Michigan Fiber Festival and My Beguiling Blending Class

[Deleted]

Hello Everyone.

I just returned from 4 days at the MFF.  It was truly enjoyable between shopping and taking classes...  The 2 related Spinning Classes were slightly disappointing..  I do not think I will ever truly learn how to spin... But I took a class called "Beguiling Blending" by Patsy Zawistoski... Oh, what an exciting learning experience class this turned out to be...

(1) we learned how to do Hand Carding.  We put our results on a card board paper so we could remember which fibers we blended to get the colors...  I loved this..  I discovered "Flax" bleached... It was blended with a light purple merino wool..  It was so lovely.

(2). We learned how to use the carding Board..  You can created some neat Rolags with the Carding Board.. There were several vendors selling these..

(3) And I learn how to use my drum carder. This experiment we got a bundle of all kinds of wools and embellishments. Then we separated them into 6 sections and we carder theses section and split them into and we all shared of results... Neat idea I thought.. Photos below...

my table partner was given the Burnt Orange Merino and the Gold Angelina, etc.  3rd photo result 4th photo top. What do you all think... Smile..

[MTRuth]

Looks like you had a great time and learned a lot. Your rolags look really nice.

[lyn]

Oh Judy, I do empathise. My daughter and I bought a spinning wheel after we went to classes at a local farm to learn how to use a drop spindle and then how to use a spinning wheel.
My daughter took to it like a duck to water and loves having a go, but I struggled...a lot...so much so that I haven't tried since!

Carding is a different matter - I love it! It seems you do too - you've got some lovely rolags.

[Deleted]

Hello Lyn,

I think I am resigned to not being a spinner... To much work and nothing to show for it... LOL

But I do love my carder.. The second photo I did those Rolags with the hand carder and after I thought they were blended enough I rolled them with the sticks the teacher gave us... I need to do that with the other batts they were not done on a blending board...

The Rolags in the last photo was strictly done a blending board and the two ladies did a fantastic job with them.bdoes anyone just use a blending board?

I absolutely fell in Love with Flax... Zed have you ever wet felted with just wool and Flax ever??? Does it wet felt well... At the fiber festival only one vendor had some but she did not bring it to the MFF.. I wonder if the WOW has bleached or natural flax, I will have to look...

[MTRuth]

Flax felts in nicely. It gives a different appearance felted. I'm sure Zed has some photos somewhere

[Deleted]

Thanks Ruth for the update.. I was so surprised it carded so beautifully I was hoping it would felt good too..

[MTRuth]

Here's a photo that Zed has on our website. The fourth fiber down is flax.

[Deleted]

Lovely, thanks for sharing Zed's photo Ruth...

[Pandagirl]

Good for you Judy! Looks like a nice class and good results. I've tried drop spindle and feel like I am all thumbs. I do love the carder! I haven't even thought of spinning.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Looks like you had great fun at the Michigan Fiber Fair, Judy. Remember, practice makes perfect! 

[zed]

It sounds like you really enjoyed yourself, Judy

I do love flax, I prefer natural not bleached, it has a gorgeous golden tone. Same with hemp, I don't see the point of bleached versions.

[koffipot]

Lovely blending and rolags Judy.

I have a huge drum carder envy. I quite like using my drop spindle, but find hand carding a bit tedious.

[Deleted]

Hello everyone. Thanks for all your kind comments..

The bleach Flax is the only kind I have seen I will have to search and see if I can buy both kinds.. I searched "Every Vendor" athe MFF and No one was selling "Finn Wool" I was disappointed so now I need to search for Finn Wool too. Anyone know a supplier of Finn Wool?

[koffipot]

Wow - of course. But a better bet for you could be: - ironwoodhillfarm.com/

www.worldofwool.co.uk/products/89/natural_wool_tops_and_fleeces/finnish.htm

[Deleted]

Thanks Judith. I have now placed an order for the Finn wool and Flax,,, smile.