Carding wool at the Connecticut Country Store!

I decided to combine alpaca wool with my rabbits' angora for my next project - very warm!

First I carded the 2 kinds of wool together.  This alpaca was already processed in to roving which made things much easier for me!

I didn't want to card too much because I want the striped yarn with variations of brown and white.

After I filled this bucket I started to spin.

This is how the yarn is looking.  This is 1 ply.  I will make 2 spools of 1 ply and let them stretch, then I will ply them together to make a nice warm yarn.  I am hoping I can then talk one of my talented sisters into making me mittens with it!

September 25, 2010

John spent the day at the Woodstock Agriculture Fair while I watched the store.  I had time between customers to spin some of the camel wool I got from Janet of Circle K Farm.  I used a Navaho 3 ply method to finish off the yarn which I learned from my friend Susan.  Here is a pick;

March 2, 2010

I Finally 2 plied the wool yarn I was making to add as a weave to this nice multicolored warp I've created.  The yarn is intentionally thick and bulky because I double spaced my warp after having trouble with my heddles.  I could not get a handle on my heddles!  haha!  Thanks to Susan for all her hard work today replanting rosemary and lavendar!!!!  You rock!  Thanks to John for feeding the fire to ensure the plants stay happy!  I love you. xoxo.  John went to Civil Air Patrol while I went to the Mansfield Agriculture Committee tonight, so not a whole lot got done after 5!  My goal is to fight and win with Quickbooks tomorrow!  We will see!  Be well!

January 27, 2010

I had a great time spinning wool with Susan tonight while we watched "The Secret Life of Bees". I cried like a baby. I also had the chance to make a few loaves of Irish brown bread - yum!  Tomorrow I learn about beekeeping - I AM SO EXCITED! Today John looked at tractors, ordered seeds for the greenhouse and ordered potting soil. He worked on the shelves in our basement (our temporary greenhouse), put the displays in the store with Tad, and he's going to pick up the potting soil tomorrow. He also finished painting the baseboard trim in the store! Another couple coats on the countertop and the showroom is almost ready! All of the support from family and friends and new acquaintances has been tremendous, we are truly blessed! Be well!

Spinning wool

Tonight my friend Susan and I got together to spin some wool!  I love this!  It is always so relaxing!  This is a bag of the wool I'm spinning from a sheep from Scotland, CT.  The right picture is the wool after I card it to allign the fibers and clean it up a bit.

This is a picture of Susan spinning the wool.  She's got a roving of alpaca.  She uses her yarn to make the coolest knitted mohawk caps EVER!

This is a side view of my wheel which is an Ashford.  I love it and its the best wheel for a beginner like me!  Now if I could just figure out how to make crocheted mittens.....