Fresh Yarn

A rustic, basic black Corriedale. Handcombed by me. Two-ply worsted weight. There are approximately 645 yards and 340 grams in these five skeins. I will put this away for sweater wool.

Working with Wool

Some yummy whole-wheat sourdough and cheese rolls fresh from the oven.

My second bobbin of Black Corriedale is just about completed! Approximately 175 grams on each bobbin...as you can guess it will be a 2 ply, probably a sportweight. I really luv the lanoliny feel of the wool. My hands feel so soft afterwards. At first I thought this wool was a bit on the coarse side, but after working with it exclusively I realize that my opinion is prejudiced. The majority of alpaca (at least the fleeces I have) are so soft compared with wool. Yes they are two separate animals so to speak hehe.

I am now using my big combs to make combed top with the white wool. It is a Corriedale/Shetland/Rambouillet Cross. I have another white wool that is Corriedale/Romney/Rambouillet Cross. It has a different crimp structure and more luster to it like the typical Romney. I bought all this white wool and the black Corrie from this site http://lifewithsheep.blogspot.com/.

I am expecting a new shipment of alpaca fleeces soon. This is my second year working with a breeder in the states who specializes in greys, rose greys and blacks. I spin for her and she gives me fleeces. I wouldn't even consider it if her fleeces weren't exceptional quality and colours.

It would be nice if I could make some money at this though as I sure could use a good drumcarder. The heavy duty ones that I need are between 800 and 1200 dollars. All that fibre prep is very hard on my small hands and wrists. Ah well at least I am rich in fleece!

Let It Snow

Yesterday was DH's birthday and here he is in his new sweater. I could never at this point in my life wear a sweater that warm because of ruthless hot flashes (that I fear will never go away).

I ask you all to please excuse the background walls of our kitchen. This is one of the few rooms in our house that we have not changed yet. FYI....that background colour and border is definitely not to my taste. AND yes there is a treadmill in my kitchen...there was no place else to put it and I do use it 3 X a week.

Yes it snowed here this morning. I like it this time of year. When I lived in Holland there was no snow at Christmas and it felt like something was missing. My DH doesn't feel the same of course hehe. So a few pics for you of that.

It's Done!

I worked my butt off this weekend to finish this sweater! It was sewn together using a basic back stitch. The pattern is from a 1999 issue of Family Circle Easy knitting. I used the yarn the pattern called for. It's Patons Pure Merino. This wool is soft and a good price but I know it's gonna pill like crazy.

I made the medium size and it fit DH perfectly ....before washing that is. After carefully washing in Lavender Euclan it looks bigger. Is this normal? I didn't block it in any way. In the above pic it is very damp. Let's hope it still fits.

Not much spinning lately........

I have several knitting projects that I am busy with. It's just that time of year isn't it. My knitting takes first place over the spinning. It's DH's birthday next week and his sweater has yet to be sewn together. I am not an experienced sweater knitter and I find it somewhat intimidating to piece together a whole sweater but I am sucking it up. It has to get done. I will get DH to model it for all of you.

Some pics of my two mittens. Druid mittens from Fall/Winter issue of Vogue Knitting in a sportweight Jaggerspun blue wool and some Estonian mittens. I have knit this Estonian pattern before in green and white Kroy. These mittens are knit with red baby alpaca silk and black baby alpaca cashmere.

New Alpaca Roving and More

Oh boy...do I luv to get new alpaca fleece? Yes I do! This beautiful soft fawn roving is 2 1/2 lbs worth and half is mine....yum. The small amount of white fleece is from a prize winning alpaca. This stuff is so soft that you don't even know you're holding it.

I just finished knitting this Norwegian hat. It's knit from black and white handspun alpaca...navajo-plyed. I guarantee the warmth and softness of this hat! It's definitely more drapey than if I had used wool but alpaca gives a unique character to handknits that is just as lovely.

Sunday is for Baking

This is my new bread book and I bought a baking stone to use with it. I have been baking sourdough bread for years and even won a contest for my sourdough cheese and onion braid. I will make the olive oil dough next and use it for pizza and foccacia.

Getting Started on the Holiday Knitting

My mansized Norwegian mittens are blocked and drying. I've already started a black and white handspun alpaca Norwegian hat and some socks in Lorna's Laces sockwool. I luv Norwegian patterns and I have alot of them.

The last pic is some new handspun yarns. The white is navajo-plyed alpaca, small skein alpaca/pygora/silk, black is navajo-plyed alpaca and the lovely brown is some shetland top that I received in a trade with ~ Phyllis ~ . She sent me a beautiful assortment of fibres and I will post about them as I spin them. The shetland is something I have wanted to spin for a while. It will make a great pair of Norwegian gloves for moi.