From Blending Board to Fiber Frolic

During introductions at a recent GLASG meeting, I blurted out that my special skill is spending my paycheck on fibers and tools.  I was not surprised to see how many other members agreed that this is high on their skill inventories.  I think most of us fiber fanatics love the tactile and visual sensations we get from our stashes and our equipment.  Fortunately, I haven't been bitten by the spindle spinning bug, but I know many spinners who have more spindles than they will ever use, just because they are drawn by the beauty of the wood or the craftsmanship of the artist.  For Lent this year, I am giving up bacon and guilt over my shopping habits.  I think doing both will make me a better and healthier person.

My friend Gail from Weaver's Cupboard and I went to the February meeting of the Greater Los Angeles Spinners Guild (GLASG), where Gwen Powell gave a seminar on using the blending board and woolen spinning.    Gwen has a Certificate of Excellence in Handspinning from the HGA and teaches spinning, weaving, crochet, and dyeing.  She was instrumental in bringing back the garneting board from obscurity under the friendlier name "blending board."   She worked with Clemes & Clemes on the design and the result is a board created with the fiber know-how of a master spinner and the craftsmanship of a major fiber tool maker.  After seeing some of their boards in action I find them tempting but for the time being, I'm sticking with my less beautiful but fully functional handmade board.

Gwen demonstrated how to create a batt and then pull off several nearly identical striped rolags.  She also showed how to add inclusions (little bits of stuff to add interest) to the batt. Finally, she showed how easily the rolags could be spun into woolen using a long draw technique.

Easy for her, that is.  She has become so expert at using her blending board that she had it loaded with fiber and created rolags in just a minute or two.

It took me about 20 minutes to get these rolags off my blending board.  I clearly have some issues with consistency.  We used some 1/4" dowels to wrap the rolags around - perhaps a large dowel would help.

I also put some inclusions in the purple/blue set, which mostly fell out later.  But it was a lot of fun and I'm going to enjoy using this tool now that I have some clues about what can be done with it.

Yesterday, I had a few minutes to spin the rolags.  I really tried to stick with the long-draw woolen technique Gwen showed, but I struggled.  I think part (but not all) of the problem was the consistency of my rolags.  Some parts drafted easily.  Other parts required tugging to get any fibers out.  And I kept catching myself reverting to my worsted style.  Since my singles were so inconsistent, I decided to Navajo ply without regard to color to get a very chaotic yarn.  I love how the colors turned out.  Wonder what I can do with 18 yards of chaos?

Gwen will be giving a full workshop for my Saturday Spinners group in a couple of months and I'm really looking forward to learning more from her.


One of my local guild's members sent out an email through the grapevine a couple of weeks ago about selling her Pat Green Triple Picker.  Lucky for me, I check my email obsessively and was the first to respond to her message.  As much as I like my Kaydessa box picker, I can prepare only a few ounces of fiber in an hour.  While the Pat Green can go through several POUNDS of fiber in an hour.   You can get an idea of its size from this photo -- the picker is sitting on a porch swing that seats two adults.  I'm still keeping the Kaydessa -- it can go to workshops with me, but the Pat Green will be my go-to tool.

This picker needs a little attention -- it's a bit rusty and the wood needs some care, but for the price, I couldn't have been happier.  A little elbow grease and it will be ready to go.   And just in time.  At the GLASG meeting, I won a bag full of unwashed alpaca.  Looked pretty horrible, but after washing, it's a beautiful light fawn color.  It was already a bit matted and washing matted it a little more, so it's going to need a ride through the picker before it can be carded.

Incidentally, I learned this last week:

                    (HOT CAR) + (UNWASHED ALPACA) X (2 DAYS) = (INSTANT NAUSEA)

Life is full of unexpected lessons.

Ever have one of those days where you couldn't do anything right?  Friday I took another machine knitting class at Newton's Yarn Country.  This session was on punch lace (aka thread lace) and using the lace carriage.

