A Year of Firsts

2012 has been a year of firsts for me. 

• First blog. 
• First time Ian, my son, went to school. 
• First time selling something online in my Etsy store. 
• First time really keeping track of how and when I finish my UFO’s (UnFinished Objects).
• First time teaching spinning to a private student.
• First time (in many years) going to a fiber arts awards ceremony.
• First time processing wool in the grease (freshly sheared) - from washing to combing to spinning.

The first three quarters of the year passed very slowly. Then September came and there has been a nonstop flurry of activities. I write this last post of 2012 to remind myself that life is not a competition. I managed to write 35 out of 52 intended posts. Pretty good for a busy mom!

I also finished quite a number of projects. Even started a few new ones that got finished. 20-some projects have been completed this year. Plus all the little things like making product for my store that I didn’t include in the count.

I’m pleased to have shared this year with you. I hope you have enjoyed my irregular postings.

I wish good things and happy tidings to you in 2013.

Snickering Pigs

I finished Angry Bird Pig #1 a month ago. Here he is (reference blog post Too Busy).

I finished Angry Bird Pig #2 last week. Here he is.

Here they are together. Aren’t they ridiculously cute?!?

Can you tell one pig is bigger than the other? Not sure how that happened but I must have tightened the yarn tension on the second one. It’s probably closer to pattern gauge than the first piggy. Have one more to make.

Ian calls them “Snickering Pigs.”

Bloo Bamboo

Referencing my 2nd blog post Spinning in Madrid, I have finished spinning the indigo-dyed merino bamboo fiber I’ve been working on for more than a year. A UFO (UnFinished Object) no longer!

 The stats:

• 60/40 Merino Bamboo blend - 4 oz.
• 573 yards of 3-ply yarn
• 18 wpi (wraps per inch) - lace weight
• singles spun on Ashford Traditional single drive/treadle standard bobbins
• plied using jumbo bobbin accessory
• the fiber was very easy to spin fine

The yarn is squishy and super soft to touch.

I had always planned on plying from 3 bobbins to see how the colors blended. This is my shoebox Lazy Kate set up at a 45 degree angle. The yarn comes off the bobbins smoothly as long as I keep my guide hand straight up from the kate. No tension line required on the bobbins (although I do have 2 pushpins and an elastic cord ready for tension if I so desire).

Two bobbins had yarn left over so I chain plied the singles for a variation of the straight 3-ply yarn. The colors in the chain plied yarn are more delineated while the straight 3-ply color blended to a lighter blue throughout the skein.

31 yards of chain ply.

I find the color gradation more interesting in the chain plied yarn. But I would still be plying. As it is, it took a week to ply 500+ yards of straight 3-ply.

A 2 year long project is finally finished. Whew!

Reminders

I have been seriously delinquent in posting to this blog recently. I have many excuses but none worthy of writing down. I was reminded yesterday that this blog is important and necessary (if not to anyone else) to me.

My local guild, the South Coast Weavers and Spinners Guild, hosted a presentation by Sarah Jackson, noted weaver, textile artist and member of the guild. Sarah gave a talk on her path as a textile artist and showed slides of her work. The two most important things she said to me were to always label and document your work. She photographs everything and writes her own blog.

As a busy mom with not a lot of time to do my own textile work I always think that I never finish anything. My original goal for this blog was to keep track of my UFO’s this year. To finish more projects than I start. As I said above, I was reminded yesterday that this blog is actually my documentation. That writing and photographing my work is important to me to show my progression as a textile artist. It is necessary to show myself that I actually do finish quite a number of things. 

The documentation does not have to be in a public blog of course. But I find that there is some accountability when I post here. I get feed back from my fellow textile artists. It is fulfilling in the way that show and tell time is at guild meetings.

As a side note, my fellow guild members have loads of talent. Including established and published artists. It is intimidating sometimes to go to the guild meetings but also inspiring. In no way do I include myself in the same class as these artists yet :-) but it is very cool to hang out with them.

Textile Sanity Etsy Store

With help from my super awesome friend, Catherine and her shop Lucky Zelda, I opened my etsy store tonight. 

