tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89340097640546121572024-03-15T02:51:40.330+11:00Farm2FingersA spinners journey to shepherding.Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-89881320570468500752019-06-10T22:16:00.000+10:002019-06-10T22:16:32.874+10:00Slow Living, Good Living<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been far too long since I have posted. I post the occasional photo and quick comment to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (@farm2fingers) but far too long since I blogged. I started off well, seeking to post semi regularly to help new spinners with information that I had learnt as a new spinner a few years prior. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't think for one minute I have given up the fibery thing. I still have my sheep, many, many bags of fleece in various states of process and I try to spin a little nearly every day. But... life got in the way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a busy person. Full time employee in a job that has me potentially on call 24x7 but thankfully only 8-9 hours a day in the office. However, that office is a two hour commute each way. I get home at night wanting to spend a bit of time with family but also needing to do the normal home jobs that go with a family and cram in various other volunteer pursuits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think this weekend I finally gained some clarity on why I have been craving time at home and more of a focus on hobby farming pursuits. I have to date thought busy to be good, not realising that I wasn't taking the time to enjoy what I was doing. Everything became a task to tick off the "To Do" list. Over the years I would take on various tasks. Be it an extra project at work, resulting in me having to spend a little more time in the office or some volunteer community endevour (or three) that would keep me running from one task to another.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because busy is productive and satisfying right? Wrong!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This weekend was a long weekend. Great to spend it at home. Time spent in the garden (which I have been cleaning up and putting in maintainable order for the last couple of years), planting new rhubarb plants, cleaning up around the house and shed, lunch down the paddock with hubby (he was mowing and we just stopped in the middle of the paddock and ate lunch on the ride on mower), and of course some time with my sheep doing some sheepie maintenance like trimming toenails, crutching and wigging. I realised why farm life can be slow, or at least appear slow compared to the 'I want it now' culture we seem to have developed into. What is wonderful is realising that this slow pace is achievement driven and deeply satisfying.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tasks follow a natural pace and order.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can't rush a sheep. Things must be done calmly and gently. There is no quick way to catch and tip a sheep. Our Chihuahua tries to rush them and they just run everywhere. She thinks she is helping, but no. A proper sheep dog knows when to run and when to stop, wait and move again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried picking my potatoes too early and guess what? Only a few teeny potatoes. I left them a couple more months and voila, lots of good sized potatoes.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You need to plan ahead.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The paddock and yards are a distance from the house. You must take the time to think and plan what you need, pop it all in a bucket and take it down the yards. If you forget something, you trudge back up to the house then back down to the yards. In addition to my clippers and iodine spray today I even remembered to take a rope for the little gate, a hook to hang the bucket on the fence, a coffee and a water bottle for myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You turn the compost over, you add to it. You improve the soil and prepare the garden for the next crop or planting. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things just take time.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the biggest causes of taking time is gates. Yes gates. Opening and closing gates so the sheep don't get out takes time. I find gates a humbling thing. Each time you open and close one as you pass through you realise there are no shortcuts. It unlatches and latches the same way each time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this weekend, some may say I had an epiphany. I think I have known for some time that to really enjoy the things I love I need to spend time on them or with them. So somehow that means removing myself from the things outside my home that keep me busy. That will be no easy task as I still need to pay the bills and some obligations need to be handed over to others over an extended period. But with realisation comes the ability to commit to a longer term plan. So my quest is to change my mindset from busy busy busy to slow living, good living. This will be a journey and will take time. Hopefully I will return to this blog a little more often to provide and update on the journey.</span>Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-31292514823251504052016-09-24T13:05:00.000+10:002016-09-29T10:37:50.369+10:00Is there a best way to wash raw wool?I was inspired to write this after reading a comparison of detergent v Power Scour on Nearly There. A blog about fibre things.<br />
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https://nearlythere.com/2015/01/24/power-scour-v-dish-washing-detergent-for-washing-fleece/<br />
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It was the first result in my search about detergent for washing raw wool.<br />
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An interesting thought came to me that there is much advice out there and many experts but sometimes you just have to try stuff yourself. I'm one of those.<br />
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I had some great success using the natural way with the fermented suint method. However, I don't live in suburbia. Although the family did limit me changing batches and rinsing stinky wool to times when the wind was blowing away from the house or they were out for the day. I'm pretty sure the vat gets more smelly with age.<br />
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In terms of cleaning power it does work. Leaving the fleece out in the rain for a day or two before rinsing I felt resulted in less rinsing. You do still need to do a couple of hot rinses for best results. And did I mention the smell!!!<br />
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Some people wash locks. Some whole fleeces. Your washing method does need to change, to a degree, with how much fleece you are washing and how much time you have.<br />
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Personally I find Power Scour expensive when I wash a fleece at a time. But it is great for small sample batches (eg. A sink full).<br />
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Volume washing works best for me with a good detergent. I use the mid range detergent from Aldi, but anything that is good on greasy dishes works for me.<br />
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Depending on the greasiness of the fleece it's seems impossible to get away from one - two washes and two rinses.<br />
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So the best way to wash wool is what works for you given your circumstances, facilities and quantity to be washed. <br />
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If you are still new to washing fleece, read lots and experiment. You will soon find a method that works for you. <br />
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By the way my current preferred method is soaking in an old washing machine. Drain and spin. Remove the fleece to refill the machine and do it again. Of course hot water is a necessity.<br />
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Happy washing.<br />
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Postscript......<br />
If you are looking for more reading on washing methods, the following are useful links.<br />
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Since posting the above I came across a great little flyer outlining a variety of washing methods (including the smelly one) on the YarnMaker magazine web site.<br />
<a href="http://www.yarnmaker.co.uk/fleece/FleeceWashweb.pdf">http://www.yarnmaker.co.uk/fleece/FleeceWashweb.pdf</a><br />
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One of my original learning sites, <a href="http://joyofhandspinning.com/how-to-wash-your-fleece/">http://joyofhandspinning.com/how-to-wash-your-fleece/</a><br />
Washing machine method with pictures, <a href="http://gfwsheep.com/washingwool/woolwashing.html">http://gfwsheep.com/washingwool/woolwashing.html</a><br />
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And of course you can search YouTube for a plethora of videos on washing raw wool from locks to whole fleeces.<br />
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Happy washing until next time. :-)<br />
