Beth Smith's Blog, page 19

Preparation

Earlier this year I knew I would have a bunch of classes to teach with not a lot of time in between. In addition, because I had sold the shop, I no longer had unlimited access to all of the fleeces I would ever want.

Both of these things meant that I would need to get a little more organized as far as class materials than I had been in the past.

First I did an inventory of what fleeces and prepared fibers were left so I could figure out what I needed to find, order and purchase.

Next I listed all of the classes that were coming up and filled in how much of each different fiber I would need for each class. of course I needed to base this on full classes so that I wouldn’t run short.

I came up with this Excel spreadsheet to keep track of it all:

 

It’s 67 rows long and 26 columns and it does all the things I need. I had Lousmith, king of Excel, talk me through some of the more difficult formulas. It’s actually pretty basic but I can look at it and see if I have enough clean fleece, enough roving or enough top for any one of the classes coming up.

Now that the fall is coming there will be shearing and I can look at this spreadsheet and see what I used most and what things I need to stock up on for classes that may happen in 2015 before the spring shearings start.

Little by little I am becoming more organized. Now to get to work on straightening the studio…AGAIN!

Yes, I Am Bragging a Little

I have looked at Amazon rankings for books in the past. They’ve never been for a book that I wrote because, well, I only have one book and it just came out. So now I’ve been checking the Amazon Ranking for The Spinner’s Book of Fleece…because I’m a curious girl. I looked on Friday and I had a proud moment!

There’s my book!, Number 1 in Weaving!

And there it is again! Number 5 in Knitting!

OK. Don’t ask me about the Spinning Category. It’s not ranked at all in Spinning. I don’t know if they didn’t put it in the spinning category or what but we are just overlooking that for now.

All the Babies

I’m getting ready for my classes which will come quickly, one after the other, beginning next week in Los Angeles.

One of the classes i am teach a couple of times this fall is about spinning and finishing downy fibers such as Cashmere, Yak, and Qiviut. I realized that although I’ve talked about this many times before, i never saved my samples. So I made some new ones.

On the top are the samples as they came off of the wheel. The second photo is of the finished yarns. From top to bottom they are, Qiviut plied with silk, 2 ply Qiviut, 2 Ply Camel, and 2 ply Cashmere. I love the Cashmere most of all.

They were all spun with a long draw and then finished a bit violently with hot and cold water along with some plunger action. Many people get so nervous to treat their yarns this way but it is for their own good. I’m happy to demonstrate in person:-)

 

Also, the books arrived! I’ve been signing them with a personal message and shipping them out as fast as I can. There are still more to ship but I have placed another order for books and so if you would like a signed copy, don’t worry! Here’s the link.

 

And! There’s another baby. His big sister Candice turned 3 on Tuesday and Cohen came on Friday. That’s 3 grandchildren for me, already!

Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp

I have had the opportunity over the years to meet some really fabulous people. Many of them have become my friends. Three of them started to gang up on me a little last year. All of them are awesome knitters and they are the kinds of knitters who design stuff! Greg Cotton doesn’t design stuff for anyone but himself as far as I know. Marilyn Van Keppel is the queen of Faroese and Icelandic style shawls. Janine Bajus does colorwork and Fair Isle like nobody’s business.

The designing is a puzzlement to me. I’ve never had the confidence to really do it. I’ve made one sweater and one shawl with no pattern. It was hard but I want to get better.

Here’s the honest truth. When these three would come to my place to spin with me I was quite fine. I felt like I could hang. When they wanted me to go to camp with them, I was hesitant. It was out of my comfort zone. My knitting skills are adequate when following a pattern but spending 4 days next to these three plus more than 30 others, who I was convinced were all professionals, was quite intimidating.

The peer pressure was too much and so I gave in. It’s one of the few times I’m happy I did that.

Also, Meg Swansen is a very beautiful woman. It was hard to not just admire her. She’s so elegant. And kind. And she knows knitting!

We went to the session that they always go to which is retreat session 2.75. It was completely different than I expected. I was thinking it would be sitting in class the whole time. It was nothing like any class I have ever been in. There was so much discussion and sharing of ideas and techniques. The whole class was filled with teachers, people willing to share what they know. Plus, all of those Elizabeth Zimmerman techniques that I couldn’t figure out by reading were coming to life and I had plenty of aha moments.

Look at the samples that were there for us to touch and study.

