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.
Sun 11 Dec 11
Spinning with Merino
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.
Spinning – Peach commercial dyed roving
Observations: I would rather be able to make this color than buy commercial roving. BFL/acid dye experiments will be forthcoming.
Thu 08 Dec 11
Canvas in progress
Ground complete; image developed and transferred; color blocking complete, beginning to add highlights, low lights, shadows:
Comments Off on Canvas in progress
Spinning BFL for dying
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:
Learnng About Merino
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:
Wed 30 Nov 11
Weaving – Huck Test after washing
Different view:
Observations: unmercerized cotton, much softer after hot wash and dryer, and huck motifs clearer. 15 epi is probably a bi crude for lace, though.
Spinning – Llama Alpaca Romney Mix
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.
Mon 28 Nov 11
Completed Entrelac Scarf
With Triangle Point on one end:
Close-Up of Point:
Close-up of texture:
Observations: Need to design ahead of time where to cast off.