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Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-90475456549803861522016-09-20T20:04:00.000+10:002016-09-24T13:06:52.212+10:00Ten ways to improve your fiber photography http://www.enneacollective.com/ten-way-to-improve-your-fiber-art-photography-now/<br />
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Written by Kristi Schueler, this is a great article providing guidance on how to photograph your fibre creations. Many tips on lighting (natural lighting preferred) and composition that will help you take professional looking shots.<br />
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I particularly like the idea of using your fibre in different stages of processing to tell a story.<br />
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Looks like I better charge the camera and start practising. :-)<br />
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Happy spinningFarm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-70906880266542724592016-07-25T17:09:00.000+10:002016-07-25T17:09:19.029+10:00Tour de Fleece has ended for another year
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well I am totally disappointed with my achievement (or
rather lack of) in this years TdF.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NUl89DuDXON1JUxQ6GQ9nmx2_Kh5YVxC9NDzl7_OkA-aVSXYU3ojs2wNqm7ZXFMqQD9dXmDCD0cOoHyWT963KKRwuXCSoPrsBbTSK5NCeSPCClJUYdiRNcGhxoBuxEqlCTCv9xs1kJg/s1600/DSC_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NUl89DuDXON1JUxQ6GQ9nmx2_Kh5YVxC9NDzl7_OkA-aVSXYU3ojs2wNqm7ZXFMqQD9dXmDCD0cOoHyWT963KKRwuXCSoPrsBbTSK5NCeSPCClJUYdiRNcGhxoBuxEqlCTCv9xs1kJg/s320/DSC_0611.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On race days my aim was to spin as much as possible of a BL
cross fleece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even such a vague goal
was set to disappoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had a very
busy few weeks with work, website updates for my local church including photo
shoots of the local area, trying to complete an online course (final assessment
due this weekend :-o) and organising a teenage birthday party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I could manage was two small bobbins even
though I spun a little just about every day and prepared fibre on rest days!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My challenge days weren’t too bad with about half of the
cotton branch prepped and spun.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>What do I think of spinning cotton?<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ugh!! </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cotton is so NOT my favourite fibre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know some spinners love spinning cotton but
unfortunately I just do not understand them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Despite the number of YouTube instructional videos I watched I found my
fingers sore and my shoulders tense.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox7eiYKwMoWbYOyr-J2oeMCLnl9PwkuuIGcwBrw-KKlNoDMKhY0rW4zR-rdvz1O_1kjkrIfghX83rr1nYDzpN-RnUX2k-7NMtjnBBj5JpFuyNF8SfbnqWCutBpdyZH7JI9KKZUAzCMr8/s1600/DSC_0610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox7eiYKwMoWbYOyr-J2oeMCLnl9PwkuuIGcwBrw-KKlNoDMKhY0rW4zR-rdvz1O_1kjkrIfghX83rr1nYDzpN-RnUX2k-7NMtjnBBj5JpFuyNF8SfbnqWCutBpdyZH7JI9KKZUAzCMr8/s320/DSC_0610.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I tried spinning slowly but extra peddles before I let it draw in.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I tried spinning fast and found I had a death grip on the fibre.</span></div>
</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ended up spinning 14:1 ratio with about a second per peddle (double peddle wheel).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least I succeeded in spinning continuously with few fibre breaks.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will finish the cotton I have but won’t be rushing out to
buy more and don’t plan to grow it (I once dreamt of growing my own little
patch of cotton).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then to decide what to
do with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps I will ply some of
it with the BL cross that I have spun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It might make an interesting yarn for a toddler beanie or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cotton plus 25 micron BL fibre… sounds like a
plan.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Where to from here?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2017 TdF – yes definitely and try not to enrol in an online course at the same time!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just like the cyclists and other spinners do, I will prepare for the race so I have a mini stash of fibre at the ready with the objective to complete the stash during the race.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What about the BL fleece? – of course I need to finish spinning this fleece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are only another dozen or so fleeces in the shed to spin and I have a further 6 fleeces on their way back from the mill soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will never admit to a fleece overload but storage is becoming a little
challenging. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next time,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Spinning<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-17423077386534384552016-07-14T13:58:00.001+10:002016-07-14T13:59:09.692+10:002016 Tour de FleeceSo many things to do and places to be and so little time to do it all... :-(<br />
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I am currently trying to spin up a storm as part of the 2016 Tour de Fleece. If you don't know what this is about, check out the SpinFoolish team (<a href="http://www.spinfoolish.com/tour-de-fleece/">http://www.spinfoolish.com/tour-de-fleece/</a>). I think we are one of the biggest TdF teams with people from all over the world.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlTEyn9UUN3WZvNYQS-FWnQj_enETWc5_vK8mKtReTyCkSHYQ88pXjAFu7J9E6VHnKTibQvtjg7h8240MPhl36j2ngR9auHk9irBuuYTfDOEFnmoM64jubvKZSxpvLdtQsv7Qd1gR5Ag/s1600/TdF.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlTEyn9UUN3WZvNYQS-FWnQj_enETWc5_vK8mKtReTyCkSHYQ88pXjAFu7J9E6VHnKTibQvtjg7h8240MPhl36j2ngR9auHk9irBuuYTfDOEFnmoM64jubvKZSxpvLdtQsv7Qd1gR5Ag/s320/TdF.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Basically the Tour de Fleece runs along the same lines as the Tour de France (the famous cycling race). We have race days, challenge days and rest days (which are usually spent preparing fibre for the next day). We don't' compete to spin more than the next person, it is rather about personal challenge and commitment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHHQKmsFyB7KdNUQXdXnZ0sj9wsdvFM8Dznd_WByi1BZHjPI3UGh2YGOGpgbYXMPwOX4McC9IYEdw_JxZ5CZI-IiFWgnHZgipiWEVXWd2bbP4RJx5YKYLddMnX8iMZwhbwPvvdinu0wg/s1600/TdF-fleece.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHHQKmsFyB7KdNUQXdXnZ0sj9wsdvFM8Dznd_WByi1BZHjPI3UGh2YGOGpgbYXMPwOX4McC9IYEdw_JxZ5CZI-IiFWgnHZgipiWEVXWd2bbP4RJx5YKYLddMnX8iMZwhbwPvvdinu0wg/s320/TdF-fleece.JPG" width="179" /></a>This year the Tour de Fleece runs from 2 July to 24 July. My goal is to spin as much as possible from one of my Border Leicester cross fleeces (left). This is from Charlie and about 24 micron.<br />
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The fleece is unwashed, very clean and not a lot of grease. There is about 3-4 kilos. In reality, I doubt I will get through it all but hey, that is part of the challenge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXppZKk-olwQIku4M6QYr9jzE2Xgh5JlSgxVgB4zY3OKj0rb_BUus-xm5PebgBL9nEu6CDTeBM_5PZsiARCK6cTV34fQNkOOt14Er7pUb7-uB7M4QFVD8P9VY4hI34cU4xoIppmmWalM/s1600/TdF-cotton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXppZKk-olwQIku4M6QYr9jzE2Xgh5JlSgxVgB4zY3OKj0rb_BUus-xm5PebgBL9nEu6CDTeBM_5PZsiARCK6cTV34fQNkOOt14Er7pUb7-uB7M4QFVD8P9VY4hI34cU4xoIppmmWalM/s320/TdF-cotton.jpg" width="216" /></a><br />
On the challenge days I have started spinning cotton from the bolls. I picked up a branch like the one on the right from a florist in the city. They are using them in rustic flower arrangements.<br />
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I am lightly carding them into small punis which makes the small staple length easier to spin.<br />
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So pop back and visit soon and I will try to post some updates on how much I actually succeeded in spinning.<br />
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Happy Spinning :-)Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-33505181006898382852016-05-27T20:32:00.001+10:002016-05-27T20:34:41.118+10:00Just add an Electricarder...I wrote this recently for my friends at <a href="http://www.electricarder.com/" target="_blank">Electricarder</a> and thought I would share with my readers also. I hope you find it useful. :-)<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ashford Wild Carder with Electricarder Review<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Ashford Wild Carder is a little power horse for something
more glamorous than standard carding. Whilst only 4” wide, it has been designed with extra long
teeth to allow your batts to be bulked up with various fibre, ribbons,
feathers and other embellishments.
Because it has a medium carding cloth (72 point) you can still use it to
card ‘straight’ fibre which is often a good starting point before creating
blends.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I produce my own fibre, I need to process it to a point
before creating any blends or funky art yarns.
At this stage, my wild carder is my only carder so it has to be a work
horse for all sorts. Alpaca fleece will
process quickly as it is smooth compared to wool. Processing wool is a bit slower as the fibres
grab together making work for the wild carder a little harder and works your
arm cranking the handle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To lighten my load, the people at <a href="http://www.electricarder.com/" target="_blank">Electricarder</a> have built a
motor fitted for the Wild Carder. This
is a real productivity boost. Not only
do you card a little faster but you can card more continuously. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do I mean by carding continuously? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are spreading, stretching, fluffing the
fibre up as the carder steadily takes in what you have already placed on the
input tray. There is no need to stop,
prepare, load then crank the handle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently I spent a few hours in the shed preparing some
Corriedale batts. They weren’t too chunky/bumpy
this time around and the <a href="http://www.electricarder.com/" target="_blank">Electricarder</a> motor allowed me to work at about double
the pace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started with 50grams each of red, blue, lime green and
deep green Corriedale fibre. It had been
washed and carded but had been compacted after being in storage for a few
years. The dying and drying process
fluffed it up a bit then the next step was to turn it into batts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Unfortunately I had a camera malfunction so we only have the
finished product photos as the work in progress photos were lost when the SD
card became corrupted. The pics below are just under slightly different lighting. But I digress.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I first carded each colour individually then laid them out
and matched up the add-ins.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFu7XgTjCs6sFHEZtL6NprWfs9F3s31jipnQkU1un3m_KJfEudvPZjD0btkkZbeOutA9TT_trBABcCAmyprx5KBTcAg1RJNKCprICNUBDAFO4VzZNEXy7kIBHwUfbLFsDMCC5Ku_X1LQ/s1600/Corriedale+carded.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFu7XgTjCs6sFHEZtL6NprWfs9F3s31jipnQkU1un3m_KJfEudvPZjD0btkkZbeOutA9TT_trBABcCAmyprx5KBTcAg1RJNKCprICNUBDAFO4VzZNEXy7kIBHwUfbLFsDMCC5Ku_X1LQ/s400/Corriedale+carded.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Each 50 grams made three not too tightly packed batts. Once I decided what I would add in I split
the original batts into three and mixed them up. This was done to even out the colour. The red and blue were combined as I was
looking for a purple but with the red and blue elements still visible.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Each thinned batt was then stretched width way and length
way and spread out on my working table.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then I loaded up the extras onto each thinned batt. A little silk, a little more, a little
Mohair, and a little more... you get the idea.
Spread these out evenly along the batt, then stack them back together to
create one giant sandwich of fluff and colours.
This is then stretched out again and split length ways, then stretched
length ways. You are wanting to stretch
it so you can nearly see through the fibre.
This gives you the best consistency.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At this point I turn on the Electricarder motor and begin to
feed in the fibre sandwich. Now
depending on how much room you have in you work space (mine is tiny) you can
split the batt even further. But you can
do this while the Electricarder keeps working.
There is no stopping and starting to prepare then crank the handle then
prepare and crank the handle, you keep preparing and lining up the fibre. Tidy it up and ensure it is being taken in
evenly between the guides then stretch out some more fibre ready to go. You can take the batts off and put them
through again but I like to keep some of the character of the add ins.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I find about half speed on the Electicarder dial gives me
good pace and good quality. If you find
the drive band starts slipping you may have overloaded it a little. Thin out your input and see how that
goes. As mentioned earlier, different
fibre will perform differently so have a play and adjust your technique to
suit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Happy Carding <span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-51398670635087848282016-03-05T12:10:00.003+11:002016-05-27T20:33:49.350+10:00Blending Boards<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well it has been a while since my last post on fibre preparation tools. Stuff happens in our lives and I just had to shelve my blogging for a while. Hopefully I am back on track.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I mentioned some time ago, I would do a post on blending boards. Now, I don't own a blending board nor have even used a blending board. So, I definitely don't speak with authority on them. However, I have read a lot on them and regularly look them up on the internet. I am always amazed by the talent of fibre people when working with some of these tools.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are many companies who make blending boards. Ashford, Louet, Majacraft, Clemes & Clemes are only a few brands on the market. Then of course if you can source carding cloth you could make your own if you are skilled in those sort of things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Essentially it is a board with carding cloth affixed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrYCn2x3gALCjDwKq-5eGgNAbbO6ZLFmIFpNsMoi7GKEvnTOxRmpP4OsoismX-pzBlxP1afb4nGpdYWmV6VPHPJshjZfMpRzMQF288wVmprXfSkwr1lDOAi-ay12ovjElvTi6niirKqU/s1600/blending+board.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrYCn2x3gALCjDwKq-5eGgNAbbO6ZLFmIFpNsMoi7GKEvnTOxRmpP4OsoismX-pzBlxP1afb4nGpdYWmV6VPHPJshjZfMpRzMQF288wVmprXfSkwr1lDOAi-ay12ovjElvTi6niirKqU/s1600/blending+board.PNG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now that doesn't sound too spectacular but the results can be spectacular. Check out the Ashford YouTube clip (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FenT3pshrU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FenT3pshrU</a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">), Fibrehappy's clip with her homemade blending board (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbEKcZk_XZo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbEKcZk_XZo</a>) or Clemes & Clemes (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlmqzEUNMxE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlmqzEUNMxE</a>). Or just pop "blending boards" into your favourite search engine or in the YouTube search bar and you will get a heap of options to look at. (I have watched most of them.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You will notice that as with many spinning and fibre preparation tools, everyone has their own style and little techniques that work for them. Please take this as a message that there is no single right way to prepare fibre. Some ways are better than others but over time you adjust your methods to the results you are targeting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You shouldn't go past looking at some of the clips about spinning from rolags as these are what you end up with on a blending board.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Why would you want to buy a blending board?</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can only comment on my reasons. Feel free to add your own reasons in the comments.</span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ability to create customised blends</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ability to blend various fibres</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ability to card and blend larger amounts than on hand cards.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it looks like a little less work on your shoulders.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope this has helped you in a small way if you are interested in blending boards. One is still on my wish list but it may be a while away as I have a lot of fibre to get washed and dyed.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy spinning. :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-90573234758470152332015-12-18T15:52:00.002+11:002015-12-18T15:52:50.357+11:00Wool Pickers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGcpmVeJ-BqCP4nFMApo5HKYiLvHO0EoZl43v6K836WX8lWkFk-eIDDPfZ5m5G-GVUWdpZufc4hKxqATv-Ly_mTrVDKuy5ghmhy9VIYgKkPu0GJ8FopDPSHsea2pPOBwokVfUfG1bZxk/s1600/wool+picker.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGcpmVeJ-BqCP4nFMApo5HKYiLvHO0EoZl43v6K836WX8lWkFk-eIDDPfZ5m5G-GVUWdpZufc4hKxqATv-Ly_mTrVDKuy5ghmhy9VIYgKkPu0GJ8FopDPSHsea2pPOBwokVfUfG1bZxk/s1600/wool+picker.PNG" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">My swing picker (looks much like this one) is my other medieval torture tool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously just look at those tines!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KMSm1_8uekeenvjDRKe9pe-pKfBU088hnLDbGIkTwwIMse8arlv3RZk57q6Km1ypB1SIwRBhDDPLMI4zZpvF0OvsspgM7LQAFG_OrT5-6nEvZxTKD4_5hiYM3cMN4zRSKJZYyNsj1og/s1600/wool+picker.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KMSm1_8uekeenvjDRKe9pe-pKfBU088hnLDbGIkTwwIMse8arlv3RZk57q6Km1ypB1SIwRBhDDPLMI4zZpvF0OvsspgM7LQAFG_OrT5-6nEvZxTKD4_5hiYM3cMN4zRSKJZYyNsj1og/s1600/wool+picker.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">There are box pickers and swing pickers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a few manufacturers and also DIY
versions on the internet.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">With DIY instructions in hand I originally asked a carpenter
friend of mine if he would make one for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even he looked wide eyed at all those long stainless steel nails (in the picture) and responded, “you have
got to be kidding”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well no, I wasn’t kidding,
and no, he wasn’t willing to risk injury in his backyard workshop making such a
dangerous looking implement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, off to the internet I went again to look for an
affordable one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually I found a
lovely lady who was needing to downsize her fibre hoard and fibre implements so a near
new one found a new home from her garage to my wool shed. And I then had a swing picker.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>Why did I think I needed a swing picker?</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Well firstly it is a bit hard to ‘try before you buy’ many
of these tools as they are few and far between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hear that many guilds have a selection of tool to try and borrow but
as I wasn’t a member of a guild I didn’t have that luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given I was now processing whole fleeces I
thought a wool picker would come in handy.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>Do’s and Don’ts of wool picking</strong></span></div>
<ul><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Do use with sufficient clearance between you and anything
else.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sit back from your wool picker (you don’t want your jumper
or t-shirt getting picked!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Do understand the ideal set up of your implement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The spacing of the tines for the type of
fleece you are picking is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some implements should always be adjusted with the tines slightly apart, while some are
built to interlock the tines slightly as they are offset.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Do wash your wool before picking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alpaca doesn’t need to be washed first as it
has no sticky lanolin.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Do sweep it out VERY CAREFULLY and thoroughly after each use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don't</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> use out in the open unless it is a breezeless
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your fluff will blow away.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Don't push your fingers too far into the area where the tines
are. (Hopefully this one doesn't need more explaining!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Don't use near small children or inquisitive pets.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Don't overload it. More is not better and getting too much fibre jammed between the tines makes for a dangerous exercise to sort it out.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>What to do with your picked fibre?</strong></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">You can spin from the cloud without further processing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Use this ‘fluff’ to card or even comb into roving.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">You can dye your fluff but be careful not to agitate it or
it will turn into felt.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">You can use your picker to begin the blending process with
different coloured fibres.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>The benefits of a wool picker?</strong></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It quickly gets rid of small amounts of VM.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It f<span style="font-family: "calibri";">luffs up your fibre.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It can help you begin to blend large amounts of fibre.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><strong>What have I learnt about my picker?</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It is one of many tools in my arsenal of fibery things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really like to process alpaca fibre through the
picker as it is the quickest and easiest way to get the VM out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feel free to pop your fibre through more than
once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Useful links</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.petlyn.com.au/Fleece-Picker"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">http://www.petlyn.com.au/Fleece-Picker</span></a></div>
<a href="https://spidersworkshop.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/building-a-wool-picker/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">https://spidersworkshop.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/building-a-wool-picker/</span></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">How to use a Fleece Swing Picker - </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg6mTIFHcgI&feature=youtu.be"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg6mTIFHcgI&feature=youtu.be</span></span></a></div>
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</div>
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Happy Spinning :-)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></div>
Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-8870506982130100562015-11-05T13:13:00.003+11:002015-11-05T13:14:25.139+11:00Wool combs<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Valkyrie
Wool Combs...<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Wolverine
without the side burns!!!! Well not quite, but perhaps reminiscent of
some sort of medieval torture tool. These things can be dangerous so make
sure your tetanus shots are up to date.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Learning to
use these requires careful attention, primarily so as not to stab ones self and
draw blood. And mind you this is VERY easy to do. But the end
result is beautiful roving.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I find the
main benefits of using wool combs is to strip out VM and second cuts.
Many people, as you will find if you start looking through YouTube clips, will
use combs with a hackle. I don't have a hackle yet but you can use them
with or without a hackle.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQi0KnhOK1nuMz6dpt7tIZXJOa1R_J4bSsT3XQUWduofHislScbCgN9IFhpobStrbVegqcsEiCt_rk7Ktw8wMBHZCfLTn2d25WIlLHTqloxaMocs5cMvxVo99bq09IKlLmU3ine-eres/s1600/wool+combs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQi0KnhOK1nuMz6dpt7tIZXJOa1R_J4bSsT3XQUWduofHislScbCgN9IFhpobStrbVegqcsEiCt_rk7Ktw8wMBHZCfLTn2d25WIlLHTqloxaMocs5cMvxVo99bq09IKlLmU3ine-eres/s320/wool+combs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I found this
wonderful image and at the same time discovered another spinners blog, <a href="https://barbrosthreads.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Barbro's Threads</span></a>. I hope you
don't mind me using your pic, but in the process I have added you to one of my
fav blogs. So much history and wonderful information. But I
digress...<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">You can see
in this picture, not only the sharp tines of the combs, but the fluffy results
achieved.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Another
spinner, and just overall handy girl extraordinaire is Rexi R. My kids
love her videos even though they are not yet fully addicted to spinning.
Whilst she is demoing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-C9j6srYSg"><span style="color: blue;">Indigo
Hound Combs</span></a> they are much the same thing and Rexi R brings spinning
instructional videos to life. If you have even the slightest lop sided
sense of humour you too will smile at her helpful, practical and amusing videos.
Yay Rexi R.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I watched
many videos on using a comb and hackle but since I don’t have a hackle I was
struggling to get my technique right if I didn’t attach one of my combs to a
work bench. Then I found this video by Susan McFarland. Susan shows
us how to use the combs safely without having to attach them to a bench.
This is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGbhEuqyTGo"><span style="color: blue;">great video on
using hand combs</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Combing is
currently my favourite technique. Well perhaps the technique is not the
favourite but the result certainly is.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Yes it takes
time, but the results are oh so soft. You can create little fluffy bumps
to spin from or to dye or blend. And once you get your groove happening
it is surprising how fast you can comb a well washed fleece. I have
heard it said that combing is faster than carding. I suppose that comment
is relative to the size of your carder, but noting blend through a card
nicer than well combed fleece. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">It is good
to have a variety of fibre processing techniques. Variety of movement
helps ensure you don’t suffer from muscle or joint overuse. More on the
health and safety aspects of spinning in a later post. You can do a bit
of combing, do a bit of dying then blend it on your hand cards or carding
machine for another effect altogether. The possibilities are endless.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Back to
combing. There is probably not much more I can add if you watch the two
videos that I have linked in. These ladies have nailed the technique.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">However, a
word of advice. You will find combing much easier if your fleece is well
washed. I have tried combing unwashed fleece and it just turns into a
clumpy sticky mess. My sheep all seem to have a reasonably high lanolin
content which is where the stickiness comes from. You can comb raw alpaca
quite successfully as alpaca does not have lanolin. The same would
probably apply to other hair type fibres. Also, don't overload your combs
at least until you get the hang of it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">So that's
all on wool combs. Like everything there are many different brands.
