Socks, a Southern Belle and Lincoln Longwool

I finished my Daddy's girl socks and feel really happy to have them out and mailed. They are HUGE. But then again, I think all male feet are massive unwieldy looking things, so the socks are probably about right. Gosh if I didn't forget to take a post blocking photo so I could share. Poop! I mailed them off today, but hopefully my Dad will take a photo I can steal. January and February socks completed and I cast on my March socks just last night during the Oscars. How have your 12 socks in 12 months goals been going?

Let's discuss the Oscars eh? I love watching award shows. I'm not a fancy sort of girl, but I enjoy seeing people dressed up to the nines and looking glamorous. It's like walking art to me. But last night? Gosh if that wasn't the most boring Oscars I've seen in some time. I just couldn't get in to it one bit. It felt slow and plodding, stunted at parts. I think the only acceptance speech I almost teared up at was Christian Bale. What did you think of the whole thing? I honestly wanted Anne Hathaway and James Franco (yum) to kill it, but alas. They didn't suck though. Maybe it's just me, but I just couldn't get interested at all.

Enough of my rambling, how about some fiber? 4 braids up in the shop today with 2 new colourways. I LOVE both. I know I always say that, but truly these are hug worthy and the shades turned out great.

Tallulah Belle 1 Hand painted on Falkland with soothing tones that remind me of a southern belle. Colour placement is sporadic.

Tallulah Belle 2

Inlet 1 and Inlet 2 are unique in the fact that they're chock full of colours and hand painted on a rare longwool named Lincoln Longwool that has been imported from the UK. They're a huge sheep breed with lovely long curls which are shiny, durable, lustrous and fun to spin. Spin them with a low twist and they give a mohair halo to any yarn. When I looked on etsy to find how others were pricing their lincoln braids I couldn't find a single other braid! Not sure why, but I absolutely loved dyeing it up.  I only wish I could fully photograph all the colours in these braids. I find it to be softer than the Wensleydale I've dyed recently, but that is just my opinion.

Have you ever spun Lincoln Longwool? What were your thoughts on it?

Best Sock Bag Ever?

Possibly! I have to squee a little bit here, so please forgive my enthusiasm? I saw a fabric combination online somewhere in my travels and *fell in love*. But alas, I don't sew. What's the next best thing? A friend who makes amazing sock bags (I carry my batty bag around with me everywhere now) who was willing to buy the fabric and make me a sock bag of my found creation! Faye of The Silver Pumpkin is awesome. Just to point out the obvious.

Check out the combination! I kept calling it Sugar Skulls even though the fabric is technically called Bonehead, and the plaid is a Brady Bunch named fabric. I love the combo, the colours pair perfectly but add a cool visual contrast, and Faye did a gorgeous job. She even made extra! I wish I could remember at what blog I read about this combination so I don't go and steal anyone's thunder. Whoever that was had great taste though!

Sugar Skulls Sock Bag

All photos belong to Faye of The Silver Pumpkin

I can't wait for mine to get here. *happy dance*

This is bad though, because now I've found the big wonderful world of adorable fabrics. I'm still learning to weave, I *can't* pick up sewing yet... right? Weaving needs sewing though eh? I mean, for the edges... Hmmmm.

Are You Ready For Some Cute?

I'm back to collecting photos for a future finished products made from Dyeing For Ewe Fiber post, but the amount of adorable in KittiKattie's pictures (and knitting) compelled me to make a solo post just for them.
Are you ready?

Sonali needed a sweater, socks and an adorable headband to match! (Knit from corriedale braids in Vespa and Melted Blow Pop that I carded together and spun into a yarn I called Fish Bowl) KittiKattie then turned the handspun into an adorable trio of socks, sweater and a headband for Sonali the American Girl Doll. 

All photos courtesy of KittiKattie

Isn't the little drying rack beyond cute?

Happy Sonali!

Thank-you for sharing KittieKattie! You can find her post here if you'd like to see more photos.

Quickie Wensleydale Updates!

The blog has a spiffy new address so feel free to change your bookmark if you're so inclined.
www.dyeingforewe.com
It will still lead you to this treasure trove of babbling, fiber and useful links to the various places you can find Dyeing For Ewe on the web (Up in the right hand corner there.) But eventually I'd like a big girl website. Baby steps!

Just a small update this week as my best friend is visiting from Canada. I hope you like the Wensleydale yarn and hand painted fiber.
Have you spun Wensleydale yet? I couldn't have had more fun. The long staple makes it an enjoyable easy spin, and the fuzzy halo, strength, durability and lovely sheen creates a unique yarn. It appears to have zero elasticity, and I wouldn't want it next to my skin for long periods of time.

Have you seen that meme about how movie posters lately have been running rampant in their use of blue and orange? I'll poke around and see if I can find it, but that is what inspired the name of my handspun Wensleydale yarn this week:

Movie Poster 144yards of DK weight/light worsted Wensleydale yarn hand painted as top and then handspun into a 2 ply yarn

If you'd rather experience the fun of Wensleydale yourself I did just add one braid of hand painted Wensleydale top with tons of colours. Blue, red, black, grey and purple, with pops of white in a sporadic hand paint I've named Morticia. Spun up all those colours should make a great moody yarn.

