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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills:  The Art of Handspinning  |
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Kwilts
Farmgirl at Heart
9 Posts
Lorraine
Vernon
AZ
9 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 14 2012 : 11:35:38 AM
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Dying with kool aid is really a lot of fun. I love the smell. You might want to also check out Easter egg dye. The colors are not as bright as the kool aid but they ae really nice when blended. Great job.
Lorie, AZ |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
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Simple Living
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Joan
Staten Island
NY
USA
1402 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2012 : 11:26:36 AM
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What's a twig machine? Is that correct or I'm writing it wrong lol.
A Friend is Someone who Reaches for your Hand, But Touches your Heart!
Farmgirl #3842 |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2012 : 1:18:42 PM
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Dying with KoolAid is fun but the colors aren't light fast - so will fade with light. If you want your wool to be light fast, you might try Country Classics dye for wool. It is complete and exhausts well. I have been doing a lot of dying with it and the results are wonderful!
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran
http://farmsteadfripperies.blogspot.com/ |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4185 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4185 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2012 : 05:17:37 AM
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I will agree with sheri, the country classics dyes are easy to use, and the colors are great. Koolaid dyeing gets your feet wet, and your ready to move on to bigger and better ideas.
Have fun with it. Wait till you spin your colors! Even when you are not happy with some of the colors or blends, they can turn out wonderful when you spin them.
Michele |
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sunflowercritters
True Blue Farmgirl
1102 Posts
Debra
Springfield
Maine
USA
1102 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 5:54:00 PM
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Beautiful Sheri..love the colors...
So your saying kool-aid doesn't keep its color?
The colors are beautiful:(
thanks for all the helps...please keep passing them on to me. Want to learn all I can.
Deb
I Thessalonians 5:16,17
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Deb-farmgirl sister #462
http://sunflowercritters.blogspot.com/
Be like a Sunflower, Turn your Face to the Son. |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2012 : 6:06:36 PM
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KoolAid colors are not light fast so will fade with light over time.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran
http://farmsteadfripperies.blogspot.com/ |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2012 : 06:53:29 AM
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Wow, I would have had no idea about the KoolAid colors, thanks for letting me know they are not light fast! When I do dye the first time I think I will try out the KoolAid first so I don't really mess anything up before trying real dye, unless I can find someone local to show me how to jump right in :)
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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sunflowercritters
True Blue Farmgirl
1102 Posts
Debra
Springfield
Maine
USA
1102 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2012 : 04:27:22 AM
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I'm having so much fun with the spinning, working with the wools and fibers. Just cann't wait to get more of the fibers to play with it with the dyes.
What do you knit with your yarn after....?
I have been knitting up different handbags.
Would like to knit up a shawl so I could wear it and so others my fun of spinning.
I brought a friend to my spinning Guild and she had a blast. She bought a spinning wheel the next day. One of the girls were selling hers. The spinning wheel is beautiful it is one of the 80's.
Deb
I Thessalonians 5:16,17
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Deb-farmgirl sister #462
http://sunflowercritters.blogspot.com/
Be like a Sunflower, Turn your Face to the Son. |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4185 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4185 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2012 : 04:52:05 AM
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The sky is the limit on what to knit. I have done hats,winter headband, fingerless gloves,mittens,scarves, shawl, sweater. I think that is it?? I like to needle felt with my wool too. this year everyone is getting a hat for Christmas. I have 3 done.
Michele |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2012 : 06:35:59 AM
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Right now I am knitting socks. I am working on some merino/shetland blend right now for a lacey scarf. I also like to do the fingerless mitts and hats. My goal is to eventually spin enough to knit a sweater.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran
http://farmsteadfripperies.blogspot.com/ |
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sunflowercritters
True Blue Farmgirl
1102 Posts
Debra
Springfield
Maine
USA
1102 Posts |
Posted - May 15 2012 : 03:01:53 AM
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what is you pattern for the socks? is it on a circular needle and small on?
Deb
I Thessalonians 5:16,17
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Deb-farmgirl sister #462
http://sunflowercritters.blogspot.com/
Be like a Sunflower, Turn your Face to the Son. |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4185 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4185 Posts |
Posted - May 15 2012 : 04:43:50 AM
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I need to practice, and get better with my spinning before I can knit socks with my yarn. Sheri spins beautifully! I have knit many socks, and the method I really like is 2 at once, using one long circular needle. I like having both socks done at the same time. Less counting and measuring of rows! I find it a little confusing getting it going, but once you get knitting it gets pretty easy. We did just get my 2 sheep sheared last weekend. My husband calls it 2 hours from @#$%, well somewhere real warm! He does a nice job, but it takes two of us to hold them. It is hard to find someone to shear just 2 sheep, actually not many people around here that do it. Lots of fun, and I need to clean it all now. I think it is alot easier to buy the fleece ready to spin! : )
Michele |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - May 15 2012 : 07:43:09 AM
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I knit all kinds of sock patterns. I have always made socks on double points in the traditional way. One of these days I'm going to try the circular needle method. I prefer the top down patterns as I am still not comfortable with the cast on for toe up. I guess I need to practice it more. I think I tend to gravitate to what I am used too! The socks I am working on now are a simple pattern with an eyelet row every 8 stitches. I have Shetland sheep for fiber but I prefer superwash merino commercial for spinning sock yarn as then it is machine washable. Not many people I know will hand wash a sock! The pattern I am using now I got free from Ravelry called the Columnar Sock by Hippie Diva. I chose it because of the yardage as I had a limited amount of handspun for the project. Thanks for the compliment on my spinning Michele! It took a lot of practice to get there but well worth the effort. That's what I tell everyone who wants to spin - the only way to master it is do it - a lot.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran
http://farmsteadfripperies.blogspot.com/ |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4185 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4185 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2012 : 04:59:20 AM
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Is it true that they say the wool will decide how it will be spun? Not sure if I worded that right or not. I need more practice to get a finer yarn. But I am very happy using what I have made.
