Teasing Wool With A Picker; Simple Drum Carding; Shaded Lattice Hat And Mitts; Four Layers Over The Ears Hat; The Potato Party;and a Pee Story

I've been putting off writing this month until after the Potato Party, but if I don't start tapping now, it won't be a December '07 post. It'll instead dangerously slide into a January '08 post! Then I'd risk being called a Haphazard Blog Writer, instead of a proclaimed Once-A-Monther. But more on the Potato Party in a moment. First I need to tell you a pee story. It's occurred to me that I have more than the average person's cache of pee stories. I don't actually know why this is so; but true, nonetheless. When I'm really, really comfortable in a situation or feeling at ease with the people I'm hanging out with, there's a chance you'll hear a pee story from me within the first 5 minutes of being together or even if you're just meeting me...so just a warning in case your queasy about such tales. I guess it's my version of an ice-breaker.

The following story, believe it or not, was told right at the onset of walking into Beth's
Spinning Loft in Howell, MI. No, I had never met anyone who was in that shop before, including the proprietress. And yes, I was going to spend three days as an (illustrious?...yeah right!) instructor teaching spinning at the beautiful venue. The fact that I told a pee story so early on in my visit says how wonderful the vibes at The Spinning Loft are...I felt like I knew Beth and all the folks at the shop all of my life. So get yourself over to this beautiful fiber shop, soak up the soothing atmosphere, and do a little woolhuffing along with Beth. If you're not a spinner yet, you'll be well on your way before you leave for home.

So here goes: Chris and I were heading one weekend to NYC a few months ago because Chris had some gigs in the City and New Jersey. The car was packed to the hilt with musical equipment (keyboard, amp, etc.), including stuff that was jammed in front of the passenger seat by my feet (along with my knitting bag), not to mention between us. We picked up our usual, large coffees at Dunkin' Donuts in Chicopee, MA along the way. The drive was pleasantly nondescript except for our occasional, lively outbursts of conversation. Now traffic is never what you could call clear the closer to the City you get, but several miles before the George Washington Bridge we could feel we were in for some real trouble of a traffic jam nature. About that time I really had to 'go'. At first it wasn't much of an issue 'cause we weren't that far from our destination. But after about an hour of sitting, with nary a few feet of forward vehicular movement, panic set in. I looked to the right and to the left. A high fence was on my right with just a small strip of grass between us and the fence. On the left, as well as in front of and behind us, were the cars/trucks of humanity. After the second hour of moving only a few feet more, I began to feel like a trapped animal. Where could I GO without anyone seeing me do so? Sweat started to pour from my forehead. Earlier I had casually told Chris I had to go. Now I was on the verge of crying as my insides hurt so much. I squealed an unearthly squeal, "Chris, I HAVE TO PEE!!!!!" He calmly took his suitcoat and put it up against his side window to block out a voyeuristic view from the truck driver who was kitty-corner to us. Our car was so packed, I could hardly maneuver one way or another, but I was successful in pulling a cloth covering of some sort from between the equipment in the back seat, and placed it on my seat in case of dribbles. My now-empty coffee cup became my saving grace. I covered my lap with my own jacket, wiggled out of my jeans just enough, and, having no where to go but up, placed the cup under me. I was so blocked up, not unlike the traffic surrounding us, that only a trickle came out. I waited, perched high on my Dunkin' Donuts throne, with head touching the car's ceiling. I waited some more, in more pain than I cared to admit to even myself. Finally a tad more liquid was released and the pain wasn't as bad. Getting off my throne proved to be somewhat problematic as I was worried I'd spill the contents on Chris' always-well-cared-for-car-upholstery. Not a drop fell , however, and I daintily put the lid on the cup and placed it back in the car's cup holder.