TextileSanity.etsy.com

I’ve been thinking and talking about an etsy store for over a year. Suddenly it’s here. I am soooo excited about it. If you visit the store I’d love to hear what you think.

It's Delovely

I love spinning. I love teaching and demonstrating the art of spinning. I get great personal satisfaction from helping a new spinner figure out how to make yarn. Unique yarn. 

Most of the time, someone’s first yarn is lumpy and bumpy. The student seems disappointed until I tell them what they’ve made is called “designer yarn,” and is usually very expensive to purchase. The student laughs. Then the student relaxes and makes more “designer yarn.” And has fun at it.

I taught a private student recently who paid me the nicest compliment. She said “I really appreciated your knowledge and professionalism in spinning.  I was very inspired to grow in the craft.”

It was super nice to hear. 

I really do love spinning. I really love sharing the craft and all it’s possibilities for creativity. Spinning keeps me grounded. When life swirls around faster than I can easily handle, I sit at my wheel and spin some yarn. The “doing” of spinning makes me feel connected to life and humanity. That is inspiring to me.

Too Busy

This year, I promised myself that I would do some craft work each day, even if only 5 minutes worth.

Most weeks I managed to do that. 

The last two weeks I have crocheted a total of 5 rows on Ian’s Angry Bird Pig. We have been super busy at the end of the summer season, prepping Ian for Kindergarten and moving a family member. 

Time passes with not a single minute of any kind of craft in a 24 hour span. 

I’m sad about the lack of doing it. However, I admit to being too exhausted to care. Moving is hard work.

School starts next week. I am looking forward to helping Ian with his transition into school. I am also looking forward to dedicated craft time during school hours.

The Fair!

The county fair is alway a kick!

I don’t eat the chocolate covered bacon or deep fried butter sticks, but I do enter handmade items in the Home Arts area.

I have been entering textile goods in the local county fair for over 8 years. I have also demonstrated the arts of spinning and weaving whenever the opportunity arises. I have participated in the Los Angeles County Fair and, for the last two years, the Orange County Fair has been my Fair of choice.

This year was a real kick because I got invited to an awards ceremony for the Home Arts division. It was a hoot to accept an award with a ton of strangers oohing and aahing over my hand-spun and hand-knit shawl.

Here I am accepting my award with two fair officials. I had not planned on taking a picture but the enthusiasm of the crowd and other award winners was contagious. A lady next me was kind enough to snap this photo with my phone. I had to wait through 40 minutes of other winners’ names before mine was called. It was just plain fun.

This is the award winning shawl. The yarn won a 1st place blue ribbon for hand-spun skeins. The shawl won a first place blue ribbon for hand-spun finished item and it also won the division winner ribbon in Spinning. Hence the awards ceremony.

I don’t always win a ribbon, although I am quite proud when I do. But that’s not really the point. The point is to show what kinds of skills and interests we have as a community. I encourage everyone to enter the local fair, whatever their craft and wherever they may be.

Long Wool Fiber Study, part 5

Shetland is a double coated fiber. In post Long Wool Fiber Study, part 4 I wrote about using combs to process Shetland locks into roving. I really liked spinning hand combed roving.

Here are my results.

Shetland - Undercoat/Down - washed - 5/8 oz. - spun 7/17/12

• locks combed on 5 pitch combs
• used large diz to pull roving
• spun back draft - woolen (drafting fingers open and close as twist move up fiber)
• thin roving wanted to spin fine
• some lanolin remains makes fibers soft and smooth feeling
• very easy to do long draw with my fiber holding hand
• lovely to spin top
• 2-ply - 105 yards - 22 wpi (wraps per inch) - size 2 fine

Top preparation made it easy to have real control of my long draw to make a smooth consistent and fine yarn. The final yarn is very very lofty and soft. I wish you could feel it.

