Mad Madam Mel: Spinning

Showing posts with label Spinning. Show all posts

Preparing an Art Fibre Batt for Hand Spinning

New video posted on the channel where I talk about

how to prepare an Art fibre Batt for Hand Spinning.

Frost yarns: https://www.instagram.com/frostyarn/

Spin City UK: https://spincityshop.com/

Knitting & Fibre Podcast - Episode 6

My Fibre Podcast episode 6 is now live on YouTube !!!

Twig Cowl: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/MadMadamMel/twig-2

Flower on my Hood: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/MadMadamMel/flower-on-my-hood

Frost yarns: https://www.instagram.com/frostyarn/

Spin City UK: https://spincityshop.com/

Created by Elsie B: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreatedbyElsieB

Mothy and the Squid: https://www.mothyandthesquid.com/

Vanilla Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/MadMadamMel/vanilla-sock-with-gusset--choice-of-heel-3

Hedwig Shawl: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hedwig-5

Intrusion Shawl: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/intrusion

Houndstooth Check Cowl: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/houndstooth-check-cowl

Knitting & Fibre Podcast - Episode 5

My Fibre Podcast episode 5 is now live on YouTube !!!

Carbeth Cardigan: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Gnarled Oak Cardigan: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Vanilla Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...
Mothy and the Squid yarns: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MothyAnd...
Frost Yarns: https://www.instagram.com/frostyarn/

Edinburgh Yarn Festival edition - Knitting & Fibre Podcast - Episode 4

My Fibre Podcast episode 4, the Edinburgh Yarn Fest recap edition is now live on YouTube !!!

Knitting & Fibre Podcast - Episode 3

My Fibre Podcast episode 3 is now live on YouTube !!!

Knitting and Spinning Podcast Episode 2

My Fibre Podcast episode 2 is now live on YouTube !!!

Knitting and Spinning Podcast Episode 1

I decided that I enjoyed making videos so much in the past that I would start a video podcast on YouTube based on my love of all things fibre and crafting :)

Shownotes

Finished Objects and W.I.P's:

Peppermint Christmas Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/MadMadamMel/fish-lips-kiss-heel

Chunky Boot Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/MadMadamMel/warm-and-cozy-socks

Autumn and Iced Gingerbread Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/MadMadamMel/vanilla-sock-with-gusset--choice-of-heel

Gnarled Oak Cardigan: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/MadMadamMel/gnarled-oak-cardigan

Acquisitions:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MothyAndTheSquid

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheNakedSkein

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Artyfibres

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheShepherdsHutUK

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CreatedbyElsieB

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/nicmarie1983 (Frostyarn)

https://fripandbib.com (fripperies & bibelots)

A Naturally Plant Dyed Handspun Adventure

Well after a couple of months of not great health I finally got my butt in gear and got some handspun yarn listed in my Etsy store, it is something I have been wanting to do for a few years now, and I had intended to a long while now, but other stuff got in the way such as the renovating, health and life in general. There is also the fear of failure with a new project to contend with too of course.

So I have been spinning and dyeing like a crazy busy worker bee, it has been a dream of mine to spend my days spinning beautiful yarns and naturally dyeing them with plants and I finally get to do it.

I'm even thinking of turning the old caravan outside into a workshop. I'm fairly sure John will encourage this as he is already complaining about the horrid smells emanating from the mordant and dye bath cauldrons in the kitchen and working their way through the house !!

I am working on building up a range roving of different colours using various plants to spin up multi-coloured handspun, but also spinning plain yarns in the interim to dye in solid colours and ombre, like the photo at the top of this blog post.

I forget how long it can take to spin and ply up a fairly fine yarn rather than an 'art yarn', 5 hours on average and that is before finishing and dyeing, but it is a joy to do.

I'm choosing to mostly spin with sheep breeds from here on the Northern Isles, i.e North Ronaldsay and Shetland, but I also cant resist working with some of my other favourite fibres too like Merino, Blue Faced Leicester and silk.

My freezer is also now half full of daffodil flowers as the blooms begin to fade I am dead-heading them for future dyebaths throughout the year, it makes such a bright shade of cheerful yellow :)

The Family Knit and Natter

Last year we (aka me, mum and sis) decided to start meeting up once a week for our own crafting bee. I don't drive and don't get out much so it makes for a nice social event at our place.
Truth be told we usually end up gossiping so much that not an awful lot of crafting gets done but it's good.
Mum usually gets set up on the wheel or carding, although today she was knitting too.

Baby sis is usually knitting away on some commision or other for her Drifting Gipsy facebook page.
Last week she was working on a scarf for a friend, this week a pair of legwarmers for a member of her OU tutor group.

I'm still nibbling away at a hat I am knitting for myself, it is a slow going project which perhaps will be ready next winter.

But most of my time this last half of the week has been nursing this little one above. Poppy cat is under the weather right now, I think it's eating too many Orkney voles, but it is rather like having a newborn in the house again !!

In fact it is time for another feed before I get dinner on for John, so I will sign off for now but any positive thoughts sent this way for Poppy would be welcome, thank you x

That Cosy Winter Feeling

I just want to say thank you everyone who left me such lovely comments on my last post, they really do mean a lot to me and are giving me loads encouragement :-)

Also I finally took the plunge and filled in my 'About Me' page at the top there,

if you really want to know some scary stuff take a peek,

but promise not to run screaming!!!

If you are in the UK then you will be probably be sick of hearing about the snow

and it finally arrived in Orkney yesterday (about time too).

I have been taking advantage of the snuggling down hibernating feeling it brings.

Time to get back on the wheel and spin up some Shetland I have been waiting since before Christmas to get starting on :) Its Plyed up lovely and I have a fab Dye idea lined up for it too. Will show you soon as it is ready :)

But for now, the obligatory snowy photos, can't possibly leave them out now can I ;-)

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