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Saturday, February 6, 2010

A little spinning and felting

Just a quick post today to show the results of some recent spinning...

I attended the Des Moines Metro Knitters "Knit-In" event last weekend and learned some new knitting techniques, but also I spent a lot of my time spinning instead of knitting, because I tend to get frustrated with my knitting and I need to spin for a while to calm down! 

I spun up the "Chrysanthemum" colourway roving that I received as part of my fiber club with Split Rock Ranch
Brenda does lovely work with fiber and has a really good eye for colour combinations.  This one really does remind me of the deep, saturated colours of hardy fall chrysanthemums.  It is a lovely soft yarn and will soon be for sale in my Etsy shop. 

I also spun up this sparkly goodness for a friend in Calgary who had been wanting some yarn. 
This was spun from a mixed batt that I had purchased on eBay.  It is a combination of alpaca, merino, silk and icicle fibers, as well as some mohair and glitz.  The knitters liked it and pronounced it to be "unicorn fur" in its batt form.  People wanted to sleep on it.  Not allowed!

Finally, I started spinning this waaaay back in October at yarn school. 
It's a 40% bamboo, 60% merino blend from Zen String.  I loved the subtle colours of this roving but because I spun it quite finely, it took a long time to finish it.  I triple plied it using the "Navajo plying" technique, also called chain plying.  I really like how this one came out and I've decided to hang onto it in case I might want to make socks from it.  Right now, it's pretending to be the ocean for my sailboat.

Oh, I nearly forgot, here's a little felting experiment that I did.  I covered a grapevine wreath in coloured roving and then needle felted a family of sheep and a tree, and then needle felted them to the roving on the wreath.  I think it worked out quite well!  This was an entry for a little blog contest over at Kenleigh's Fiber Studio blog!  I can't wait to see her post the pictures of all the other entries. 

Have a great weekend all!

13 comments:

Lola Nova said...

You have done it again, those yarns are so beautiful! The Chrysanthemum is my favorite. That felted piece is so amazing Claire, I love it.

Kara said...

WELL DONE! Wow!

Lady Cat Ears said...

Wow! I absolutely love the needle felted project, that is amazing. I also love all the lovely yarns. Some day I want to be able to spin that well!

Holly said...

I love the wreath with the sheep. The last time I felted years and years ago, I made boots. I guess I'd rather knit. Just wish I had more time to spin. It's awesome your getting so much done.

Split Rock Ranch said...

Claire: I love them...all of them! Thank you for the link to my store.

Mare said...

Ohhhhh what gorgeousness!....Claire those skeins are lovely! Beautiful color...

Guzzisue said...

lovely frosty yarn :-)

Karen said...

Oh, my gosh! Your spinning and felting is incredible!
My youngest - nearly 13! - wants to learn how to spin.
Any chance you'd have time to teach her this spring????

Mom L said...

Claire, those colors are amazing! I can't even say I have a favorite because they are all beautiful. The felted sheep ring is adorable!

Nancy

sunset pines farm said...

The yarns are out of this world. Colors/colours like those can make even a non-knitter want to take up knitting. Really.
And the felted project-could it be any cuter????
Is is a door-sized wreath or a miniature? I am not familiar with felting.

Jenny Holden said...

Oh heck, talk about making my efforts this week look child-like! Really brilliant stuff. LOVE those sheep :o)

Jenny Holden said...

Oh heck, talk about making my efforts this week look child-like! Really brilliant stuff. LOVE those sheep :o)

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

WOW! Your yarn is just amazing! Looks more beautiful that store bought. Flawless! The colors are yummy!
And that little flock of needle felted sheep is precious! That would make an adorable ornament or artwork. So sweet!I think you've found your niche!


~Lisa