 

 

I now have lots of new things I want to make and try. I need to find more places to fly to so I have more knitting time! If you’ve been thinking about going to camp and you haven’t ever gone, don’t wait any longer!

Now, for just a tiny advertisement. There is still room in our Happy Camper Fiber Retreat in September. We have added some single rooms too so if sharing a room was what was holding you back, we’ve helped you out with that obstacle. Rita has one of the broadest color palettes in her dyeing and she wants to show you how she does it. Jillian’s class is awesome. The description doesn’t do justice to all of the things you will learn from her. And me, well, I love hand cards and I will show you how to use them, and how to use them for blending, and how to feel happy with your carding, and how to get the reproduceable colors you want if dyeing just isn’t your thing. Sign up! It’s going to be fun! Plus door prizes! Plus the most awesome goody bags you’ve ever seen.

Once I Wanted to Name My Baby Lace.

Lousmith was not in favor of that so she is named Maggie (actually Margaret) after me and my grandmother. But that’s another story.

Anyway, I’ve always loved lace. Really, all my life. I never thought I could make it though.

Then I learned to  knit and not very long after that I took a 3 day lace knitting class with Galina Khmeleva at Stitches East in Valley Forge Pennsylvania. It was a long time ago. I wasn’t even trying to spin yet – though it was in the back of my mind. It was the first time I made a hole in my knitting on purpose and Galina taught me how to knit from charts.

Then I knit Galina’s Lily of the Valley Shawl and got Best in Show at Rhinebeck that year. Here she is being blocked.

I don’t spin for that one. As I said, spinning was just a thought.

Anyway, lace still stays with me and I want to learn all the things. this past winter I began an online course about Irish Crochet Lace. I need to practice more and I may need an in person lesson.

While I was in Utah I had a couple of lessons in tatting which was awesome. More practice is needed.

And the thing that I most want to learn is still buzzing around. It’s bobbin lace. I love the look of it. I think I could do it but I’m not sure this is a thing I can learn on my own. I don’t even know anyone who makes bobbin lace but I want to so badly!

Anyway, my good friend Jillain knows these things and she just took a trip to Portland, Oregon. It is the home of Powell’s Books. And look what she brought me!

It’s fabulous! Copyright 1977. It has everything. History, how to make your own pillow, how to make your own bobbins, simple instructions to get you started and a few projects to make sure you are on your way. There is also a pretty good bibbliography – though it is short.

 

I will treasure this book. I will find someone to teach me! I will!

Anyway, in the mean time I will practice the other things and keep teaching people to spin – which brings me to my next topic. We’ve added some single rooms to the Happy Camper Retreat because we heard through the grapevine that some of you like a private room. I don’t blame you so if that’s what is holding you back, now you can join us!

Listing

I’ve been traveling a lot already this year. None of it was work related though. I saw that baby twice. I went to Pennsylvania and saw my parents while Lou and Ryan attended the Frozen Four in Philadelphia. I just got back from a really nice trip to Mackinac Island (pronounced mackinaw).  We are six months in and I have been traveling nearly constantly for the last 3 months. It’s not about to end.

I think the key to successfully carrying out all of my plans and fulfilling all of my obligations through the end of the year will be making lists and charts. I worked with Jillian on improving my skills at this last year. It was wonderful. We had regular meetings where she steered me through making goals and figuring out how to accomplish things. She’s a master at that kind of thing. Then she pushed me out of the nest and told me to fly on my own. I’m working on it and slowly getting there. Once in a while if I’m falling she swoops under and lifts me up again.

Anyway, I have this Excel spreadsheet that I have been working on since January. I printed it out yesterday. I had to tape it together. It is a list of all of the classes I am teaching and how much of each fiber I need for each full class. Want to see?

 

I now have all of the raw wool I need for classes thanks to local shepherds as well as the Spinning Loft but I still need to do an inventory of the silks and downy fibers and processed wools to make sure I have enough of all of them. That’s on my list of things to do next week.

In all of this time of figuring out how to work and get everything done I have realized that electronic lists and organizational things don’t work well for me so I am back to a notebook and pen. Writing it rather than typing it seems to help it stick in my brain better. I have a tendency, when using electronic apps, to type it and forget it.

I have made a rough list for each day for the next 2 weeks. Each day includes washing 3 types of wool. If all goes well, all of the wool I need through December will be clean by mid July and I won’t have to worry about that anymore. I will average about 20 pounds per day with this plan. No Problem!

