Carolina Fiber Frolic

The Carolina Fiber Frolic is the best fiber retreat imaginable.  Wonderful classes, a scenic venue, good food and most of all a terrific community of creative, passionate, fiber folk.

Day One

I began the day with a class with Kristen.  We began by using cards to make rolags.  Renate looks so studious.

 

Susan is working really hard, Peggy is posing for the camera.

Kristen explains how to use the blending board.

Between classes, lots of time to visit, knit and laugh.  Sue, Donna, Kim and Sallie knitting and chatting.

Kristen, Vicki and Renate relaxing in the sunroom.

A comfy chair, a fireplace, a cuppa and your knitting, what else do you need?

Right after happy hour and dinner there was a knitting contest.  Knitters paired off to see how many rows they could complete knitting in tandem.

Pat and Sallie

Anne and Jen, a super mom and daughter team.

Sarah and Priscilla

Kris and Sharon

Mel and Kathy

Janis (named after the Janis Joplin) and princess  Ann.

Roberta and Kristen

Susan and Laura had a real challenge as one is a thrower and one is picker!



The competition for who could spin the most in shortest amount of time involved handicapping last year's champion with a blindfold.  Princess Ann won anyway by a yard or two.

Bless her little heart.



Day Two

Vicki taught a superb class on eco-dyeing.

Renate is a superb smoosher.

Judy gets some guidance from Vicki.

Lots of opportunities to sit relax and visit.

 

Courtney works out Susan's kinks and knots.

 Barton visits with Pat, Peggy, Susan and Ann.

 Pat's dear hubs Peter catches a few winks between Starbucks runs for the spinners.

 It is the 1Sleeve Triplets, Susan, Peggy and Fran.

 Janis shows off her beautiful lace scarf hand knit by friend Kris.  Kris can I be your friend too?

Kristen thanks Jan for another terrific Frolic.

 There were also more contests, numerous door prizes and a terrific fashion show with more laughter and friendship than this post can recount.  Until next year, frolic on friends.

 



Weaving on Small Looms

Saturday, the Piedmont Fiber Guild held a small looms workshop with Susan Morgan Leveille.  there was so much interest in this workshop there was a second class held on Sunday.  We learned so much from Susan.  The pictures tell the story best.

Vivian and Susan getting us started

Susan shared examples of different effects with different weft materials

Choosing our fabrics for our rag mug rugs.

This is the chipboard loom after warping with carpet warp.

Working hard.

Susan demonstrates how to cut the weaving off the loom and tie the fringe.

Our potholders. 

My small woven things.

Vivian gave us a great suggestion for weaving on the go.  An eyeglass case holds the cardboard loom, needle, scissors, yarn, button and warp.  Everything I need to weave a tiny amulet bag.  Headed to Florida Tuesday so it is packed and ready to throw in my purse.

 

My Beautiful Fleece

Last October I purchased my first fleece at SAFF.  I dropped it off at the Zeilinger's booth to be shipped off for processing. It arrived on Wednesday and is so beautiful and soft.  It is a deep black Corriedale with a silver halo.

My big bag of fluff.

 

This will give you some perspective.

 

 

The fleece was originally 6.5 pounds and after processing weighs 4.2 pounds.  it is incredibly soft and squishy.  I spun about an ounce last night to sample.  Tonight I did a 3 ply and wet finished it.  Tomorrow I will knit up the sample.  I have a couple of sweater ideas rumbling around in my head.



The Scrap Exchange

I have loved the scrap exchange in Durham for years but it has gotten even bigger and better!  Dear husband and I got to visit on our way to the family chili cook off at Rachel and Alan's house a few weekends ago.  It was fun to explore.  There were huge bins of fabric scraps to dig through and shelves and shelves of miscellany!

Dear Hubby

The Alpaca Show

A couple of weekends ago, I attended the CABO show in Cabarrus County.  It was a small show but adorable alpacas were everywhere.

 

Maurice demonstrated weaving and got some attendees to sit down and throw the shuttle.

More members of the Piedmont Fiber Guild demonstrating spinning and knitting.