For the Love of Fiber

Risky Business

Sometimes in knitting you take risks.

Who knew knitting was a risky business?

When you take risks - sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

This time, I lost. I finished my Beautiful Cobweb Shawl and started binding off using the stretchy bind-off. I thought I could make it to the end of the row but, alas, I could not. Refer to the blurry picture - that's how many stitches I had left to bind off and that little yarn tail is all I had left. I tinked back the whole bind-off row and did it again. This time I used the regular bind-off and made it with a teeny-tiny ball of yarn left. Now it's ready to block. First, however, I will have to set the dye as it has turned the inside of my yellow cotton knitting project bag red. It also turned my pale green shirt red the other day when I was knitting. Bummer. Hopefully, white vinegar will do the trick. Will post pictures soon.

Remember my post re: Ande's shawl made from Madeline Tosh superwash? The white, gray, and blue shawl where the blue ran all over the white making it light blue??? Remember Madeline Tosh's response - that knitters should set the dye color of their yarn prior to knitting with it?? Well, the blue yarn also turned her bamboo needles blue. Ande was at knitting today with her lovely shawl. It's so pretty but I know she's disappointed. The white, gray, and cobalt blue stripes were stunning. 

Mom, Daddy, and Lily are traveling up to spend the week with me. They'll arrive tomorrow. Andy will be leaving for Virginia Monday so I'll have company while he's away which will be nice. I do hope it cools down for Mom and Daddy. It's SO hot here - in the 90's. Very unusual for this time of year in southwest Ohio.

Hope all of you have a safe and fun Memorial Day!! I'll be in the soap pot and will post pictures!!

(These pictures are fuzzy - it is not your eyes! Obviously, I have problems holding the phone steady!)

Soapmaking 101

I just want to knit and spin and garden and make soap all the time!

I spent most of my day Sunday on the computer researching oil properties and soap information. I've made soap for years. I've used the same recipe which I love. But, I wanted to learn more about how to design a good quality recipe. So, I hit the internet!

First, a little Soapmaking 101. Please beware - I have written in generalities here according to my research and experience. I know there are probably plenty of exceptions to some of what I'm writing here. I am also trying to write in a concise fashion to not make a long post any longer. I've underlined topics / words that you might want to search on the internet for more information if you're interested.

There are several ways to make soap. All of them involve the use of Lye. No Lye, no soap. It's the chemical reaction of Lye and Oils that make soap. Do you have Lye in your finished soap? You shouldn't. If the soapmaker's recipe is figured correctly - the ratio of Lye to Oils is enough allowing all the Lye to bind with all the Oils - saponification (process where lye and oils combine to make soap).

I have been making soap for 10-15 years now. Wish I could remember the year I started. I do remember my first batch. I had purchased Dee Boone's book Handcrafted Soap - my hot process bible. I LOVE this book and Dee has been such a help over the years. I remember Dee's favorite thing to say - KNOW YOUR OILS! Yes, if you want to make quality soap, knowing your oils makes the difference. You wouldn't make a food recipe without knowing about the ingredients you're including. Soapmaking is the same way.

For years, I have used the Hot Process Soapmaking Method of making soap. This method involves mixing the lye (mixed with distilled water) and oils to trace in a heat source, usually a crockpot.  (Trace - when mixing the oils and lye together - usually with a stick blender - trace is the point when you lift your blender, the drops from it onto the surface leave a "trace" on top - your soap looks kind of like pudding at this point). Then, you let the soap cook in the crockpot until the saponification is complete.  Once complete, I add my fragrance, additives (herbs, oatmeal, flower petals, etc.), and colorant. Then, I spoon it into my soap molds. Later that day or early the next day, I unmold my soap and let it air-dry. After a day of air-drying, I cut it and leave it out to continue air-drying. As the soap air-dries, water evaporates from the bars.

In April 2012, I attended the Ohio Soapmaker's Gathering. The majority of the attendees make soap using the Cold Process Method. I came home and made a batch. Now, I'm hooked! 

Cold Process Soapmaking Method also involves mixing the lye (mixed with distilled water) and oils. They are mixed to trace and fragrances, additives, and colorants are added. Then, you pour your soap into molds. When you're ready to mold this soap, it is more liquid compared to Hot Process soap at the molding stage. Saponification takes place in the molds while the soap is "curing". Usually, 3-4 weeks or longer is the suggested curing time. While the soap cures, water evaporates from the soap.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of these two soapmaking processes?

