Spinning and Logwood Dyeing!

Before getting extremely ill, in which I am much better after some antibiotics, I did some spinning and natural dyeing using logwood! So here are some of the results!

This is the original batt of Angora, Alpaca, Mohair, Merino, and Firestar! From: NorthStarAlpacas
Their description of the batt:
Alpaca from fawn Polaris, white Tom, and rosegray Vinnie in Gratiot County, Michigan
Angora from Saphirre who lives in Alma, Michigan 
Merino from Genopalette on Etsy 
Mohair from FroggyFibers -http://www.etsy.com/shop/froggyfibers 
Firestar from WildHare Studio -http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildhare

Here is the single from the two batts I had bought.

Sampler from HilltopCloud. I have some spindle spun from this but I will put them
together once I have everything plyed!

Early B-day present from my LBF!! Plus two more bobbins!

 Logwood Dyeing Experiments:

Logwood Dyeing Experiments:
Top Left: British Shropshire with Alum Mordant
Bottom Left: Pink Extra-fine Merino with Alum Mordant
Middle: 100% mystery Wool lace-weight yarn with Alum Mordant
Right: Red Extra-fine Merino with Vinegar and 2nd dye-bath

The pink in the centre and the red at the bottom are the merinos I used!

From the Red Merino to a Burgundy color

From the Pink Merino to a Lovely Rich Royal Purple!

From a beige yarn to a almost brown purple!

This is the Shropshire I have been using as of late!
About time I would say!

So from the off white to this lovely dark purple! 

So, what happens when alum doesn't bind with the fibre?
Well it would have been this blue spot color!
This is the only one I have found so far...

So that's it for now! I had a blast trying out Logwood dyeing and doing some more spinning!

Inspiration: Artesano Alpaca and Pattern

So, I think by now most reader's of this blog know how much in love I am with June Gilbank's designs. I do love many Amigurumi websites and patterns and I am constantly finding new and fun ones. However, June has come out with a pattern I can not pass up. Upon the request of my mother I have acquired June's new AmiDog Border Collie pattern (Ravelry Link)! Why? Well, we have a lovely border collie named Betsy. Miss Betsy came to us through a very tight rescue. She was going to be put down that day and we drove from WV to KY to save her mere hours before she was to be put down. I will be adding to June's design a small embroidered collar. I am still figuring that one out...

Such a beauty! Miss Betsy Christmas 2010.

The yarn I am going to use is one of my favorites! The Artesano Alpaca.

And the collar? Scappa to the rescue!

The green on the top right will be the collar! I will use my
crochet thread to embroider her name on it! I need to find a small buckle.
I think I know a store just for that ;) If not I have a back up store.

WIP: Spinning Lessons -- Single Samples

So in-between knitting, crocheting and french knitting, I decided to do a bit of spinning... ok so a lot of spinning. For those who are new to my blog I have two spindles, a high-whorl and my new spindolyn. I do not have a spinning wheel.

My High-Whorl Spindle

So, I finished all of my red fibre I was working on. I don't know what possessed
me to put it back on my high-whorl spindle to store but I did.

Spindoyln:

I just love this single!

Oooh, soo pretty!

This is just pretty and it sparkles slightly.

A static laced house plus this silk
equals one tough spin.

WIP: Spinning Lessons -- Some Samples

This sample box was from The Fibreholics! I am working on spinning them up on my new Spindolyn. I will post photos when I get some more of them done up. I have finished the blue fibre and and started the one from LaalBear (Second one from the left on the top).

Here is all that was in the bag!

That is 46% Alpaca, 42% Falkland, 11% Tencel, 1%Angelina
From: www.MandaCrafts.co.uk

100% Corriedale from My Heart Exposed Yarn & Spinning Fibre

100% Corriedale from LaalBear

100% Superwash, treated merino from Freyalyn's Hand-dyed Fibres

Merino/Nylon from The Thyacine

AND a 5.5mm Circular needle!!

Here is the lovely package it came in:

WIP: Spinning Lessons -- Single Samples

I finally got all the sample batts spun together. I enjoyed the challenge of spinning the two colors and sometimes the woollen/worseted combed combinations. The last one was hard since the difference in the two fibres made it hard to use my drop spindle.

In order from Left to Right with the card below!

Before the spinning process: In order with card above

New Fiber

So, long time no write on my part. Thank you to the one other person who has commented on my blog. Only when uploading the backup to my blog here to Wordpress did I see it.

On with the goodies. I got these fibers in from the PHAT fibre October sampler that were "left over." I love Steampunk so I couldn't resist. From Hampton Artistic Yarns and Nachwoolie.

So... I kind of don't know which one goes with which description. You can tell a few of them but I will post them as I figure it out... Any ideas?

This is from Hampton Artistic Yarns. So beautiful! 

Isn't it just golditastic! I love it! From Natchwoolie

Ball Winding and Inspirations

Along with winding MORE balls of yarn, some of them are new inspiration yarns!! Lets pull out the beauties to show you:

Remember these previous yarns?

Yup, they are in strange outer pull balls. No longer!!

Forgot about this? I did... until now!

Now for the new ones:

So soft, and just wonderful.

I know what you're thinking, isn't this a chunkier version of the one above.
No... *cough* I would never do that...

Darker version of the ones above... Not at all.