Yarn

Here's a look at the latest spindleful of yarn--I'm trying to overtwist the singles enough that I can ply it. It's the most delectable fiber I've ever spun--50% alpaca, 30% Merino, 20% silk from Abstract Fibers. I got it at the Flock and Fiber Festival in Canby over a year ago. I'm spinning it on my favorite spindle, which I got from Magpie Woodworks six or so years ago at the Taos Wool Festival. (I also have one of his tapestry beaters, and I *love* it.)

Back to the fiber. It is delightfully bright in a roving--but what sold me on this colorway was the fact that, due to optical color mixing, you eventually end up with russet shades.

In the meantime, I am enjoying winding it on the spindle in a color-coordinated manner.

Fiber Lust.

No, not for shredded wheat. REAL fiber. Sunday I attended the Flock and Fiber Show, and I had a great time. I was not supposed to buy any fiber except for one particular project (hah) or any books (hah). I (it)did(/it) manage to avoid buying any raw fleece or any animals. I even avoided buying natural colored rovings (that's what forms the largest volume of my stash). I almost avoided buying books--but I saw a copy of The Handweaver's Pattern Book by Marguerite Davison for $10 and I took that as a sign that I ought to buy it. It is all 4-harness patterns. After the Complex Weavers Conference I felt sad at not having a complex loom; this book will help me learn how to get the most out of the one I have. (You can indeed do complex things with a 4-harness loom.)

Fiber-wise, I ended up with a little collection of this and that--largely related to the project I have in mind (and probably enough for about five!) and one bundle of painted roving that I just Had To Have. It's crazy, red and yellow and purple. More on that soon. That one is 50% alpaca, 30% merino, and 20% silk. The other fibers I got were Romney (cute and curley!), Merino, and mohair.

That evening I was tired & had a headache, but I spun up a couple of tidbits of fiber--one from a business card, the other from the outside of its bag of fiber. The main part of it was a blend with merino; the rest was mohair, which is diametrically different in the way it drafts & spins. Here is the result: