Fun new tool!

In early January, I learned that Ron at Fancy Kitty had come up with a smaller, more portable, but no less functional picker.  It's the Mini Picker, and despite my level 1 Master Spinners teachers adamance about pickers being evil implements of torture (My words, not hers! but that's the jist of it!)  I bought one.  It's a bench style picker, and though I've only used it once, I give it an A+. This thing is brilliant.
It came in yesterday, and before I took it to some fibre, I stained it!  Royal Mahogany MinWax. It's purple lovelyness now!





Isn't it pretty?

This is the Shetland fleece I put through it in maybe 15 minutes.  There is about 7oz here
Before



After the first picking



After the second run through



This is a really fun new tool! I know it's going to up my productivity. Less time spent picking locks =more time carding and spinning!
~Kara

Spinning for braids

As a part of the master spinners course in level 2, you are required to spin a yarn suitable for braiding (among other end uses). This is my braiding yarn and the braid I created using it. Its 100% yearling mohair. I dyed half the yarn with beets hoping for pink. I got yellow beige.... Oh well it's colour. And I learned something while trying it, so it's a winning situation!
Another Module bites the dust.

~Kara

Lace

I started this yarn in August. I finally had finished plying by New Year's Day. It just finally came off the bobbin and I'm able to share the loveliness that it is! It's 525 yards of merino/bamboo/silk, weighing in at 3oz/85g. It's two ply, as I really want it to eventually be a lace shawl. I've got 3 more oz of the top that I might just finish by New Years next year!

~Kara

Single Colour Challenge- Done!

Here it is! All spun up. Again, the colour isn't coming through well, but I think it's the shade of chartreuse this phone cam doesn't love. The batt weighed .9oz, and I have approximately 120 yards. The goal was to "dust" the mohair into the verigated core. I believe I've accomplished that goal. It will become a light fluffy but warm scarf!
Now just to head over to the Fancy Kitty Lovers group and show off the lovelyness!
~Kara

The last of it

This is the very last of the wool I have to wash. And I'm washing it today. I'm so happy to finally be done! I know more will come, but for now this is the end of it.
~Kara

Single colour challenge

Over on Ravelry, in the Fancy Kitty Lovers group, they are holding a single colour challenge. The rules are basically card up some fiber in a single colour, and spin it up! I chose green. Unfortunately, this picture is not showing the color most accurately. It's slightly brighter and more yellow green. It's kid Mohair with a bit of soy silk. I intend to core spin it onto the green crochet cotton. Hopefully today..
~Kara

Woollen

I was having troubles with my woollen spinning, specifically from rolags. So, to twitter I go, lamenting the fact that it made no sense that I couldn't spin woollen from rolags, but I could from carded slivers. In swoops Michelle Boyd, aka @spindleprincess, to the rescue. She suggested my rolags were to tight, and that I ought to shake them, to fluff them up. It worked! Look at these amazing results! The first pic is before the amazing Michelle saved me, the second is after .
Thank you Michelle!! I will never forget now that woollen spinning requires a soft touch, beginning to end.

~Kara