Category: Uncategorized

Sock Progress

1

I can think of nothing particularly clever to say about these socks.

Untitled

But they are coming along nicely.

And for now, that is enough.

The yarn is a blend of Felix (for the light color and soft fluffiness) and Griff (for elasticity and strength).

It is nice to knit with, and I hope that it will wear well.
Only time will tell on the latter, I suppose.

Knitting up pretty tight on size 1 needles.
I really don’t like size 1 needles, but you do what ya gotta do, right?

Custom Knits

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Here I’m going to come up with some copy about why someone might want to spend a few hundred dollars to have a custom garment spun and knit for their lasting warmth and enjoyment!

Coco's fleece unwashed outside view
Coco’s fleece, unwashed, outside view
Fleece, Skein and Swatch
Fleece, Skein and Swatch
Shadow sweater inprogress
Shadow sweater inprogress

 

 

Selecting a Fleece

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Using your Senses, and Good Sense!

Complete Raw Fleece Outside
Complete Raw Fleece Outside

#1: Sight

  • Color
  • Length
  • Crimp
  • Vegetable Matter
  • Moths or Other Bugs
  • Scurf
  • Dung Tags
  • Second Cuts
  • Breeding Markers

 

 

#2: Touch

Fleece, Skein and Swatch
Fleece, Skein and Swatch
  • greasy, or tacky?
  • staple length intact, or broken?
  • brittle tips?
  • matting?
  • fine textured, medium or coarse?

#3: Smell

  • fresh “sheepy” smell?
  • mildew, mold?
  • urine?
  • ram-smell?

#4: Intended Use

do you have a specific project in mind?

or are you spinning just for the joy of it?

Fleece Characteristics

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The qualities in the fleece you select will, to some degree impact the way you’ll need to process it.

—Greasiness:

High-grease fleeces will require washing at higher temps, and perhaps multiple washes.

—Length:
Very long fleeces are not suitable to be carded (unless they are cut). Better to use combs or flick card. Very short fibers cannot be combed very effectively. Best to card (hand or drum).
Variety of Fleece Types and Lengths
Variety of Fleece Types and Lengths
—Color:
If multicolored, do you want to blend for uniform color, or preserve the different shades?
—
Vegetable Matter (VM, veg):
Some veg may be removed via hand-picking, but you’ll get best result from combing.
—
Discoloration:
Can skirt out of fleece, or dye the wool.
—
Matted or weak tips:
Will require trimming of affected areas.