Category: Uncategorized

Doin’ the Puyallup

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The weather didn’t actually seem that bad when we set out at 8am.

The forecasters were talkin’ up a crazy weather pattern that was dropping snow and freezing rain all over the rest of Western Washington- but I was not to be deterred. We were going to the fair, and the Shepherd’s Extravaganza contained therein.

Denise at SE

And it was great. Was nice to be amongst fiber people, visiting with sheep and examining show fleeces.

Eileen Hordyk of Sand Hill Sheep & Wool was there (behind me in the photo above) doing her “Shearing sheep on a Stand” workshop (same one I saw in Stanwood back in January), and had Some of her Romney’s there to show as well. Here are some sheep I met:

First, some sound effects to make you feel like you’re right there in the barn-

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Alce5qhHNiE&hl=en]

Then we’ve got pretty white Romney girls-
Denise w Romney ewe- SE

This guy is a Lincoln (pretty short fleece- he must have been shorn earlier this spring)
Denise w Colored Lincoln- SE

And then a Gotland cross. Gotlands are pretty rare in the US, but Franna Pitt at EverRanch Farm is breeding them (using AI). Nice fleece!
Denise w Gotland Cross-SE

And this is a colored Romney ewe. Love that chocolate-y color!
Colored Romney-SE

I spent quite a bit of time checking out the fleeces entered for judging:
Denise at Fleece show- SE

I really enjoyed reading the judge’s comments on each, and being able to compare many fleeces of different types. There was a lot of really great wool for sale, but I managed to keep my head and depart without any purchases (I can’t hardly believe it myself!)- but I did get photos of some especially tasty treats:
award winning targhee fleece-SE

award wining merino-romeldale fleece-SE

another jacob fleece -SE

Moorit Shetland Fleece- SE

multi-colored

Now, is that mouthwatering stuff, or what?

I didn’t catch any workshops, but I did talk to a woman doing a spinning demo:
In Samoyed's Clothing- SE

Yes, indeed. She is spinning (and wearing) Samoyed. Her friend’s name is Topper, and he’s a rescue pup.

Very neato.

Sheep-free Zone

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I’m in Anaheim right at the moment. And it’s a good thing I brought some wool with me, because so far as yarn shops go, this place is a total bust.

Lots of talking mice (the Disney type) and such, but no wool, and definitely no sheep. (There’s not even a zoo in the area. I checked.)

What a bummer.

Good thing I get to go to the Puyallup Spring Fair when I get home! The Shepherd’s Extravaganza awaits!

The Truth Comes Out

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I confess that I have been harboring a fugitive.

In the garage is a sweet little Corriedale fleece that came home with me from the spin in I attended last weekend (at 2 lbs, truly, it hardly counts as a whole fleece, right?) . From the moment I saw it, I knew I needed to have it- and spin it just the way it was.

So, today we are talking about “Spinning in the Grease”.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wOtpVHjve8&hl=en]
What I forget to mention at the end of the video is that, when you’re done spinning and plying, that’s when the magic happens. You wash the oily yarn (that will likely be kind of rope-y and much heavier than your usual result right off the bobbin), it brightens and fluffs and plumps and is suddenly a whole different animal!

I love that part.

Well, I guess I pretty much like all the parts. Even swatching. So here are a couple of my first little results from the not-so-secret-now fleece:
whidbey corriedale sampler-cropped

I’ve been walking around with the swatches in my pocket, and they are slightly felted from all the fondling, but both are holding up nicely. They’ve got a nice “bloom”. One is knit up on size 6 needles, and the other on 3s. Seems like it would be suitable for either sweaters or socks.

Possibilities abound!

Visions of Sugarplums and such

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So, I rode down to the Whidbey Weaver’s Guild Spin-In with Juliet, with the vague hope that someone might have a pair of used combs for sale. Took the checkbook just in case.

There were all kinds of great vendors there- fiber galore- tools too! But only saw a pair of single row combs for sale. Not exactly what I wanted. I exercised restraint.

I cruised the used goods table. There were some older, interesting wheels for sale and some other miscellany (swifts, yarn winders, etc), but no combs. Oh well, I thought. ‘Tis not meant to be.

We were having a great time, hanging out, talking, spinning, lusting after all the fabulous goods that were being offered. The talk by Judith McKenzie-McCuin started a little late, but I don’t think anyone minded (the wool fumes were very stong). She gave a great talk about Bison, and bison fiber. And at some point while she was talking, someone walked over to the used goods table and set out another item. Something in a wooden caddy. (I didn’t even see it happen at first. Juliet alerted me to this development with much pointing and excited whispering)

I casually strolled over to the table to scope them out. The little card said they were Alvin Ramer “Super Mini Combs”. This didn’t mean anything to me, but they looked well-made. 2 pitch, medium sized combs- larger than minis, but a little smaller than the vikings or full-sized english combs. With a nice wooden carrying case that has a built-in holder to lock one comb in place . All self-contained. Neat, eh?
Alvin Ramer combs

I wrote the check, and now they are mine.
Alvin Ramer Combs2-recentered

Denise is such a happy girl.

She finally has her combs.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!