Dyeing Weekend and more sunsets

This is another sunset from Tucson. It was a wild one with brilliant colors and light. I find the colors that nature provides endlessly fascinating. I had a weekend of trying to emulate nature by dyeing some more of my white merino fiber. It was fun and I didn't always get the color I wanted, but I am getting closer all the time. It's an art, that's for sure.

Here are three of the last colors I did. I wanted more of a Burgundy on the nearest one, but it didn't get as dark as I hoped. I have lots of red and pink and may need to overdye. I am trying to do more fall colors but I love the jewel colors. I overdyed the green as I had a lighter green before and needed a darker one. So at least I did get the darker green I wanted. The periwinkle is my favorite color and I always can use it. It looks amazing mixed with many different things. I have not organized my rovings but will be doing so this week and hope to get some out on etsy. Plus I now have more colors to create roving with. It's an endless process. Thank goodness for Kathy and her new carder. I'd never get this much done 1 to 2 ounces at a time!

Sunset over Tucson

I had a full day of carding fiber with Kathy today. I have way too much pink and purple and blue. But I am always inspired by the sky. So I now can spin a lot of sunset yarns. I will post pictures later of all my purple fiber combinations.

Socks!

Sitting here, recovering from surgery has given me time to finish the purple socks I have been knitting. They are Merino and Silk. Very cushy and warm. Next is a crazy rainbow colored pair.

Green roving spun up

This is the next color in the lot of rovings. I am deciding whether to ply it for socks or coil it. It is pretty so far.

Spinning the fiber

Yep, my test with the iPhone app worked. I like it. It's nice to be able to post a bit here and there, and I will get the version with the pictures capability. Today, I finished spinning some of the dark roving and coiled it. Before and after pictures are below. It spins up nicely.

Test

I have a new app on my iPhone to write blogs with. Way cool! We will see if it works and increase my blogging.

I took a break from spinning and went out to lunch. Wildflower Cafe in Goodyear. Went to the bookstore for inspiration but didn't find anything.

Carding Frenzy

My good friend Kathy from Unique Designs By Kathy in Tucson got herself an amazing Pat Green carder. It is huge. It holds about 10 oz of wool at a time. So last weekend, I took all the wool I had dyed and trucked it down to Tucson. Then Kathy and I put together colors and she carded up a bunch of it for me on her fancy new carder. We did about 60 oz of wool. It works fabulously and everything comes off the carder so soft and pretty. It does a fabulous job. I am including a picture of my 60 oz of roving just waiting to be spun.

Everything turned out fabulous and the wool spins so easily now. It is so much cleaner and carded so well that it spins smoothly and creates beautiful yarn. I started with the black one in the middle. I think it's pretty dark but my expert Kathy tells me it will be fine coiled. So coil it I will and post it up for your approval. I am excited to be able to spin some of my own wool again. Doing an ounce or two at a time is so tedious. This carder is a dream come true.

I am also getting read to post my patterns online with Ravelry. I have a designer shop now and will be putting things up as I get them ready. I have 3 or 4 to start with and hope to have time to do more designing. It is time consuming but very rewarding. My name on Ravelry is FiberAddict2 and that's also my Etsy shop. Not that I have anything up there now, but maybe one of these days I'll get stuff posted. I should have a lot of time to spare after next Friday as I'll be convalescing for a few weeks. So I will be on my wheel if I feel up to it.