Greenwood Fiberworks Prize Drawing and Newsletter
Hello friends! It has been a while since I have visited this poor, neglected blog. I hope to do better in the future.
I wanted to announce some new plans for Greenwood Fiberworks. First we will be offering a quarterly email newsletter. This will include tips and techniques, patterns, special offers, new products, and a gallery of items made from GF fibers and yarns. We appreciate your inbox and will only send this out 3-4 times per year (only when we have something great to share).
You may sign up for the newsletter HERE.
As an added bonus, every person who signs up will be entered in a Prize Drawing to be held February 29th. The fun prizes include:
(1) 1st prize $150 gift certificate
(3) 2nd prizes $50 gift certificate
(10) 3rd prizes a Greenwood Fiberworks apron.
I hope you will consider joining our newletter. Please pass this on to all your fiber friends. Think gook karma ;)
Here's a little eye candy to brighten your day!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Monday, May 09, 2011
10 Pounds of "Holly Berry"
Yes, it's true. I've had a bit of fun this spring dyeing up a large batch of Merino top in "Holly Berry" for a good customer. I set it up on the dining room table to make the room look festive. Ok, maybe it's not the correct season, but I love the combination of red and green.
Yes, it's true. I've had a bit of fun this spring dyeing up a large batch of Merino top in "Holly Berry" for a good customer. I set it up on the dining room table to make the room look festive. Ok, maybe it's not the correct season, but I love the combination of red and green.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Sample Box Sweater
The Sample Box is one of the most popular items in my shop and I am constantly amazed at the creativity of what people make from them.
Linda of Sunset Fibers has made this delightful sweater using pigtails from a BFL Sample Box.
Here is her description of how she made this sweater:
"I took all the colorways, stripped them lengthwise by 4 and rolled them up into balls, threw them in a basket, added a few of my own colorways and tossed them like popcorn. I spun them randomly end to end then 2-plyed from the inside and outside of a ball. I did a side to side sweater striping it out with a next-to-the-skin soft romney fleece that I bought a few years ago. The result was exactly what I hoped for. I have enough for slippers too!!! Woo Hoo."
Thanks, Linda, for sharing your lovely creation. You may visit her website at www.SunsetFibers.com
The Sample Box is one of the most popular items in my shop and I am constantly amazed at the creativity of what people make from them.Linda of Sunset Fibers has made this delightful sweater using pigtails from a BFL Sample Box.
Here is her description of how she made this sweater:
"I took all the colorways, stripped them lengthwise by 4 and rolled them up into balls, threw them in a basket, added a few of my own colorways and tossed them like popcorn. I spun them randomly end to end then 2-plyed from the inside and outside of a ball. I did a side to side sweater striping it out with a next-to-the-skin soft romney fleece that I bought a few years ago. The result was exactly what I hoped for. I have enough for slippers too!!! Woo Hoo."
Thanks, Linda, for sharing your lovely creation. You may visit her website at www.SunsetFibers.com
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Busy sewing a Prom dress--more dyeing scheduled for next week It's been a very busy week here at Greenwood Fiberworks. My daughter was asked to Prom and she wanted a unique dress. She and I picked out some lovely brown and teal tapestry fabric as we planned the design.
Looking at the pattern, the dress seemed very straight forward. I thought I had a good handle on everything until I realized there were two layers of lining, boning, and netting. Ugh!
After a while the dress with over 16 yards of fabric became quite heavy and cumbersome to work on. Adding to my distress, the bodice fit perfectly until I put in the linings and somehow it shrunk 1.5 inches.
I am pleased to report that the dress was finished with a whole 20 minutes to spare and that my daughter loved it!
So, if my shop seemed a bit neglected this past week, please know that I've been fibering with fabric and a sewing machine this week. It will be great to get back to dyeing on Monday. Stay tuned . . .
I think she likes it!Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Felted Birds
The calender says spring is here, but in Utah we are still getting snow. The only thing that convinces me that spring is really on its way is the chirping of the birds in the morning. What a lovely sound!
Kirsten of Honeysuckle Kiss created these cute birds from my merino and bfl rovings. They just make me smile! She sells her felted designs on etsy, too.
The calender says spring is here, but in Utah we are still getting snow. The only thing that convinces me that spring is really on its way is the chirping of the birds in the morning. What a lovely sound!
Kirsten of Honeysuckle Kiss created these cute birds from my merino and bfl rovings. They just make me smile! She sells her felted designs on etsy, too.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Lovely Enchanted Yarn
SheepingBeauty creates lovely handspun yarn. I was delighted to see pictures of my Enchanted colorway spun so expertly. Here's the eye candy! You may visit her etsy shop at www.SheepingBeauty.etsy.com
SheepingBeauty creates lovely handspun yarn. I was delighted to see pictures of my Enchanted colorway spun so expertly. Here's the eye candy! You may visit her etsy shop at www.SheepingBeauty.etsy.com
Friday, April 08, 2011
Super Coils!
