Back on the Weaving Saddle Again : Beginning the Evergreen Circle Scarf

Starting the Evergreen Circles Scarf

At long last! I am weaving again.  It's taken me a few weeks to get up the gumption to tackle the threading error I knew was there.  I have to wait for the weekend because I work during the week, and need the natural light to assist with clear vision.  Black warp is hard to see ...

Turns out I was missing 1 set of 4 threads and heddles on the left side.  That's why the circle in the first sample looked a bit off.  Hail to sampling and testing!   That also let me see that the yarn with a gradient wasn't going to work for this very precise pattern.  It took a good part of the afternoon to set things right -- and just a little bit of swearing, but ...   Now we're back on track and I love the way this looks so far. Whoo-hooh!  It is a very satisfying pattern once everything is set up properly.

 

Treadle Tracking Beads

Once again, the beads keeping track of the treadle pattern have been a godsend!  There are 72 steps to a single pattern repeat on my 4-shaft loom with 6 treadles -- and I use every one!

It's fun to weave once the loom has been warped and threaded--correctly.  It's still not my favorite part of the process, but I've made my peace with it.  If you are going to weave, you have to understand that warping and threading is part of the whole package.    I know enough now that I can fix the problems that come up -- though sometimes I have to sleep on it for a few days to figure out what to do, and the best way to approach it.   Like quilting, weaving is a good exercise in project management start to finish!

 Detail of Evergreen Circle Weave Scarf 

Yarn is alpaca and highland wool, dyed by me.  

 

Warp strings running through the tension device at the back of the loom -- nice and orderly!

Also satisfying!

Weaving Yarns for more Circle Scarves

Ordered some new yarn from WEBS to make a few more of those circle scarves:

I could not bear to tear down the loom if it was all set up and "programmed" to make more of those delicious circle scarves.   I had the system down for keeping track of the 72 treadles changes in the pattern repeat.  Why not make more?  One problem:  Yarn Barn of Kansas didn't have any more of the yarns included in the kit (Jagerspun merino laceweight black and that red cashmere.)  So I went shopping with some birthday money ... and the webs discounts made the savings worthwhile esp. with these more expensive yarns. 

First I thought I could dye my own, but then remembered how hard it is to get a true black on wool.  Better just buy that one.  

Here's what I purchased:  

 

Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk 

Alpaca and silk lace weight black on a 1/2-pound cone, suitable for weaving, and strong enough for warp.   I know what' I'll be doing next weekend!

 

Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace

Here's another lacewieght that I hope will be strong enough for warp someday.  I can dye this some other color if I so desire.  This is a mix of silk and wool (like I'm spinning at the wheel).  It was half price, and I couldn't pass it up.   Should be strong enough for warp and soft enough for weft.  I'll have to see about the weight.

 

Cashmere, merino and silk mixes in colors for the weft: red, green, and blue.

Hedge Hog Fibers Cashmere Merino - Plump (color)

 This is a little more fuscia-y than anticipated.  Maybe a dip in a little Red Wine dye bath?

 

 

Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 2-ply  

 

 

SweetGeorgia CashSilk Lace  

Didn't see the green in this when I ordered it. I was thinking it would be more of a singular blue ... Might not work for this project.

May the warping commence!

The Haul from Sheep & Wool Festival 2018

My main mission this year was to get an Alpaca quilt batting.   I'd tried to find them online earlier in the summer, but every place seemed to be out of stock.  When I got this one, the vender / farmer said that was the last one he had, and that another alpaca farmer said Pacafil was no longer making these batts for quilting.   Hmmmh ---  I wonder if there's a production problem, or what?

Of course there was lots else to see too.  I had to get another alpaca fleece in preparation for the new Schacht-Reeves spinning wheel coming in October!  I've been working at carding the older fleece I have (from last fall), but it's slow and seasonal work -- and it's not a clean fleece.  Alpaca doesn't have the lanolin in it that sheep fleece has, but there's something in this one ...    Since I started spinning alpaca, most of the sheep's wool --even merino--feels course and rough to the touch.  This 2.4-pound fleece is clean and already carded.  With a little dizzing, it will be easy to spin on the new wheel in a few weeks.  This came from Sharoza Ranch Alpacas by Zach and Sharon Allen in Pine River, WI.  It sounds like they a have a carding mill and offer the service. 

The Weaver's Loft had a few more Jim Hockett shuttles at a really reasonable price.  $35 for this double shuttle in bubinga wood.  Beautiful!   I think Lynda bought one in a dark color, lighter weight wood -- walnut maybe?    She also had some Jim Hockett end-feed shuttles.  You see them for sale online, and they are always so much more expensive than other shuttles -- they are smaller, slimmer -- which makes sense, if you have a tight end of the warp you're trying to wring every last bit out you can, and can't raise the shed much anymore, you want a thin shuttle to squeak through there ...  I didn't get one, but I probably should have!

I always like to buy something at Mielke's Fiber stand, too.  This year, they had 1 cherry Schacht boat shuttle left.  If they'd have had more sizes in cherry, I'd have gotten them, too.  I've decided this is my favorite shape (that kayak shape) and the finish is what I like to touch.  Of course, you need a variety of shuttles for different jobs, but the Schacht cherry is one of my favorites!

Finally, at The Wool Gatherer's stand, I bought a small bottle of "Hans' Own Spinning Wheel Oil."  Lynda asked if 3-in-1 machine oil, or regular old sewing machine oil would work just as well.  Hans said, "No--those oils are not heavy enough for spinning wheels.  That's 10-30 weight motor oil."  I know I can pick that up at Fleet Farm, but it was the bottle I really wanted, with that needle nose spout to help you get the oil right where you need it.

I did stop by Patty Reedy's Rainbow Fleece Farm stand  -- such nice fleece she raises there!  When I first started spinning, I remember her fleece really had me mesmerized because it sparkled.  It actually had a luster and a sheen you just don't see anywhere else.  Not sure how she does it ...  Like magic!

Lots' of gorgeous hanks of spun yarn ...  I would like to try something more artistic and adventuresome than just my straight run-of-the mill spinning.  Perhaps mixing 2 colors in the plying stage?  Or adding some bling?  I think I saw a video about how to add sequins ...  Someone was selling orphan calls of spun yarn with tiny seed beads incorporated into it.  Very nice -- I'd like to learn how to do that!

One stand was selling rugs as what seems to be more than reasonable prices for a buyer.  Might have been slave labor to her -- because I know what it takes to make one now.  Beautiful color combinations at her stand.

Another lady was selling felted scarves --  some looked like northern lights!  Neat!  I think she also had some nice shawl pins there made from cut off tree branches -- finished nicely.  There is always something I wish I would have purchased, but didn't.  I think if I'd have gone back on Sunday, I probably would have gotten one of those shawl pins.

Soap -- One stand was selling French soaps, so I got 2 bars of my favorite Miel (honey) soap.  I don't know what they do to it!  I know I can make soap, and I put honey in it, but it never comes out smelling so light and flowery as the French Miel soap does.  And so I keep buying it when I see it!

After we got tired of shopping, Lynda and I went to sit and spin in the park area -- same place we were last year.  Much cooler this year, with a breeze.  Last year we had company as other spinners came to work their magic alongside us.  This year, it was just the two of us.  Lynda brought a Turkish drop spindle this time -- more portable than her wheel.  I had my trusty Louet S90--plying some of that silk and wool mill end mix I got last year.

Another good day at The Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival!

Big and Burly Woven Alpaca Throw Finished

 Big, Burly & Beautiful Alpaca Throw

Kit purchased at Yarn Barn of Kansas

Just finished this last weekend, and made myself cut it off the loom and finish it properly this weekend.  Just a few small repairs -- completely do-able.

There were a few sections that needed to be evened out.  This was easy to do as I worked along on the top layer.  Much harder to see and re-distribute on the bottom layer.  So I had to wait until it was off the loom to even things up again.   Easy enough to do with a blunt chop stick.

I did this as double weave, since that's what the loom was set up for the last project.  This time, there was no lump at the fold (unlike last time).   This was a much looser weave.  There was however, 2 warp strings at the fold.  Not sure how that happened, as I didn't have any extra warp strings, and none broke in the process of weaving / warping.  This was easy to fix.  I just took my long afghan crochet hook and pulled through a new warp strand--after it was off the loom.  In the photo above, you see the new strand already woven in in the gray part, and still needing to be done in the taupe section in the top half of the photo.