For the life of me, I couldn't even remember how to cast on.  Had to sneak a peak at my instruction book because I wasn't going to admit it.  And still had to ask for help.  And at one critical point, I ran the carriage over the bed without adding a necessary thread and got to learn how to manually pick up and re-knit dropped stitches.

Unfortunately, I didn't think to have Newton's check out my lace carriage in advance.  It was skipping stitches and knitting some in unintended places, so I left it to get some TLC.    The punch lace, though, was pretty easy to do and I also learned a new binding off technique.  Here I'm in the process of binding off a swatch.

I'm not sure what I would use it for, but this technique makes an interesting textured fabric with the heavy yarn overlaid by a lightweight thread.

This is the purl side of the fabric.  You can see where the dark thread is is not caught consistently.  Once we added more weight to the fabric, the stitches became more consistent.Still pretty ugly, though.

I read somewhere that there really isn't a right or wrong side in punch lace - you choose based on what's pleasing to your eye - but I don't think there's any question here that this is the wrong side.










And this is the knit side.  Still don't like the overall pattern, but I like the look of the lacy thread over the heavier yarn.  We used a dark thread over a medium toned yarn to get some contrast between the two.  I think this would look interesting (in the right pattern) with a metallic thread or perhaps a different tone of the same color.

 Close-up, you can see how the yarn and thread are knitted together.





























I also learned to do a hem with a picot edge.  I think it makes a really pretty border.

Saturday was the Griffin Dyeworks  Fiber Frolic.  This is an annual (I think) event held in Monrovia, where they offer a number of classes, have a small vendor hall, and a spinning circle.   The Griffin people were super friendly and made it a fun day.

My morning class was on fiber blending with Micki Lawrence from Funhouse Fibers. Micki sells her handspun yarn and dyed roving on her site.   I already knew Micki a little from GLASG, and expected her to lead a lively and fun class.  She did not disappoint.  Even though she was a last minute replacement for the original teacher, she was well-prepared and  I would take another class with her anytime.  

Using just the three primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) and a pair of hand carders, we worked on creating a color wheel by blending different proportions of the colors. Then created tints by adding white to each color, and shades by adding black.    Aha moment for me.  I have to admit I'm intimidated by color theory.  I know what pleases me and I know what I definitely don't like.  I tend to stick to a few "safe" color choices.  But I finally got it that by blending a color that I don't particularly like with a different color, I can create the illusion of an altogether different color.   And I really like the texture created by combining two colors. 

Micki also demonstrated using a DIY hackle to blend color.  Although we ran out of time and didn't get to play with them, she had brought along enough of her handmade hackles for each of us to use, and we were able to buy them.  These are made by attaching some plastic hairpicks to a board.  Simple.  But having drilled through plastic in the past, visions of massive hand injuries made me take no time to decide to buy one.  I'm pretty sure nearly everyone in the class bought one as well. 

Speaking of buying things, there were shopping opportunities here.  Ruth from the Dizzy Ewe was there with piles of her gorgeous fibers. I purchased some lovely cream-colored Polwarth top from her for my afternoon class.

One of the vendors was selling gently used books and I found a copy of Yarns to Dye For.   It explains how to achieve different patterning effects such as stripes and faux fairisle in hand-dyed yarns.   Having done a fair amount of dyeing using different techniques, I think book is excellent for the crafter who doesn't want to become an expert dyer or invest in expensive equipment, but who still wants to control where color goes in the yarn.  Instructions are very clear and uncomplicated. Think my next solo dyeing project will be "watermelon" stripes. 

At the Griffin Dyeworks tables, I bought a small bag of cochineal and made myself walk away. ( It's now triple-bagged and in my studio.)  Fifteen minutes later, when a friend showed me a handheld tapestry loom she had bought, I was forced to go back for another look.  And made a trip to my car with:

Not one, but two tapestry looms made by Jim Hokett of Hokett Would Works. Yes, Would.  The first time I saw the name, I thought it was a typo but it  turns out to be a pretty clever play on words.  The larger loom is 12:"x16" and is made of purple heart and padauk.  The smaller one is 7"x8" and is made of pecana (sic) negra and coyote wood.  I wish I could take better photos because this one does not do justice to the lovely wood.  Jim Hokett doesn't have his own website but his tools are sold by several fiber companies, including  Griffin Dyeworks.