but you may find that only a few brands are available in your country.<o:p></o:p></span>Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-42353516568384104452015-10-19T14:57:00.000+11:002015-10-19T14:57:40.963+11:00Hand Cards<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before I launch into today’s blog, I want to thanks all
those wonderful people who put in the time to make YouTube videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use them to learn more about spinning
techniques, new knitting or crochet stitches, even how to trim the toenails on
my sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whilst sometimes I wish for a
less technology based world I would never find enough resources in my local
libraries to supplement my search for woolly learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you internet and thank you
YouTube’rs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>;-)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also love promoting other spinners web sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the first ones of real value that I
found (and all you others don’t think your site is no value, I may have just
not found you at the time), is Tulasi Zimmer’s site <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The Joy of Handspinning”</i> (</span><a href="http://joyofhandspinning.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://joyofhandspinning.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tulasi has a wonderful way of explaining
things in the most simple terms and with just the right number of pictures to
assist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her explanation on how to roll
rolags was the only one that made sense to me and I finally got the hang of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And Angora rabbits are definitely part of my
retirement plan ;-)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is a link to her page on </span><a href="http://joyofhandspinning.com/how-to-prepare-fiber-with-hand-carders/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">hand
carding</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are many brands and types of hand cards on the
market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just happen to have Ashford
ones but nearly all the wheel manufacturers also make hand cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essentially hand cards are a flat or curved
paddle with carding cloth attached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is possible to make your own hand cards if you have skills in that area,
although I have found it a little challenging to source carding cloth in
Australia.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir72cA4epRZcDn-jww5iPTXGg42uLnZfPahNqlOu7fbGViJOFxWHYcJFqa4MnbKB75iAm5ruMBGyYyaKN1I-LTCw22YqGPdtoN0V5mP3BdFlTmPPuB3eKdGC0fCv_5bnjC_H3HR6KpTyI/s1600/hand+cards+ashford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir72cA4epRZcDn-jww5iPTXGg42uLnZfPahNqlOu7fbGViJOFxWHYcJFqa4MnbKB75iAm5ruMBGyYyaKN1I-LTCw22YqGPdtoN0V5mP3BdFlTmPPuB3eKdGC0fCv_5bnjC_H3HR6KpTyI/s320/hand+cards+ashford.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Teachers and experienced spinners may tell you that there
are carders for various purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
downside is that when you are starting out you may not be able to buy tools for
all occasions and really when you are starting out there is no need to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Remember there are no spinning police here.)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can card most anything on a basic set of hand cards but
be flexible with the results if you are trying this with specialties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fibres like cotton card better on finer
carding cloth, as does angora (rabbit), ox, possum, silk roving, milk silk and
various other fine fibres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not to
say it can’t be done, just the results are a little less smooth the further
apart the tines on the cloth are.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I only have one set of hand cards and they do everything for
me.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My assumptions about
hand cards?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I overloaded them at first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The more you put on the quicker you are going to be able to process this
fleece right? WRONG!! You just end up with a matted mess and lots of neps if
you load too much on the hand cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Neps are those little balls of fibre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sort of like pills in a finished fabric.)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Load just enough to not clearly be able to see the
tines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most people find it better to use
washed wool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying to process unwashed
wool will leave your hand cards sticky with lanolin and over time they get
grubby so that when you want to process something fine or expensive you need to
overhaul your hand cards back to a presentable state (and that may not be easy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not saying it can’t be done but most
spinners will advise against using hand cards for unwashed wool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or at least if that is what you want to do,
have a second set just for the nice clean fibre.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also thought that I would get smooth roving from my hand
cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well I haven’t yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I start with roving and am blending it,
then yes the results are nice, aligned and smooth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Processing a washed fleece does not get the
same results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I haven’t yet
tried cutting the tips of the wool off yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(yes this is suggested by some!)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps my results are a little less than what I expected as
I didn’t really understand these tools when I first got them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think we all learn best from trial and
error.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hand carding is slowly getting
better as I observe more of what I am doing and learn to adjust my technique to
observe different results.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But what do I use my
hand cards for?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I initially thought I could use them in the house by my
wheel in place of the Wild Carder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well
the results there were yes and no. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rule 1 of spinning in my house.... ALWAYS have an old sheet
or table cloth under your work area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even mill washed roving deposits dust and debris under where you are
working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least with some sort of
covering over the floor you can take it outside and give it a shake between
having to vacuum after every spinning session.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I carded to make rolags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I blended to make coloured rolags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I used my hand cards to prepare small samples of fibre or colour
blends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came to the conclusion that my
hand cards are a tool with their own purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They don’t replace my carding machine, my flicker brush or hand combs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some spinners appear to do most their processing on hand
cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am looking for variety in
technique and from a health and safety view that is also good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hand cards are a different action to carding
machines, combs and flickers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And,
variety of action is good for us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A handy tip... If you ever go to a show to buy fleece, pop
your hand cards in your bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find
being able to card a few locks of a fleece will give you a better idea of how
it will handle when you take it home to spin it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So where to now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With spinning being an ancient craft, developed in different
ways, and with different fibres around the globe there is much information to
be found and much to be learnt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
modern technical age we can and should learn much about our chosen craft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have included an extra link to the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDqY2mLooIw&feature=player_detailpage"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Ashford
clip on hand carding</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, but time and a suitable internet data allowance will
allow you to find many many more resources.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know Wikipedia often gets a bad rap for being unreliable
but their </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carding"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">page on Carding</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> is
pretty informative for those of you who like a little history and technical
info, to supplement the practical “how to” type info.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The post covers all sorts of carding and has
some informative links at the bottom if you would like to read further.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So experiment and spin happy.</span></div>
</div>
Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-63564527665528489132015-10-11T08:00:00.000+11:002015-10-11T08:00:03.034+11:00My Wild Carder<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
So moving along my spinning preparation journey and the need
to gather many fibre toys, I thought I needed a Wild Carder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxRh2ahvFdNxQvQNi4yuMk4S-PnXZBFvQersKfpty4dYofxhj0axfkmfitMxJiyvMsLFBEsgOzWF1sE1MoQqi3zT0KR95-5S0FNMmcVvB9rt1kTjFFHPNrvmL5YMmlixwa6UezxS6wUI/s1600/wildcarderfull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxRh2ahvFdNxQvQNi4yuMk4S-PnXZBFvQersKfpty4dYofxhj0axfkmfitMxJiyvMsLFBEsgOzWF1sE1MoQqi3zT0KR95-5S0FNMmcVvB9rt1kTjFFHPNrvmL5YMmlixwa6UezxS6wUI/s320/wildcarderfull.jpg" width="259" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The specs and sales pitch straight from the
Ashford web site...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Make unique blends for art yarn<br />
- adjustable packer brush<br />
- extra long 72ppsi teeth<br />
- adjustable drum clearance<br />
- lacquered and assembled<br />
- cleaning brush, clamps and awl included<br />
- cards up to 40gm fibre <br />
<br />
The Wild carder has been specifically designed for today’s fabulous, fun and
funky art yarns. The extra long 72ppsi teeth allow you to include differing
fibres, fabric, ribbons, feathers, paper and novelties to create unique blends.
