Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2026 - part 1

It's that time of year again... Tour de Fleece.

A lot has happened in my world over the last year... really the last few years, but especially the last year.

I am in a new living situation.  On my own.  Just me and my dogs.

My alpaca are staying at a friend's ranch nearby.

I am the sole owner at The Canine Learning Center now, which is keeping me exceptionally busy.

Everything else is with my ex-husband and his "best friend."

I haven't been spinning or knitting.  I missed the registration deadline for the Estes Park Wool Market.  AND, I was thinking about not participating in this year's Tour de Fleece.  BUT every time I thought about telling the group that I would not be participating, I would get sad.

So earlier this week, I finally went to Ravelry to see how the team was shaping up, and there wasn't anything posted other than a question about whether we were having a team this year.

So I volunteered.  I am leading the team this year!  Hooray!

I have been teaching a friend how to spin, and she is starting on Chiengora... so I have also been teaching her how to prepare the fiber.. and she's doing a great job!

Which means, I'm not entirely without fiber in my life.  :-)

Anyway... now I need to get my stash together (ahem) and figure out what I will be spinning and what my goals are for the next month or so.

The Tour begins tomorrow, Saturday, July 4th.

Join us, won't you?

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Long Draw Spinning Practice - 2025, part 7

For the last set of rolags from my recent fiber preparation classes is this grey.  

It is a blend of alpaca and wool.

I did have the option to spin a little from one of my fellow students at the Estes Park Wool Market earlier this year, as she had a demonstration booth set up.... so I'm excited to spin this one.

I don't feel I'm proficient with the Long Draw Technique yet, but I am feeling less uncomfortable with it... I found this blend to be more sticky than the others and thus I think I overspun these singles.

However, in looking at the energy in this yarn after plying, I realized I plied in the same direction as the singles.  Oy, I have not had a yarn look like this in a very, long time... what a novice mistake!  sigh.

It does look better after washing, but all of that energy will return as soon as this yarn gets wet again.

What a bummer for such a lovely blend.  sigh.  I am thinking about plying back with a complementary thread, but for now that's just a note for later.

1 oz (30g), 46 yards of 2-ply.

I have several more fibers from classes that are prepared in batts and rovings that I think I will commit to improving this skill, but they will have to wait.  Because for now, this Project is concluded.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday.

Long Draw Spinning Practice - 2025, part 6

For Part 6 - I chose a 4-color gradient with Tussah Silk sandwiched between the layers.  I did not take notes on the wool nor do I remember how these were given to us.  I assume it was piles of the individual colors.

My rolag sorting last time worked better, so I repeated that this time... to the best of my ability.  ;-)

I did break the single again, and was able to fix it.

I'm also doing better about pulling the fibers from the full diameter of the rolag, rather than just the center.  This is easier with the smaller diameter rolags.  Will have to keep that in mind for when I make more.

1 1/8 oz (31g), 68 yards of 2-ply.

I like this colorway better than most of the others so far... but they do look nice with each other.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Long Draw Spinning Practice - 2025, part 5

For Part 5 - I chose an unknown Indie-dyed Braid with added Bamboo...

It occurred to me while I was laying these rolags out that while I had been placing them in an order that made sense, I have been spinning them out of that order.  So I placed these in one line and they will be spun from left-to-right.  Hopefully that will turn into a more pleasing colorway.

... and of course, I am reminding myself that this entire project is about learning and operating outside of my preference... and so what ever happens is what it happens to be.

I did break the single once, but was able to join it... so that's an improvement.  ;-)

1 1/8 oz (32g), 69 yards of 2-ply.

I find this yarn pleasing.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Crazy Funky Grandpa Cardigan, part 5

Last time I had just completed the join.  Today, I have completed the Neck and body increases.

I find it interesting (unusual for the patterns I've made so far) that the body increases are around the bust, rather than the hips.  I think this might be a good idea.

Next up is a whole lot of body knitting.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Crazy Funky Grandpa Cardigan, part 4

Here in Episode #4, I have joined the two fronts with the back.

First everything is on the needles.

Then everything is joined, armpit increases are completed, and everything is facing the correct way with no twisting.

It's doesn't look much different than Part 3, but I feel this is a significant accomplishment.  WooHoo!

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Crazy Funky Grandpa Cardigan, part 3

In part 3, I have completed the LEFT Upper Front.

Next step is joining all three of these pieces and to begin working on the Lower Body.  Eek.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!