Handspun and handknit mittens for R by request:
Observations: Highly simplified pattern stands out better. Also, keeping the side stripe solid also looked better. I liked the double rolled cuff, and was surprised to see how easy it was.
Handspun and handknit mittens for R by request:
Observations: Highly simplified pattern stands out better. Also, keeping the side stripe solid also looked better. I liked the double rolled cuff, and was surprised to see how easy it was.
Handspun and handknit for C:
Observations: my handspun is so fuzzy that pattern definition is lost, and making two patterns, one on each “face” of the mitten, was rather a waste of time. They are cozy-soft, though, and I love the base design. See Anna Zilboorg, Magnificent Mittens. In this case, the mischief was started when a certain knitting laurel loaned me the book. I promptly tucked hers away “someplace safe” and bought my own copy in which to make notes. I did eventually figure out where the “someplace safe” was 🙂
Observations: got a reasonably dark purple, and now I can say I’ve tried food coloring, but I will be graduating to real dyes next, so I can get reproducible and predictable results. Enamel pots and other tools arrived today. Just remains to spin up the rest of the BFL.
Observations: the crossbreed means the staple length is a little longer than usual merino, but retains the lovely qualities. Easier to spin, and actually spun up extremely fine – as close to lace weight as I have ever achieved.
Observations: still had to put a bit on long-staple wool on the drum carder first so that it would be easier to remove. Required two times through the picker and two times through the drum carder, and was still slow and tiring to spin. Results were fine and lovely, though.
Observations: I would rather be able to make this color than buy commercial roving. BFL/acid dye experiments will be forthcoming.
Supposedly Blue Faced Leicester takes dye well; I believe this may have been a lamb, though, as the staple is far shorter than I understand BFL is supposed to be; using a picker and realigning the drum on the drum carder made all the difference.
Carded:
Spun, about 3 oz:
Brown merino fleece after washing:
Blending merino and Opal (Border leiscester/Romney Mix) in the picker prior to carding:
Compare this to Opal alone out of the picker:
Left is pure Opal, middle is a sage purchased roving, right is 50/50 merino/Opal
Three balls of yarn prior to making hanks: Pure Opal, 50/50 Opal/brown merino, and pure merino, left to right:
Purchased as roving:
Compared to Opal and the entrelac scarf, in which both were included:
Observations: Lydia the Alpaca added a lot of warmth to the browns in the scarf. Don’t find spinning of roving as satisfying as spinning my own prep.
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