My parents were here for a couple of days and my mom walked into my extremely messy work room and told me that it was arranged wrong. In a two hour period she helped me rearrange the shelves and work table and get it almost cleaned up. I feel happy and comfortable in here now!

The other things that are weighing on my mind are these:

1. I’m going to Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp for the first time and I feel like a young girl with all of the nerves and worries. I’m sure it will be fine. I have friends who are going too and I will follow them around like a puppy.

2. I’m taking a 2 day lace knitting class with Franklin Habit at Stitches in August. I’m a pretty good lace knitter but I want to take hand spun yarn to sample with in class. I have some spun but should I spin a different breed too? Not sure yet.

3. Greater Los Angeles Spinning Guild! I’ll be there in August. Class Outlines! Plus it’ll be my first book signing! That makes me nervous. Also, my first time teaching on the west coast!

4. Happy Camper Fiber Retreat! It’s coming up fast and there are still spaces open. I want you to come! It’s going to be so fun! and the place is so beautiful and the price is so good!

5. Wisconsin Sheep and Wool! I’ve never been there before Also, book signing!

Seriously, that brings me through September and I’m nervous and excited about all of it!

 

 

 

All American Sheep – American as Mom and Apple Pie

There’s a class I’m teaching at Rhinebeck this fall. I taught this class for the first time when I went to England a couple of years ago. It’s an awesome class, if I do say so myself.

Here is the official class description:

American Breeds Study 

As spinners we often think of Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand as the source of all things wooly. This class will look at breeds that were developed in the United States. Some come from feral breeds that came about during Spanish Exploration and some that were purposely planned to make the most of the local environment of the shepherds who made the decisions. These breeds range from next to skin soft all the way to best used only for carpets. All of them are fun to spin and all are extremely interesting to explore.

The 6 hour class will include 10 breeds.

Students should be able to spin a consistent thread. This class is good for those who spin on a spindle or a spinning wheel.

Here is a picture of one of my favorite American breeds, the Tunis.

Here’s the thing about this class. So many spinners are not aware of the rich history this country has with sheep. We often think of England or Australia as the homeland for all of the best wools to spin. Not so, says I! In this class we will get to touch and try 10, count them, 10! different sheep that have their roots right here. And don’t think these are all only good for rugs. These are some breeds that I would be willing to make underpants out of! Also, several of the breeds we will try are on the rare and endangered breeds list. We need to learn about them so we don’t lose them all together.

In the midst of all the touching and ooohing and aaahing, we I will also sneak in some tips about how to best weild those fiber tools and get the most awesome preparations which translate into spectacular yarns. And yes, you might catch me sniffing these wools on the sly.

Come with me on this American journey and let me infuse you with a new excitement for these great American sheep.

Is it Lace or is it Just Fine?

I have a class that I get excited to teach all of the time. Of course all of my classes have some content about how the fiber being spun will affect the final yarn being spun. But this class is one where there is giant transformation of the spinner in a very short time. I used to call it Spinning for Lace but then I wondered if that title might be keeping people away because they actually wanted to spin for socks or a baby sweater so I changed it to Spinning Fine Yarns. It’s kind of an all encompassing title I think. So many spinners that I meet want to learnt o spin finer and they just aren’t sure how to go about it. Well, this class is the one!

Here is the description most people will see when they are looking at a fiber festival or guild meeting website – or even my very own website.

Spinning Fine Yarns – 6 hours

This class will get you spinning finer than you ever thought possible! You will learn the mechanics of spinning fine yarn, including how to adjust your wheel for spinning fine, what spinning ratios mean and the types of drafting methods that make spinning fine yarn easier. You’ll go from spinning DK weight yarn to cobweb lace in no time at all.

In addition, we’ll look at the wide range of fibers that are great to use for spinning fine yarns, including commercially prepared fibers and washed fleece. We’ll work with the finest of fibers like cashmere to wools you never would have thought of for fine yarn. You’ll also learn how different fiber preparations will give the great results for fine yarn, and how to best utilize those hand combs, hand cards and flick cards.

Please Bring: A Spinning Wheel in good working order, hand held combs, flick and hand cards if you have them (Some tools will be available to share), note taking materials, small bags for extra fibers, hang tags for labeling. Please bring your wheel’s original flyer to use during class, Woolee Winders are not recommended for getting the most out of this class.

Spinning Level: Students must be able to spin a continuous thread.