These looms are warped by running a thread across the length, through the first notch, and back through the second one.  I'm told that the finished product can be removed from the loom by just pushing the warp threads up the notches.   Can't picture how that would work if there's enough tension on the warp but guess I'll just have to see.

Here you can see the loom partially warped.  Below are sections of the front showing threads alternately going into or coming out of each slot, and the back, showing how the threads are wrapped around every other peg.

Then I found this tiny tool called a barb beater.  It's just 1"x2.5" - a perfect size for working with small areas on one of these handheld looms.  Also made by Jim Hokett.

Finally, I fell for this beautiful nostepinne made of mahogany and poplar.  This is used for winding yarn into a ball.  Who could resist this lovely tool?  I don't know who made this one.

 My afternoon class was on dust dyeing, taught by Elena Dent.  I love, love, love any form of dyeing.  And Elena  made it very simple.  She had a dozen or so different salt shakers filled with Cushings dyes cut with cornstarch and a pair of commercial steam table pans filled with hot (not boiling) water simmering on the stove.  We added some vinegar to the water, put in a piece or two of fiber, and started sprinkling them with the dye powders.

Elena was knowledgeable and informative, and did a good job taking the mystery out of the process for the class.  Only thing I would change is to have a monitor to make sure people took turns nicely.  The pans were large enough for two people at a time to share one.  Most of my classmates were considerate, but we had one person who shoved her way in front, and filled one pan with her fibers.  Then took that batch out and started another before anyone else had a turn.  At one point she had one entire pan filled along with half of the other while the rest of us waited our turns.  And of course we were all too polite to say anything to her.  Maybe drawing numbers would have helped.  But I don't think anyone let this ruin the class for them, and I would definitely take another class from Elena.

Some people mixed the colors in the pan and ended up with fairly monochromatic results. One of the women had some silk scarves that she slowly dipped in the pan repeatedly, and ended up with some lovely ombre effects.   I wanted multi-hued fibers, so I sprinkled several different colors on my roving.   I tried not to agitate the water, so the colors would pretty much stay where sprinkled.  This is the first time I've done dyeing where the result was pretty close to what I was trying for.

Despite the care we took, somewhere in the process I managed to felt the fibers a little.  But I'm going to spin this if I have to card it again!  I'm so curious to see what the colors do when spun.


All in all, it was a great day and I look forward to going again.

Memorial Day Weekend

What a great weekend to honor those who have served their country.  Time to remember the major reason that I am free to do all the wonderful things I get to do.   Patriotic observances aside, there was still plenty of time for other things, so I now step down from my soapbox and record my recent fiber frenzies.

Saturday morning was my first meeting with the Greater Los Angeles Spinning Guild.  What fun!  They couldn't have been more welcoming and I'm looking forward to participating in as many of their activities as I can.  I took Thor, and was surprised to run into Judy, Thor's previous owner, at the meeting.  He turned out to be a great icebreaker for me as I turned into my usual pathetic shy self when I walked through the door.

I went to the meeting intending to buy a Dorset fleece.  One.  Somehow I left with two.  Or possibly three.  Our guild has some link to Action K9 Sports in San Diego County. This is a school that features herding and agility training for dogs.  (Yes, there are still plenty of sheep in this country and dogs are still the most effective herders.) They ordinarily have a day each spring when they invite people to watch them do their thing and a professional sheep-shearer takes care of the flock -- after which attendees can buy the raw fleeces.  This year they were unable to get the sheep-shearer for the right day, so they sent a number of fleeces to our guild meeting.  Well, little miss back-to-nature here decided that one fleece would probably not be enough, and bought two of them.