Shetland - Outer coat - washed - 5/8 oz. - spun 7/23/12

• locks combed on 5 pitch combs
• outer coat pulled off combs by hand - aligned parallel
• top preparation is easy to draft
• fiber has a wiry feel
• definitely stiffer and less lofty than undercoat
• spun forward draft - worsted (drafting fingers smooth fibers down as twist moves up fiber)
• finished yarn is smooth and crisp
• 2-ply - 78 yards - 22 wpi (wraps per inch) - size 2 fine

The outer coat was interesting to spin in contrast to the undercoat. The fiber was very wiry and the resulting yarn is not as smooth as a worsted yarn should be, but it is more tightly spun than the undercoat. I would not make anything that would be worn next to the skin.

I Andean plied both skeins. Andean plying is a way of wrapping singles around your hand to make a two end bracelet for plying. I like using this method as it plies every inch of singles. It’s also great for sampling. Although 200+ yards of singles is a bit more than a sample. I did get tied to the wheel until the plying was finished. I like Andean plying better than using a wound ball with 2 ends as I always seem to get the two ends tangled somehow.

The Bomb!

My latest "commission..."

A set of Angry Bird Amigarumi toys. The Bomb is the first of 3 birds and 3 pigs I have to make.

I found free crochet patterns on Ravelry. Thanks much Adorable Amigarumi.

In case you need a size reference...

The Bomb is bigger than Ian’s head.

Fun Days at Convergence

I spent two days last week at Convergence 2012 in Long Beach, CA. Convergence happens once every 2 years. This year it happened to be in my back yard. It is a super textile extravaganza event. There are exhibits, a fashion show, lots of classes and a full vendor hall.

I was able to see the tapestry exhibit at the Long Beach Library. I saw the fashion show, leader and multi-media exhibits. I shopped in the vendor hall. 

Best of all, I got to visit with lots of fiber-loving friends.

The main event for me was the reunion of Retreaters from the Studio 66 Retreat 2010 and 2011. About 40 people came to visit and share their finished fiber exchange projects with us. The finished pieces were amazing. We saw a variety of styles and techniques. It was a fun time.

I only bought one thing in the vendor hall as I am in a stash-busting mode. But it is the funnest thing I have purchased in a long time. I saw a woman carrying a bag in the parking garage and just had to have one myself.

I almost never make political statements of any kind. I don’t put campaign stickers on my car and I don’t write to my representatives. However, in this current chaotic political and economic climate I wanted to make this statement. 

And it’s a bag... I can’t have too many of those. 

Michelle Obama is a wonderful public leader. And she spells her name with two "L"s like me! 

I just love this bag featuring her as the “First Lady of Fabulous”. The bag is made by BlueQ. I hope they sent her one. 

Spinning Haiku

twisting wool fiber

soft yarn warm strong beautiful

ever useful lengths

15 More Hours

In this second week of Ian’s summer camp, I have another 15 hours of dedicated craft time again. 

I have been spinning like a mad woman to finish the overdue fiber exchange from 2010. It was to be an epic spinning, weaving and sewing project. Recently, I have decided that finished yarn would make a nice finished exchange. 

I was given an 8 oz. bag of lovely malachite green cotton sliver (roving) blended with tiny streaks of grey and tinges of red. My personal challenge was to spin the yarn entirely on my Indian Book-Charkha, purchased in 2004 from New World Textiles.

I’d spun a little on the charkha but never a whole project. I thought to myself that it would be really easy, it’s so portable and fast. I should have the yarn done in no time. I even agreed to demonstrate on the charkha when I felt I had some proficiency. 

Do you know how long it takes to spin 8 oz. of super fine cotton singles for a nice finished 3-ply yarn? 

A long time.

Spinning this cotton has been epic for me. I have bobbins full of singles. I even started spinning on my Ashford Traditional spinning wheel to see if the spinning would go faster. While my long draw is getting smoother, I still see lots of sliver in the bag left to spin.

Anyway, I have been spinning everyday now for over a week. And I guess I AM seeing less fiber in the bag. 

In the morning while Ian is at camp, I spin on the charkha. At home, because my wheel is handy, I spin the cotton on it.

