What I did This Summer

I feel like the kid going back to school, and the teachers says "OK class, I want a 1-page paper about what you did this Summer". I got news 'teach' one page just won't do it!

Of course, you know about the great western adventure / road trip. After that experience, I had to regroup and find my true center -- FIBER. Yep -- there's nothing like the feel of wool, mohair, silk, alpaca, running through your fingers, being spun, plied, dyed. It's an addiction, a true obsession with me, and I proved it this Summer.

As summer was arriving, I was putting the finishing touches on Spinning the Wool/Alpaca blend From Ramifications for Jim's sweater (Which I called Skippin Stones), while simultaneously spinning up the FreeneCreek Farm Merino with the Craftsman Hill Mohair which I had just finished blending, while at the same time, spinning some cormo/angora blend from Valley Mill Fibers on the drop spindle. (YES I'm NUTS)

The Merino/Mohair project would not be finished until September (it amounted to around 4 pounds of yarn -- which is a lot even for me). Meanwhile, June set in and it was time to start (and finish) spinning the wool for Nick's sweater (which I called PussyWillow for its light gray softness!). I'm still not sure what to call the Cormo/Alpaca blend, but I'm saving this 8 oz for something special.

July was here before I knew it and I had to start Jim's Tomten Jacket. It is now October and I am almost done with sleeve #1 and have only to do the second sleeve and the edging before starting on Nick's Tomten. BTW -- the only change I'm using from Brooklyn Tweed's Adult Tomten is the neck shaping! OHHH but I'm not finished YET!

One lovely day in July I took a trip out to French Creek Fiber Arts, and Peggy had some truly DARK Border Leicester for sale. Hmmmm only $22 / pound ... Thought about it a few days, went back and bought 2 pounds worth. Wouldn't this look nice blended with the Gold and the Turquoise dyed mohair I got from the SheepShedStudio in Wyoming??? Oh yes -- it surely would! So I grabbed the hand carders, a chunk of Wool, a chunk of Gold Mohair, a chunk of Turquoise Mohair (notice the CAREFUL measurements) carded them together, grabbed the drop spindle, spun up a swatch's worth -- and VOILA -- a new yarn called Aggy Taw (for playing marbles)

But then, (thought I) -- I have a whole bunch of silk, fine Australian Merino, and white alpaca (which I nearly felted while trying to wash it) -- That might make a nice combination too ..... I'm still searching for a name for this one.

So now I have all these bags of small measured balls of fiber blends. It really looks like candy up there in the fiber room. Special note: ALL fiber in small, wrapped blended balls must be kept safely away from feline frolicking -- or you KNOW what happens, yep, all my careful measuring and winding does nothing but provide really interesting toys for cats, particularly Sake -- I'm quite careful to shut the door to THAT room now!

August inevitably arrives, sigh. I think I'll treat myself to this lovely merino top that I bought a few years ago from Woodland Woolworks. I had one pound that was dyed multiple colors of red, purple, burgundy with a dash of orange and named (appropriately) Mohave, and 1 pound of the burgundy color (really more purple than burgundy). The plan was to spin the mohave and ply it with the plain. So I brought the Rose outside to spin while Lou and Jim (oh btw -- Jim spend 2 weeks in August with us , and Nick kept driving up to stay between work shifts--) worked on the porch roof gutters, and low and behold -- my beautiful TREAT fiber was lifeless! There were no natural oils left, it was stiff and stretched, and did not want to spin at all. I tried making a grease concoction (which I think might make a very nice lotion with its combination of lanolin, olive oil, water and soap flakes) and spraying it on, it was better, but not good. I had to PONDER a while. Lou suggested I blend it -- like I don't already have enough to blend! But he was right. I tried out a sample. Blend the Mohave with some Corriedale from French Creek Fiber Arts, and blend the plain with Twister (corriedale from Sharon at Ramifications) -- it turned out so nice that I immediately measured out all the little 'blend balls' and will call it Cherry Cordial.

Ahhh but I'm still not done. August dwindled down, Jim and Nick went to their respective homes, and School started! 12 - 15 hours a day of fiber fun had come to an end. Remember the Merino Mohair blend I was working on??? Finished and ready to dye, remember the BRIGHT yellow superwash I bought in Wyoming (lou wanted yellow socks -- eh gads), and the undyed super wash??? Oh yes -- time for a weeking of dyeing. Lou was gone for a 2 day shoot in September and I geared up for 2 glorious days of color! First I kettle dyed 5 batches of the spun merino/mohair mix.

I have 5 skeins of each color (Navy, Violet, Red, Teal, Turquoise) Whew -- turned out nice though.

Day 2 of Dye Weekend I dyed MOST of the yellow with blue (turning it a nice olive green) and did two batches of 12 oz of fiber using a hot pour method -- one with reds, and one with blue/purple -- See for yourself!. The Blues and Reds I spun up into North Woods, and Struberry Jam! Shelly bought enough North Woods to make a pair of Socks, and I am using some of each of them to make socks for myself!

So Shelly, What do ya think??? Did I blog or didn't I!!! I have been remiss. Sometimes you get so caught up in what you are doing, that you forget there are other things to do as well -- like blogging!