Fat Cats Corner

Well, the Tour 2.0 is over and I came in dead last.  Actually I'm not anywhere near the finish line.  But I'm going to continue to Ride.  My lack of progress not with standing, I'm enjoying reading about and documenting these breeds. Eider wool comes from the German Whiteheaded Mutton.  They were specifically developed in the mid-1800's as a dual breed wool and meat sheep that would be well suited to the wet and windy conditions of the Wilstermarsch in Germany.  The sheep need to be rugged and to protect them against the weather, they have a rough fleece with a 2 inch staple length.  The white wool has a good crimp which is unusual for such a rough wool. Eider was originally the name of a sea duck known for its expensive and soft down that can be found in the famously warm and toasty eiderdown blankets. Short Forward Draw 2-Ply (L)     Short Forward Draw Navajo Chain Ply (R) Eider wool is categorized as a medium wool of 27 to 40 microns. I found it to spin very nicely

  Zwartbles , (Zwart-Black, Bles-Blaze) is the 6th breed in my 30 Breed Sample from   Woolgatherings.com .  The breed originated in North East Holland and was imported to the UK in the 1990's.  They are a dual purpose sheep kept for meat and milk with the addition of a very thick fleece with plenty of crimp. The fleece is medium to fine with a 4 to 5 inch staple.  It ranges from dense black to chocolate brown. I enjoyed this wool.  Very easy to spin and a really lovely natural brown color.   Lesson Two over at SheepSpot was Drafting Methods. I learned that my default is a Short Forward Draw (SFD).  I had to concentrate in order to use a Short Backward Draw (SBD) and I didn't seem to get the consistency SBD. I don't know if that's just because I need practice or if it's the nature of the method.  I'll keep trying and see if my results change.  The phot doesn't show it as much as the naked eye but the Short Backward Draw is a bit fluffier/squishier. Knits up

Photo from here . First, I've joined Sasha Torres  SheepSpot's  The Flock, 'Bust Your Spinning Rut Challenge' (like I don't have enough going on with Tour de Fleece, knitting  4-Ever in Blue Jeans , keeping my newly retired husband in chores and life). But I joined because, I don't know how to make the yarn I want. I don't know why I would use Combed Top vs Roving, the different results when Drafting Short Forward Draw, Short Back Draw, or Long Draw.  Not to mention different plying methods.  These are things I need to know and learn before I can make a yarn I can actually spend the money to buy enough fiber to make a garment from.  Second. This 30 Breed Sample has been sitting in my stash for over a year.  And by that I mean in a plastic bag stuffed into a plastic tote with the rest of my fiber stash.  That Crazy Sheep Lady  recently posted a video (which I cannot currently find) on how she uses her kettle to steam prepped fiber she has had stashed to fluf

OK, so I'm a little behind the guys racing, sue me, LOL!  Masham, pronounced massam is a cross of Teeswater or Wensleydale ram with  Dalesbred or Swaledale ewes.  The fleece is very long and lustrous and the breed is found mainly in the north of England.  The fleece is suited to combing due to its length and is used in speciality products due to its limited availability.  The fineness varies from approx 38 - 44 microns and length approx. 150 - 380 mm. The Masham is a hardy sheep, with a lustrous soft fleece and a staple length of between 4 and 9 inches.   Masham wool  is a good for those who want to get started spinning their own yarn due to its good staple length.  Despite this, Masham isn't the softest wool around, so you'll usually find it used in a blend with softer fibers, or used in carpets. I liked this wool, it was easy to draft and would make a great outer-layer sweater. I signed up for a Virtual Spinning Seminar hosted by Sasha Torres over at SheepSpot.com .  I

  This Tour and this 30 Breed Sample is teaching me patience.  In the past I have mostly spun Merino or Alpaca or a blend of these and pretty much spun the same technique. Because I only have one ounce of each breed, I have to adjust my technique, tension, drafting method, treadle speed all the time.  It is certainly a learning experience and makes me think. Today's fiber is  Manx Loaghtan  (pronounced loch-tan).   I thought Jacob sheep were the only ones with more than two horns!   This fiber is a bit shorter than the Cheviot or Devon and took a little adjustment. It has some nice crimp so 'stuck' together nicely and fluffed up nicely after it's bath. I've been making a Spinning Diary with these samples.                     I was spinning while visiting a friend who is recovering from hip surgery and she suggested I knit a swatch with some of my sample.  Brilliant!  Why did I not think of that?  I have never knit anything from my handspun, (I just like spinning!) s