Felting Angora

I had a go at felting some of my angora and was very pleased with the result, it being my first attempt.I will give you a run down of how I did it. But there are some very good books and videos out there if you want more info.

I laid out a towel to catch the water, a bamboo felting mat and a layer of bubble wrap. The fiber was arranged in three layers at 90 degree angles to each other. The a net curtain covered the fiber. I poured on enough soapy water to wet the angora out but not so much that it ran every where. The whole lot was rolled up round a broom handle. Then the hard work started. 

 I did 100 rolls before unrolling the fiber and giving it a quarter turn rolling up and starting again. After four turns my arms were falling off but the angora was firmly felted.

 For the second piece I spread a thin layer off coloured silk on the fiber which felted in much better than I expected. I am going to try and make a whole scarf next time . Does anyone know where I can get a felting mat long enough. The video I watched does not use one. How would that turn out I wounder.

Fiber East

Had a good day at Fibre East in Bedford yesterday. It is the first time I have been to the Redhill venue and it seemed to work well even if it is a bit spread out. I had to make sure that I didn't miss anything.

It is always fun to see unusual kinds of spinning wheels. I called in at the National Angora Club stand and got a bit more advice on felting angora fiber. I will certainly be having a go soon.

Make a date for your diary and see what some really talented crafts people can do.

Happy Bunnies

 Here are my  rabbits looking very scruffy. Although they were not ready for clipping I could not leave them with their coats on in this hot weather so out came the scissors. I usually clip them every 10 - 12 weeks the fibre will be about 3" long plenty long enough for spinning but this time it is only 1" long so I think I will try to felt some . There are some good videos on You Tube explaining how so it will be fun to have a go. I will let you know how I get on.

 At least they are a lot more comfortable now. Clipping angora rabbits is an important part of their welfare especially in the kind of hot humid weather we are having at the moment.
From top to bottom they are Farthing, Guinness and Daisy.

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.