you need more fiber!

Something new at my Etsy Shop? Could it be possible?

After a month and a half of stagnation, I am finally offering new items. Each Wednesday I will add 4 listings – at least two will be dyed fiber plus yarn or locks. And for the new year, I’ve added a few new breeds of wool including Columbia roving, Romney top, and Superfine Falklands top.

I think I’ve finally solved the problem of absent lighting. Now I’m working with two 150 watt bulbs and one 300 watt bulb. With the correct fixtures, they easily clip on to anything, so I don’t have to leave them set up all the time. It will still take me a while to get the hang of it, but I’m pleased with the results for now. I can see a difference between photos taken with natural light and those taken under lightbulbs. I like them both, they’re just different.

“Candy Land”
100% Romney top
4 ounces

christmas knitting and experiments

This year I’ve decided to knit my Christmas gifts. Yes, I suppose after 3 years of knitting it’s a bit shameful that I haven’t already been doing this. I have no excuse. Why now? Because I’m poor and I have a sizable yarn stash. I think it makes sense. Thus far I’ve decided what to make for my mom and my sister. April – the sister – lives in Florida and will be getting a bag, this one, in fact.

Mom lives in Ohio and will wear just about anything I make for her while telling everyone she meets that HER DAUGHTER made it (she’s my PR representative). For her I will make the Handspun Scarf (ravelry/nonravelry) by Monica Gomi. I printed the pattern quite some time ago and when I came across it yesterday while cleaning the Fiber Den, I thought it would be appropriate. For the scarf I will be using my handspun Strings of Jade, which ended up 220 yards – I think that’s my most yet out of 4 ounces. It could have been a little more even, but it’s acceptable. I’m excited to see the subtle color changes as I knit.

As for the experimenting, this two photos are the outcome of a lighting set-up that I tried this morning. Again, cleaning the room yesterday turned out to be a major boon. Some new space was made available that works well as a small photo-taking corner. I had a 300 watt bulb that really made a difference over the 60 W bulb. I’m pleased with the results. I knew that with winter quickly approaching, hours of good sunlight would become scarce. Cheers. Problem solved.

And the yarn is called Rhinos at the Disco. It’s my Columbia locks, handdyed and drumcarded. I also added a bit of Firestar while carding – also an experiment, actually. I spun it thick and then, then plied it with button thread and seed beads.

grey undertones complete

Here is the Grey Undertones South African Fine spun up.  As I mentioned before, I decided to navajo-ply it to keep the colors intact.  Tuesday morning I managed to get the entire bobbin done in about 30 minutes.  I had to finish it before going to school because I didn’t know what state it would be in when I got home.  Navajo-plying is a technique that I find somewhat stressful.  The looping action makes it difficult to go back and fix weird spots.  Also it seems that any thick places are accentuated rather than hidden.  Overall I’m happy with the finished product.  It’s 3 ounces and guess what – 60 yards! 

These pictures were taken last night right before I washed the yarn.  I think I’m only going to use the super-macro function from now on since those seem to be the best looking pictures.  I’ve rigged up a little photo-shoot area in my fiber room that consists of a sheet draped over a chair + a huge lamp clipped overhead + the supermacro function. I don’t need natural light, which is good since lately I never get to be home during daylight hours.

Can you see how inconsistant I am? In the photo below, there’s that really nice looking strand of green in the middle right above that really lumpy green strand.  Obviously I still need to practice.

Christabel just informed me that she nominated me for an award! Thanks so much, sweetie. You are the best.

a little taste

First, thanks to all the lovely ladies who added their encouraging words to my previous post. I agree, Cathy-Cate, I hope they do appreciate the work – not just mine, everyone who is selling.

Next, tonight I discovered the SUPER MACRO function on the camera!! Here are a few up-close and personal shots of four of my neckwarmers… Oh, I just noticed I’m right at 199 photos on Flickr! One more and I’ll really be taking advantage of my pro account.

“Lydia”

“Stewed Veggies”

“Ethel”

“Banana Popsicle”

PS. All of these were handspun and handdyed by me.

yarn-arific.

Yesterday I finally got to meet with the photographer.  He helped me decipher what the little icons on my screen mean, so in the future I hope to be able to take better pictures.  I realized the other day that, with the coming of winter, I cannot rely on the sun coming in my large front window.  Therefore I will need to use lightbulbs instead.  We used a regular old farty bulb, nothing special.  The photos turned out pretty good, actually.  If you don’t agree, then too bad. I’m not a professional. 

“Jumbo Crayons”Navajo-plied. I dyed this in my large casserole dish using a sponge to dab on the color. It was interesting, although the colors ended up very pale. Next time I try this I will make the dye very dark. I forget what I used to dye this, likely Lanaset because I recall adding black to each color and that is the only type of dye I have in black.



 “Orange Slubbies” Thick ‘n thin single spun from some old handdyed roving I found at the bottom of my box.



“Fuzzy Navel” A 2-ply consisting of BFL and mohair.  I dyed both fibers using the same dyelot. First I spun the BFL single and while I was plying it back on itself, I laid bits of mohair in between.



“End of the Season” A smooth BFL single. 



“Florence” BFL roving dyed with Wiltons.  

still bored at work.

I know what I have to do. I need to go for it. Just jump in and knit! I also need to work harder on getting the correct gauge, especially if I want to do larger things that require a more specific fit.

How does one go about adjusting the gauge to fit the yarn you have? I imagine it requires gauge swatches and mathematical calculations, doesn’t it?

Last night I attempted to do some photography using unnatural light (lightbulbs). They ended up mediocre at best, although I might be able to salvage a few. The primary problem – to my uneducated eye – is that I did not have enough light. So, what type of bulbs should I use when I don’t have natural sunlight to work with? And why does everyone else excel at photography and I do not?