Yarn!

If any of you know me personally, you know that I am addicted to knitting. Over the last year I added fiber and spinning into it.

Last weekend we went to the annual sheep to shawl celebration at the Mission Mill Museum. What a fun outing! This museum is an old mill that was used back in the 18-1900s to make fabric starting with the raw wool. It was amazing to see these old machines work.

They had all sorts of really neat demonstrations. Madeline was able to try weaving on a real loom. She immediately fell in love with it, and wanted one of her own. If we had room in our house for one, I would totally buy one for her. There was a room filled with people spinning, knitting, and weaving. I was in heaven!

Surrounding the buildings were a bunch of different little booths where local farmers showed off their fiber animals. I was able to get all sorts of business cards, and learn about the different kinds of fibers that could be spun into yarn. We saw sheep, llamas, alpacas, cashmere goats, pygora goats, and even angora rabbits. Petting the rabbit was the kids' favorite.

A few months ago I was given a really nice raw Romney fleece. I have been busy scouring, carding, and spinning it, trying to make a really nice skein. I also tried to dye it red. The first dye job turned out horrible. It ended up being pink. But this last batch I am so glad to say, that I got a nice deep red!

This picture didn't turn out too well, but it actually has some lighter areas which gives it a nice effect.  The fleece came from a sheep that a local teenager shows for 4H.  I am planning on knitting her a hat out of her own sheeps wool.  Won't that be so neat for her!

So speaking of yarn, I ran into a contest today where you could win some Spud and Chloe sweater yarn.  This yarn looks so nice!  I hope I win it.   You can find the link here at Skeins Her Way.