Last Tuesday I spun at Heritage Park in Irvine, CA sitting in the gazebo by the lake. It was a lovely morning. A little overcast due to coastal fog, but warm enough. The ducks were active, swimming and waddling around. A few baby ducklings added to the charm.

The picture shows my view as I worked. 

What cannot be conveyed in this picture-that-tells-a-thousand-words is that there were also 2 GIANT drive-around lawn mowers and 3 gas leaf-blowers in the background working diligently to groom the lawn.

I know you know how loud those machines are.

I kept thinking they would finish soon and stuck it out in the gazebo for about an hour. But then they came nearer. I realized that there were leaves around the gazebo and that soon I would be surrounded by blowing dust and intense noise.

I packed up.

I still have a pretty visual memory of the morning but I also laugh about the mower noise. The act of spinning, while still romantic and connected to humanity in my mind, is not always done in bucolic settings.

15 Hours

My son participated in a 5-day, 3-hour drop-off Mandarin Immersion summer camp last week. 

The drop-off part, the language acquisition, and sampling of kindergarten schedule is significant for both Ian and I as this is our first foray into any kind of formal school for him. He has been my constant companion for 5+ years. 

What is really significant and relative to this blog is that I had 15 hours of child & home free time just to work on projects.

15 HOURS!

I have to say that again...15 HOURS!

I, of course, had a plethora of UFOs (UnFinished Objects) and WIPs (Works In Progress) to choose from. I focused on one of the fiber exchanges that is due mid-July. I am proud to say that it got finished and is now drying on a blocking mat.

Ian has a second week of camp. I am going to finish the second fiber exchange project from (I’m slightly embarrassed to say) 2010. It was due May 2011. Mid July 2012 now seems like a good target date to finish.

It is a wonderful time watching Ian’s world expand. It is also a time to be a little sad that his babyhood is officially over with the start of real school. But I am also excited for myself. I will have time to focus on my craft work in a way I haven’t known before. Serious dedicated time. It’s going to be great for both of us.

Long Wool Fiber Study, part 4

Processing yarn is not hard. There is fleece to wash, locks to separate and comb or card, fiber to spin into yarn, garments to make. Processing fiber is not hard.

However, it does require time, a bit of space, special equipment and desire.

I spent last Saturday morning with my gals in the Saturday Spinners guild. We shared our current Long Wool Fiber Study results with lots of show and tell. Then we watched a new video by Robin Russo, Combing Fiber (released by Interweave Press June 1st). 

Our program for the day was on how-to use combs and hackles. The organizing member showed samples and had collected enough hand combs, production combs and various hackles for all of us to practice on. There was a plethora of equipment to use.

Specifically, we were using the tools to process Shetland wool that we got from Elemental Affects.

Shetland is a double coated fiber. The fleece has a long outer coat and a shorter downy inner coat. As I worked with the combs I was amazed at how easy it was to distinguish the two types of fiber.

I got to use English production combs made by John A. Meck. They are 5 pitch (5 rows of teeth). One comb was mounted on the counter and I handled the second comb. They were very big, heavy and crazy dangerous.

After the first few tangly passes of the handheld comb, my technique quickly improved. It was easy to see the fibers straightening and detangling. I felt like I was brushing long hair very carefully. I gently pulled off the outer coat to exposed the downy undercoat.

This is my first time using a diz. A diz is essentially a large curved button with various sized holes in the center. It is used to pull fiber off the combs. What you see in the picture is the undercoat on the comb ready to pull off.

You hold the diz concave side facing the combed fiber. Then you pull the fiber through the hole to make roving. The fiber came out smoothly and easily. Also, the fibers were distinctly parallel. Just like top (combed roving) I’ve purchased. It was very cool.

Here are the various piles of the Shetland wool I ended up with. I started out with 2 oz. of washed fleece. It took me two hours to process that amount. The weight measurements shown below are after combing out the whole 2 oz. 

From the top right going clockwise: 

• Washed fleece
• waste fiber - full of noils & vegetable matter (VM) - 3/4 oz. or 21g
• downy undercoat - top roving arranged in birdnests - 5/8 oz. or 18g
• outer coat - parallel fibers pile - 5/8 oz. or 18g

It was suggested that the long outer coat is good for lace. I will endeavor to spin a fine singles for a finished 2-ply yarn. I want to spin the undercoat semi-worsted but with a soft twist to maintain its loftiness.

