Spinolution

Mt Devon Farm and Fiber is happy to announce it is now a Spinolution wheel dealer.

We may by contacted here or at:

fransher6@hotmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/MtDevon/

We look forward to sharing more information about wheels, spindles, and helping others along their way on to a wonderful fibery adventure.

A Little Activity

I'm finally feeling better.  I'm sure it was the flu as the morning I came down with it was the same morning I finishd up a round of antibiotics from a sinus infection and I also had all the tell tale signs;  was terribly achy,  fever, and a very unhappy stomach.  So glad that is over and that I felt up to doing a little more today though.

I actually think I did a bit too much, even though I only did a little bit.  That is I did a litttle cooking, a little bit of outside chores,a little bit of laundry, a little wool combing, a little wool dyeing, a little carding, and a little spinning.  

Here is the result of the dye bath.   I had a hard time starting to spin this.  It just looked so neat the way it was.  I do believe dyeing batts is about my favorite part of the entire process, next to baby lambs being born of course, but we have a month or two still to wait on that.

     

Mindless Knitting

I really ended up quite sick yesterday with a temp of almost 101 and feeling dreadfully achy all over.  Today I have been tired and lazy, a bit more lazy than tired honestly.  If I do much of anything I feel whipped out quickly.  So it's been a day for what I call mindless knitting and Netflix.  Lately I have been watching the Murdoch Mysteries.  They are clean, though the kids call them hokey.

Here's my bit of knitting.  It's the last of this yarn that I have.  It has been fun all the way around.  It was fun to spin, has sold very well, and has knit up great.  This one will be going to the shop soon, unless someone nabs it before the roads get clear and I can get to town to drop it off.

      

                          Hope everyone keeps warm and safe in this dreadful weather.

Lizza Sweater Update

A few weeks ago I posted a picture of some spinning I had done from fiber that my dear Lizza had provided.  She is a lovely BFL/Finn cross and the sweetest thing.  Here's a little update. 

 I got new knitting needles from our son for Christmas and decided to get started on my sweater. (I actually started a few days before Christmas.) I don't know if I will have enough yardage for a long sleeved sweater or just a vest, so I'm gonna finish the front facing and collar and then decide.

     

Like all my knitting, I never really follow a pattern.  This pattern that I'm not following is from the book  A Fine Fleece.  I really do enjoy this book, each pattern is worked up in both homespun and store bought yarn.  I spend way too much time looking at my book collection.  Have I ever mentioned that I just love "how to" books?  It's surely my one true weakness.

Out With A Spin

I've been a little under the weather over Christmas with a sinus infection.  After a trip to the doctor and a few days on antibiotics I feel a lot better.

It was nice to stay home tonight with the hubby and watch old movies and spin instead of going out for New Years.  Here's the last of my spinning for 2013.  Its  two plies Yak/merino and one of silk.  Its the first time I've spun yak and its oh so soft and lovely.

      

I added up my total for this year's spinning; 27.5 pounds.  Next year I want to keep better records and include yardage and samples.  It was a good year and I'm hoping to be able to spin even more next year.

                                   Happy New Years and may you be blessed on 2014.

I think I'm Crazy

Yesterday I knit another hat and carded, dyed, and spun 8.5 ounces of this lovely art yarn.  The good news is that it sold before it was even dry which made the aching in my shoulders a bit more tolerable. 

      

Making a List and Checking it Twice

I'm getting ready to attend Fiber Fling this weekend.  It will be the first time for me to attend an event like this, the first time for me to take fiber related classes, and the first time to make a trip like this without the hubby or at least some of our children.  This "almost empty nest" is awesome.  I'm looking forward to the festival and to spending time with my dear friend Steph.  So, I'm making a list and checking it twice.  I feel like I'm moving instead of just going for an overnighter. 

I will say that a good part of that is bedding.  We can stay in a cabin, providing our own bedding for only ten dollars.  I'm also taking fiber with me to help me resist purchasing more fiber at the festival.  We will see if it works.  

Here is an update on my Liza sweater.  There is about a thousand yards and twenty-three ounces finished.  I have about six more ounces that I hope to spin and ply this evening before bed.  My goal was to have it finished before I left.  I think I'm cutting it close.

Every Morning

I like to think that they come running because they love me.  Besides, it always sounds like they are all saying, "Mommmmmmmmm."  In their sheepy little voices.

But really they are just beggars.

Aren't they cute beggars though?

Especially Lucy.

And Tina.

This doesn't really qualify as a sweater update, unless of course you realize how much works it takes to just get to this point.  Last night it got down to 25 degrees, so about 9:30 I decided I wanted a cup of hot chocolate.  Well, to say the least, I was awake well after midnight spinning.  Thats a great way to spend a cold evening. 

The Beginning Of a Sweater

Now to start spinning.  I haven't spun anything for myself in quite a while.  I think a sweater or vest is called for, especially since the weather is turning cooler.  I promise photo updates soon.

Spin It Up

I enjoy spinning.  I enjoy spinning a lot.  Sometimes I watch TV while I spin, lately its been Call the Midwife on Netflix.  Sometimes I listen to a book or the Bible.  I'm working on 2 Samuel now.  Frequently I find it gives me time to set and think and pray.  Now matter what I'm doing I enjoy my time spinning.

This weekend I decided to take a handful of various fleeces that I have and just make up some batts with no preconceived idea as to how they "should" turn out.

Less than 24 hours later this is what I had, 8 oz and about 250 yards of lovely soft squishiness.  Though the colors are all natural they reminded me of our local school colors of black and gold.

I posted it for sale and it didn't last long, which is good I suppose.  If it had sat on the shelf for long I think it would have ended up on my own knitting needles before the week was out.

I just luv the process.

                                                  

   I really enjoy each step of the way from sheep to yarn to something nice and warm to wear from it.

                            Now I need to go give Hazel a hair cut so we can do it again.