The past week has been all about getting ready for Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival ! I haven’t had the time to make plying videos because I have been dyeing up a storm, putting the finishing touches on a new pattern, and developing the New Hue & Newhouse “Just add Knitter” Kits.
The truck is packed and I am heading out to set up for Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival! See you there.
New Hue Handspuns booth at Oregon Flock and Fiber
Today is also a very special day….. Twenty Seven years ago today this is what I was doing!!!!
I have dozens of ideas for blog subjects running around inside my head, and I was having a tough time deciding which one first……Finally the obvious answer surfaced to the top….START AT THE BEGINNING! So I will be starting at the beginning, with both my story and the process of making yarn.
The first step to making yarn is to grow the fiber. Living in city pretty much rules out raising sheep, but I did have 2 angora bunnies for a while. Let’s just say that not all bunnies are smart enough to be litter box trained…..and leave it at that…lol. In the beginning I did buy fleece, lots and lots of fleece! I did the washing then hand carded pound after pound of fleece until I bought my Duncan Drum Carder. It finally came to a point where I didn’t have the time to process the fiber and still have enough time to spin, so I made the decision to purchase my fiber ready to dye.
These days I bring home big bags of fiber any where from 10-22 pounds at a time. The first thing I have to do is weigh out the fiber and roll it into my famous Cinnamon Rolls. This is what the Dinning/Dyeing room table looks like on fiber delivery day
Bam Huey and Baa Baa Huey fiber prepping
By the end of the work session there are full tubs and boxes of rolled fiber all over the house, tucked into any available nook or cranny.
Baa Baa Huey weighed out fiber
It’s a few hours of work and a wonderful workout for the arms. I may be sore by the end of the day, but I know I will never have to worry about flabby arms waving in the wind!
I love to just look at the fiber…..rolled up so pretty, see what I mean?
Baa Baa Huey fiber prep
The nicest part is having all the fiber ready to roll, that way when the inspiration for a new colorway erupts in my head I can get right to work painting fiber.
My love affair with fiber started with my first spinning lesson 18 years ago. Before I ever got the first few inches of twisted fiber onto the wheel my fingers were addicted to the wonderful feel of fluffy fiber. Many miles of yarn later I still love the feel of fiber flowing through my finger tips and rarely miss a day of spinning.
Next time around we will take a look at the dyeing process and what inspires my colorways.
Hello and welcome to my World! I am Cheryl Newhouse a somewhat obsessed spinner, who dyes fiber, helps make Carbon Fiber knitting needles, knits, and even puts in a few hours a week at our wholesale bakery. Through this blog I will be giving you a little peek into my life as a production spinner, the people who put up with me, and what new products are about to hit the The Web Store. There will be a knit/spin along started up soon at my Ravelry group, New Hue Handspuns Creations to celebrate the new blog and an anniversary or two that happens in September/October. More info on that in the very near future.
for now,
Welcome to our Kingdom, stop in and say hello!
King William the Needle Maker and Queen Cheryl the Spinner
You must be logged in to post a comment.