Made with Heathered Cyndi's Suitcase combed top
Alas, I was determined to achieve the distinction of spinning a full bobbin of "balanced" super coil yarn. This was the elusive novelty yarn I've been coveting for some time now. I could make a super coil yarn--it really isn't all that difficult--however, my skeins always turned out overspun and full of active twist. After playing around with some different techniques, I finally created a balanced super coil yarn. I'm so proud! I think I'll display it in the living room for all to see.
First, I started by spinning a firmly twisted single on my Schacht Matchless wheel. I used a 4 ounce braid of one of my new colorways, Cyndi's Suitcase, in a heathered BFL. I spun it into a thick and thin somewhat sport-weight yarn.
For the core I chose some ecru crochet thread. It really does not take much core to super coil 4 ounces of wool. It is surprising how many yards of wrapping yarn one needs to spin in order to get just a few yards of super coil yarn. Anyhow, I wound off a little ball of the crochet thread containing about 30 yards. I attached it and the wool to the leader on my Lendrum Bulky flyer setting it on the largest whorl. Treading very slowly, I held the wool singles at about a 60 degree angle to the core and allowed the wool yarn to spiral around the core. After 3 or 4 treadles I would push the spiral yarn up towards the orifice to completely encase the core.
During this process, twist builds up in the core yarn. To counterbalance the built up twist I did a couple things with the core thread. First, I placed a piece of tape on the small ball of thread so it would dangle freely from the spinning wheel and not hit the floor. Every time I would push up the spiraling wool yarn, I would gently let go of my grip on the core and allow the hanging ball of thread to freely spin and release the extra built up twist. After performing several "push up" procedures, the hanging ball of core thread would need to be unwound to give more length. I simply removed the piece of tape from the ball, unwound a few feet of thread, and replaced my tape. This was a bit cumbersome, but soon a rhythm developed. In the future I think I will try winding the core thread on a small bobbin used for knitting intarsia. I welcome any suggestions here!
When the yarn was completed I noticed that it was still not perfectly balanced. There was quite a bit of live twist. I decided to run the yarn quickly through my Lendrum wheel to remove the excess twist. This only took a few minutes and VOILA! perfectly balanced Super Coil Yarn!
I ended up with about 26 yards of fabulous art yarn. Move over flower arrangements and coffee table books, this yarn gets center stage on the living room table!
Made with Heathered Cyndi's Suitcase combed top
Alas, I was determined to achieve the distinction of spinning a full bobbin of "balanced" super coil yarn. This was the elusive novelty yarn I've been coveting for some time now. I could make a super coil yarn--it really isn't all that difficult--however, my skeins always turned out overspun and full of active twist. After playing around with some different techniques, I finally created a balanced super coil yarn. I'm so proud! I think I'll display it in the living room for all to see.First, I started by spinning a firmly twisted single on my Schacht Matchless wheel. I used a 4 ounce braid of one of my new colorways, Cyndi's Suitcase, in a heathered BFL. I spun it into a thick and thin somewhat sport-weight yarn.
For the core I chose some ecru crochet thread. It really does not take much core to super coil 4 ounces of wool. It is surprising how many yards of wrapping yarn one needs to spin in order to get just a few yards of super coil yarn. Anyhow, I wound off a little ball of the crochet thread containing about 30 yards. I attached it and the wool to the leader on my Lendrum Bulky flyer setting it on the largest whorl. Treading very slowly, I held the wool singles at about a 60 degree angle to the core and allowed the wool yarn to spiral around the core. After 3 or 4 treadles I would push the spiral yarn up towards the orifice to completely encase the core.
During this process, twist builds up in the core yarn. To counterbalance the built up twist I did a couple things with the core thread. First, I placed a piece of tape on the small ball of thread so it would dangle freely from the spinning wheel and not hit the floor. Every time I would push up the spiraling wool yarn, I would gently let go of my grip on the core and allow the hanging ball of thread to freely spin and release the extra built up twist. After performing several "push up" procedures, the hanging ball of core thread would need to be unwound to give more length. I simply removed the piece of tape from the ball, unwound a few feet of thread, and replaced my tape. This was a bit cumbersome, but soon a rhythm developed. In the future I think I will try winding the core thread on a small bobbin used for knitting intarsia. I welcome any suggestions here! When the yarn was completed I noticed that it was still not perfectly balanced. There was quite a bit of live twist. I decided to run the yarn quickly through my Lendrum wheel to remove the excess twist. This only took a few minutes and VOILA! perfectly balanced Super Coil Yarn!
I ended up with about 26 yards of fabulous art yarn. Move over flower arrangements and coffee table books, this yarn gets center stage on the living room table!
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