4.60oz

Sheepy Likes Socks

Sheepy approves of my (finally) blocked Rosebud socks

That would be January's socks done via 2 at a time toe up. February is still in progress (you can check them out to the right in my projects area.) although they're size 11 men's socks so technially they should count as 2 pairs eh? Men's socks are not fun, but this pair is more than worth it! Hopefully won't be too much longer. I had to take a few days break because my darn left hand likes to get all stabby pain if I get too OCD about knitting. Then I'll move right in to March socks!

Is anyone else trying to do the 12 socks in 12 months personal goal?
I know, not enough weaving and spinning talk. Hopefully I can get some of that done soon too!

Scooter- the other Gateway drug

50cc Scooters are such a gateway drug!
(That's the statement I'm about to prove at least.)
Today was gorgeous here in Davie County, NC. The sun was shining, there was enough of a breeze to be pleasant, but not chilly, and you could comfortably go outside in jeans and a tshirt. What do all the Mocksvillians with modes of transport on 2 wheels do? They flock to the roads! I couldn't believe the amount of motorcycles, scooters and bikes out today. (Myself included.) And I wave at every single one of them as I pass.
I mean, it's the polite 2 wheel club thing to do. Not everyone waves but that's cool. I'd like to think they at least smiled at me. Or maybe they don't want to be associated with the weirdo on the scooter with the aviator goggles and a black half helmet?
Back to my original proclamation. I hear all the bigger engines of the motorcycles going by and covet big time. I would love to upgrade to a 300cc scooter so I can blow the minds of the cars and motorcycles as I pass them by.
One day! I got over my fear of the roads and now I want more.. more speed! Cars are fine, but the feel of air rushing over you is unreal on a beautiful day. Not much beats that feeling.

I don't have a picture to go with this post, unfortunately. But if you're interested in a ninja discount the first person to say "scooter" in their message to seller will get 25% off their entire purchase (minus shipping)! Refunded via paypal.
(I'll edit this when the discount is gone.)
Edit: The Discount has been claimed! 

Now let's hope the weather holds for when my best friend arrives. 2 sleeps!

Mega Picture Post of Finished Items!

I've slowly been collecting photos of customers' (and friends!) finished items created from Dyeing For Ewe fiber/yarn. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you this post makes me GIDDY. So many awesome projects.
When I dye I usually have an idea of how I envision it turning out, but the end products I've seen are always better than I could have imagined.
Okay enough gushing. Time for pictures! Only the spinning wheel bag is my own photo.

 Caliente on Wensleydale Handspun by Sarah of Valentine Arts

 Tardis on Blue Face Leicester spun by Sarah of Valentine Arts

 Vertigo on Corriedale spun by Sarah of Valentine Arts

Wild Child on Wensleydale spun by Sarah of Valentine Arts

 Frida Batt spun by Ashurbadaktu. Her project page on Ravelry shows how she used the batt to experiment with different spinning techniques and how each changed the outcome of the finished yarn. Very cool!

 Grandma May on Superfine Alpaca spun by Talia of Internationalfleeces.com Single and 2 ply. Love!!

 Something Wicked This Way Comes handspun corriedale yarn, knit into a baby sweater by Jessica. Adorable! She also knit some mittens out of Willy Wonka, but I'm having a hard time finding the photo at the moment.
Edit: Willy Wonka Mittens!

Purple Plum hand painted tonal yarn knit into Knotty Gloves by Kim. I think she chose the perfect pattern for this fingering weight merino with its gradual colour changes.

 Rainbow on Falkland with some of her own hand dyeing at the edges to form clouds spun (and being knit into a Dorothy Shawl) by Dagny of Jenny Pie Productions I'm obsessed with watching the progress on this shawl to be honest. It even has its own thread in the Ravelry group.

 Cowly Scarf with edging spun from Rocketpop on Blue Face Leicester by Dagny of Jenny Pie Productions

Slither on Corriedale spun by Dagny of Jenny Pie Productions

 Chocolate Covered Cherries on Corriedale spun by Dagny of Jenny Pie Productions

 Honey Mittens spun from Banana Bread on Corriedale and knit into lovely mittens by Dagny of Jenny Pie Productions

Spinning Wheel bag handspun by me from Crushed Violets on corriedale, knit and then felted into this cute bag that now lives on a Schacht Matchless owned by Weeverwoman.

Last but not least? The adorable Caitirin of Fateful Fiber showing me she liked receiving her package of 8oz Wishing Well on Corriedale and 8oz Lazy Day on Corriedale.

I can't wait to get more photos and make another one of these posts. Thank-you to everyone for allowing me to use your pictures and sharing your wonderful work!