The packer brush is adjustable and will control fine, low-crimp fibres and
increase the size of the batt. The drum clearance is also adjustable which
allows you to set the teeth distance for total control of your fibre.<br />
All nylon bearings ensure it is light and easy to turn. The card cloth has wire
teeth with a special protective coating and a flexible rubber backing for long
life. <br />
The doffer and cleaning brush are stored on the carder. The carder is strong
but lightweight with hand hold for easy carrying. The carder has rubber feet to
prevent it slipping. It comes assembled and lacquered ready to use</span></i><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">. </span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.ashford.co.nz/newsite/carders/75/carding/wild-carder/moredetail.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.ashford.co.nz/newsite/carders/75/carding/wild-carder/moredetail.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honestly, the Ashford Wild Carder is a great little
tool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To see what it can do just have a
look at this YouTube clip by Ashford. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB32vVuh7xs"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB32vVuh7xs</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I started spinning, whilst I was processing some raw
Corriedale with my dog comb, I also was buying processed roving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to dye and blend different fibres
and play with all the different textures I could in my learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only problem in doing this is that I was constantly
spinning lots of different fibres lots of different ways so may have taken
longer than I should have to perfect certain techniques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But hey, this journey is meant to be a fun
one and for someone that is sometimes bordering on obsessive tendencies the
freedom I was learning was somewhat liberating.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So back to why I bought a Wild Carder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could so see myself blending all manner of
fibres into colourful batts and spinning them into wonderful yarns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I did plenty of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wild carder became my go to tool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bought lots of clean smooth roving and
started mixing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bought silk; I cut up
ribbons; I cut up bits of mill yarn with interesting textures; I blended and
coloured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whilst I stuck to the script
of what the Wild Carder was to be used for (see the specs above) I got great
results.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I bought my sheep and started trying to process my fibre
into roving with not so great results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It took me a while to figure out that a carder, wild or otherwise, was
not going to get small amounts of VM (vegetable matter) out of my washed
fleece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And those grubby tips that
sometimes stay grubby after you have washed them stayed grubby even after I
carded them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sad face></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I needed other tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or did I need to go back to basics and figure out how to process wool
from the very beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After playing
with my flicker brush or comb then putting this through my carder I got a much
better result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was highlighted even
more when I partnered up with the people from ElectriCarder to test out their
motor for the Wild Carder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(</span><a href="http://www.electricarder.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.electricarder.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I worked the little motor hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then it dawned on me in very practical
ways the difference between wool from a sheep and fibre from an alpaca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(We might discuss different fibre types in
the future.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could process half an
alpaca fleece in very little time through the Wild Carder with an ElectriCarder
motor fitted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The batts were smooth and
tons of VM fell out in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
no time I had lots of bumps of alpaca fibre ready to spin.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wool on the other hand was hard going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had the belt slipping, the grubby bits on
the tips of the wool were still there, I could only process small amounts at a
time before the drum stopped turning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
returned to the Ashford videos for revision and thinned my fibre input to
something resembling cobwebs.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Realisation slowly dawned on me that...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>A CLEAN FLEECE + HAND COMBS = WELL PREPARED FIBRE</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>WELL PREPARED FIBRE + A WILD CARDER = VERY
NICELY BLENDED BATTS</strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now the hand combs can be replaced by the flicker brush or
the comb, but in essence you need reasonably
well prepared fibre to start your blending journey with your Wild Carder. The old adage, "garbage in garbage out" is so true. You will frequently hear that a well prepared fibre will spin better. A poorly prepared fibre will take longer to spin as you pick out neps and bits of VM you didn't get out in the preparation process.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now my batts look something like those in the Ashford video
so I am pleased.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, I continue to chase fibre tools that will make my life
easier or just bring a different dimension to my fibre processing and
ultimately my spinning.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until next time, happy spinning.</span></div>
Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0Sydney NSW, Australia-33.8674869 151.20699020000006-34.711976400000005 149.91609670000005 -33.0229974 152.49788370000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-73362480588030736522015-10-04T08:00:00.000+11:002015-10-04T08:00:02.896+11:00Dog Combs and Flickers<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>DOG COMBS</strong> </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yep you read right, dog combs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0Hq22Cr1YVXWfr9KVC44tVcHvPrNcXVHzgjAqb8GQ3qNDIWUQFaMgQcc2vbcoe5sSB4ptzAgatt5weUtyZ-r09fpvkd6QLyPtwtaFb-XNm2Lz159Q56dCy97X529uH81soQ8mQxzPtc/s1600/wood-handle-flea-comb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0Hq22Cr1YVXWfr9KVC44tVcHvPrNcXVHzgjAqb8GQ3qNDIWUQFaMgQcc2vbcoe5sSB4ptzAgatt5weUtyZ-r09fpvkd6QLyPtwtaFb-XNm2Lz159Q56dCy97X529uH81soQ8mQxzPtc/s200/wood-handle-flea-comb.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I first bought my wheel I had raw Corriedale fibre and
was flicking the tips with a dog comb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lock
by lock I combed the edges on my trusty piece of black vinyl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would comb a few then spin a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was slow work but I knew no better and it
was a reasonable result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could
practise dying with spun wool or individual locks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must say, I was pleased with my first skein
of lumpy, bumpy, colourful yarn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
nicely prepared fibre and spun up something that I could crochet from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually think my spinning was better than
my crocheting!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had no assumptions as I knew no better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was simply enjoying the process and learning
the feel of the fibre and how a well combed lock responded verses a no so well
combed lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t inhibited with
trying to spin woollen or worsted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
I combed the tip then base and spun from the base. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some I combed the base then tip and spun from
the tip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were no spinning police
just my desire to get better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was this
right or wrong?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t really care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are plenty of years in my spinning life
ahead to settle on puritan ways if I so choose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think this was a good learning base as in some respects
things got easier as I began to move onto other tools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>FLICK CARDER </strong></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtl91i9GfjRhUn54twWugGwXOwOL8Xf6oi4BzqLaTvjCzlsybi6H9uyZAt26s1r6-7a_2huf4aIrsPvzlIgKC_iwCaaHfmOmFFUT1Chyphenhyphenen0MVSb9XjLuNyjzRvs4L8SkEPzvZaVR0auWU/s1600/flicker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtl91i9GfjRhUn54twWugGwXOwOL8Xf6oi4BzqLaTvjCzlsybi6H9uyZAt26s1r6-7a_2huf4aIrsPvzlIgKC_iwCaaHfmOmFFUT1Chyphenhyphenen0MVSb9XjLuNyjzRvs4L8SkEPzvZaVR0auWU/s200/flicker.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A year or two after buying my wheel and still considering
myself very much a beginner, I took a spinning class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most there, were still learning how to spin a
continuous length of yarn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had already
mastered that but knew there was still much to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, I had Grumpy Teacher who told
us there were three types of Alpacas (Huacaya, Suri and Alpaca!) and not so
politely (well I felt at least) asked “so what do you expect to achieve out of
