Fall Day

Happy Fall! Love, The Simplestead Family

It is better to have carded than to have never carded at all

A few weeks ago I purchased a lamb fleece. I wanted the experience of processing a raw fleece. Why? So that I could say I did it and so I can fully appreciate the amount of time and energy it takes to process a fleece "the old fashioned way". 

I washed the fleece in my bathtub using a large mesh bag and Dawn dish soap to remove the lanolin oils from the fiber. I had to wash and rinse several times before all the dirt and lanolin were removed.

I then spread the washed fleece out on an old towel and put a box fan on it to let it dry. This wool is so soft!

So now I am in the midst of the long and tedious process of carding and spinning.

Hand carding raw fleece sucks. This is when I need a drum carder or a fiber mill to speed up this part. I had to do some adjustments to my wheel to spin this fiber, mainly with tension to get the yarn to wind onto my bobbin. 

I honestly don't plan on ever processing another fleece by hand. If I ever own sheep, I will definately be sending the fleeces off to the fiber mill. The time and energy it takes to hand process fleece is just not practical. Angora is much easier to deal with because you barely have to do anything to it before you spin it.

I assure you, that this fleece is not going to waste. I'm sticking it out, I'm gonna card and spin this into yarn, damn it. Because I'm a fiber artist, and I need to say I've done this. 

Note: from now on I will be buying roving for spinning projects.

Makings: In Threes Cardigan

Simplestead Baby will get much wear out of her In Threes Cardigan this Fall. I fell in love with this pattern when I saw it on the Soulemama blog and finally purchased it after seeing a sample knitted at a quaint little yarn shop in Delafield called Knitch.

I just bought my first lamb fleece

Photos courtesy of a Five Green Acres

I just bought a raw Cormo/Rambouillet lamb fleece from Five Green Acres! I have big plans for this fiber - spinning, dyeing, knitting... I can't wait. 

Sweater Making Weather

The Fall chill is in the air and this gal is NOT complaining. I love this weather, in fact, I thrive in it. I've always been very sensitive to the heat and I get heat stroke at the drop of a hat. So I welcome Fall with open arms! Bring on the orchard visits, the art fairs, the garden harvest, and my favorite - Halloween! 

Fall is also the best sweater making weather. Knitters get funny looks when working up a project in the dead heat of Summer, in Fall it is natural to everyone to  see that warm, cozy wool on the needles. My current project is the Heathered Cardigan by Melissa Schaschwary. The yarn is from my previous sweater project, the Feathernest sweater from Interweave Knits. I liked the sweater, I just didn't like it on me. Three quarter length sleeves don't flatter me at all, and I'm one of those who likes to pull my sweater sleeves over my hands. I really dig the top down construction and I always appreciate a well written pattern. I am just crossing my fingers that I have enough yarn. I had one skein left over from the Feathernest, if I end up using all of that then I will have to purchase more superwash wool from Knit Picks and hope the dye lots match. Wish me luck.

I will be posting more knitting and spinning projects soon! Happy Fall!

Sheep & Wool Festival 2014

The Sheep and Wool Festival in Jefferson, Wisconsin always marks the beginning of the Fall season for me. The rows and rows of vendors get my creative juices flowing and all I want to do  for the next six months is knit. The Baby loved the sheep. She even got to see one hour old lambs.

Of course I came home with a few goodies.

I'm in love with Briar Rose Fibers! I also appreciate a large skein, over 500 yards of merino wool heaven, not to mention the beautiful hand painted color way (now I really sound like a knitting nerd). I also got to talk with Jenny The Potter who makes amazing ceramics. I wanted everything in her booth but I managed to have a little self-control and made the modest purchase of a set of buttons for my latest sweater.

I definately regret not entering any skeins of my angora yarn into this years competition. I just had too many commitments this weekend, but I will next year, I must!

Gardening at Home

"Life is too short not to surround yourself with beautiful things" - Unkown

I've learned to love and embrace our little run down condo as home. I am lucky to have space in front and in back of our unit to create pretty spaces. Most of the perennials that I planted in front last season have returned. The lilac bush that we planted from cuttings is now three years old and is really starting to flourish, I may see flowers on it next year. I panted Sweetgrass last fall but I'm not sure if it survived the harsh winter. 

My father-n-law gave us some beautiful fieldstone for a natural border, I think it really ties the garden together. The stone compliments the plants and my metal garden sculptures.

I also have big plans for our back patio. We have a large tree that acts as a natural awning over the patio which means that I am limited to planting shade and partial shade plants. After doing some research I found that many herbs can grow in partial shade including oregano and lemon balm, so I will try those back there and see how they do.