There’s a ton of stuff included in this class. It moves a little slowly at first while everyone learns new things about they spinning wheels and settings. We talk about drive bands, brake bands and tension and how all of these things have an impact on your hands and therefore the thread you are spinning. Then we get to the fiber types. We spin everything from different wools to Cashmere and Qiviut. It’s fun and exciting as I throw new fibers to try and give advice about the best ways to handle these fine fibers. These are fibers that some spinners are hesitant to buy because they are “afraid to mess them up”. In this class you get permission to try. So many students leave this class with new confidence in their ability to spin all the yarns and not just the fine ones.

I’m teaching it at Rhinebeck again this year. It’s on Thursday so you don’t have to miss any shopping time! Want to come and play with me?

Color!

Remember when I wrote that post just a little while ago about how I love to spin white? Well, I don’t want to scare any of you away so I thought I would tell you a little about a class I will be teaching this fall about color. It’s called hand Carding the Color Wheel. Here is the official description:

Description

It’s all about getting the perfect color. We can do that simply with a little fiber and a pair of hand cards. We will begin with just the primary colors and black and white. We will learn how to adjust and blend just the right amount of these colors to make a wide range of colors for your projects. You will leave the class with more faith in your ability to use hand cards as well as a knowledge of how to blend colors consistently for even the largest of projects.

Materials Information

Bring to Class:  Students should bring a spinning wheel in good working order or a spindle, a pair of general purpose hand cards (72 up to 112 tpi) and a battery powered scale that can measure in 0.1 ounce quantities if you have one.

 

The thing is, this class will add several things to your skills.

First, you will leave class with ability to use hand cards with confidence. I meet lots of spinners who doubt their ability to hand card or they think that hand carding is very time consuming. My answer is that everyone can learn to use hand cards and they can process large amounts of fiber in a similar amount of time as is possible with a drum carder with a much less expensive tool.

Second, you will be able to make at least 30 different colors while beginning with only the 3 primaries. Add white and black to the mix and your color possibilities are endless. Again, this is a money saver for you as a spinner. In addition, if you are a weaver, knitter, embroiderer or anything else you can think of that uses yarn, you will learn how to add shading and dimension to your fiber projects.

Third, you will learn how to reproduce colors that you blend. This ability and knowledge can be expanded to any tool you might use for blending and processing your own fiber – from drum carders, to combs to blending boards and more.

In just three hours you will add a great deal of fabulousness to your fiber artistry.

I am teaching this class at two fun places this year.

In September you can joint me and Jillian Moreno and Rita Pettys at the Happy Camper Fiber Retreat in Michigan. Small classes and too much fun will be happening there.

In October I will be teaching this class and several others at the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival – often referred to as Rhinebeck because it takes place in…rhinebeck:-)

I’ll be talking in depth about a few of my other upcoming classes in the next weeks. I can’t wait to see you all in class with me! Let me know if you have any questions about any of the others.

Song of Spring

In the middle of February, right after I finished knitting Hiro I needed a new project.

I spun up two 4 ounce batts that I bought at Rhinebeck from Josette McWilliams who is the genius behind Enchanted Knoll. The batts were called Freshwater Pearls. At first glance all is grey but when you look closer there are all the colors in there shining through – just like when you look at a grey or black pearl. The batts were made of about 60% Merino and 40% silk. some of the silk is recycle Sari silk.

I spun the singles fine. They were about 45 wpi. Though the yarn was spun with a short forward draw, there are inconsistencies in the twist and thickness throughout because that is the nature of woolen prep, especially if there are thicker things blended in such as the Sari Silk.

 

I was very happy with the yarn when it was finished but I didn’t really have a project in mind. I have been thinking a lot about lace this year and so I went on a hunt for a shawl that I thought I might need.

 

The shawl that caught my eye was Song of Spring designed by Rosemary (Romi) Hill. It is ethereal and light. It was exactly what this yarn needed.

It always takes me at least 15 rows to start getting the hang of things. I think it’s because, for me, it takes that long for a pattern to begin to appear so that I can read my knitting and follow easily along with the charts.

 

I’m halfway through chart A here.

 

No charts B and C are done.

And I am currently about halfway through chart D. I can’t remember if there are 2 or three charts after this one. I’m not going to look because I am focused. I should probably take my string and blocking pins along to Utah. I expect I will be knitting a bit between feeding and holding the little baby.

And now for a moment of Zen brought to you by Carol Sulkoski and Wendy Ellis.