Fiber Arts Friday: Alpaca Cape, part 6 - Finished!

At nearly three years into this project, the Alpaca Cape is now Finished!  Although, it's really more of a wrap than a cape.  ;-)

It was primarily a winter project since the heat of July is not the best time to be working on a large project.  ;-)  For example, it took me about two weeks to bind off and another two weeks to weave in the ends.  I just could not bear having this in my lap for more than a few minutes at a time this summer.

I admit that I didn't like this yarn at first.  It's dyed black rather than natural, so it's more blue than true black.  Also the handle was crackly, if that makes sense... I suspect it was from the dye process, but the yarn is much softer after having a bath.

I have about 17 yards of left.  Had I realized I would have that much, I may have done a different bind off technique, but it is what it is.  It's beautiful and I like that it's asymmetrical, 81.5 x 53 inches after blocking.

I am looking forward to wearing this... in January.  :-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Alpacamundo Monday: Sunrise

My absolute favorite part of the day is heading out in the morning to feed and check on the herd.

Sometimes the sunrise is the exclamation point.

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece 2016, part 4

I spent a few days working on whichever ball was larger, then I decided to focus on the smaller one.  So both balls of Suri Pencil Roving are smaller than they were at the start of last week.

Starting with 1 3/8 ounces this week.

Friday, July 22nd

Saturday, July 23rd

Sunday, July 24th

I spun a lot more after my photo from yesterday and a little more this morning.

I have 7/8 oz to go. 

Epilogue

The Spin Your Stash team was a lot bigger than any I've been on in the past, so I found it difficult to keep up with who's who.  Not to mention a lot of them were spinning huge amounts of yarn.

I had to remind myself that I was using short staple yak and spinnging the Suri extremely fine, both of which go slower than some other fibers.

The nice part is that I ran into Fat Cat's Corner, who's spinning is looking wonderful... and who's blog needs some love.  ;-)

These are the fibers I was choosing from for this year's tour:

This is what I accomplished:

yak cloud - stashed October 2008
122 yards, single
1 1/8 ounces

Medium Brown Suri Roving - stashed March 2016
Started with 2 5/8 ounces
Ended with 7/8 oz to go
1 3/4 oz spun
Plan is to finish as a 2-ply yarn.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday

Alpacamundo Monday: Skirting Fleece

I have sold my first whole fleeces.

They will be skirted and washed before they are delivered.

Three more to go.

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece 2016, part 3

I started this week with 1 3/4 oz of Suri alpaca pencil roving to go.

Friday, July 15th
An early meeting this morning, but found time to spin. :-)

Saturday, July 16th

Sunday, July 17th
I'm starting to let go of the idea that there will be a third yarn in this tour.  This thread is taking forever. ;-)

Apparently today was a second challenge day. Ah well, my goal is really just to make morning spinning a daily habit. :-)

Monday, July 18th

Tuesday, July 19th - Rest Day
Not resting... working on making spinning a daily habit.

Wednesday, July 20th

It was late, but I managed to spin for about 30 minutes before going to bed.

Thursday, July 21st

I'll have to double check the weight, but I think I only spun about a 1/2 oz this week.  The extremely fine yarn takes much longer than a thicker yarn.  But I do believe that this will end up being the finest yarn I've ever spun, which is kind of cool.... even though it's taking for-ever.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Alpacamundo Monday: Dinner for Two

Besties, Willow and Pearl, enjoy an evening snack at the buffet.

Sweet Willow of Alpacamundo and Alpacamundo's Pearl

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece 2016, part 2

I started this week with less than 1/8 oz of yak down left to spin.

Friday, July 8th
Morning: So close to being finished.

Evening: I couldn't stand having such a small amount to go. So the Friday night activities included spinning...

and skeining...

and one very excited single of Yak Down, ready for a bath. :-)

1 1/8 oz
122 yards

Saturday, July 9th - Challenge Day
I didn't have any specific challenges for today.  So I started spinning a Medium Brown Suri Pencil Roving.

Being a gift from a local Suri Alpaca breeder in March, this is quite youthful as far as my stash goes.

It turns out that transitioning from the short staple of the yak down to the long staple of the Suri was a challenge.  ;-)

Sunday, July 10th
This is spinning much finer than I intended. So I'm thinking about plying it.

Monday, July 11th - Rest Day
While today is supposed to be a rest day, I'm working to make spinning a morning habit.

Tuesday, July 12th

Wednesday, July 13th
I am really enjoying spinning for a few minutes in the mornings.

Thursday, July 14th

I've almost filled the first layer on the bobbin. 

1 3/4 oz to go. 

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!