I used a very simple temple hack -- 2 jumbo paper clips tied to a string tied to an empty Penzy's spice jar hanging over the side.   This helped keep the edges straight and neat.  Worked great!

Twisted Fringe
Something new for me on this project was to twist the ends.  I had purchased a cheap twister -- made for hair.  But I couldn't quite figure out how it worked.  Save that for another project.  This alpaca yarn is soft and thick enough, that I didn't mind sitting out on the porch, listening to The Celtic Music Podcast, as the snow melted twisting these strands together.  (We got a foot of snow last weekend in a freak spring storm.  Not unwelcome, since we didn't have much snow all winter.)  It didn't take long, and they actually look nice!    If I'd have known better, I probably would have left more of the warp strings allowing for a longer twisted fringe. These are pretty short!

Wet Finishing
Next came the wet-finishing.  Fill the washing machine up with water, melt the Quilt Soap (I get it at Fleet Farm, made for washing the coats of sheep -- wool).  Put in the woven, push it down so everything is submerged.  Then let it sit for 20 minutes -- NO AGITATION.   I had to pull it out while the washing machine went on to the wash part of the cycle.  And put it back in when it started the Spin cycle.     This gives the fibers a chance to set into their new positions, to get comfortable, and to come together as a cohesive fabric.  Once it dries, the alpaca fibers tend to "bloom."

I did put in in the dryer for about 4 minutes to help steam it a little, and bring it together a bit more.

According to the directions, it was supposed to be 3.5 lines per inch for weaving.  That amounts to 58 lines per 16 inches.  The white sections came out to be almost lacey.   In the photo at the top of this post, you can see some "thin" parts in the white color blocks.  I spent a fair amount of time re-distributing the weft strands already.  Looks like I could do a little more.   I may even need to fill that in, and add a few more weft strands by hand.  We'll see how it comes together.  I'm glad I stuck by my instincts and wove the rest of it more densely.

Detail of the weaving.  Some parts could be pushed together more, spread apart more, to even it out a little more.  But still--this is great progress for me! 

Overall, I'm really happy with the way this came out.  A little sad summer is coming, and that I won't be able to use it much until next winter!

Now the question is what to do next?
     > Rugs, I think.
     > Gotta get some more cotton warp for the duration at Great Northern Weaving Supply.  And dye up some of the wooly worms from Pendleton Woolen Mills.

Just because those little pig tails are so cute!

 And here is my sweet husband holding up my woven goods for photographing.

It kind of makes me sad spring is on the way.  This would be perfect for winter snuggles!

Here's a previous post about this project:

Sing a Sleying Song Tonight

Home-Built Hackle and Comb Set for Processing Raw Fleece

Last spring, I purchased a beautiful clean and fluffy cream-colored alpaca fleece from Sabamba.  It's so nice and fluffy and relatively clean that I have been reluctant to actually wash it like regular sheep's wool.  The alpaca fleece does not have the grease that sheep wool has.  And I learned that alpaca fleece is even more prone to felting during the washing phase than regular fleece.  That said, many spinners prefer to wash alpaca fiber AFTER it's been spun into yarn.

I came across the following video that was very helpful, and gave me the idea to build my own :



This blog post from Moonsong Fiber Works was also very helpful in providing the basic plans for making my own comb and hackle set.

 No-- It's not a medieval torture device.  It's a DIY Hackle for processing wool.
Cherry wood and nails.

My husband accepted the challenge.  He studied the plans and made a supply list.   He was also convinced he could improve upon it ...

Here is the accompanying wool comb.  He realized after he was done that the short nails should be on the bottom.  I said I'll see how this works ...  If I have trouble with it, he can switch the handle around.

Truth be known : The Wisconsin Wool and Sheep Festival was coming up, and I did not want to be tempted to purchase more equipment (more than $250 for a purchased set) if I could make it myself.  That means more money to spend on fiber!

Spinning at Sabamba

On Saturday, Oct 1, Lynda and I went out to Sabamba Alpaca Farm in DePere, WI,  for their Day-on-the-Farm Open House.   They invited spinners to come and spin fiber into yarns for visitors to see what can be done with the alpaca fibers.  

There were 4 of us spinning under a tent just outside the barn, with the alpacas within site.  It was very Scottish weather yesterday, so we were grateful for the makeshift shelter.    Visitors stopped by to see what we were doing, and to ask questions about spinning, the fibers, etc.  We were happy to explain ...