Long Wool Fiber Study, part 3

The first two yarns below are the fiber I scoured from last week (see post 6/4/12). It is now yarn and my notes about spinning the fiber are as follows along with 2 other yarns.

BFL - Bluefaced Leicester - in the grease - 1/2 oz. - spun 5/28/12

• scoured fiber before spinning - too greasy - too dirty
• fun to look at individual locks
• pulled off knots at each tip
• flicked each lock open holding the middle and working each half separately
• flicking lengthened locks after washing tightened them
• locks flicked open very easily - like a fluffy cloud
• 1/4 oz of dirt washed out
• spun tips first - woolen - very tangly - switched to cut end first
• modified back draft
• from lock was much harder to get even lofty yarn - very lumpy
• could not get smooth yarn
• very soft finished yarn
• 2 ply - 11 yards - 10 wpi (wraps per inch) - size 4 medium yarn

I really like spinning the BFL. It is soft and lovely especially as a finished woolen yarn. I also like the multi-shades of gray color.

CVM - California Variegated Mutant - Romney mix - in the grease - 1/8 oz. - spun 5/30/12

• separated locks - intended to spin in the grease but too greasy
• flicking clean fiber very easy and fluffy
• feels bouncy and spongy like the roving I spun prior (see post 5/26/12)
• spun from cut end of lock
• used forward draw worsted (used my fingers to smooth down fiber while twisting)
• lovely to spin - soft, bouncy
• spinning from the lock, the fiber is much springier than the roving
• lots of short fibers even after flicking and scouring
• 2 ply - 9.5 yards - 11 wpi - size 4 medium yarn

This was fun to spin especially after handling the fiber in the grease. The fibers are shorter than the BFL. The yarn turned out more woolen feeling than worsted. That may be from it’s natural loft or my poor worsted technique.

Romney - washed locks - 1 oz. - spun 6/5/12

• separated washed fiber for carding
• some dirt, dust and vegetable matter (VM) remain
• carded by hand into rolags
• spinning woolen with mostly forward draft
• yarn very lumpy - still lots of short bits
• not much luster or softness
• with this preparation I had difficulty achieving even yarn
• woolen spinning was a challenge
• 2 ply - 23 yards - 9 wpi - size 5 bulky

I was not really satisfied with how this yarn turned out. It was really fuzzy and lumpy without being part of the design.

I had a second ounce of washed Romney and decided to spin it worsted to see what difference if any there was from the woolen yarn above.

Romney - washed locks - 1 oz. - spun 6/11/12

• separated locks and picked out vegetable matter
• tried two different preps
•  hand carded but rolled sideways to keep fibers more parallel
• flicked locks
• carded rolags had lots of short bits still trapped in fiber
• flicked locks had lots of waste
• spun worsted forward draw
• flicked locks were much smoother to spin
• finished prep with flicked locks
• yarn has more luster spun worsted - it glows
• drafting form cut end easier than tip end
• 2 ply - 30 yards - 12 wpi - size 4 medium 

I have come to the conclusion that to achieve smooth worsted yarn I have to start with either commercially processed roving or flicked locks. I liked how this yarn looked - spun smooth but softly to get a more woolen feel.

I’m looking forward to the last two fibers in the Saturday Spinners study - Wensleydale and Shetland.

Long Wool Fiber Study, part 2

I’ve never processed wool from a fleece. Freshly cut, or sheared, sheep wool is full of grass, oils, dirt, and other things we don’t want to talk about.

For the long wool fiber study I’m currently working on, I have some Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) in the grease shown below. I thought to spin it in the grease just so I’d know what that was like. I’d already spun samples of rinsed but not scoured fiber and it wasn’t too bad.

But in the grease means In The Grease! As I started to separate locks in preparation for flicking them open to spin as is, it smelled bad. Not awful, just a basic animal smell. But not something I wanted in my home. Or on my spinning wheel. I realized that I would have to scoured these locks prior to carding or flicking. They were so dirty.

