BrownSheep- It's been a while

BrownSheep said:

The one thing I never really grasped was how much yarn you get from a fleece. Blew my mind.

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A lot depends on how thick you spin the yarn. I was spinning my fleece pretty fine so I got a lot more yardage than if I was spinning a bulkier yarn. I'm kind of proud of this project. The fleece is from my Shetland ram, my little sister sheared it, and I washed, carded, and spun it. Now I'm trying to decide what to make. I'm thinking a shawl and maybe a beret to match if I have enough.

My next spinning project will probably be for my sister. She's making a wool outfit for the fairs next year and she wants to make something from one of her sheep. I told her I would spin the yarn for her.

I've found that each fleece (and type of fiber) has a mind of it's own and wants to be spun differently. The Shetland fleece was soft and fine and wanted to be spun into a fine yarn.

Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving!
I had a great couple of days at home. Built our smaller pen for lambing but mainly just lazed around. I completely ignored the fact I have 2 test this week, but it'll be fine.

My birthday is on Friday and I have a sneaking suspicion I'm getting a spinning wheel ( that or it is coming for Christmas)...Lets just say my mom isn't very sneaky when trying to get gift information ( "Hey, what was that wheel you liked? What color do you like?"). My dad is the sneaky gifter not mom.
I found a floor loom for sale on craigslist for $200, which I understand to be insanely cheap even if it needs repairs. It's about a 4 hour drive from here but my dad and I are going to go get it.

That sounds like a cool birthday present! The floor loom sounds neat too...you'll have to post some pictures. Have a great birthday week

@BrownSheep - keep watching craigslist, even if you get that loom. One of my best CL finds was a floor loom that'll weave about 36 inch wide fabric. No name brand, but well built, in good working condition, 4 harness, 6 treadle. AND the seller delivered it AND gave me a book on handweaving - for only (drum roll) $100! PLUS it's even warped and only partially woven, so I can play around with some weaving before having to warp it again! Yes I was so happy to get that loom

Anyway, keep checking CL - I click 'all for sale' and search for fiber stuff there. My loom, spinning wheel and drum carder have all come from CL. Come to think of it, so did my sheep! LOL

norseofcourse said:

@BrownSheep - keep watching craigslist, even if you get that loom. One of my best CL finds was a floor loom that'll weave about 36 inch wide fabric. No name brand, but well built, in good working condition, 4 harness, 6 treadle. AND the seller delivered it AND gave me a book on handweaving - for only (drum roll) $100! PLUS it's even warped and only partially woven, so I can play around with some weaving before having to warp it again! Yes I was so happy to get that loom

Anyway, keep checking CL - I click 'all for sale' and search for fiber stuff there. My loom, spinning wheel and drum carder have all come from CL. Come to think of it, so did my sheep! LOL

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Hahah My family calls Craigslist the Hannah Home Shopping Network.
That sounds great!
I don't really know much about looms and the sort so I can only say it looks like its in good shape. Another forum said they think it is a countermarch. The woman I'm buying it from said she actually purchased it for her self but just doesn't have any space for it and it should be good to go.

She estimated it from be the 30's- 40's- here is the link. http://eastoregon.craigslist.org/art/4767175301.html

Even better news is two of my uncles are going to be making the drive for me. I'll be paying their gas but I am sooooo happy not to have to take the time to do drive there.

Well, my spinning wheel did appear for my birthday

I've already made a little skein of yarn of about 52 yards. I have drafting down but need to work on my twist.

I'm in the process of knitting it into a headband ear warmer thing.

My dad said he was going to take it home until Christmas break and now I'm wishing he would have. It's dead week and all I want to do is play with it!

We had out first lambs born the 4th. Two white twins rams with a black first time mama that didn't want them . My aunt is bottle raising them in her house (diapers!) until we leave for Christmas break. At 2 days old they weighed 7 and 8 pounds.


I've taken our loom in to be cleaned and re-oiled. If it needs any repairs they'll get me quotes. My wonderful uncles wouldn't even take gas money for it. I did make them some cookies for the 4 hour drive ( one way).

Your wheel is beautiful! I like the uprights, they're such space savers. And extra bobbins, and it's double-treadle - very nice!! Candy cane yarn, perfect for the season

Congrats on the lambs, and I hope the loom doesn't take much to get it working. Your uncles are so sweet to go get it for you.

Two more lambs this week. Ewes who are doing well. The twin ram lambs however are not doing so well. One died and one is heading in that direction. Just failure to thrives.

We've started trapping birds at work and it is AWESOME. We are trapping American Kestrels and they are beautiful! Today we got three birds. Two were pretty relaxed but the last one was ferocious! He nailed us with his talons and snapped. I just got his talons which are sharp. My poor partner got bit which looked way worst.
We would have gotten a 4th but a hawk came in on the trap which is a big no-no since they can fly off with them.

Finals start tomorrow but I am ready to be done.

Sorry to hear about the lambs

Good luck on the finals!

So sorry about the lambs. I guess that is why the momma didn't want them.