Sticks and String

I would say its been a long while since I have had my knitting needles and yarn… Curly and I last friday went and cleaned up my storage unit.  I was looking through some of the stuff and things I didn’t need I tossed.  But in the unorganized jumble I found my yarn, needles, roving and my spindle.

I picked up my KnitPick circular needles and some  yarn and just stared at it.  It was unknown to me.  I felt like all the yarn-y things I had taught myself had gotten pushed out or  filed somewhere deep in my brain.  I will be doing my best to look for it.  I know that before my knitting hiatus I had wanted to make a pair of socks.  Or atleast one sock… so that is my current knitting goal.

I will get back to photographing my ideas and progress soon.  I always like

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Well Little Miss has embarked on a new crafty venture… Today my Mom, Sister, Curly and I went out to a friends farm.  They have 10+ sheep and they were recently sheared.

We picked up 5 bags of raw fleece from the sheared sheep.  Mom, Curly and I sat up in the garage and cleaned it up.  I went over to the Black Lamb and got some tips from Laurie.  She also pointed out to me what I was doing wrong when spinning with my drop spindle.  She said that when cleaning sheep it is called Skirting.  Also she said for us to get it cleaned carded and spun it was better to go to a mill.  So we have begun to skirt the wool and clean the crap (literaly) out of it.

There are some good sites out there for this:

- How to take wool from a sheep to the needles

- How to Skirt a Fleece

Pictures:

Raw Unskirted Fleece

Working with Mom!

Spin me right round baby right round!

I love that song… Anyways … I think I had mentioned before that I was interested in Spinning ever since the workshop I was in at the Creativ Festival.  Well, a few weeks ago I went to spun and purchased some VIBRANT roving.

I am still on the hunt for a drop spindle, the homemade one did not really work.  Note:  If any bloggers have a Drop Spindle that you are no longer using – please let me know!!

Any how I was bored so I played with some of the roving and made a little bit of 2 ply yarn (by twisting it by hand).  I am so proud of the little bit I made!

Also I would love to get some input about which is better an Ashford Spindle or a Louette?