Hot Process Advantages: 1) is ready to use faster, 2) you do not have to have soap sitting around for weeks curing (if you have small children or indoor pets who might get into it).

Hot Process Disadvantages: 1) can produce a softer bar than Cold Process but won't if you know your oil properties plus you can add Stearic Acid and Sodium Lactate which both increase hardness, 2) more difficult to produce the fancy swirls, 3) more difficult to use fancy molds because the soap is too thick when ready to mold.

Cold Process Advantages: 1) usually a smoother harder bar, 2) easier to do fancy swirls and designs, 3) faster to make - don't have to wait for the soap to "cook",  4) can work at lower temperature so you don't burn off as much fragrance / essential oil, 5) easier to use fancy molds.

Cold Process Disadvantages: 1) have to wait for the soap to cure, 2) risk of developing ash on the soap (a white powdery looking substance that forms on the surface of the soap as it cools in contact with air), 3) risk of soap "seizing" (when the soap becomes very very thick very very quickly).

Now, I have a third and I think it might turn into my favorite method -- CPOP -- Cold Process Oven Process. In this method, you make the soap using the Cold Process Method above. Once you've poured your soap into the molds, you pop the molds into the oven (set on 170 degrees) for an hour and then turn the oven off and allow the molds to stay in until the next morning. This way, the soap heats up and cools down gradually. Thoughts re: this method are that it decreases the curing time to 2-3 weeks instead of 3-4 or more.    

So, my research on Sunday --- I studied and made recipes and tweeked recipes until I got what I wanted.
What I wanted didn't occur until Tuesday night after I made a batch on Sunday that was too soft.

Soap Bar Quality - When you make soap, you want the bars to be hard, cleansing, and conditioning and the lather to be bubbly and creamy. These factors depend on the combination of oils you choose for your recipe. I designed a recipe that feels wonderful! It's hard and conditioning, cleans well without stripping and making my skin feel tight, its lather is super bubbly and creamy as evidenced in the photo above. That lather is from washing up one piece of equipment at the end of making a batch.

I make 6-7 lb. batches at a time. Olive oil makes up the largest % of the oils in my recipe. Others I use include Avocado, Almond, Sunflower, Safflower, Castor, Coconut, Palm, and/or Palm Kernel. Each oil affects the end product differently.

How do you make sure a soap recipe that you're making is safe? First, you know your oils and understand the process you're doing. Next, you run your recipe through a Lye or Soap Calculator.  Finally, you buy a good scale and measure everything accurately. 

Why do I make soap? Because I can. That's why I do most things that I do -- knit, spin, garden, photography, paint, etc. Because I can. In this life, I want to make the most of what I can do and the time I have to do it. I'm fortunate - I appreciate that I can. Also, I love the way handmade soap feels on my skin. Yes, it is my face soap and has been since I started making it. And, I LOVE the fragrances! Then, there is the fun of adding herbs and flowers I grow, oatmeal, honey, ground almonds, etc. and the different colors to the soap. It's just so creative and satisfying. It's fun!

I hope you've enjoyed this post and found the information interesting. Have I convinced anyone to give soapmaking a go? Have I convinced anyone to convert to handmade soap? I hope so! Visit the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild site to find a soapmaker or to see pictures of handcrafted soap. You can also Google soap blogs or sites on the internet. Sites, such as, Etsy and Artfire are also a good source to view/purchase handmade soap.

I am looking into either a web site to sell my soaps or an Etsy shop. Currently, you can find my soaps at Dorothy Lane Market in Springboro, OH, Haberdashery in Waynesville, OH. I'm getting  guest soaps ready for a bed & breakfast and a store in Lebanon, OH - more info on that in another post. I also take email orders. If you would like to purchase soap, just leave a comment to this post and I can email you information re: ordering.

All of the soaps pictured here have been made using the Hot Process Method. The picture at the top is my latest batch - Orange Peel & Patchouli (left) and Rosemary Lemongrass (right). Smells and feels delightful!

Shawl A-Mighty

My knitting group is nuts about shawls. 

Shawls seem to be a destination knit. A project that people aspire to.

What is it about shawls? 

They are mesmerizing.

They are magical.

They take us to another level. 

They force us to be still and surrender our attention.

You start with two sticks and string and knit and knit and finally end up with a fibery something that looks like nothing until you block it.