coming to a beginner class?” :-P I was there to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever there was to learn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it turned out I improved my spinning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a taste of a few different fibres, bought
a Flick Carder and learnt how to use it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again I had no assumptions about the flick carder as I had
spent the last while combing all my raw wool with a dog comb or spinning nice
smooth roving that I had since discovered on that horrible (haha) site called
eBay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The flick carder allowed me to prepare fibre much quicker and
I think the end result was a little better, although that seemed to depend on
the fibre.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One piece of advice.... have a sheet of black vinyl or a wooden board on your lap. A flicker will do significant damage to your clothes over time.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my favourite sites I first stumbled across when
looking for resources was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘The Joy of
Handspinning’</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of great
information on many aspects of spinning and the fibre arts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a link to one of their instructional
videos on the flick carder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://joyofhandspinning.com/how-to-prepare-fiber-with-a-flicker-carder/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://joyofhandspinning.com/how-to-prepare-fiber-with-a-flicker-carder/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<strong><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WHICH ONE IS BEST?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They both serve a purpose and if you experiment you may
settle on a favourite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few years down
the track on my spinning journey I do find the comb is sometimes better for
longer and coarser wool/fibres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I
want to spin Suri from the lock then the comb is the preferred tool for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I want to spin my Merino or Boarder Leicester
in the grease then the flicker will get me through enough fibre in a day to
keep me spinning at night for the week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have the opportunity to try both, do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course you can buy a dog comb at most any
discount store or of course pet store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
flick carder is a specialist spinning tool so you will have to go on eBay or to
a spinning supply web site or store.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At some point I will post a supplier guide of all the places
I know where you can buy spinning gear from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course you all have the internet (otherwise you wouldn’t be reading
this) and can search away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But,
sometimes they are a little tricky to find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So anyway, I will post something one day to help you on your way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy Spinning until next time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0Sydney NSW, Australia-33.8674869 151.20699020000006-34.711976400000005 149.91609670000005 -33.0229974 152.49788370000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-69212282988882084792015-09-30T15:51:00.000+10:002015-09-30T15:53:45.887+10:00My Spinning Tools<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I thought
a series on spinning tools would be useful to many. I’ve been spinning for a few
years and thought my dog comb was as handy as they got, then my hand cards were
pretty funky, then a flicker brush replaced my dog comb for spinning in the grease. I quickly migrated to a wild carder as my go to tool (and later added a motor). My current tool of choice is a set of Viking combs. On
reflection I think my tools have journeyed with me and changed as my experience
has grown. </span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">It is often difficult to find useful information on the internet and searching for it can take a long time. Whilst I certainly haven't used all the spinning tools on the market sharing my experiences with what I have used may help others. Over time you will lean towards a favourite tool (like I am my Viking combs) but it is not my place to impose expert advice. A good spinner will acknowledge they are forever learning. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I now see each tool as unique in itself, for a specific
purpose and to achieve a different result even if the results are later combined. Perhaps my way is different to something you have seen on the internet (YouTube is a great place to play and learn), but that doesn't mean I am right, or wrong.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Over
coming weeks I will share with you how I have learnt to use my tools, some of
the assumptions I made about them (often wrong) and how I see them fitting into
the broad range of spinning tools that you will come across. The focus
will be on fibre preparation as the foundation for your end product.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">So what
is in my tool box?</span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Viking
combs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Hand
Carders</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Flick
Carder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Comb</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Wild
Carder (now with <a href="http://www.electricarder.com/" target="_blank">Electricarder</a> attached)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Wool
Picker</span></li>
</ul>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">And I’m
sure you wouldn’t be surprised to know that I have a wish list set of tools
somewhere in my future (hopefully). These might include:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">A blending board</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">A motorised triple
drum carder</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Of course
you can always get your fibre professionally processed, but even so, you may wish to have some of these tools handy for further processing. I have 6 fleece
from my best sheep with a processor at the moment and cant wait until I get
some nice clean smooth roving back. In the mean time I will continue to
hand wash and hand process my other fleece, into clean smooth roving. </span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Happy
Spinning until next time...</span></div>
Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-87748363618322414042015-09-15T19:25:00.001+10:002015-09-15T19:53:15.448+10:00I finally finished the Tour!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well it
is far too long since I posted a blog and I really have no other excuse than
not moving it up enough on my priority list. I didn't quite finish what I aimed for in the 'Tour de Fleece' but I enjoyed the experience. (Perhaps embarrassment at not finishing assisted the procrastination that stopped me posting!!)</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
finished the ‘Tour de Fleece’ not quite achieving what I set out to but still
feeling OK by the end. I did spin mostly every day even if it was for
only a few minutes. I didn’t get through my 4oz of fibre by the end of the race period, but I did
finish it eventually (with a little help from my wheel).</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsAj3ApTr0QsnNSqm23UHnuT-ia1LQlkqUFeOs66MZBXZ_8kv-x9odNog1SpvR-nLxwClB_s-BeD73QDfTPs5p-EsJy8H7W2uGp0eBuawlhHFZz3uTNyR1Fops-liNTD57CpZNvI1cxs/s1600/BFL-Silk+hanks+TdF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsAj3ApTr0QsnNSqm23UHnuT-ia1LQlkqUFeOs66MZBXZ_8kv-x9odNog1SpvR-nLxwClB_s-BeD73QDfTPs5p-EsJy8H7W2uGp0eBuawlhHFZz3uTNyR1Fops-liNTD57CpZNvI1cxs/s320/BFL-Silk+hanks+TdF.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Now
just what to do with it I’m not sure. My family suggested I knit or
crochet myself a new winter beanie since I seem to have lost my favourite
one. Now just to find that perfect pattern.....</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It wont be as long between posts (she boldly says). I have done some preparation and hope to craft a small series for you on Spinning Tools. So until next time...</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Happy Spinning :-)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-59099363133850383402015-07-14T09:05:00.001+10:002015-07-14T09:05:15.756+10:00Tour de Fleece<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I’m sure most of you have heard of the Tour
de France.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">The cycling race in July each
year through towns and mountains and across many countries ending in France. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well for us
fibre focused people there is a Tour de Fleece. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">So I teamed
up with a bunch of like-minded spinners via the Crazy Sheep Ladies (</span><a href="http://www.spinfoolish.com/tour-de-fleece/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;" target="_blank">Spinfoolish</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m sure
there were many other groups to join for TdF fun but hey, my kids call me the Crazy
Sheep Lady (when they aren’t calling me the Crazy Cat Lady!!) so you can see
what I mean by like-minded!!. ;-) <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Different groups have different rules, but just like the comment in my plying post, they are more like 'guidelines'.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8D9_KG0U15ijjpgv-NPzDXwOI-DppSP75pFm8kJ7edK8fAyxnqBPNVAsEBuVABJKAmwTITGUWz1LJ82U9fW-TTk7qmyaoSzuViwahM5x707V2-P1wZwvQv8xsOial4XJKekedthRWmY/s1600/Spindle+20150714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8D9_KG0U15ijjpgv-NPzDXwOI-DppSP75pFm8kJ7edK8fAyxnqBPNVAsEBuVABJKAmwTITGUWz1LJ82U9fW-TTk7qmyaoSzuViwahM5x707V2-P1wZwvQv8xsOial4XJKekedthRWmY/s320/Spindle+20150714.JPG" width="180" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a TdF
participant we are asked to,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Challenge
yourself.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Spin.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -18pt;">Have