The fleece had been properly skirted (meaning the super dirty and waste clumped areas removed) prior to me getting it. But it was still sticky with oil and dirt.

On the left, I have separated the BFL locks, aligned them cut ends together. The pile on the right are the sunburnt tips of each lock. Really kind of yucky, sticky fiber knots that broke off as I pulled on the tip. I had heard there might be broken bits that needed to be removed.

Then I packaged the fiber into tulle net. This method should keep the locks aligned properly and let the water flow easily in the bath.

Hot water and Dawn dish soap. This is the 2nd tub of water. Still grey. I forgot to take a picture of the first tub. It had turned brown and yucky immediately after submerging the tulle wrapped fiber.

The locks moved and shifted in the soft tulle. I need to use stiffer netting and more pins to help the locks stay in place.

The picture shows less than 1 oz. of fiber drying after 2 hours of work. The fibers are clean, soft and ready to card or flick for spinning. Top row is California Variegated Mutant (CVM) Romney mix. Bottom two rows are the BFL.

What I really liked about handling each individual lock was the ability to see the curls or crimp, to imagine how the lock grew on the animal, and see it’s springy-ness. Even the kind of vegetable matter I found in the raw fiber was interesting. I’ve always spun from clean roving. It was fun to start from the actual unwashed lock.

However, having spent 2 hours working with only 1 oz of fiber, I can’t imagine how long it would take to wash a whole multi-pound fleece.

Long Wool Fiber Study, part 1

The following yarns are the first group of finished samples from the long wool fiber study that I am doing with Saturday Spinners (blog post 5/19/12). I spun, plied and wet finished these samples. What follows are my notes as I wrote them on an index card while spinning.

CVM - California Variegated Mutant - pin-drafted roving from Mt. SAC - 1 yard of roving - spun 4/21/12

• very springy
• used semi-worsted forward draft
• short fibers look fuzzy on bobbin
• wanted to spin thin/fine
• 2 ply - 36 yards - 24 wpi (wraps per inch) - lace weight

I really liked spinning the CVM. The fiber was soft and super bouncy. It should lend itself to a really lofty woolen yarn. I think I will try that next time.

Cotswold - combed roving - 1 oz. - spun 4/26/12

• very slick - easy to draft
• kind of wiry
• when yarn was too thin, felt too slippery
• lots of little ends sticking out on singles
• spun worsted forward draw
• can’t hold fiber too far apart with hands - no control
• singles kept popping off flyer hooks - very wiry
• 3 ply - 44 yards - 11 wpi - size 4 medium yarn
• 2 ply - 4.5 yards - 16 wpi - size 3 light yarn
• did not think this would make a good lace yarn

Upon reflection, the wiriness might make knitted lace patterns very crisp and clean. Cotswold was not my favorite fiber to spin. Definitely would not wear it against my skin.

BFL - Bluefaced Leicester (pronounced lester) - rinsed locks - 1/2 oz. - spun 5/18/12

• separated locks - cut ends aligned
• used small dog brush to click open locks (held middle of lock and flicked each half separately)
• spun from cut end
• feels slightly sticky - run into knots (neps) in fiber
• difficult to draft evenly
• singles very fuzzy on bobbin
• spins very fine
• fair amount of debris and fiber waste on flicker
• used worsted shortish draw
• had to hold lock firmly in hand
• luster easy to see
• would prefer scoured fiber
• 2 ply - 50 yards - 20 wpi - lace weight

I collected the fiber from the flicker and made 2 little rolags to spin. I did like the feel of the lanolin on my fingers from the rinsed fiber but I think in the long run it would be easier to control the finished product if the locks were scoured. Ultimately, it would be less messy while spinning. It was fun to see how the locks separated and the fiber brushed out. This was the first time I had spun from the lock.

