Weaver does fiber. (duh)
Yes, I do weave, but more often I spin to knit. Spinning is zen. It's calming. Centering. It puts me into a better space - as long as I'm not fighting with the fiber because it's felted or something like that. I prefer to work with animal based fibers. More elasticity and a bit more forgiving in the hands of a spinner. Plant based fibers are generally not so elastic.
Al and Dan have a Samoyed. Wyatt is a gorgeous beast, now two years old. The first time I set eyes on him, "Dibs on his coat," came out of my mouth. All just dropped by this afternoon with his sheddings from the first of the year. Almost 3 pounds. Ten 1/2 gallon ziplocks full of Wyatt's undercoat.
My medical assistant and file clerks were just looking at it trying to figure out what fiber it is. After 3 minutes and multiple guesses, I finally told them. Dog was not on their list.
"What are you going to do with it?," they asked.
"Not sure yet. Probably listen to it with my fingers and let it tell me what it wants to be."
Faby looked at me over her glasses. Beto looked confused.
"I will process it by carding it on my drum carder and then will probably dye some of it with acid dyes to something earth toned. Greens, browns and rusts, and perhaps some reds and blues. Then I will sit down to spin, and will see how the fiber behaves in my hands when I start to turn it into yarn. I'm not sure how fine it will be and how even and that will determine what I ultimately do with it." Faby has heard me say things like that before. She's worked for me for 22 years and has known me for almost 30. Beto simply looked confused.
I took a tuft of the undercoat and started twisting it and drawing it out with my fingers and Beto's eye grew wide as he watched me spin with just my fingers 18 inches of a fine single and then ply it back on itself for about 9 inches of a two ply fuzzy yarn. I handed it to him and told him to pull on it to test its strength. He was surprised he could not pull it apart. "That's what I can do with just my fingers. Imagine what I can do with my wheel."
I smiled. I love when he looks at me with one eyebrow raised.

I do need to make a point of getting a cap from this for Al by his next birthday next March. Perhaps something in shades of blue. Or green. Maybe a bit of both.
Yes, I do weave, but more often I spin to knit. Spinning is zen. It's calming. Centering. It puts me into a better space - as long as I'm not fighting with the fiber because it's felted or something like that. I prefer to work with animal based fibers. More elasticity and a bit more forgiving in the hands of a spinner. Plant based fibers are generally not so elastic.
Al and Dan have a Samoyed. Wyatt is a gorgeous beast, now two years old. The first time I set eyes on him, "Dibs on his coat," came out of my mouth. All just dropped by this afternoon with his sheddings from the first of the year. Almost 3 pounds. Ten 1/2 gallon ziplocks full of Wyatt's undercoat.
My medical assistant and file clerks were just looking at it trying to figure out what fiber it is. After 3 minutes and multiple guesses, I finally told them. Dog was not on their list.
"What are you going to do with it?," they asked.
"Not sure yet. Probably listen to it with my fingers and let it tell me what it wants to be."
Faby looked at me over her glasses. Beto looked confused.
"I will process it by carding it on my drum carder and then will probably dye some of it with acid dyes to something earth toned. Greens, browns and rusts, and perhaps some reds and blues. Then I will sit down to spin, and will see how the fiber behaves in my hands when I start to turn it into yarn. I'm not sure how fine it will be and how even and that will determine what I ultimately do with it." Faby has heard me say things like that before. She's worked for me for 22 years and has known me for almost 30. Beto simply looked confused.
I took a tuft of the undercoat and started twisting it and drawing it out with my fingers and Beto's eye grew wide as he watched me spin with just my fingers 18 inches of a fine single and then ply it back on itself for about 9 inches of a two ply fuzzy yarn. I handed it to him and told him to pull on it to test its strength. He was surprised he could not pull it apart. "That's what I can do with just my fingers. Imagine what I can do with my wheel."
I smiled. I love when he looks at me with one eyebrow raised.

I do need to make a point of getting a cap from this for Al by his next birthday next March. Perhaps something in shades of blue. Or green. Maybe a bit of both.