Happy Valentine's Day! (Braid Update)

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you have a wonderful (relaxing) evening. My husband is off on a business trip soon so we celebrated on Saturday with a breakfast at our favorite hole in the wall and a low key day. We're terribly exciting eh? Oh! He got me a box of chocolate covered strawberries. Mmm nom nom.

Let's forget the one missing in the corner eh?

I spent most of Saturday dyeing though, but since that is one of my favorite things to do hubby didn't mind one bit.

This is what I got up to!

 Bedknobs and Broomsticks on Blue Face Leicester. Strawberry red, orange and soft brown with hints of cream. I had done this previously on Dorset, and it came out far different on BFL.

 Corpse Bride (formerly known as Stormy on Dorset) Grey, pale aqua, blue and black on super soft Blue Face Leicester. This was one of my favorite colouways on doset and I love how it turned out a bit muted  on the BFL. I instantly thought of Tim Burton's Corpse Bride with its grey and blue tones.

 My Little Pony on Falkland. Same as previous versions, although the purple came out quite dark in spots this go around. Grape (with dark patches) grey, fuchsia and aqua.

 Tidal on Blue Face Leicester. Like blue? There is tons of it in this braid. I had a hard time properly photographing all the blue tones in this. I find it incredibly soothing.

 The Teddy Bear Picnic is back! I did it on a merino/silk 70/30 blend top and may potentially have hugged them a bit. This colourway and I go back a ways. It was the one that really helped me get my shop going, and I had to dye it up because it's been a while.
Teddy Bear Picnic 1 has more browns, while Teddy Bear Picnic 2 is more pinks- but both are the same dye "lot" so to speak.

Now I'm hoping to get some time to do a few more batts before my best friend Kate arrives on her visit. I'll still ship for the week she's here, but it's doubtful I'll have an update (unless she wants to give dyeing a shot!).

Angora Drawing

Thanks for all the interest everybody! I drew a name just now from all my e-mail and comment entries and the winner is....
*drumroll*

Jaguarrior

Congratulations! I'll contact you on Ravelry to get your mailing address!

Oh Sari Silk, How I love thee!

I've been collecting all sorts of interesting fibers to dye and put into batts lately. Small dyeing batches and the like so I have a bunch  of things on hand to mix and match when inspiration calls. One fiber I ordered and have absolutely fallen in love with is Pulled Recycled Sari silk.

Fiesta (4oz between 2 batts. Hand dyed BFL, Romney, Merino and sari silk) See the pops of colour? It's all throughout both batts. When you spin they'll get encased by the wool and just.. jazz up your yarn.

*swoon* I'm loving everything about it so far! It's specs and pieces of saris from India (mine is from internationalfleeces of course, but Talia sourced it from India) and it's just gorgeous and chaotic pretty! From sprinkling it into batts to the actual spinning process where you gets all the various bits and bobs as you draft out the fiber. It's fun seeing what colour and texture they add to your yarn!
If you want to actually learn more about Sari silk, and not just hear me gush about it- there is a bit about the Pulled Recycled Sari Silk I use here.

I even added in a bit to this new batt to break up some of the darker colours. I envision it spinning up almost tweedy with the bits caught in the middle:

Burns Bog (3.95 oz between 2 batts. hand dyed Blue face leicester, border leicester, merino, kid mohair and sari silk.)

I'll be having more Sari silk batt fun very soon, I just can't guarantee I won't keep them all to myself. Fiesta wants me to spin it so bad I can practically hear it screaming at me from the office.

More Alpaca made it into the shop. This time it's baby alpaca! I went a bit pink nuts, and continued on with my bright obsession with this first braid:

Meet Gossip! She's a flirty girlie girl who is super soft, 100% baby alpaca and jazzy with a pop of turquoise. I can already envision how the yarn spun from this will look, and it's bound to be perfect for an awesome hat, cowl or fingerless mitts. Couldn't you imagine a wild shawl as well? Mmmm.. alpaca.

I couldn't decide between the Fiesta Batt and this next alpaca braid as my favorite this week though:

Serendipity  (100% baby alpaca) is calmer than Gossip by a landslide, with soft pink, mauve and tones of grey. It's soothing and quietly pretty, as opposed to her bright and loud sister braid.

Oh and Tardis? There is some of that in the shop too! 2 braids are even still there! Tardis 2 and Tardis 4 still on the same amazing new blue face leicester as the last batch.

I'm continuing my sock knitting kick. I finished the Rosebuds and now I'm working away on a pair of men's socks in a gorgeous blue (Winter Night KP Gloss). I snapped a 2.5mm (size 1.5) 47" circ needle from Knitpicks last night. I've never broken a needle before, and it looks like it broke along the wood grain in this instance. It was annoying, but easily remedied by Knitpicks amazing customer service. I called, asked if they still did replacements- and voila! New needle is on it's way.
Good customer service is such a day maker eh?

What are you working on? 

Just 3 days until I draw for the free Angora. I can't believe the amount of people who have dropped by and left a comment, or sent me an e-mail. Thank-you for your interest! I've been writing everyone's name down and keeping track so it's all really fair. Promise!