BFL - Bluefaced Leicester  - processed roving from Shaggy Bear Farms - 2 yards of thin roving - spun 5/21/12

• spun worsted forward draw
• tried to spin medium weight singles
• very soft and easy to control
• 2 ply - 8 yards - 12 wpi - size 4 medium yarn

Really liked spinning clean roving. I also liked making thicker singles. I would try to spin more woolen next time though. Something lofty and soft.

Saturday Spinners

I belong to a small guild called Saturday Spinners. We meet on the third Saturday of the month, 9 months of the year. We had a wonderful meeting today.

Lots of fiber related conversation. Some of us weave, knit, crochet and felt. We are all spinners.  

Some of us like to make yarn from scratch starting with a fleece. Some of us like to dye our own fiber and blend. Some of us like to spin already processed and ready to spin fiber. 

We are all different levels of spinners from beginner to advanced. Some of us like to spin fluffy woolen only. Some of us like to spin fine lace weight yarn. Some, like me, spin whatever strikes their fancy.

We are a mixed bag of fiber enthusiasts but we all LOVE fiber and spinning. There is nothing else like hanging out with a group of spinners who share a common interest. We all speak the same language. We share and teach each other the things we know and learn about fiber.

Today, in under two hours, we did the following:

• shared lots of show and tell of current WIPs (Works In Progress) and finished fiber items
• discussed progress on our ongoing year-long challenge to finish one, two, three or more long lost UFOs (UnFinished Objects)
• had a round robin style discussion of the first group of finished samples of a long wool fiber study we are doing this year
• received our next batch of long wools for more sampling and note taking

It is a FABULOUS group and I’m thankful for having these folks in my life.

“Quarterly” Review

It’s time to do a sort-of quarterly review of my UFO status (UnFinished Objects).

Below is the list of projects I wrote about in January plus a few more. I thought categorizing them would make me feel more productive. It does and it doesn’t. 

I’ve actually completed more projects than I’ve started. Which is a goal of mine this year. So I guess I’m doing OK so far. I think.

Still a UFO or became a UFO:

• spinning an indigo dyed merino/bamboo blend yarn
• spinning golden beige silk on a drop spindle
• knitting a Central Park Hoodie cardigan - needs blocking
• frogging a quarter done scarf of alpaca blend yarn

Fiber Exchange UFOs that have become WIPs (Works In Progress):

• spin cotton on a charkha and weave the finished yarn into cloth 
• weave a triangle shawl - needs finishing and embellishment
• felted some lovely green merino fiber - more to be felted

New WIPs:

• knitting the Retro Tee in Classic Elite Lotus Blossom Cotton yarn
• long wool spinning study for Saturday Spinners Guild

UFOs and new items that got Finished:

• hand-quilted a child's quilt for a friend 
• sewed a yoga mat bag
• test knitted the Glenrowen Hat for Azalea Rosebud Fiberworks
• felted a scarf from fuschia merino/tencel blend roving

With this list in hand, I ask myself the following questions:

• Do I have too many projects going at the same time? 
• Are there too many different types of projects?
• Is it possible to work on only one project at a time? 
• Is that a silly question to ask of a creative person?
• Am I a creative person or chaotic person?

Ummm, I guess these questions make me an ongoing WIP.

Felt-lates!

I invented a new exercise this week: Felt-lates! 

This type of exercise has two benefits. First, you build overall body strength. Second, you get a piece of finished felt.

You need the following equipment:

• wool fiber
• small bubble wrap
• spray bottle with soapy water
• foam tube
• towels
• table

You lay the fiber out on the bubble wrap, spray it with water and soap, make a jelly roll with the foam tube and bubble wrap, then roll it all up in the towel. Next, you roll the bundle back and forth on the table. 

First you use your hands and wrists to apply pressure. They will soon tire. 

Switch to using your forearms to press and roll. Bending over increases pressure to the roll, which in turn increases your heart rate. Your forearms might get sore after awhile, but this action utilizes the muscles in your arms, chest, back, and legs. You build strength and endurance. Also, the fibers felt faster.

Here I am demonstrating the correct position for maximum benefit.

To add a level of difficulty, you can use fiber that does not felt easily. 

Some might consider this a mistake. 

I consider it a Felt-lates challenge.