Friday Fiber Arts ~ Dyeing Wool for Felting

The last week has been pretty nice here, weather-wise. Lots of warm days means I can get some wool dyeing done.

I like to dye an entire rainbow although I didn't get the whole thing done this week. I'm missing some of the blues and brown. Here's several of them hanging on the clothesline to dry.

After they're dry I split them up into small pieces and make small packs of wool tidbits for felting. Do you felt? I've felted soap before and made some needle felted Christmas ornaments, but that's it. Believe me when I say, my customers are far better at felting than I am.

Here's the warm colors divided up. I'll be making a cool colors pack as well, but I still need to get those last few colors done.

Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, an experience or anything else you feel fits Friday Fiber Arts. If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

1. Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address in the linky form below.
2. Include in your blog entry a link back to the party post on this blog so that your readers can come and see what everyone else is working on today and have an opportunity to contribute! You can use the code below to add the button to your posts or blog if you'd like.
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Wordless Wednesday ~ Black & White Farm

Friday Fiber Arts ~ Toe-Up Cast On

Happy Friday! Hooray for the weekend!

I learned something new this week. Actually, it was something I had been putting off for quite awhile.

I bought a magazine awhile ago that had the cutest little slipper pattern in it. Seriously, aren't they adorable? I like the fact that they are lightweight for warmer weather instead of big and bulky like my winter slippers. They looked fairly easy to knit except for one thing......they cast on at the toe. shudder

I've knit socks before, but all the patterns I used started at the cuff. Starting at the toe seemed absolutely foreign and terrifyingly difficult. How does one go about casting on so you can knit on both sides??? The instructions in the pattern itself weren't helping at all and in fact were doing their bests to justify my fear.

Thank goodness for YouTube! How did we survive before the web and the amazing videos on it? I found a video that clearly explained what I needed to do and turned what was a scary knitting technique into piece of cake. Really! It was so easy! Not much different than my normal long-tail cast-on. Yay!

My slippers are now well on their way to being ready for my feet. I'm nearly to the heal on the first and can't wait to cast-on the second to try out my newly learned technique again.

Here is the video I found most helpful. There were others, but this was my favorite.


Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, an experience or anything else you feel fits Friday Fiber Arts. If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

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Friday Fiber Arts ~ Camera Strap Cover

Happy Friday! I thought I'd share a recent project with you and the "pattern" I made up as I went along.

My Merry Christmas, Happy Tax Refund, and Really Early Birthday present to myself this year was a brand new camera. I am totally in love with my new camera although at times it seems a whole lot smarter than me. What do all those buttons do again? :)

I wasn't in love with the basic camera strap that came with it though. It made the back of my neck itch, but I'd already spent enough on the camera. I didn't want to spend more on a fancier strap. That's when I came up with this cover knit from a skein of sock yarn I had in my stash.






The stripes were a happy accident that appeared when I started knitting. I imagine all sorts of different patterns might emerge based on how the yarn used was dyed.

I ended up using about 120 yards of fingering weight sock yarn to knit the strap cover. It's made from superwash merino wool which means that I can wash it easily when it gets gross. I'm guessing that'll be often if I use it in the summer. All that heat, sweat and sunscreen. Yuck!

Here's the basic pattern:

I used US size 2 needles. These are my normal sock needles so I knew what my gauge was before I started. I knit fingering weight yarn on size 2 needles at about 9 stitches per inch. That's a little tighter than normal so you may need to adjust your needle size accordingly.

My strap measured at 1 1/2" across. I wanted the cover to fit snuggly so I cast on 28 stitches and joined to work in the round. Use your favorite method for knitting in the round. To figure out how many stitches you'll need, use the following formula.

Measurement of strap width in inches x Gauge (stitches per inch) = stitches needed per side, multiply this by 2 to get the number of cast on stitches.

1.5  x 9  = 13.5 I rounded up to 14

Knit 2, Purl 2 rib in the round until piece measures 1". This will hold the strap snuggly at the end. 

Continue knitting in stockinette stitch until strap cover is 1" away from other end. Your measurements don't need to be exact just close. 