Then, AMAZING! 

I don't care how many I knit, I'm always in awe when I see my new shawl stretched tight between the blocking wires.

A couple of weeks ago at knitting, we had several beautiful finished shawls. 

Elizabeth knit this gorgeous Summer Flies. The yarn she used is very fancy - the picture doesn't do it justice. 

Next up is Merry's Afternoon Tea. Merry is leaving Tuesday for a
cruise to Alaska. She will be decked out in handknitted shawls on her excursion.

She also knit this Wingspan in these stunning colors.

Diana and Sara are on a vacation. A virtual knitting tour with Miss Babs. Recently, they "traveled" to the
beach and the pattern was Seychelles. This shawl was knit by Diana. Sara, well, she threw her knitting to the wind and headed for the surf! Please click on the picture to enlarge it. The yarn is so light, it was hard to photograph.  

I'm almost finished with Beautiful Cobweb out of a gorgeous orangey-rusty-red from Pagewood Farm. The color is called Fabulous Fall and it is a 100% Merino Superwash. I have it in a yellow cotton project bag and just pulling the yarn from the bag to knit it has turned the cloth red. So, I will be adding white vinegar to the water when I wash this before blocking it. I'll post a picture once it's done and blocked.

Ande knit a beautiful shawl using Madeline Tosh. The colors were blue, gray, and white. Ande was going to go to Donna's house (they're neighbors) and they were going to block it. Donna offered to take it and wash it - get it ready. She put it in a cold water soak and the blue ran everywhere!!!! Well, there is no more white. The shawl is now light blue, gray, and blue. Meant to take a picture of it last week at knitting but forgot. The knitting shop where Ande bought the yarn corresponded with Madeline Tosh. Their response went along the line of this - knitters who purchase their yarn need to anticipate this problem and should wash / set the colors prior to knitting with it. Don't know about you but my response to that is --- SAY WHAT!??!!??!!

Mother's Day And More

A rainy Mother's Day here in southwest Ohio was a perfect time to do something inside. Andy and I headed to Cincinnati Museum Center. The museum is located at the old Union Terminal in Cincinnati. It houses the Cincinnati History Museum, Museum Natural History & Science Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, and the OMNIMAX Theater. The museum also hosts special events and exhibits.

We saw the OMNIVAX movie "To the Arctic" narrated by Meryl Streep and the exhibit, "A Day in Pompeii". The Pompeii exhibit was very haunting. There were so many relics, both small and large, a time-lapse of that awful day, and casts made from the cavities left in the ash of the dead bodies. Very haunting.

Afterwards, we headed to Montgomery Inn for Andy to try their BBQ ribs.

The Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival is going to be held in Lexington this coming weekend. Last week, I stopped by Martha's house to drop off some books. Martha spins with us on Thursday night and also lives around the corner from me. She raises fiber animals - Angora goats, llama, alpaca, and sheep.

When I stopped by, Martha was busy skirting fleeces - getting them ready for sale in her booth at the fiber festival. First you shear the sheep, then skirt it to remove the vegetable matter and manure, and finally weigh and bag the fleece ready for sale.

Look at all the bags of fleece she has ready to go! More than three bags full, for sure! If you go to the fiber festival, be sure to look for Martha at her Cedar Grove Farms booth.

Stay tuned for pictures of lots of gorgeous shawls recently finished by the gals in the Saturday Knitting At Noon group.

Happy Mother's Day And More!

I've been a very lucky girl! I am a mother. I have a mother, a mother-in-law, two new mothers of my grandchildren, and knew both of my grandmothers and two of my great-grandmothers. I have had people in my life who loved me like I was their daughter. 

A mother's love ----- a love so fierce. A protective, no strings-attached love. A love like no other. A love that can withstand heartbreaks and aches, as well as, immeasurable joy.

This picture was taken on my first Mother's Day in 1988. Brian and Taylor had arrived from South Korea just one week prior. As you can well imagine, this was a huge day for me.

I often wonder about their biological mother - wonder if she thinks of these two boys she gave up to live a better life than she could provide. A biological mother who gifted her boys to me so I could become a mother. I know she would be so proud of our two boys. So super proud!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

I have been a mother to a lot of wildlife here in Ohio. This week, we had Canada Geese parents with their five babies. They were so much fun to watch. They would swim a bit, rest and nap for a bit, swim a bit. They would walk around the pond and pause. The goslings would venture away just a little and as soon as the parents started to walk away, the babies would scurry to catch up.  

