Spinning Witch's Cat...

Last October, I participated in a Zombie Apocalypse swap in the Phat Fiber group on Ravelry... My partner ordered two batts from Spin City UK for me... They are gorgeous batts... and I wasn't very sure how to spin the one because it had linen in it... but, it turned out beautifully!

Batt Card for Witch's Cat from Spin City UK

Witch's Cat Batt

Witch's Cat Batt Opened Up

I split the batt in half... or approximately half... and started spinning it on the E-Spinner... I let the fiber do what it wanted... With art type batts, I prefer to just let the fiber do its own thing and see what happens, lol.

Each Bobbin Spun

Plied Yarn 

I haven't gotten to take the yarn off the bobbin yet... but the batt was 4 ounces, so I'm assuming the yarn will be just under that... and is a worsted to bulky weight :)

"Wickham Gate" Spinning...

I have been trying to spin at least something everyday... even if its only for a short period of time... I feel like in order to keep things "going" and not get bored, I need to at least spin for 10 minutes a day.

So, I dove back into the fiber stash... This time, it was some 100% Corriedale from Simpson & Co. - Woodbridge Fibers, in colorway "Wickham Gate"... 4.42 ounces

This fiber was split up into two balls of roving... and even after sitting in a Ziploc bag, inside of a vacuum seal bag for over three years... it spun up beautifully :)

I cant seem to find anything on this company... but their fiber was very nice to spin :)

It is way darker in person... but the flash wants to make it Magenta I guess, lol

Single

Each bobbin of singles

Plied

I still haven't gotten the yarn skeined and washed... so hopefully that will happen tonight :)

"Go Ahead & Like It" - a Book Review

"Go Ahead & Like It" by Jacqueline Suskin 

Cover

This book sort of threw me through a loop... I wasnt really sure what to expect when it came in... but after only a couple of pages, I was brought back to childhood in a way.

The book encourages you to sit down and actually make a list of things that you like... with no particular rhyme or reason... just whatever comes to mind.

Any memory, smell, taste, anything... just start by writing something that you like and keep adding to the list... 

Once you have your list... go back and ask yourself "why?"... why do you like the smell of Marigolds? Why do you like the color blue? 

For me, it made me realize that life is too short to be so serious all the time... live your life, but dont get so sucked up in the life around you, that you forget to actually live your life!

The format of the book was very different than most books I have bought... and the freeform style of the pages really made me feel a connection with the past... definitely worth purchasing... and remember to make that list :)

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

E-Spinner Action :)

As you probably already know from yesterday, I managed to get the E-Spinner working... and it is super FAST... well, I couldn't get it to function properly last night to save my life...

Dylan had been super excited to spin all day... so he was actually good and ate all his dinner... the reward was that he would get to use his "spinner spinner" as he calls it... after much fight and anger, we managed to get the wheel working and actually accomplish some yarn :)

I took a video showing it in action:

https://www.facebook.com/324030317639844/videos/vb.324030317639844/889344414441762/?type=1&theater

We started with a Booya Boho Mini Batt from Woodland Hills Alpacas... it is 70% Corriedale / 20% Merino / 10% Other Fibers... and it actually spun without much of a problem

Its more red in real life... but its a fun little 1 ounce - 30 yard skein :)

Dylan works the foot pedal while I draft for him... 

He is so proud of his yarn!!!

Our second try (skein) was a braid from Spunky Eclectic called Flowering Weeds... it is 70% Merino / 30% Mohair... and was a huge pain in the butt to spin... Mainly because it was super slick and the wheel was too fast, lol.

This roving has been sitting in my stash for at least 3 years, lol

Bobbin #1

Bobbin #2

Plied

Bulky / Super Bulky Yarn

Flowering Weeds - 3 ounces - 75 yards

I absolutely love the final yarn... I am not very good at spinning bulky yarn.. so this has been a wonderful experience!

New (to me) Toys!!!

Last night the boys and I went for a little adventure... a friend let me know about a man who was selling off his fiber equipment from when he lived in North Carolina... so of course I just had to contact him, lol.

I had seen some pictures of his stuff... and decided that I really wanted his Pat Green Triple Picker... and possibly an electric spinner... depending on the condition of course.

Well, I left his house with both the Picker and the E-Spinner, lol... Both needed to be cleaned and "tweaked" to function properly... but I am pretty pleased with them and can not wait to have them in the studio...

Here they are after their first cleaning :)

Pat Green Triple Picker

There is quite a bit of rust on the picker... but let me tell you, those tines are beyond sharp... the guy had a little padlock on it to keep kids from being able to open it... what a genius idea :)

E-spinner... the sticker says Janko Woodworking

The E-Spinner needed to be cleaned and taken apart... but once I figured out how to get it put back together, it took off like crazy... it has one speed... FAST... the sample that is on it, is between lace and fingering weight... definitely a work horse :)

Florida Sheep and Wool Pictures - 2015

I am a little behind with getting the pictures of the booth from Florida Sheep and Wool posted... but figured it was better late than never, lol.

Hand Dyed Yarns

Wall of Batts

Everything on one table

The Corner

Spindles and Hand Spun

If you missed it, there is always next year :)

And Four Purls in Winter Haven is having a Trunk Show for Twin Mommy Creations tomorrow May 2nd, 2015 from 10am to 3pm... Stop by and check it out :)