Knit 2, Purl 2 for 1". Bind off and weave in ends. Slip it on and enjoy!

Super easy! I love the sock yarn because it covers well without any added bulk.

Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, an experience or anything else you feel fits Friday Fiber Arts. If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

1. Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address in the linky form below.
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Our Newest Additions

We brought home 18 new little additions to our farm yesterday. They peep, peck and are utterly adorable!

 

I wasn't sure if we'd ever get more chickens after the great chicken massacre of '11. The raccoons had gotten in the chicken coop and none of the poor little chickens survived. I spent the winter missing the fresh eggs though so we put our heads together and came up with plans for what will hopefully be a raccoon proof new coop.

 
The new coop will be going up in the backyard soon, but in the meantime, the chicks are hanging out in my laundry room in a what was a giant plastic horse trough. They seem quite content to just hang out under the heat lamp.

I did see this one that tried to climb into the feeder. Just her little butt was hanging out!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Soft Kitty

Tie-Dyed Roving

I've been experimenting with different ways to dye rovings. I recently got a couple stainless trays and I used them in the oven to dye some Merino wool rovings. It was an idea that had been floating around in my head for awhile. I love it when an idea works just like I think it should!

What do you think?

Friday Fiber Arts ~ A New Plying Technique

Happy Friday! I hope you've all had a great week.

Today I want to introduce you to our new blog hop. What better way to share your fiber projects with others! Feel free to link your fiber arts blog posts below so others can stop by and enjoy them.

This week I thought I'd share something new I tried. I've seen this plying technique done by others and I've been thinking about it for awhile, but last week I finally decided to jump in and try it. Of course that may be because I just received this awesome lot of inspiration from the UK. Aren't those colors gorgeous!

If you're wondering what in the world I'm talking about, I'm spinning some alpaca fiber into a single ply yarn and then plying it with this machine embroidery thread to make the finished 2-ply yarn. It really was a lot of fun.

The one thing I did find though was that I had to keep tension on the thread at all times or it would fly all over the place and wrap around anything in it's reach. These thread bobbins don't have end covers to keep the thread from coming off. I may have to improvise something. It would save a lot of headaches.

The whole process was easier than I thought it'd be and was a real pleasure to spin. In fact, I completed 2 yarns in less than 48 hours. This is a record for me! I now have a third yarn using this technique waiting to be plyed. This has become my new favorite way to make yarn!

Here is the first yarn I spun: It's brown alpaca blended with some bamboo and soysilk. I plyed it with gold thread.

And here is the second: I used white alpaca blended with some hot pink merino, bamboo and sparkly angelina. This one I plyed with bright pink thread. I love all this pink!

What do you think? Have you ever spun yarn or used yarn plyed with a thread like this?

Do you have something to share? Let us know what you’re working on this week! It can be photos of a project, instructions, an experience or anything else you feel fits Friday Fiber Arts. If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link to the current week's party. Just please be sure to:

1. Add the permalink to the specific blog post, not your general blog address in the linky form below.
2. Include in your blog entry a link back to the party post on this blog so that your readers can come and see what everyone else is working on today and have an opportunity to contribute! You can use the code below to add the button to your posts or blog if you'd like.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what makes a party fun!! You don't want to come to a party and have no one talk to you!

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Wordless Wednesday ~ Pink!

Spring Has Sprung Early!

Were you part of the March heat wave? 9 straight days of recording breaking heat here in Michigan. Who would ever have imagined that?! We actually had several days in the 80s and the night time lows were only around 60. Perfect, perfect weather!!

Beyond the beautiful days, we were given tons of green stuff sprouting all around. This is far earlier than normal. Most of these flowers and plants aren't seen in my yard for another 4 weeks or so. Even the grass has turned a bright spring green.

Today it's only 45* and I am missing those warm temperatures even though I know they'll be back eventually. Also there is a freeze watch for tonight so all the farmers in the area will be worrying about those early buds and flowers. The crops may be in trouble if they freeze.

Lets keep our thoughts warm tonight.

Happy New Year!