Happy Spinning
Michele |
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sunflowercritters
True Blue Farmgirl
1102 Posts
Debra
Springfield
Maine
USA
1102 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2012 : 05:24:11 AM
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Well heading off to my craft day...I'm going to spin, spin , spin..I'm having a blast learning and how rewarding it is! I will have to check out that sock pattern. Would love to knit some socks up for Christmas for family..
What kinds of fibers do you all like to spin and knit with?
I have angora rabbit and love the feeling of it.
Deb
I Thessalonians 5:16,17
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Deb-farmgirl sister #462
http://sunflowercritters.blogspot.com/
Be like a Sunflower, Turn your Face to the Son. |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2012 : 07:24:49 AM
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I find that when I first tried to make a finer yarn (I always do at least two ply) that pre-drafting was the key when I first started. I had a difficult time drafting out a small enough amount of fiber without it drifting apart or being lumpy! When working with the Merino superwash the draw is very short (at least for me) as the fiber is short and has little crimp. I divide the top into small sections like pencil roving before trying to spin it. Now I have a difficult time spinning thicker! When I want a heavier yarn I have to think about it all the time I'm working or I will automatically spin thin! I've done a lot of lace weight too - it takes forever to ply or at least it feels that way! Shetland is such long fiber with a lot of crimp that it's easy to spin thin. Merino on the other hand is short so is more difficult. When I switch back to the Merino after spinning the Shetland it takes me awhile to get back into the rhythm of it. Right now I am doing a Shetland/Merino blend plied with a commercially dyed Merino.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran
http://farmsteadfripperies.blogspot.com/ |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4185 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4185 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2012 : 03:46:34 AM
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Have fun Debra! I wish I could go to something like your get together! Your bunny sounds like a great source of fiber. I spin my sheeps wool. Shetland/border leicester. I have done a little alpaca. Sheri, I have found that by making a roving I was able to spin alot better. I use a milk cap, with a hole punched in the middle. Deb, I made socks for my boys a few years ago. They had to wait their turns, as I only got one pair done a year. HOpe your a faster knitter then I am. :)
Michele |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Jun 07 2012 : 5:14:18 PM
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One trick I teach my students is the over the fold method to acheive thin yarns. This especially is great for those fibers with crimp that wishes to grab hold and never let go. On downy short staples like Musk Ox, Buffalo, and even cotton I like to just hold a tuff in my hand, relax and let a tiny bit of twist go into the tuff and then pull back and you will get some of the thinnest yarns but remember you need to relax that fiber hand - holding anything too tight in spinning leads to dissapointment... Have fun and Happy Spinning.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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sunflowercritters
True Blue Farmgirl
1102 Posts
Debra
Springfield
Maine
USA
1102 Posts |
Posted - Jun 07 2012 : 5:58:19 PM
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Grace
What and how do you do the over the fold method? Never heard that.
thank you for any helps in spinning. Just loving it. It is so relaxing and rewarding.
Deb
I Thessalonians 5:16,17
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Deb-farmgirl sister #462
http://sunflowercritters.blogspot.com/
Be like a Sunflower, Turn your Face to the Son. |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4185 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4185 Posts |
Posted - Jun 08 2012 : 3:37:05 PM
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Grace you can teach us beginners so much! It would be a blast to get together with all of you, wheels,fiber,good food,and drink!
Michele |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Jun 09 2012 : 5:32:44 PM
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Spinning over the fold is when you take a a staple length and I place it over my index finger and gentle pull a tiny amount of fiber out to the tip of my finger. Then with your leader join on and begin to let the twist grab hold and start to pull the drafting forward. You need to go slow until you see how thin you want your yarn. It is an easy method and works for making almost sewing thread thin yarns. I hope that makes sense...
I am here in any way to help.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4185 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4185 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2012 : 04:40:52 AM
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Grace, it is better to do this method before you card the wool? I guess I am not real sure on what staple length means??
Michele |
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sunflowercritters
True Blue Farmgirl
1102 Posts
Debra
Springfield
Maine
USA
1102 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2012 : 04:21:10 AM
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I believe staple length is how long the fiber is from the animal.
some are short others are med/long stables
_______________________ stable from animal
__________________________________________long
_______________short
something like that...
My angora rabbit has long stables
____________________________________________________somewhere around there is most of her stables when I get done plucking her
hope this is helpful
Deb
I Thessalonians 5:16,17
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Deb-farmgirl sister #462
http://sunflowercritters.blogspot.com/
Be like a Sunflower, Turn your Face to the Son. |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4185 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4185 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2012 : 04:55:03 AM
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Thanks Deb, ya I knew that duh to me! You must do the spinning over the fold before carding? Otherwise you could not find the staples. will have to you tube it.
Have you played with the fiber yet, Deb? I got a drop cloth, to make some jackets for my sheep for winter. Winter is when they get the most stuff in their wool.
Michele |
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Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: The Art of Handspinning |
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The Art of Handspinning
