Ashridge Country Fair

What a good day we had. L-R Alison Martina and Me. After a bit of a damp start the weather cleared up and there were lots of people through the gate.

I even managed to sell a few things Angora mostly. It must be the feel of it, so soft.

I took my Ashford Traveller Alison and Martina had wheels as well and as usual everyone who passed was fascinated by the spinning and we were kept busy anwering questions all day.

Alison needed help with her biscuits, well it would have been rude not to we are her friends.

Washing and Dyeing Jacob Fleece.

This is a Jacob fleece spread out for sorting. The top is the head end and the back legs are at the bottom of the picture. You will just have to trust me on this if you can't see it . It does take some practise to see the parts of a fleece. The dog is optional.

                                                                                                                                                            

                        

I have divided the fleece up into manageable sections. Trying to get course, soft and medium piles.

I have put a whole fleece in the bath but I don't recommend it. You will not have the use of your bath for days because of all the rinsing, and wet wool is very heavy, small bins are much easier to manage.

The fleece is hung on a fence to drip most of the water out in between rinses and put through a small stand alone spin dryer after the last rinse. Don't use your washing machine you will break it!

I had two dye baths left over from other projects. Cochineal, pink and Fustic, yellow. I hate to waste anything so I thought I would see what the Jacob would dye like and I love the result. From past experience I know that they will spin up to a lovely tweed effect in the different colours. Jacob also dyes well in indigo.

WS&D National Exhibition

These are just a few of the things that I really liked at the exhibition of our WS&D,s National Association held at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum on Saturday.Of course I thought I would remember whats what or find it in the catalog. Some I can and some I can't. The blanket or afghan as it is called is knitted in hand spun wool ans silk with natral dyes.

The panels of this skirt are shibori dyed and I love it. Will try to have a go at one myself  I dye silk scarves in the same way how lovely to have a skirt.

Both of these wall hangings show the range of things that can be made with in our crafts.

These panels where made from a blanket cut up and dyed with natural dyes. Names and pictures of the dye stuff used have been machine embroidered in each square.

Silk Scarves

I have been having lots of fun dyeing silk scarves. The ones on the left are dyed with cochineal and fustic, dip dyeing each scarf in both dye baths. I used onion skins with no mordant for the ones on the right. 

The scarves in the cochineal and fustic baths have been pre mordanted with alum. You can see the elastic bands I used to bunch up the silk to get a random effect.

The bunching gave a fabulous tie dye effect.

The onion skin scarves had no mordant and came out the most beautiful bronze colours.

Knitted Bag

I knitted this bag from odds and ends that I had in my stash of hand spun wool. It came out better than I expected and I really love it.

I have lined it and added pockets inside as well as a zip for security as I will use this bag a lot and I want it to be practical.

The pattern is adapted from a jumper. Greys and browns are natural colours,pink is jacob dyed with madder, yellow is onion skins, the green is dyed with cow parsley with a copper modifyer and there is comercaily dyed silk.

The handle was made on weaving sticks and I did not like it  at first because it was to loose so I put it in the washing machine to felt it and it was much better.

Alpacas

 I have been looking after these Alpacas for the last few week. They are lovely animals. Although not very affectionate, once they learn to trust you your in and that feels great.

 Alpaca is a nice fibre to spin. It cards well and mixes with other fibres to make it go a bit farther. You can also spin it straight from the fleece which is often the best way as it is easier to wash it in the skein because it felts if you are not careful.

Out and About.

This was the result of a workshop I took for the Bucks Guild of WS&D's in Amersham on the 4th March. The theme of the day was using as many different fleeces as possible and preparing them in different ways. The skeins here show the variety of finishes we came up with.
Carding, combing and spinning from the fleece were all tried as well as the large wool combs seen below left.
Thankyou to all those who took part and the organisers of the day.

 

This was the wonderful sight that greeted us as we arrived at the hall in East Hendred to the Wingham Wool day organised by the Kennett Valley Guild. It is a spinners dream to spin all day and sample as many different fleeces and fibres as you like.I recommend this day to anyone who has not been before, bring your purse as the shopping opportunity is second to none. You have missed this year but future dates will be on www they may be coming some where near you..winghamwoolwork.co.uk

Clipping Time.

Angora rabbits need clipping every 10-12 weeks. This not just to collect fibre, the rabbit will become very matted if neglected and that is a very sorry sight to see.

It takes about 20mins to clip Daisy. She gives about 55gms of pure white fibre and is very easy to do because I have had her a long time and she is very used to me. Rabbits don't like strangers.

 Don't have a fit when you see this picture. It is impossible to do a nice neat job, getting the fibre off is the important thing. Daisy does not mind what she looks like. I do have to make sure she keeps warm at this time of the year. In the summer the rabbits are glad to get rid of their long coats.

This scarf was knitted from 100% Angora so soft and warm to wear, my favourite.

Jacob Jumper.

In the Autumn I took on a commission for a friend to knit this jumper from a Jacob fleece from one of her own sheep. I don't usually take commotion's because you can spend a lot of time working on things you you don't like. But I really enjoyed this one because I know the sheep and have worked with the flock.

 

Jacob is a very easy fleece to spin. The sheep are always brown and white so you will know one if you see it. I spun it straight from the fleece, no carding. Taking each colour at random. It gives a lovely effect that you could never in commercial wool.