There have also been Bluebird (5) and Tree Swallow (5) babies. There are also five new Tree Swallow eggs in BlueBird box #3.
Well, the heartache that sometimes associates itself with motherhood (even surrogate - me) has struck, also. I checked BlueBird box #2 yesterday to see if the five Bluebirds had fledged. Well, I found the start of a Tree Swallow nest ON TOP of the old Bluebird nest. I took the Tree Swallow nest off and found that they had built on top of two Bluebirds. The two Bluebirds were dead. I don't know if they were smothered by the new nest on top of them, killed by the Tree Swallows, killed by something else first... It's a mystery. Now, the Tree Swallows are trying to claim all three of the Bluebird boxes. I hate this because the Bluebirds should nest up to three times this season and they are having to fight for a box. There are so many Tree Swallows and they are very determined. The good thing about having so many Tree Swallows --- I haven't had a mosquito bite since I moved here.

Here are pictures taken earlier this week from Bluebird box #1 - five new Tree Swallow babies and five Bluebirds just about ready to leave the nest.

The past week has been a blur. Andy traveled to and from Virginia for work. Last weekend, I planted the front beds, the raised beds, the bed near the pond, and containers for the front porch and back patio. There was Lemon Thread Cypress, Fire Chief, boxwoods, daylilies, peonies, spirea, and an assortment of perennials. I dug so many holes last weekend that if I had had to dig one more --- well, I probably would have just crawled into it and raked the dirt over me. My fingernails even hurt. The soil --- very heavy with gray slick clay. Harder than a rock. We did mix peat moss into the soil but it didn't help much. As I planted, I mixed in a soil conditioner that is supposed to keep the soil from compacting. Great texture - the soil conditioner is like very fine mulch. So far, so good. All the plants look great! Andy and I mulched everything yesterday and today, there is a gentle rain. Just as if we ordered it. Perfect. 

In the raised beds, I planted cucumbers, Roma tomato, carrots, beets, beet seeds, radish seeds, cauliflowers, a variety of lettuces, arugula, spinach, Swiss Chard, cabbages, and a row of Mammoth Sunflower seeds. I added basil, curry, dill, Anise Hysop, and onions to the herb bed. I put straw under the strawberry plants which are loaded with berries.

To the perennial bed, I added mallow and an English daisy. I still have a pot of daisies and some Creeping Jenny (or Goldilocks) to plant. Then, I'll be done. Maybe.

I'll post pictures of the finished beds soon.

Also, I have pictures of lots of gorgeous shawls that the Knitters At Noon have finished. And, there will be a post with pictures of Martha as she skirts some fleece and gets ready for a fiber show. I need to get the soap pot out again, too. Orders to fill and I'm enjoying learning more about cold process soapmaking. Hot process and cold process - now I have options!

To close, a picture of my Mom. This was taken May 2012 at Allyson's Gardens in Lebanon, OH. She and Daddy were up for a visit. Mom loves her flowers so this is one of my favorite pictures of her - in her element. 

Love you, Momma! Happy Mother's Day!

Spinning Away

Last weekend was the 2nd annual Stringtopia in Lebanon, OH (here and here). Right down the road from me.

When I told someone I went to a spinning retreat, they asked me how many miles I rode. I told her I treadled and didn't count the miles. Why when you say "spinning" now, do people only think of bicycles?? We fiber people do the traditional / original spinning!

This event is the brain-child of Abby Franquemont and her friend and right-hand woman, Shelly. Abby is the author of Respect the Spindle and is a spinning oficianado. Abby travels all over teaching classes about spinning on wheels and spindles. Due to her early years living in Peru, spindle spinning is very near and dear to her. Since Abby lives in Lebanon, she thought that a retreat there would be a good idea. Turns out it wasn't just good - it was GREAT and has been very well attended since its inception. 

Beginning on Friday, there were all-day or half-day classes taught, a Fiber Bash on Friday night,a public spinning room where people could just hang out and spin whether or not they were signed up for classes. 

