apothefaery.  Her work is very earthy.

I actually bought quite a bit of yarn this trip.... mostly because I wanted to pair against some out-of-character crazy yarn that I bought at Stitches West in 2019...

Aside from the last few SE2SE breeds (which I did not find) and the yarn to pair with the crazy above, I wasn't really looking for much.  However, I am always looking to add interesting or unusual fibers to my stash.... and per usual, Estes Park did not disappoint.... Valais Blacknose roving!

This ranch near me has possibly the first Purebred Valais Blacknose born (via embryo transfer) in the US.  This is quite exciting.

Valais Blacknose is a carpet wool, and should go nicely with some of the other stuff in my stash.  As I was leaving the shopkeeper asked what I would be making.... and I just said, "yarn."  :-)  I really don't know what it will become beyond yarn, but I am very excited to try it.

The second bag is Scottish Blackface, which is also a new breed for me.

Demonstration

Unplanned was a spinning demonstration.  Henry Clemes ask if I would be willing to spin on one of their wheels during the market over the weekend... to which I replied, "Absolutely!"

I spent about an hour on Saturday afternoon showing people how yarn works.  Really fun!!

Animals

I stopped by the Sheep and Goat Barn... One of these years I'll actually make it to the Cashmere Goat Show.  

Cashmere Goat Show Results

I spent a few minutes speaking with a Shetland Sheep Farmer who was getting ready to show.

I snapped only a couple of photos... none of which are composed well.  

Valais Blacknose

Jacob Ram

"Cashmere" Goats

There is so much more to see, such as Herding and Shearing Demonstrations, Sheep-to-Shawl Competition, Llamas, Alpacas, Paco-Vicunas, Rabbits, Food, equipment demonstrations, and talks.

I love that we are close to this excellent show and always look forward to focusing a little differently each time.  I especially love that this show is more geared toward spinners and not just knitters and crocheters.

Yes, I wore a mask the entire weekend... and will continue to do so.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Alpacamundo Monday: Shearing Day, 2022

Normally we shear in early-mid May.  I was not ready due to the move and the weather can be questionable in May, so I had been wanting to push it to later date anyway.

Therefore in looking at my calendar, we chose Saturday, June 18th.  But with things already scheduled for the two weekends prior, I needed to get the barn and supplies ready by the end of May.

At our last place, preparing for Shearing Day was a matter of just ensuring our hay stores were out of the way and hooking the rig up to the already established points.

Here, at the new place, I had to choose and set up a new location.

After scouting about, I figured one of the stalls would work best.  We have power and places to tie off.  However, stalls being stalls, I'm concerned it will be a bit narrow for a large crew.  We will also need more shade in the morning.

The good news is that our new place makes it much easier to corral the herd for shearing, so I didn't need a lot of extra hands, or to take a break from shearing to help catch animals.  I penned them in the night before, then we let them into the pasture after each was shorn.

I sorted my tools and sent a supply of combs, cutters, and shears out for sharpening.

I created the check sheets, labeled the fleece bags, and ensured the rig would work in the selected location.  I also set out my folding table to ensure we have the traffic flow figured out.

The previous owner left a large amount of horse manure behind.  Much of it was frozen to the ground by the time I was able to get to it last fall.  So barn prep included mucking for horses that I am not responsible for, ground leveling, and placing stall mats for padding.

I am happy to report that our first shearing day at our new farm was successful!  We identified a few kinks that should be relatively simple to remedy before next year.

Lot's of sunbathing and rolling in dirt occurred after each haircut.

Everyone is happy in their summer do.

Skirting of fleeces is next on the agenda.

As always, we couldn't do this work without the help of a few great friends.  I'm grateful to them.

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece 2022, part 1

This is going to be an unusual Tour de Fleece for me this year.... 

I have a significant commitment during the Tour, so I don't expect to be able to spin or post regularly.  Also all of my yarns are already in work, so measuring progress has to be based on the starting bobbin+yarn weight.

As usual, the Tour de Fleece runs parallel to the Tour de France (men's race, July 1-24).  

This year there is also a Tour de France, Femme, immediately following the men's race (July 24-31).  I am not aware if there will be a Spin-along, but I intend to continue spinning in support of the women.  So my wrap-up will be after the Women's race concludes.

On my Clemes&Clemes Modern Wheel, I have Tibetan Mastiff - Ramen., 143 g (bobbin+yarn)

On my Louet S10 DT, I have Dorset Horn for SE2SE, 233 g (bobbin+yarn)

On my Ledbetter Drop Spindle, I have Cashmere, 24 g (spindle+yarn)

My goal for 2022 is to spin 15 minutes per day.  My hope is more, but my reality is what it is.

The 2022 Tour de Fleece begins Today!  I invite you to find a team you like and play along.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!