Project updates

by | May 11, 2011 | Dyeing, Weaving

Fibre is still drying…None of it is mine.  This make me sad.  The great colours make me happy.

Something else that made me not sad.  I was weaving today……not really weaving, but tossing a shuttle back and forth and making my hand spun live in a different way.  Pictures tomorrow when Pearl helps me get it off the loom.  I felt something…….I sense trouble.   I blame Terri, possibly Sonia….

It Takes a Village

by | May 10, 2011 | Dyeing, Workshops & Classes

It takes a village to spin a village worth of fibre and yarn.  Here’s what’s still drying from the Saturday workshop.

If you recognize your fibre, give it another day or so to dry and then it’s all yours.  For the record, you were a prolific and enthusiastic group.

Again, no pink here anywhere.   Today was spent moving the furniture back, drinking a significant amount of coffee and dyeing with Kristen.  It was a great afternoon of dueling colourways.

I recently picked up a lovely alpaca that I overdyed and I love it so much, even though it isn’t even dry yet,  I know I will sneak a cuddle. 

Remind me to show you a picture of the dyed top after spinning.   I guarantee you it will look less like this wildebeast.

Only one yarn to add today……but it sure is purdy.

Dyeing to Learn

by | May 8, 2011 | Dyeing, Workshops & Classes

Yesterday I offered what I hope will be the first of many full day workshops at the studio.  The dyeing class was something that has been in the works for a while.  Almost a side effect of teaching spinning, if you will.  Once everyone has spun their requisite pound of crossbreed or corriedale (learning fibre) they are all sick of white.  The first skeins are not as pretty, kind of quirky, but usually end up being unloved as white.

I headed into the studio quite early to get everything ready for the class which involved a lot of juggling of the space.  Cups, brushes, vinegar, buckets, cloths, wrap, gloves, masks, oh yes, and dyes. —-check, check, check…..enough espresso pods…Double check.

The group was wildly enthusiastic and have all been past students.  One of the most important impromptu lessons of the day –how to use the cappuccino machine.

Once safety issues were out of the way, not trivial, but not creative, there was an amazing symphony of colour in the room.  I am grateful to say, not one fibre was dyed with any pink in it.

There wasn’t time to get a lot of photographs, with two power interruptions and a small flood keeping things hopping, but it is definitely something we will be doing again.

Thanks to Jennifer and Kristin for the classroom support.  It was wonderful for the students to see expert dyers in action.

Checking in on the 355 Project

by | May 6, 2011 | Yarn a Day

I have been posting these yarns now for almost 4 months.  I’m not known for sticking to a plan, but I find that I have been able to keep up with this.  I’ve had a few comments from people enjoying the posts, but I’m wondering…….is there anything that you would like to see with the updates.  Are you okay with the eye candy and the details of the yarn or are you looking for more….inspirations? 

Has this project made any difference to your spinning or inspired you in any way, regardless of your chosen fibre medium.  What inspires you in your textile endeavours?

Cherry Blossoms

by | May 5, 2011 | Yarn a Day

No 241
Sakura – Late Blooms
2 Skeins
77 grams/70 yards
136 grams/121 yards
Hand dyed merino wool

All Yarn, All the Time

by | May 5, 2011 | Dyeing, Spinning, Workshops & Classes

I finished reskeining the yarns I dyed on the weekend.  It was first and foremost a matter of getting it out of the way.  There was yarn drying everywhere. Here’s a bit of the spring in yarnie goodness.
After putting the fibre away, I managed to card a bit for what will eventually be this yarn.  I left the studio in the middle of spinning it.  Looking at this picture makes me want to set the alarm to get to the studio tomorrow.
I had the last class for Free Form crochet.  It was amazing and even had some impromptu spinning in the middle of it.  Now you’d be thinking that wrapping up at 9:30 would be enough, but oddly enough I found myself back at the studio rinsing some dyed top.
Home, fed and thinking I could take another crack at that baby cardi that I frogged last night.  The night is still young.