In Depth Look at the Fleece Study Part 8

Today marks the fifth in a series of posts in which we are going to look at an in depth explanation of all the breeds in the fleece study. Generally I spun rather thin, but I tried to spin how ever the wool felt comfortable.
Today we are looking at some other fleece samples that do not fit in any of the previous families.

Left to right: Jacob, Columbia, Bleu de Maine, Corriedale

The Jacob sample that I had was a fairly even distribution between brown and white. I split the colors up from brown, to mixed, to white. I then carded the locks into variegated colors and spun them from white, to mixed, to brown. I then took the single and Navajo plied it to keep the color way consistent.

The Columbia sample was carded and spun woolen. The end result is something on the crisp side, but with a nice loft and slight halo.

I was pleasantly surprised with the Bleu de Maine sample. I was able to spin it quite fine from roll logs and still keep a very soft feel. This would be another sample I would spin again.

The last sample to be looked at is Corriedale. I unfortunately spun both the single and the ply in the same directions and it came out a little wonky. However, the sample was easy to card and spin. The resulting yarn, though over plied has a fairly soft hand to it.

Thus concludes the In Depth Look at the Fleece Study. I hope this opened your eyes to many different breeds of sheep and I hope you try some of them. This study was an amazing thing to do as a spinner. It was highly educational and opened many avenues for me to examine the whole process from fiber preparation, to spinning, to setting twist. The next journey in the spinning world for me is going to be a study through the Camelids. Stay tuned!

February Project: Started

So the bitter cold, snow filled, month of February has started here in the tundra which is now the greater Western New York Area. And what do you all think I do to compensate for the weather? I knit of course.
February, according to Elizabeth Zimmerman, is baby month. To begin with, she is not having any babies, nor am I, nor do I know anyone who has recently. So I am knitting for the sake of knitting, and honestly could there be a better reason to knit?
First she has a pattern for a double knit pot holder as the gauge swatch and a double knitted baby blanket as the actual project. I only knitted the pot holder, but may I say it was quite fun and fast and I rather like the finished pot holder. I made it out of left over Lions Brand chunky wool ease.

If I do knit it into a blanket any baby's bottom or knees would much appreciate it as the chunky yarn and double knitted factor make it supper plush.
Following this in the month of February is a square shawl. I am in the middle of that, more news to follow.
Along with the shawl I am now working on the Baby sweater. I have begun it but am only on the first set of increases to it. But, I can assure you that I am loving it because it is a top down little thing that's going to be adorable in a sky blue and pale pink.
Happy Knitting to All!

January Project: Complete

January has come and gone and so has the Aran sweater project. Now my sweater fell short because I ran out of yarn to make sleeves, so I made a sweater vest.
On a trip to visit friends in New York City, and to see Death Becomes Her at the Metropolitan Museum, I was knitting on the train. And somewhere between Albany and New York City I ran into problems; I realized I was running out of yarn. I already had finished knitting the back as a raglan but who ever heard of a raglan sweater vest, so I had to figure out how to make the front fit into the shoulders on the back. I pondered for some ways on the train and realized if I made the front a V neck and continued the decreases from the front then I could make the front follow over the shoulder and make a drop shoulder seam in the back; which I did. I'm rather happy with the results except for one thing...It's far too large for me. Luckily I know one person who would appreciate this fine knitted Aran V-neck sweater vest and he shall receive it when next our paths meet.

P.S. I would like to say this is an authentic Aran sweater because there are variations in the cables. To all those half empty glass people who will see them as mistakes I say "No, those are character traits, choices on behalf of the sweater!"