A Fiber Artist Christmas

`Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
Was unfinished knitting not under the tree.
The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care
'cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

... The children were nestled all snug in their beds
but I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep; he was no help at all,
And the sweater for him was six inches too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I flew like a flash,
Tripped over my yarn and fell down with a crash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how much I still had to go.
Out on my lawn, I heard such a noise,
I thought it would wake both dad and the boys.

And though I was tired, my brain was a bit thick,
I knew in a moment, it must be Saint Nick.
But what I heard then left me perplexed-ed,
For not a name I heard was what I had expected
"move, Ashford; move, Lopi; move, Addie and Clover
Move, Reynolds; move, Starmore; move, Fraylic–move
over"

"Paton, don't circle round; stand in line.
Come now, you sheep wool work just fine!
I know this is hard semi, it's just your first year,
I'd hate to go back to eight tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill; what I saw was amazing,
Eight woolly sheep on my lawn all a'grazing.

And then,in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa's feet coming across the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet,
And as I turned round, Saint Nick, I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe
And his clothes were handknit from above to below.
A bright Fairisle sweater he wore on his back,
and his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.
His cap was a wonder of bobbles and lace,
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.

The scarf round his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.
The back of his mittens bore an intricate cable,
And suddenly on one I spied a small label.
SC was duplicate stitched on the cuff,
and I asked "Hey Nick, did you knit all this stuff?"

He proudly replied "Ho-ho-ho, yes I did,
I learned how to knit when I was a kid."
He was chubby and plump, a quite well-dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself for I'd thought up a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew he was tied to a chair.
He spoke not a word, but looked in his lap
Where I'd laid my needles and yarn for a cap.

He quickly began knitting, first one cap then two;
For the first time I thought I'd really get through.
He put heels on the stockings and toes in some socks
While I sat back drinking Scotch on the rocks!!

So quickly like magic, his needles they flew,
That he was all finished by quarter to two.
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
And I heard him exclaim as he sailed past the moon
"Next year start your knitting sometime around June."

-Author Unknown

FAF: Silk Hankies

I've just recently added silk hankies to the shop and thought I'd share them with you. These are not your Grandmother's silk hankies. In fact these are not really hankies like you think of them at all.

The silk hankies I'm talking about are raw silk cocoons that have been stretched over a square frame. They are stacked one on top of another until a small pile is made. There are dozens of these thin layers of cocoon hankies in an ounce. An ounce of these silk hankies will easily fill a small sandwich bag.

These silk hankies can be spun into yarn or have become very popular in felting projects. There has also recently been a small "craze" of knitting straight from the hankies. I tried it and it worked wonderfully. Silk is warmer than wool, lighter and is good at staying dry.

They are a lot of fun in their undyed state, but dyeing them is such a treat. They're shiny and bright! I've spent the last couple weeks dyeing several into a rainbow of colors. I still have a hard time believing how much an ounce really is!

My goal next week is to start spinning these into a yarn that should be amazing! I know I did things a bit backwards by knitting with them first instead of spinning, but I just love these hankies and had to play with them right away.

Happy Friday!

Bella's Mittens are Mine

I decided it was time to knit something for me. Everything I knit either ends up as a gift or in the shop. I don't knit for me very often. These caught my attention.

The pattern is called Bella's Mittens. I think they were inspired by one of those Twilight movies. That could explain why they are so popular. There are more than 7500 projects listed in Ravelry using this pattern!

I just loved the way these mittens looked and they seemed like a good way to start cables. I've never done any cables while knitting. It's not that they looked difficult, I'm just not a real fan of how most of them look. They tend to be too busy looking. I liked these though.

Luckily I had some bulky yarn mixed in my sock yarn stash and it was even a color I could live with. That doesn't always happen.

I cast them on and finished the first mitten in 4 days. Now I know some of you could have knit one of these in a fraction of the time, but for me that's really, really good. I normally only knit at night for an hour or two.

The second one is about 3 inches long and I can't wait to finish because I love these mittens. Now if only the weather would cooperate.

Has anyone told the weather man that it's supposed to be December? It was 50* here in Michigan again. It supposed to be 30* and snowy by now, but we've had barely any snow. In fact it's only gotten below freezing a couple times.

Is the weather weird were you are?

I love to see what you've been working on.