Now readers, please understand that I've never, in all my soon-to-be 28 years of marriage, EVER peed in front of or next to my husband. He's kinda shy even talking about those kind of bodily functions himself, being a Cancer Sun. So I told him our marriage had now reached another plane of understanding. When another 1/2 hour had passed and we moved a few more inches forward, Chris turned to me with sweat beading on his forehead, passed me his jacket to hold up to the window and followed my earlier lead. Can I just say it's really a lot easier for men to take care of business in that precarious situation?!! Now our marriage had TRULY risen to another plane of understanding. Oh, and for the record, we were stuck for yet another 1/2 hour and I had to GO again before we were finally sailing towards David's, oldest son of the spider, apartment in Brooklyn. Why is it that one's personal pride has to be brought down to earth over and over and over again??!

OK, let's forge ahead with plenty of this and that; spinning-wise and other-wise. First, some handspun, finished pieces...albeit completed a while ago, but photographed again very recently...


Above you'll find me in front of one of my Ma's Christmas wall decorations. I'm wearing the "Shaded Lattice Hat," that was published in Tops With A Twist; Project editor, Judith Durant; Spin-Off editor, Deborah Robson; Technical editor, Dorothy T. Ratigan, Colorado: Interweave Press, 1999.

Here's what I wrote for the above book: This hat was an unfortunate UFO for a few years. It began with Cottage Creations's "Snakku du norsk - A Norwegian Winter Sports Cap" pattern. I had made mittens for a challenge sponsored by the Northeast Handspinners Association's "Gathering" and wanted a hat to match. The lattice pattern (mitten graph included in this book, too) comes from 100 Landskapsvantar (ICA Kruiren, 1981). I used 100% handspun yarns (wool and wool blends, including silk, mohair, alpaca and angora rabbit), spun either on my Louet S10 or a Schacht Matchless.

The Cottage Creations hat has two layers of knitting around the ears, while my hat has three...very warm! In a nutshell, the hat begins at the light shaded edge, you work the lattice pattern, and continue with plain knitting for the lining. While the top is also knitted plain, the hat must be turned inside out first, then the knitting is reversed. The top is knitted firmly with a nine-point spiral of decreases. When you wear the hat, the smooth side on top is seen, and the knitted lining (knit with finer yarn than the rest of the hat) is smooth against your ears. Work a three-stitch, purled, I-cord on each edge of the color pattern. Pick up a third lining from the light-colored I-cord and work down to the dark shading, then sew down. I knitted a Faeroese color pattern of kittens into the grey lining to commemorate Chloe, the new (well, ten years ago!) feline addition to our family. The kitten pattern comes from The Complete Book of Traditional Scandinavian Knitting by Sheila McGregor, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1984.
Here's a back view.

And the matching mittens.

Another mitten view.

In the above pic, I'm wearing a similar hat, but this time there are four layers over my ears. It's made primarily with handspun Icelandic wool, using both the outer, hairy coat (tog) along with the finer, shorter fibers (thel), prepared by handcarding the scoured locks together. Instead of an I-cord trim, I've used a picot border at the lower edge. The Icelandic handspun for the main part of the hat is a natural dark brown. The color patterns are handspun wool (unknown breed...probably Coopworth), naturally dyed with Saxon Blue indigo for the turquoise color and Kamala for the yellow.

The color pattern is a variation of a graph in Knitting Without Tears, by Elizabeth Zimmermann, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1971. New edition available through Schoolhouse Press.

The inner lining was knitted with handspun Gotland wool. A kitty pattern, to commemorate Al (sigh...), was knitted in.

Another lining was knit inside the brim for extra warmth. It was again handspun from the grey Gotland wool and then overdyed with Kamala. Note how this lining was not bound off, but instead sewed down, one live stitch at a time, to the inside of the brim itself.

