Fiber Friday 6/20/08

Tomorrow I am heading out to the Black Sheep Gathering to find my spinning mojo. I'll probably buy some fiber and yarn as well.

With the Tour de Fleece kicking off in two weeks I better start training already. The purpose of the tour is a challenge. For the cyclists and handspinners alike, it's the big one.

When I'm not actually doing something, most likely I am thinking about something.

I've been thinking a lot about personal challenges lately, and decided to look back at what I spun during the challenge day of last year's tour...

July 2007:

I can briefly re-cap the challenge day with a picture representing my personal Col l'Aubisque: feathers. Dyed feathers.

I first looked up some technique in the book: Spinning Designer Yarns by Diane Varney. (a must have for spinners - don't you think?) The book confirmed what I thought: 2-ply yarn, trapping the stem of each feather in a coil.

Plus it's a rainbow yarn, just for the wow factor. It's a fandango yarn for sure, but I'm nervous about setting the twist. I don't want to ruin the feathers by getting them wet. I'm hoping a little steaming will do the trick.

My unsolicited advice: way over-spin the single first, so you don't over-ply while doing your coils. That is if you desire spinning with feathers. Perhaps nobody else would. I accept that.

Back to today, this moment, right now:

I must admit I don't have it in me to tackle such complicated yarn these days. I really want to spin smooth, even yarn now. Useful yarn. Utilitarian. Purposeful.

The real challenge will be to sit down and spin every day for three weeks. I am nearly looking forward to it. Join me, won't you? Sign up today.

Fiber Friday 6/6/08

I'm just looking through some pictures of yarn I spun a while back.

What's new? I've got nothing. I am still not spinning, sorry.

I am working on some math over and over and over and trying to remember why I like knitting and designing...

There is so much math involved I have this pain where my brain used to be.

On to fiber things, ok:

I'm late to the game but I just figured out that the Loopy Ewe sells roving. Really, really pretty roving.

Back when I was dying fiber daily I would never have bought these sorts of things but now, I don't know. Maybe I am allowed now.

I just need the spinning mojo back. I think it will return at the Black Sheep Gathering in two weeks time. If it doesn't return then, I may be in big trouble.

I don't know what I mean when I say this but the yarn here represents my brain on math.

This is hopeful. There is potential in this. From chaos comes order. From reason, scandal. If I were spinning today, it would be bold and shocking yarn. No thinking. Purely physical. Isn't yarn great like that?

Fiber Friday 5/30/08

I've officially lost my spinning mojo.

I'm sure it will return again, but for now... NO.

Where did it go? I'm busy.

1. Test knitting for someone else, something I can't discuss. Boo.

2. Submitting sock patterns to a new book - I'll let you know what happens.

3. Submitting a proposal to a magazine - I'll let you know what happens.

4. Making a halloween inspired project. Yes, I finally went there. You'll hear more about this in say, six months. (Boo)

Sooooo you can see the problem. I am knitting like a fiend but nothing really to share. Boring. I'm boring myself just typing this.

The spinning will return when:

1. I get back from the Black Sheep Gathering in three weeks with a giant bag of fiber.

2. I give myself permission to order more of other kinds of fiber.

3. I set up the dye station in my new apartment.

4. The Tour de Fleece hits on July 5th.

I've lost my spinning mojo, but admitting it is the first step to recovery.

Fiber Friday 5/9/08

It's time for another Fiber Friday Flashback. I'm knitting a sock (I know) thinking about yarns spun long ago. What was I doing this time last year?

I can't imagine what I was doing back then compared to now - at a time in my life simply described as "starting over". Or perhaps "starting fresh" sounds less dramatic?

It's interesting to see I was making batts, not yarn. Batts are the result of the hard work of preparing, dying, and combing fiber to be spun. They are large fluffy clouds of raw potential.

I am still unspun right now, but I like to think of this recent move as the preparation for something great.

Friday, May 25, 2007

Yes well it is Friday so I'm sharing some fiber!

Granted these are batts and not homespun, but this is all I have to share this week.

Today is a special Friday, as it is my last day of work. This means that despite possible jury duty next week I will be dying and spinning like crazy.

Until then, lookie the batts. Six of them, all cranked out on my Strauch Petite drum carder.

They contain mixed wool, mill ends, mohair, recycled sari silk, silk noil, bamboo, and angelina sparkle fiber. I like making them. I also like playing with them. And petting them.

/Fabulous Fiber Friday Flashback.




It's funny to see I was yet again ending another job.

