Because the mohair wasn't as clean as I would have liked, it was difficult to tease and draft, left my hands filthy, and was a pain to spin. I'm surprised at just how nicely it turned out - I guess the second wash in hot water with degreaser I'm helped quite a bit. To get the same effect, I'll repeat the process, nasty fiber and all. I'm sure I'll have enough to actually complete a knitted project after all my dyed mohair is spun, plied, and rescoured. Just need to decide what to do and find the right pattern. So far, I'm thinking shawl or wide scarf - but with an open, lacy pattern so the fuzz doesn't obscure the stitches.
28 July 2008
20 July 2008
Drafting
No, this has nothing to do with NASCAR, though it is Sunday. Here is a photo of me from a few days ago spinning "dyed in the fleece" mohair that was scoured by the goatherd. Not quite as clean as I would have done on my own, but I guess I can fix that post-spino.
I'd like to be doing a little spinning and more scouring/dying right now (and maybe watch the race), but yesterday I foolishly tried to clean up around the house and tweaked my neck. Last night I enjoyed Vicodin and muscle relaxants, today I'm drunk (muscle relaxants have a heck of an effect on me).
Click the image for interesting info on how to spin. I'm going to take a nap.
I'd like to be doing a little spinning and more scouring/dying right now (and maybe watch the race), but yesterday I foolishly tried to clean up around the house and tweaked my neck. Last night I enjoyed Vicodin and muscle relaxants, today I'm drunk (muscle relaxants have a heck of an effect on me).
Click the image for interesting info on how to spin. I'm going to take a nap.
11 July 2008
Humble flax
Traditionally, I'm a protein fiber spinner - wool, mohair, silk, and the like. I've done a little Ingeo, but since it's so hot, I thought I needed to spin something that doesn't mind if it gets wet. This ball of linen was spun from flax I got at Pennsic, and I just got quite a bit more from Paradise Fibers so I can spin enough to knit myself a top. I also got milk protein top and Norwegian roving - wanted to buy enough fiber to get free shipping!
After work today, I did some mohair scouring and dying. I have about 7kg to process, and I decided that if I want to dye it, I need to wait until I've spun it. By dying it while it's still in tight locks, all I dye is the outside - gotta pre-tease it, I guess. The mohiar I dyed was scoured by the vendor, and isn't as perfecto as I'd like. We'll see how this goes.
After work today, I did some mohair scouring and dying. I have about 7kg to process, and I decided that if I want to dye it, I need to wait until I've spun it. By dying it while it's still in tight locks, all I dye is the outside - gotta pre-tease it, I guess. The mohiar I dyed was scoured by the vendor, and isn't as perfecto as I'd like. We'll see how this goes.
06 July 2008
Not tomato soup
Still haven't finished my Pi shawl, but today I did some plying, spinning, and dyed my mohair. I'd hoped for a darker color, but I'm sure this'll be nice. I soaked the hanks of mohair in warm water, a little detergent, and alum for about 1.5 hrs before I dropped them into the pot. When it's cool, I'll hang it to dry.
I'm six rounds of plain knitting until the end of the Pi shawl, then I can start the lace edging. Thinking of a leaf-like edge. I also started a scarf using my black and green drumcarded mill-ends fiber, but realized I don't need a scarf. I stopped after a few pattern repeats and began to knit feather and fan from one of the edges. Should be ... interesting.
I'm six rounds of plain knitting until the end of the Pi shawl, then I can start the lace edging. Thinking of a leaf-like edge. I also started a scarf using my black and green drumcarded mill-ends fiber, but realized I don't need a scarf. I stopped after a few pattern repeats and began to knit feather and fan from one of the edges. Should be ... interesting.
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