A big hiccup and on to explaining what on earth the Potato Party was!! On December 21st I turned the BIG Five-oh. Yes, I am officially a crone. No, I generally don't feel old...at least not in spirit. I so enjoy getting together regularly with my friends, the Lunar Ladies. We try to at least see each other once a month...yes, you guessed it, often around a gloriously full moon. When I suggested that our Lunar Lady get-together take place at my home, Jenna said that it would be a Potato Party! It just so happens we had our party on my Ma's birthday...who if alive on this earth would be 93. Why a Potato Party? 'cause I'm a freakin' potato lover. It was agreed upon that everyone would bring some sort of potato-ey pot-luck dish. I was to make my Drunken Soldiers. See the past post, Drunken Soldiers, A Pirate & Thelonious, for a recipe.

Here are three of the Lunar Ladies. From left to right: E, Jenna and Leslie. You'd never guess from their laughter what had taken place in the house prior to their arrival and what took place soon after the above pic was taken.

I'm going to say outright that I don't think I was put on this earth to be a cook. Well, at least not a good cook. That's my excuse when all cooking disasters happen when I'm the captain of the kitchen.

Here's what happened: I had prepared my Drunken Soldiers and they had been in the oven for about 20 minutes or so. I went upstairs to check my e-mail on the computer. Chris called up and asked why the kitchen was rapidly filling with smoke. I scurried downstairs to find this...

Partially cooked Drunken Soldiers in a decidely cracked glass pan (look closely at the corner of the pan). It seemed the buttery goodness was dripping onto the bottom of our oven, causing smoke and havoc. Windows were opened. The soon screeching smoke detector was temporarily unplugged from the ceiling. The stove's exhaust system was revved into action. I searched for another pan to transfer the bewildered Soldiers into. But first, a pic of the partially-cooked potatoes. Chris asked, "What are you doing?" I replied, "I'm taking a pic of the Soldiers!"...as if it was the most normal thing in the world to do so as our house was filled with smoke. I'm just obnoxiously egotistical enough to think that folks not only want to read about my life, but want it in living color. And for the record, we only lost 5 Soldiers due to possible glass infusion...not a good thing to bite into.

Now one would think that I'd cool the oven and clean it to prevent further problems. No, instead we kept on the exhaust fan and I continued to cook the Soldiers. All would have been well except that we needed to use the stove to reheat the Soldiers and other foodstuffs once the Potato Party was in full swing. Yep. That damned smoke started up again 'cause I never did clean the oven...

Here's Jenna whizzing a towel to drive away the smoke.

And E's version of the same.

And Leslie, too, giving her towel a whiz. I have no idea what I was doing...

Above you'll find Jenna and Leslie cleaning my oven. I asked if I could help. Jenna said to go sit down. Cool beans with me. They asked for baking soda. The only box I could find was in a plastic bag full of spilled baking soda...left over from the time the box exploded in my suitcase when embarked on a teaching excursion. You see, I take a box of baking soda with me in case my tummy gets upset. Leslie says her uncle does the same. You can read more about my exciting, literally rip-roaring, baking soda adventure on the past post, Scouring Fleece To Keep Lock Formation.

Lookee at E in her Christmas present sweater, knitted by her talented sister, Tamara. Sexy and stunning, that's what that sweater is...especially on our lovely E. Do head to Tamara's blog for more info on the whats and wherefores of this beautiful sweater.

Here's E and the spider. Chris had gifted me with the top I was wearing at the Potato Party years ago. I never felt comfortable wearing it because it's definitely a cleavage-revealing garment and I was too embarrassed to don it in public. Well no more, baby! At 50 I'm bloody proud of my cleavage!!

Ooosh...take a gander at Leslie's delicious potato bread. It was from "George Lang's Potato Bread with Caraway Seed" recipe in the book, Beard on Bread, by James Beard, page 52.

I received many absolutely fantastic, birthday gifts during the Potato Party (not to mention before and after it!) and I thank ALL for your thoughtfulness. In the above pic I'm holding one of Jenna's own creations...a bag embellished with a wonderful potato print that she made.

Inside the potato bag were potatoes of different varieties. When Alexander, youngest of the spider, saw the above pic, he walked out of the room, disgusted to the core.