 I was warned that since it was a warmish day, I would be smelling sheep all the way home.  Happy to say that didn't happen.  In fact, my drive was extremely pleasant both directions despite some traffic delays.  I've recently discovered the the Spin Doctor podcast and have been listening to them in order (another exercise in self-discipline).  I had several episodes on my iPad and plugged it into my car radio -so had the pleasure of listening to a few episodes along the way.   Sasha  is possibly even more OCD about fiber arts than I am so I feel like I'm listening to a kindred spirit (as well as an enabler).
 
Got home, and after pulling out the first fleece, it looks like there are either two more smallish fleeces or one humongous one.  They were only $20 each, so I'll settle with the guild at the next meeting if it turns out to be two of them.

Here's the first fleece waiting to be sorted (second and possibly third fleece waiting on the ground.  After sorting the first one, I put the other back in the bag for another day).  It actually wasn't as bad as I had expected.  There wasn't an awful lot of filth (polite speak for "manure") but enough to make me glad I had a pair of heavy duty rubber gloves.  You usually discard parts with large amounts of  vegetable matter or any filth.

 This is what I consigned to the allegorical compost heap.

 
Then you generally grade the fleece by staple length, coarseness of fiber, and cleanliness.  The shoulders and flanks generally have the highest quality fibers.  But to my untrained eyes, especially since I was not careful to unfold the fleece as one piece, I could not tell you what was from the shoulder and what came from the britch.  It all looked pretty much the same to me. So it all went into two tubs of cold water without being sorted.

I'm guessing there are about three pounds of fleece in each tub.  I GENTLY pushed the fleece down into the water.  They say that Dorset is very forgiving and not as easily felted as other breeds, but I'm not taking any chances.

Next morning, I carefully lifted the fleece out of the water and set it on a screen to drain.  I knew the raw fleece had been pretty dirty, but was still surprised by the appearance of the water.  I also ran into some filth that I had not seen when sorting the day before.  Guess I was a little too eager to get it into the water.  More junk went into the trash barrel as a result.

This is one of the tubs post-fleece.

And the fleece just removed from water.

As I write this, the fleece is back soaking in tubs - awaiting the delivery of some Unicorn Power Scour.  I've been hearing about this product for scouring wool for some time - most recently on the Spin Doctor podcast, and think I'll give it a try.

Saving the other fleece(s) for a group session I'm going to try to organize.

Sunday was a real treat.  One of my fellow Inland Empire Handweavers Guild members was looking for people to help her demonstrate weaving and spinning at the annual Home School Fair at OCHS.  I had no clue what it was about, but went along with my buddy Gail and took Bunny Watson (the Hansen mini-spinner) to keep me busy.  As it turned out, the organizers put us together with another group of (mostly) spinners.  Here is one of the things I love most about fiber arts.  In most activities, when you put two separate groups together, you get instant rivalry.  But for some reason, fiber artists tend to bond and share. Maybe it's cross-enrollment in many groups.  Or perhaps it's because the fiber community has a number of traveling teachers so we aren't limited to thinking that WE have the only way.  But whatever the reason, we joined ranks and  had a delightful day. 

The other group was called "No Idle Hands."  All but one were in costume -- one in a civil war-era dress and bonnet, one in a Victorian smock, and the rest in Ren-Faire apparel.  I gather their emphasis is on Victorian era crafts, but they also participate in SCA and historic reenactment activities.  Most were spinning, but one was grinding wheat in a manually cranked grinder and making dough on site.  One of them gave each of us a a beautiful beaded orifice hook she had made.  Just in time since I've been using a big paper clip on Thor.  We sat in the shade and chatted most of the day while we worked on our projects.  And talked with loads of parents and children who were attending the fair.  May have won a few converts over to the fiber arts this weekend.

Gail took one of her triangle looms and the moms at the Fair were sure interested.  She weaves an awful lot faster than I do - got all this done in just a short time.

