whackadoodle coconut

my husband and I met up with some friends this weekend and they has asked about spinzilla and wanted to know how it all works.  I had briefly explained how it all works and figured that since I was likely to start from nothing on this journey it might be helpful to know how this all works. Step one: Sheep.  if you want to spin yarn, you will need to source some fiber.  but, where does it come from?  the easy answer is from sheep.  however, living in a non-spinning centered (or sheep herd centric) city, I choose to purchase prepared fiber.  I used to have a shop near by to purchase fiber from, now I order from an online vendor. the possibility also exists to find locks from sheep to prepare and then spin. like these. Step two: Prepare your fiber. I have several methods to choose from.  I own a pair of carders and a pair of combs.  I will either card or comb my fiber until it is the way I want to spin and then I'll spin.  I don...

I will be working up a series on my first experiment/learning curve/opportunity/skills testing experience working with wool.  I have worked with a variety of wool in the past from locks and prepped fiber, but this will be the first working with a fleece. The short version - a friend of mine, who I haven't really talked with in a long while met up at a Christmas party. She had mentioned that she had a fleece and wanted to know what I could do with it.  Well of course I could spin it in to yarn and then make something with it. After a bit more talking and she explained that it was a fair sheep and that she didn't know what condition of wool I needed to spin.  I told her I would take a look and let her know.  Fast forward to last night and she gives me a gallon bag of white fluffy stuff and said she had 4 more bags full. At a quick glance, I'm not too sure if this wool is anything like I have spun or prepped in the past.  But it is worth a try.  The bag sh...

it's that time of the year again ...Spinzilla!  Very excited about this year because I have a better plan for prepping my fiber and my goal is within reach of last year's final yardage. UPDATED: here are some pics of what I began (and finished) for the pre spin to ensure that my wheel is working properly and I remember how to spin.  I opted for finishing the fiber that I had already began to spin, but was trying my patience and needed more work. picked up a cat/dog brush to help work out the compaction in the fiber you can see the little dreds there. fluffy little clouds of fiber, after being worked through with the brush singles waiting to be plied finished plying and ready to be measured and wound I am starting this year with - some warm up spinning (see above), clearing my bobbins, attaching new leaders, and buying new fiber that will be a delight to spin. last year I fell short by a couple bobbins, so I immediately bought more afterwards...

One of the most magical transformations ever is taking the wooly coat from a sheep and turning it into a pair of socks, or toy or sweater.  But nothing compares to doing it yourself. Awhile back John bought me some fiber to spin and I had worked it up and practice for weeks to get enough to spin and all I had was about 100 yards (estimated).  There was also some other yarn I spun that was turned into a zombie.  It was bumpy and lumpy. However now, I have been able to spin a better quality yarn (just over 300 yards) and knit up some socks with it.

didn't think I posted the finished product of my hand spun yarn take a look.