Of Wonderwool and other spinning things

Last Sunday the girls and I went to Wonderwool - that's it really because if you have been then you know what a fantastic day we had, and it you haven't then GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO next year and get a truly memorable fibre fix.

I probably spent too much, well OK I spent too much but I had a great time, talked to loads of people, put faces to names and finally discovered what is so special about the Scotch Egg man!  When I wrote out exactly what I had bought it did seem to be rather a lot especially as my list was so small.  But the important things were a WooLee Winder for my Matchless, (but that doesn't count as I had pre-order and paid for it) and some extra bobbins and a fast whorl as I am determine that Demelza will spin my finest lace yarn ever.

For not only have I discovered the pleasure of woollen spinning from my punis I have also been experimenting with the concept of cross lacing having recently watch 'Three Bags Full' and 'Spinning Luxury Yarns' with Judith Mackenzie.

This is my Black Sparkle spun from punis - 55grams and 230yards, woollen spun and 2 plied..

In fact I liked this so much that I have blended another bigger batch this time using Amethyst in both merino and silk - but there is still more black than any other colour (is black a colour??).

And some more batts this time blending Oatmeal BFL, White Shetland, Turquoise Merino and Ramie - Bluebirds over White Cliffs..

I am particularly pleased with these especially as I have finally worked out how to roll them like in the shops - well I did need some help, but that's what friends are for aren't they - thanks Fibrefrog!

This is pure luxury - cashmere, superfine merino and white tussah silk - a special blend from World of Wool  which I spun cross laced, spun worsted and 2 plied 493yards.

This is some Camel and Silk that I am spinning using Scotch tension and crossing the yarn back and across to reduce the take up and increase the twist.  Pretty happy so far with the results of this technique.....

 

Experimenting with colour the slow way..............

Wednesday May 1st - so a Woolly Wednesday and a quick update on happenings in Chez Sassy.

Besides spinning at a Model Railway Exhibition for two whole days in the main April has been a month of shawls and experiments.  Four shawls completed and a start made on my St Kida Shawl using the very expensive, but very beautiful Boreray and Soay yarn.

Two Romi's A Mysterious Shawl Kal - one in hand-spun and the other in MCN dyed by me.  The other two are designs from LindaCC - Siberian Iris and Spring Maple, both a delight to knit.

I have been experimenting with blending colours - inspired by Deb Menz's excellent book Color in Spinning which has a section on blending colours on a drum carder.  One of the things that I find really amazing is the way that black can disappear when mixed with other colours

This blend (the photo is lighter than real life) In Space...... consists of more black than the colours, but it is nearly lost once blended.  The proportions are 60grams Black (Merino and Silk) 30grams Amethyst (Merino and Silk) and 5grams of Fuchsia and 5grams of Rainbow Trilobal - so more black.... but where is it?

The second experiment is Solar Dyeing - that is using the heat of the sun to dye yarn in a sealed jar - so free energy.  As the weather forecast suggests that the temperature might actually get above freezing I thought today would be a good day to start the experiment.

First I soaked 100 grams of Merino and mordant the fibre in a solution of Alum 100 mil at 1:10 and Cream of Tartar (11/2 teaspoons).  But my Alum solution had crystallised so first I had to dissolve the crystals!

After allowing the fibre to cool a little I placed the fibre and some of the liquid into a Kilner Jar with 10 daffodil flowers, 20 mixed Peppercorns (Black, Red and Green), 1 Bay Leaf, 2 tiny strands of saffron and 1ml Botanical Colours Natural Dyes - Himalayan Rhubarb.  This last one is a but of a cheat, but at this time of the year there isn't a lot of natural stuff around so as you can see I have raided the spice cupboard.. 

This now gets left in the sun for several months........................ 

Oh, yes I did go to Wonderwool and had a fabulous time - retail therapy a real pick me up after a long winter!