There's E and Maureen (l to r) at our potato laden table...well, it was laden but we ate a lot of the potato goodies on it.

The only non-potato-ey item at the party was this luscious cake, made by Maureen herself. The icing is to die for...no, not dye for...geesh.

Leslie gifted me with the above book saying something like...This is a book often given to newlyweds. You're fifty and it's never too late to learn........oh boy.....I'm in trouble for sure...

Jenna cooked potato pierogies (her special added extras for flavor are sauerkraut and balsamic vinegar) in a pan she brought herself. Afterwards, she said she was leaving me the pan because the fry pan we have has no handle and the lid has no knob. I couldn't understand why she thought that was a problem?...

And since the Potato Party was held on Ma's birthday...here she is, as pretty as ever! For a past post on my very-much-missed Ma, see My Ma and more on spinning sock yarns.

A pic of my handsome husband as he was ready to head out for a gig.

A holiday pic of the 20 year old in our family, Alexander.

And another! Note the newly sprouted facial hair and longer locks.

On to a tad of fiber prep...picking and simple drum carding.

Above you'll see a Romney fleece from a ewe named Fiddle-Dee-Dee. She's from Alice Field's flock in Lee, MA. The fleece has been scoured and dyed with natural indigo using a urine vat with...ta da da...my PEE (there's a theme going on in this post). There are locks that were dyed darker (two or more dips) and locks that dyed lighter (probably one dip or for whatever reason didn't take up the dye as well). Mixed together, they make for a lightish-medium blue. For more on indigo urine vat dyeing, see the past posts, Pam's Indigo Urine Vat, A Canadian Indigo Urine Vat Story, and Tangled Up In Blue.

I purchased a Patrick Green Triple Picker back in the early 90's at the same time I purchased a Patrick Green Beverly drum carder with motor and a bunch of different drums. In order to do so, I had to take out a big (for us) loan. At that time, I didn't know quite what I wanted to do in the fiber arts field from a career standpoint. I seem to remember contemplating going into the dog fiber preparation business...hmmmm...that idea got scrapped pretty quickly for a variety of reasons...

I've been asked if I'm happy that I purchased a picker and if I had to do over again, would I? I'll admit I don't use the picker a lot. My personal preference is to scour fleece keeping lock formation; use a dog rake to remove crud and short fibers from the locks; and card (hand or drum) afterwards. Alternately, I skip the dog rake part and just comb using English or Viking combs. But when I'm faces with lots of unruly mohair locks or if a sheep's fleece has somehow felted a bit (or more!) due to overexuberance in scouring and/or dyeing...then a picker is my tool of choice. And yes, it's then that I'm glad I have a picker! It's a useful tool when you've got a lot of fiber to tease and open up. My hands would be moaning in pain if I had to tease that much fiber by hand, especially if it's felted together somewhat, as my indigo wool had so rudely done. Plus, a picker is an efficient tool to begin the color and/or fiber blending process.

If you find yourself in posession of a picker, SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL. The beyond-sharp tines and soft skin are a lethal combination. If you purchase your picker used and there is no accompanying safety sheet, write the company and ask for one before use. If you have the safety sheet, follow it to the letter, please. Do NOT use the picker when tired or distracted. Do NOT use around children or pets (we kept Chloe, our black cat, locked up in a bedroom when the picker was in use). Keep the picker padlocked when not in use. I am wearing my hair tied back, a leather bib, tight fitting leather gloves and have at the ready a picker claw and a metal fiber removing tool (in case fiber gets stuck in the teeth).

