Tour de Fleece Days 4 - 6 - July 7th - 9th

Not much spinning was done on day 4 :(  I did manage to get my Jacob blend in for a photo shoot however and now it is hanging to dry before skeining and breaking them into smaller skeins.  This will be for sale in the shop this weekend.

Day 4 - July 7th 

Day 5 - July 8th - 11:04 AM
Finished the first of four skeins of the "Lopi" style yarn from Icelandic wool, from a sheep named "Agnus Dei".

July 8th - 7:55 pm

Finished 2 more of these skeins - no pic :)

July 9th 6:23 am 
Finished the last skein.  I will let them sit for at least 48 hours to relax.  I like to do that with singles.  Here are all 4 together just hanging out.




2:15pm 
Started an Icelandic/silk (80/20) blend.  This will be a 2-ply when finished.





Tomorrow, I am expecting a package from one of my handspinners and I need to do  something with color.  Stay tuned !!

Tour de Fleece Days 2 & 3 - July 5th - 6th

Day 2 - Sunday July 5th 

After yesterday with 4th of July fireworks and fun .... I wanted to sleep in, but my dogs had another idea.  I was jolted from a peaceful sleep at 6:15ish to my Mastiff, Gus barking, which is a rarity, so always cause for me to take a look. I just wanted to sleep to 7am <whine>.  I normally get up at 5-5:30 each morning to get things done before my daughter (4 years old) wakes up.  So what was Gus and my pain-in-the-butt-bark-at-her-own-shadown  Boston Mastiff, Dizzy, barking at?  My husband fixing the power washer outside. Sunday morning peace shattered. . . well at least coffee was ready and I half-asleep got a cup and settled in with George (my Hansen mS).

2:04 PM 
I finished the second bobbin (1st bobbin was done pre-tour) of my Jacob, bamboo, nylon, Angelina blend.   I will ply it tomorrow.

Day 3 - Monday July 6th 
12:04 PM 
Plying complete!!

Wow, that did seem to take forever! Of course other chores were also on the agenda this morning, so it really only took a total of about 2.5 hours.  I will skein it tonight or tomorrow as more store and farm chores, among other things need my attention.

I plan to break it into 3 equal skeins after it soaks since it is 12 oz total for easier sell.  Currently before soaking and the possible poof that Jacob is know for, it is about 24-26 WPI which is a fingering weight.



7:08 PM 
I am done for the day and am just finishing up this post (after dinner) and before heading into the living room for some family time.

What's on the agenda tomorrow? 
1 - Skein up my Jacob blend and put in the soak.
2 - Soak my All Colors™ TnT
3 - Start spinning this Icelandic Wool.  This will be spun as a single in the "Lopi" style that Icelandic is so famous for.  It is a combination of the thel and tog spun together.  It is washed and then carded all together on the drum carder.  I took it off the drum carder in fat rolags.   This will be spun on my Ashford Joy wheel because I find it easier to do a single on that wheel more so than any other of my wheels.   It will be a thick yarn - worsted to aran weight of about 12 WPI.   I will be publishing a post on Icelandic wool in the next week and all the different ways and techniques (with pics) that can be done to this very versatile wool.

4 - Make some fun funky super fat coiled art yarn from this pile.  It will be a corespun yarn, coiled on itself and then wrapped with silk hankies.  I will be videotaping part of the spin for you all to watch as well.  The silk hankies looked a little washed out in the pic, but they are the same colorway as the top on the left.   I will be doing this on my Hansen mS.


I will switch between the 2 yarns so that I don't get bored :)

Tour de Fleece Day 1 - July 4th

Happy Birthday America !!


I am going to chronicle my TdF journey here and do one post a day.

7:23 AM- (with coffee in hand) 

I will be doing the 2nd bobbin (6.2 oz) of this Jacob wool, bamboo, faux cashmere, Angelina combo. The first bobbin was completed prior to the tour.  I will be spinning on my Hansen mS.  I am shooting for a fingering weight (24 WPI) yarn, but Jabob normally poofs up, so it may be more towards sport once washed.  We will see.  My singles on the first bobbin approx 38 WPI right now.  This is going to be several skeins once completed, for the shop. 

Here is the Ravelry link to all the info on this yarn (still in progress).

6.2 oz in rolags waiting to be spun and 6.2 oz on the bobbin prior to the tour

11:32 AM - (with interruptions from husband, child, and animals) 

My progress this morning. . . .  2 oz spun.  I will continue more this evening after today's festivities and chores are completed.  

10:54 PM 

Did about 3 oz total and will finish this on Day 2 of TdF and maybe even ply. 

And in other news  . . . . 

I also skeined this up today and it will be in the shop sometime in the next few days.  It was spun prior to the TdF, but hey looking at colorful yarn is fun .....right?!?

This is my signature All Colors™ TnT Self-Striping.  Some bobbles, coils and beehives as well :) Mix of wools, wool locks, alpaca, silk, sparkle. 

All Colors™ TnT Self-Striping

Tour de Fleece 2015 (Team Spin a Pound, Get a Pound™)

I am so excited that Tour de Fleece (July 4 - July 26)  is around the corner!!  This year I am co-captain with some friends of the Spin a Pound, Get a Pound™ group.

I am in the process of planning out what I will be spinning and will be posting pictures :)  A few weeks left to prep, then it's off to the races !!

Here's out official team graphic:

Memorial Day 2015 Sale Starts NOW !

The first of several shop updates for my Memorial Day weekend sale!! Save 10% using coupon code MEMORIAL2015 for 10% off on EVERYTHING in the store that is in stock!! Over 100 hand painted braids ready to ship!  Ends Monday at midnight Eastern time.

Link to Hand Painted Top 

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