The 2 ladies from the Fox Valley Spinning Guild who'd been there all day had these Woolee Winder fliers on their spinning wheels.  No hooks on the flier.  Instead the Wollee Winder loop moved up and down the arms of the flier and deposits the yarn onto the spool evenly, so you don't have to stop and move the yarn down the hooks when one section of the bobbin gets full.  Kind of a cool innovation! They sell for about $225 and can be fitted for many different spinning wheels -- including my beloved Louet S90.  I'm not quite convinced I need one yet ... but who knows?  It solved a problem I never knew I had!

Lynda was spinning a swanky "Tail Spin" yarn where she plied curly locks in with 2 strands of yarn.  The idea is that the resulting yarn can look like a swanky 1920s (or would that be 1940s?) collar with the kinky/crimpy locks falling out of the yarn.  Would be a great collar ...    [Sorry--I couldn't get the camera to focus on the locks.]

I was working on a simple yarn from an old bag of angora fiber that I won as a door prize when I first started getting interested in the Fiber Arts way back in 1999 (or so).  It's about time I did something with it!  Very soft creamy fiber to work with.  Maybe I'll even have enough for a hat this winter?

 

Clouds of angora fiber.  Ahhh!  

"Drift away on a fluffy cloud ..."

 

It was neat talking to Sally and Tom Schmidt, the owners.  Although they raise the alpacas, they don't do the "finishing" or crafting the fiber into finished products--although their shop is filled with mittens, hats, gloves, shawls, etc, they send that off to a mill to be made for them.  Lynda has a fleece from Abraham, a beautiful gray alpaca -- who just so happens to love having his picture taken with visitors.  She wanted to get more of his fleece, and was happy to meet the old fellow.   Tom and Sally were genuinely moved to see the gorgeous yarn Lynda had made from Abraham's fleece. 

I was looking for a black fleece to go along with Maggie (Newfie) fur.  Sally did not have any raw fleeces on display or for sale on Saturday, as most of these visitors were looking for finished products for Christmas presents.  Although she did introduce us to Abraham, and the couple of beautiful black alpacas in the herd.  She could easily rattle off their family lines.   Lynda and I will have to go back another day after Sally pulls those fleeces out of storage.  Another road trip!

***********
I also got an invitation to join The Twist of Fate Fiber Arts Group that meets at Menasha Public Library on the 4th Wednesday of each month.   I'm hoping this might replace the whole in my heart when Conversations in Cloth died.  I think they meet in the very same room!

Fiber : Part 1

Last April, we were in Madison, WI, visiting some of our old haunts. Some friends were going to an Alpaca convention that day. We decided to tag along ...

Before I left Madison, almost 10 years ago, I took spinning lessons at The Weaving Worksop and bought a spinning wheel from Susan's Fiber Shop. I used to spin a lot--it helped unwind after a long day at work using my brain power. Then I had a kid who was a little too interested in the mechanisms of the spinning wheel -- and I discovered quilting!


My Spinning Wheel : A Louet S-90, a wonderful and portable wheel! I understand it's "out-of'-print" now. The yarn on it now is from a roving I bought from Rainbow Fleece Farm in New Glarus, WI. Patty Reedy is a fiber artist who decided the only way to get the fiber she was looking for was to go into raising sheep herself. The wool of her sheep has a wonderful luster--it actually sparkles! Too bad you can't see that in this picture ...

I am still very interested in fibers and spinning and now, needle felting.

One of the vendors had a lovely array of blended and dyed fibers (not necessarily Alpaca). I couldn't resist! Here's what I bought from Huacaya Moon :


Blue Green


Northern Lights


Agate

I'm thinking these will make wonderful northern lights one way or another. I still have to experiment and work out just how I want to accomplish that ...

At the Alpaca Conference, vendors brought spinning wheels and looms, too. I'd love to get a loom, but I don't have the space. They were also selling simple hand looms that could sit on a tabletop. Heck--you could make one yourself.

So what do I do with the yarn that I spin? Nothing yet. I'm not much of a knitter, though I used to crochet. My Gramma Pickles has several knitting machines, though. One day, I'll hand my yarn off to her for transformation into a sweater ...