The picker claw is used like an extention of your own hand. Better that the metal claw comes in contact with the sharp tines on the top (which swings) and bottom beds of the picker, rather than your own hand. When the upper bed swings, it's not willy-nilly swinging...it is controlled swinging as you operate the upper bed by holding onto its brace. There's an ample tray to place your fleece for feeding. Use the claw to hold the unpicked fleece near to the lower bed of the teeth. As you make a forward (away from you) pass with the upper bed, the tines drag fleece forward, too...teasing and opening up the fleece as it does so. Keep your elbow stiff as you operate the upper bed of the picker. You'll know immediately if the table you clamped (a must) the picker on is the right height for you...'cause if the table is the correct height, you'll be able to comfortably keep that elbow stiff and straight. The stiff elbow prevents you from leaning too far into the picker with your oh-so-tender body. Using a table about the width of the carder itself is ideal. My table (actually a desk, in my case) is a little wider than that, but posed no safety risk that I could tell.

IF the wool gets hung up in the picker and you can't move the upper bed, you may need to adjust the height of the upper bed (ie. raise the upper bed to sit higher over the lower bed). This happens when fiber is pretty stuck together OR when you shove too much fiber into the picker at a time. On the Patrick Green Triple Picker, adjustment is done with wing nuts on the upper bar that holds the swinging, upper bed. Since I purchased my picker quite awhile ago, there may be an alternate way to do this on the newer models...does anyone know?

There's a fine line regarding the most efficient height to set the upper bed from the lower bed. Too high and the picking job doesn't produce a very good end result. Too low and you risk knocking the teeth on the upper and lower bed, thus damaging them. Just right will give you a great, well-picked product.

In the case of picking my indigo dyed wool, I raised the upper bed pretty high for the first run-through, since the wool was somewhat stuck together. I lowered it for subsequent run-throughs...when the wool had already been opened up nicely and just needed refining.

The upper bed is moved further forward (away from me).

And further forward (away from me)...

A complete forward (away from me) pass.

When I've made a complete forward (away from me) pass, the once-picked wool falls off the back of the carder. Some like to have a box handy to catch the picked fiber. I just let it fall from the table to the clean floor. Yes, I sweeped before I began picking so no gunge would get mixed up into my picked fleece. Geesh, I'd better sweep up after I'm done, too...shouldn't I?! Then I'd be a very good Do-Bee, indeed.

In the above pic, you'll find me bringing the upper bed towards me again. Using a picker requires a combination of *bringing the upper bed away from me and then back towards me. Repeat from * as needed, feeding in wool as you go with your picker claw.

Fleece that's gone through the picker once.

A side-view, bringing the upper bed towards me again.

A side view, bringing the upper bed forward (away from me).

Adding once-picked fleece for further refinement. Put fleece through the picker until you're satisfied with the end results.

Using a vacuum to clean the dirty picker when done or changing to a new color or fiber.

Here's some unpicked Romney that was solar dyed with chopped madder roots. The fleece (previously solar mordanted with alum) was put into a Terry's Tub (see past post, Solar Dyed Silk, for more info on Terry's Tub) along with the actual soaking roots.

The same Romney that's madder root dyed; now picked!

One could just pick up handfuls of picked fiber and spin them if one wants to do so. I generally prefer further preparation, especially if I'm looking to spin a smoooth yarn or want to blend it with something else.

I've been asked before if whether using a picker would damage and tear wool that's been somewhat felted together? Well, it's possible, depending on just how stuck the wool locks are to each other. But there is the opinion that the picker helps make the wool usable to spinners, rather than not being so. As always, it'll be up to you to decide if a picker is really a necessary addition to your fiber equipment arsenal...or not. Pickers aren't cheap, so whether one fits into your budget is something to consider, too.

I contemplated using my Patrick Green Beverly carder for the job of further blending and refining my indigo Romney, but instead decided on using the Louet Roving Junior Drum Carder, a carder I often take to the Fiber Prep classes I teach. For one thing, I could easily set this small carder up wherever I so chose...and that was important for pic taking. Also, the Louet Roving Junior is free of bells and whistles that need adjustments...no gears for stray fibers to get caught into. Don't be fooled by it's small size...that doesn't mean it can't do BIG jobs! The drum's teeth are quite long and flexible, able to hold lots of fiber. There is no bed next to the small, take-up drum (the licker-in), but that doesn't matter because if you just lay fiber up against the licker-in, they'll be drawn into the carder easily as you crank. Of course, please don't shove your fingers far into the machine if you value your digits!!

