It's my first...

Okay. I'm going to try this and see how I like it. Everyone else is doing it...

I am currently on my summer break from school. In August, I'll be a 2nd year student and graduation will be visible at the end of that horribly long tunnel. Two more semesters of hell and then I'll continue on to achieve that grand title of BSN.

For the summer, I am trying my hand at growing my own garden AND doing my own Fiber Prep/Spinning/Dying of wool. I love knitting/crocheting and do not do enough of it because my love affair with books is dipping into my ever precious time. For me, housework is usually on the back burner to be completed right after this chapter/row...after this one...it's a good part! My family knows this, accepts it, and loves me anyway. I have a highly addictive personallity, but I also lose interest in things quickly. I also usually run along my own train of thought and expect everyone else to just try to keep up.

I've included pictures of my Suffolk Cross fleece since that is my current project. I'll try to remember to up date this blog as I go along. I'm so excitied about this! I've ordered my spindle (since spinning wheels are SO expensive and I've yet to decide if I'll even like doing this, I've decided to go with the more pocketbook friendly route) and am still waiting for it come in. But do not worry. I am not sitting here twiddling my thumbs. I have plenty more Fiber Prep to complete. I've tried the two main methods of cleaning my wool. The first being the hot wash using my washer.

I placed a good amount into a mesh laundry bag and filled my washer with the hottest water possible and added a pot of almost boiling water to it (made it so hot that I could not put my hand in according to the directions). I then let the wool sit for 30 minutes, removed the wool and let it drip while draining the washer, replaced the wool and spun dry (without letting the water spray rinse it or it could cause the wool to felt). I repeated this twice more. Not good. The 2nd picture is what I ended up with. Still very poopy and smelly.

I then tried the cold water soak. I placed another good amount of wool into a tub of water from the hose (most placed I read recommended rain water..I'm not that patient). I let it soak over night (about 16 hours). The next day, I filled a 2nd tub with water adding original Dawn dish detergent until the water was JUST turning blue and intended to let it soak for 30 minutes. It ended up sitting for 2 1/2 hours. I then rinsed in a tub of clean water for 45 minutes. I was impressed! Less than half the work and MUCH better results. The wool smelled of dawn (not a barn) and was so much cleaner! I am not ready to do the rest. *Sigh*

So, that is an indepth mini-adventure into what I'm doing right now. Oh! And I learned that I can dye my wool with Kool-Aid! Pocket- and Kid-Friendly! Awesome!