We had two other charming neighbors at the Fair...

These babies are only three weeks old and I may have spent more time watching them than I did actually spinning.

One more fiber-related activity in the works - for a later post.  But I will hint now that I've been regretting having sold my Mountain Looms tabletop loom years ago.

P.S.  - while writing this, I had a friend drop in to visit and he saw the photo of the two fleeces on my screen.  He was concerned that I had participated in the killing of sheep for their fleeces.  So I feel it important to tell any family or friends who happen to read this that no sheep were harmed in the acquisition of these fleeces.  Most domestic sheep don't shed so they need to be sheared yearly to protect them from problems and potential death resulting from overgrown fleece.  For those who want to know more, have a look at this.

Judith MacKenzie McCuin - Another Rock Star!

Writing about Judith MacKenzie McCuin yesterday started me thinking about the workshop I took last September.  It was hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Spinning Guild, which reminds me of one of the reasons why I love my fiber arts community so much.  I knew only one member of the group that took this class, yet I was given such a warm welcome and everyone was so friendly, I felt like I was among old friends.  I think there are no strangers in this craft  - just friends you haven't met yet.

The workshop I attended was one of three offered -- one titled "Spinning for Color" and two sessions on "Popular Wheel Mechanics."  In hindsight, I think I would have tried to sign up for all three if I had had any idea how interesting and inspiring Judith would turn out to be.   She shared a lot of personal anecdotes as she guided us through the mechanics of different types of spinning wheels, shared techniques for getting different results with a single type of fiber just by making a couple of changes to the wheel, and shared quite a few samples of different fibers -- which was what I needed to finally begin to understand how the characteristics of the fiber affect the spinning.   The class was conducted in a circle and it was fascinating to look around and see all but one or two people (there are always at least a couple of THOSE people) hanging on her every word.

I was so caught up in the class that I forgot to take pictures except for this one:

 

Pretty pathetic, because I really would like to show the whole circle.  But that's Judith using a Hansen MiniSpinner, third from the left.

 During the course of the class, Judith made it a point to talk with each person one-on-one at least a couple of times, look at their wheels (she even helped several people replace their drive bands and did some minor repairs) and their work, make suggestions, give gentle praise and even gentler criticism.  This is my idea of a true teacher -- one who shares knowledge, points out where, and more importantly, HOW you can improve, and makes students believe they can master the task.  I'm sure it helps to have students with the desire to learn, but she was working with students at all levels from rank beginner (me) to near-experts and somehow everyone seemed to come out of the class with new skills.  I will definitely take this class again (and anything else she teaches) if the opportunity presents itself.

The moral of this story:  if you have the chance to study with a rock star, take it!  One of the best things about spinning and weaving is the centuries of tradition that have led us to the point where we have access to wonderful tools and all kinds of wonderful fibers.  The best teachers not only share their skills with us, they share the stories and traditions they have learned along the way.  They not only inform, they inspire.  Which may be the reason that I now have pounds of wools and silks in my stash just waiting to tell me what they want to be when they grow up.




 What I actually learned in this workshop:  spinners usually develop a treadling speed that doesn't change regardless of what they're trying to spin -- so to change the thickness of your product, you must vary your tension and whorls.  I made this sample using just three whorls on my Joy and some Corriedale roving.  For each size, I increased the tension until it became impossible to spin, then moved to the next whorl. at the lowest tension that would draw in. 

We also tried several different techniques: woolen, worsted, semi-worsted, over-the-fold, techniques for joining fibers, plying, some novelty yarns with slubs and boucle.  And different types of fibers - blends of wools with cashmere, silk, and bamboo, as well as several types of sheepswool. 

By the time we reached this point my brain could take in no more and I didn't finish sampling all the fibers and techniques Judith presented.  All the more reason that I would take this class again in a heartbeat!

Oh, yes -- and reminiscing about this workshop and the wonderful people I met, I was reminded that I had been intending to join the guild because they have such great programs.  Sent in my application form today.