My sewing today was interrupted by the arrival of the mail and it was a good mail day!  There was a nice fat check from Mancuso  for a first place win for “Watermelon Wine� at The PA National, and the package of Merino roving that I got on Ebay to learn to spin with.  The check was a surprise as I had not heard that I had won anything.  The quilt is not home yet.

I had to take a break from the poppy to try out the new wool. It is definitely easier to spin than the dog’s hair!  But still not EASY!  I got some books at the library the last time I went to town and I must sit down and read about how to do this now that I have the materials to work with. I’m sure with practice it will become less awkward.

The sun finally came peeking through today for brief intervals and I made the rounds to check on the new plantings. Everything is looking good.  In a few days perhaps it will be less sodden out there and I can do some more gardening work.

Between other stuff I did manage to get one half of the poppy completed.

Well, barring any changes that is! Painting with fabric is not as easy as painting with paint!  Here if you want to change a color you can’t just add another layer of paint, you have to remove the old and find a better new –

My “paint�.

The other day while trying to eliminate some books to make room for more, I came across this one about knitting with dog hair. I had forgotten I had it, it’s been hiding so long!

This rescue dog we took in last year has a very dense undercoat and every time we brush him we get loads of hair – especially in the springtime! Bushels! So I thought it might be fun to pursue this. First you have to spin the hair into yarn. My husband made me a drop spindle yesterday following the directions in the book and I gave it a try. The book said it would be hard to learn with dog hair and you should start with sheep’s wool and gradually work to a higher concentration of dog hair. I actually was able to spin some 100% dog hair as I don’t have any sheep’s wool yet. I can see how sheep’s wool with it’s longer fibers would make it a lot easier and stronger. My first effort was awkward and uneven but I see the possibilities! And, no, it doesn’t smell bad! And it is very soft and the book says, warm, so you should make the yarn thin.

The light hair on the right came from the rescue dog. We don’t know his breeding but he looks German Shepard with something else thrown in to make him extra big and hairy with large feet and a broader build. The grayer hair on the left is from my daughter’s German Shepard, Zeus, and the dark bit from her Yorkie, Nikki. The bit that I spun yesterday came undone and broke. Apparently you have to twist two strands together for a stronger 2 ply yarn, then skein it and wash it to set the twist. I am going to wait til I get some sheep’s wool to practice on. And I suppose carding combs would be helpful, too.

My other dog is a Komondor. His hair forms cords so is unavailable for spinning. Perhaps weaving or a rug would be in order.

I’m still working on writing the Poppy pattern, but hope to get outside today and pull some weeds since we finally did get some rain!