I worked freelance for the last seven years in documentary and television production. I never knew when, where, or what my next job would be but usually by the time it ended I was happy to move on.

I might be in the process of a huge career change here. All I know is that I need a really good job.

As I settle into my new digs I still have to get all of the yarn and fiber organized for the great return to spinning scheduled for June. The Tour de Fleece is right around the corner as well. And the Black Sheep Gathering.

It's going to be a great summer, filled with new potential. And knitting and spinning too.

Fiber Friday 4/4/08

I am certainly breaking a lot of rules by posting this photo but I cannot help myself.

Here I am, knitting a sock, on a ride at Disneyland.

I was going to try to explain this, but I think in this case perhaps the photo tells the story.

Infer what you will.

Fiber Friday 3/28/08

I am in the heart of packing and moving now. It's going as well as can be expected.

I am shipping a lot of the yarn and fiber so it is already there, waiting for my arrival. I couldn't bear to part with the sock yarn though. I've got enough yarn for like, 50 pairs. I need all of them near me at all times, just in case.

Some would think this insane. But not you. You are like me, right?

So this is another Fiber Friday Flashback. Let's look at what I spun around this time last year:

Fiber Friday 4/6/07

Here we are again... can you believe how quickly this week went by?

I have four yarns to show off today...so let's get right to it!

This first jumble here is bulky weight singles yarn spun from mixed wools all hand-dyed in my kitchen. 4.1 oz, 159 yards.

I was attempting something that alternated between rich jewel colors and neutral, earthy tones.

This second yarn here was inspired along the same lines, muted colors with shocks of something bright. I think I was dreaming of Noro at the time. 2.1 oz, 127 yards.

The third yarn here is a basic two-ply, originally inspired by peas and carrots but it definitely evolved into something else. Candy and flowers got in there too I think.

They do that sometimes - take on a life of their own. 2.9 oz, 86 yards.

And last but not least I've made another seashell yarn. This time with pearls! For those who missed the last one, here is the run-down:

Dye soft white roving in various beachy, sand and sea colors. Then spin it up, starting with the sand and work your way through the sea and sky. Then ply with holographic thread strung with real shells and pearls.

When knit, the yarn should form some kind of landscape. Or crochet. I'm an equal opportunity spinner.

/Flashback

I think this was my favorite part:

Originally inspired by peas and carrots but it definitely evolved into something else. Candy and flowers got in there too I think.

Sounds like a fantastic picnic?

Fiber Friday 3/21/08

Hi again. Warning: rambling ahead.

Of course I don't have any new fiber to share today (still moving!) but I love Fiber Friday too much to let it slide unacknowledged.

I thought I would show off some yarn I spun just about one year ago today...

Fiber Friday 3/23/07
Here we are, another Friday, and I've got some more homespun, hand-dyed yarn to show off!

These first two are part of a series I am exploring called "crayons." I want the yarn to look like a fresh box, full of potential.

The first one weighs 3.5 oz and measures 142 yards. The second one weighs 3.4 oz and measures 135 yards. Together, I hope they have some bright future.

The third yarn is definitely a left turn for me. I tend to go for rich earthy colors and well, this one is delicate and girly. It's for a swap and I do try to work with the colors I think people will like.

The last one is a return to Tiffany's. This yarn is based on a similar yarn I spun a while back. I dyed up some Tiffany blue roving and spun it up. Then I plied with a holographic thread strung with nearly 100 pearls. Real pearls, of course.

I'm happy with the way it came out, nice and bouncy and energetic. 3.7 oz, 104 yards.

This one is going out in a swap as well, but it's not meant to be a surprise, so I think it's okay to share it. I was obviously hypnotised by the yarn as I photographed it, because out of the many many pearls you can only see about five. Trust me, they're in there!

Have a good one, people! That's not an order or anything, but a strong suggestion. Yeah!

/Flashback

What can I say? I'm not spinning and I'm not swapping right now but I am knitting every day... and:

-downloading songs on iTunes
-watching cute animal videos on youtube
-writing a shawl pattern
-calculating what I can buy with my Loopy Ewe credit
-watching John Adams on HBO
-enjoying detoxing spa treatments (thanks mom!)
-having lunch with old friends
-reading "A New Earth" and "taking" the weekly online class
-lurking in the Ravelry forums

In summary, doing all sorts of things instead of packing.

I thought I would feel better getting this off my chest but I only feel a mild embarrassment.

This is still true: Have a good one, people! That's not an order or anything, but a strong suggestion. Yeah!