I also decided to choose to use the Louet Roving Junior for this project (a sweater) because I figured not everyone can afford the high-end, high-priced (some going well over $1000 US) drum carders that are on the market, available through several different manufacturers, including Patrick Green. I wanted to show that you don't need to feel bad if you can't keep up with the Joneses from a fiber equipment standpoint. If you're hankering for a drum carder and need to save your dollars to do so, the well-built, reasonably-priced (tho' not cheap by any means) Louet Roving Junior might be a perfect choice for you.

Feeding fibers into the drum carder. Consider not holding back on the fibers you are feeding in...that'll only cause the licker-in to build up lots of fibers instead of transferring them onto the big drum. Let the fibers be pulled out of your hand, as the licker-in turns.

This pic was taken after I put a bit of indigo Romney through already (see light blue on large drum). Be sure to start with a clean drum carder when you're introducing new colors and/or fibers (obviously except when blending colors or fibers that you want together). Continue to feed fibers in small amounts by holding them next to the licker-in, as you turn the crank of the large drum clockwise. The licker-in will transer those fibers right onto the large drum, carding them (brushing, opening up, blending) as it does so. Louet says you don't have to tease fibers prior to feeding them into their carder, but I find I get better results if I do tease beforehand. If I had tried to feed those partially-felted, indigo-dyed, Romney locks into the drum carder, the teeth of the carder may have been damaged. Why risk that?

A top view.

The above pic shows how not to stick your fingers into the machine, but let the licker-in pull the fiber from your hand as you turn the crank.

Above you'll find me stopping, and picking out obvious crud that I saw in the fiber. Why let it go through if you see it and know you don't want it in your finished prep?!

I continue to feed in fiber until the total amount rises to the top of the teeth. You know you've fed too much when fibers are sliding off the top of the teeth.


Use a stiff, metal fiber removing tool (this one comes with the carder) to remove your carded fiber. There's a grooved, wooden slat on the large drum that makes fiber removal easy. Just slip the end of the tool under a chunk of fibers on top of this grooved slat, lift and separate. Consider doing this in small increments, rather than trying to separate all the fibers at once.

To remove the carded fiber from the large drum, slowly turn the crank counterclockwise. Grab the end of the fiber like you would a goat's beard. Carefully peel the fibers off the teeth as you crank in order to remove it fully. If some fibers catch in the teeth, stop and separate them.

One pass through the drum carder. Only you can decide if one pass is enough to give you the end results you desire. Usually one pass is not enough for my needs. I often like to make at least four, full carder's worth of fiber. More, if needed.

Then I separate each of the rovings in half, width-wise.

And strip these pieces in half, length-wise.

Then put the fiber through again, alternating halved and stripped pieces from each section with each other...(ie. mixing them up!) This mixing up will produce a more uniform (homogenous) color overall...IF that's what I'm looking for...

Here are two rovings put through twice.

Here are four rovings put through the carder a total of four times. Now please note that the fiber I used to begin with was rather felted and stuck. And please understand, as explained previously that it's my usual practice to scour keeping lock formation; comb the dried locks with a dog rake to remove neps, noils and crud (including any second cuts or stubbornly stuck fibers); and then I card. Keep in mind that I used a picker instead of my preferred scenario. This means that some undesirable stuff got carded and blended into the above preps. That's OK with me....this time, given the felted fleece situation...but it's not my favorite situation by a long shot. I KNOW that I'm going to have to pull crud out of my indigo Romney yarn as I spin it if I want a smooth yarn...and I know I do want a smooth yarn for the sweater that I've planned.

I've just realized I didn't show you how to clean your carder when done or ready to card another color and/or fiber. Oh well...another time...

HAPPY 2008 NEW YEAR!! Bright Blessings to all!! Until next month...