fun.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">So we are now
well underway for our Tour de Fleece. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.3333320617676px;">Among</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> other things, we are asked to challenge ourselves. Some do a challenge on certain days, others
like myself have decided on a challenge for the whole Tour. I am trying to spindle spin 4oz of MissBabs
Hand Dyed. 80% BFL & 20% Tussah
silk. I bought this in the USA while on
holidays a couple of years ago. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is my
first Turkish spindle. Just a beginner
one, not fancy, but I do love it and am really pleased with how fine I have
been able to spin on it. Everyone has a
spindle preference (well those who spindle spin do I guess!) and mine is bottom
whorl. The Turkish is just that bit more
convenient as you end up with a ball ready to ply. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So a bit
more on the TdF. According to my new
friends at Spinfoolish, t</span><span style="background: white; color: #1e1a1a; line-height: 115%;">he Tour de Fleece
was started on a blog by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://keeponknittinginthefreeworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Keep on Knitting in the Free World"><span style="background: white; color: #3e205a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Star Athena</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1a1a; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #1e1a1a; line-height: 115%;">in
2006</span> as a way of connecting with other spinners, and by the sounds of it, to incorporate her other passion of cycling. (Check out <a href="http://www.spinfoolish.com/ready-to-get-on-your-bike/" target="_blank">Ready to get on your bike</a> for the full story.) </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">The relationship is definitely there. Just type ‘spinning’ into your favourite
search engine and you will get plenty of cycling hits. You usually need to add ‘wool’ to focus your
search on fibre things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From 4 July
to 26 July. We spin, or try to, everyday
except the two rest days just like in the actual tour.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">So happy
spinning peoples and if you hadn’t heard of the Tour de Fleece before then
perhaps you can</span><a href="http://www.spinfoolish.com/tour-de-fleece/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;" target="_blank"> join us in 2016</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> for a fun ride ;-)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now back to that spindle.</span></span></div>
Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-57508867257438735842015-06-19T21:00:00.000+10:002015-06-19T21:01:10.785+10:00To Ply or not to Ply or even How Many to Ply?<span style="font-family: inherit;">So many choices...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now depending on how you started your spinning journey, who and where you received your advice from, you may get the impression that the spinning police are waiting for you to do something your own way just so they can nab you. They will make an example of you on what YOU SHOULD NEVER DO and you will forever feel bad about breaking the so called spinning rules.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well being the closet rebel that I am ......</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">THERE ARE NO SPINNING POLICE AND YOU CAN BREAK WHATEVER RULE YOU WANT!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now that's out there (yikes!!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As Captain Barbossa (Pirates of the Caribbean) said about the pirates <span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">code, "is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules". The same applies to many things you are told with spinning.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not all wool needs to be plied.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not all singles need to be plied only with another single.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Now I am a creature of habit and usually ply two singles. I just can't bring myself to knit with un plied yarn. There is nothing wrong with that, its just not my thing. But after about 5 years of spinning I finally plied three, yes three singles together. And, they were different fibres. Alpaca, Border Leicester and Suffolk X. (A bit out there, <eye roll> but what the heck.) I recently found out that most commercial yarn is more than two strands plied together so thought I would try it out. The result was a fuller yarn. So far I have </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Tunisian</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> crocheted mittens and want to wash these a couple of times to see how the combination of fibre types go together before I choose my next creation from them.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">When you ply your yarn it creates balance and makes your finished product stronger. Your knitting is less likely to lean to one side and it often seems to even out any lumps and bumps in your singles. But plying can be used to create something special and unique. It may be a colour combination that when knitted ends up looking like a tweed. You may spin fat singles then ply them with something thinner to create particular effects. You may ply two wool singles and add a cotton </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">metallic</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> thread for shimmer. The possibilities are endless. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have read multiple times Handspun and Intertwined, both by Lexi Boeger. If you are wanting hints and tips to do something a bit different with your plying (and spinning generally) try to source these from your local library. Of course if you find you must add them to your collection the usual online book sellers should have them.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The folks at Spinning Daily have produced a how to guide on Plying. Check it out at </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><a href="http://www.spinningdaily.com/media/p/8590.aspx">http://www.spinningdaily.com/media/p/8590.aspx</a> And most of all, be daring and experiment.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333;">So if you wonder why you are told to ply your yarn its because that's how it is usually done. But remember, it is </span><span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">more what you would call a guideline rather than a rule.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fcfae7; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Happy Spinning. :-)</span>Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-84021756379706400512015-05-31T13:22:00.000+10:002015-05-31T13:22:04.301+10:00Spinning raw fleece or washed fleece?I often hear the question asked, Do you prefer to spin raw fleece or washed fleece?<br />
<br />
For some people there may be an easy answer. You simply may not like the smell or feel of raw sheep's fleece or have no desire to spend time preparing the fibre in any way. Nicely washed and carded roving is your preferred starting point.<br />
<br />
Not all fleece and fibre are the same. My advice if you are newish to spinning is to keep an open mind and be prepared to try something different from time to time. And even try something again that you didn't like the first time.<br />
<br />
Some fleece, like Merino are high in lanolin (spinners may call this grease) and can be sticky to the touch. Other fleece such as Border Leicester or Suffolk (I have both) are not so high in lanolin content but some people may find it just as sticky. I have found that the degree of stickness depends as much on the temperature of your surroundings as it does on the fleece. I find that the warmer weather melts the lanolin so that it doesn't feel as sticky. A raw fleece in winter will be a little harder to draft if you are not in a warm room.<br />
<br />
Fibre such as Alpaca, Camel, Mohair and Angora (often bunched into a group called hair fibres) do not contain lanolin so many people will spin them after combing, carding or just a good shake. It is even said by some that it is easier to spin these fibres dirty. (A word of advice when trying this though, is to place an old sheet under your working area. I find a lot of dust drops from some fibre and I prefer this not to be on my carpet!!)<br />
<br />
So if you prepare raw wools, flicking the tips to get rid of dirt may be sufficient. The hair fibres often respond well to carding before spinning.<br />
<br />
Of course if you choose to wash your wool before spinning you can card or comb without fear of getting your tools sticky from the lanolin.<br />
<br />
So, Do I prefer to spin raw fleece or washed fleece?<br />
<br />
I don't mind spinning either. The decision may depend on what I plan on doing with the spun yarn or I may decide to spin a particular fleece a certain way for the experience.<br />
<br />
You choose. But as I said earlier, even if you didn't like it the first time, try it again when you are more experienced. You may surprise yourself that your view has changed.<br />
<br />
Happy Spinning. :-)Farm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934009764054612157.post-44527714919386044282015-05-02T12:10:00.001+10:002015-05-31T13:32:11.425+10:00My First BlogWell I'm not there yet and I think it will take me longer than I would like to get this blog underway. However, for those who might visit during my development phase you probably want to know what this blog will be about.<br />
<br />
I am a shepherd and a hand spinner. This blog is to share my spinning journey with anyone who want to know. But also to share some of my learning and experience along the way. I'm largely self taught but have had a few lessons. I can't share with you now as it will spoil the topic of a future blog.<br />
<br />
If you have an interest in hand spinning, this might be a place for you to check out from time to time. I would also like it to be a source of information for Australian spinners as Aussie info is sometimes hard to come by.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure when my next post will be as I am still learning how to set up my site just the way I want it. Hopefully I will see you in the very near future.<br />
<br />
Happy Spinning.<br />
SuellenFarm2Fingershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05647920528586242147noreply@blogger.com0