The event was held at The Golden Lamb.  The Golden Lamb reports itself as the oldest continuously operating business in Ohio. Since 1803, when a license to operate a "house of Public Entertainment", the establishment has continued as an inn and restaurant. Today, you can dine in The Golden Lamb or The Black Horse Tavern. You can also tour the inn's four floors where you'll find the guest rooms open for viewing if there are on occupants at the time. Many presidents and other famous people have stayed at the inn over the years. There are three museum-type rooms open for viewing on the fourth floor. To complete your visit, you'll also find a gift shop in the basement.

Some attendees stayed at The Golden Lamb and there were also meal options. The food is always good so this was a treat.

Back to spinning ----

I took three classes at Stringtopia - two with Abby (All Spindles-All Day and Rut Busters) and one with Beth Smith (Drafting Methods). I became much more comfortable with spindle spinning and learned a lot in Beth's class re: drafting fiber. Sara Lamb was there, also, teaching her magic ways with silk in weaving and spinning.

Beth, of The Spinning Loft fame, supplied the "store" for the retreat. OH MAN, did she ever! There were bags and bags of raw fleeces, processed roving, braids of roving, crazy batts, spindles, looms, silk, etc. etc. Definite fiber eye candy! She had a whole lot less to take back to Michigan with her. That's Beth in the picture making a face!  

It was fun seeing / meeting spinners from all over. Ted (Knitterguy)and Sandi Wiseheart (of Knitting Daily fame and other publications), were there. There were folks there from Washington state, California, Canada, and lots of other locations. It was also interesting seeing all the different kinds of equipment people were using - spindles, spinning wheels, etc.

There were also lots and lots of gorgeous handknits. People were decked out! Shawls, sweaters, scarves, and even a beautiful dress.  The picture above is of Lisa with her stunning handspun and knit shawl.

The retreat was just what I needed! It was a great event to pick other fiber people's brains and get opinions and feedback.  It got me back into my spinning groove. 

So, Spin ON! Happily!

Wild Life

Life is indeed wild around here!

The birds are eating me out of house and home. They are emptying the feeders almost as fast as I fill them. They are also inhaling mealworms, it seems. Everyone has babies to feed.

Update on the three Bluebird boxes ---

Bluebird box #1: The five Tree Swallow eggs should be close to hatching. Recently, when I've checked the box, Momma bird is on the nest keeping those eggs toasty warm.

Bluebird box #2: The five Bluebird eggs hatched last week. They are growing fast! At first, they're all beaks and bulging eyes. Now their feathers have come in and they're filling the nest cup. Here's a picture of Momma bird in the box checking her babies.

Bluebird box #3: This box has been a puzzle. Twice the Tree Swallows have built a nest in the box. Twice during my box checks, I've found a dead Tree Swallow inside. I found one dead bird before I hung the fishing line to spook the Sparrows and one after. I'm not sure if the murderous villian is a Sparrow or not. Sparrows are vicious little birds. The Tree Swallows aren't giving up. They
built another nest so I'm keeping my fingers that the third time is the charm.

I saw another wild thing yesterday. This was out in the road in front of our house. He looked kind of menacing. Very primitive looking. He seemed to be in a trance practically in the middle of the road. I watched him for a bit and he didn't move. When a car or truck drove past, he would hunker down more. I was ready to take a broom and encourage him towards the side of the road. I didn't need to -- all of a sudden, he s-l-o-w-l-y began moving to the grass at the edge of the road across the road from us. The same day, I saw a smaller one in our driveway.

Another spotting this week was a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. He had joined the other birds at my feeders. These birds are so pretty! I saw him two days in a row before he moved on.

Spring just brings all the wild things out. I'm just waiting for the skunks to make their appearance!

I forgot to give you an update on the Killdeer nest. I looked out last week and there was no bird on the nest. I walked out to inspect and there was no sign of the eggs. No shell pieces. Nothing. Something got the four eggs. Wonder what it was? I really wanted to see those babies. Someone told me that they look like cotton balls on legs. They are look like the adult birds just in miniature and they follow the adults around looking for food right from the start. Earl Gray and Gracie didn't bother the adult birds but little two-legged appetizers might have been too much.   

Next up - Stringtopia 2012 update!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

Left You Hanging

Well, I left you hanging! I thoroughly intended to post all about my exciting adventures but end of the month for work hit and then a spinning retreat. Yes, two big weekend events for me in a row! So much to report that I hardly know where to begin!

Let's go back to the Ohio Soapmaker's Gathering. After dinner at the Olde Jaol (see the last post), I headed to the Hampton Inn and rested up for my big day on Saturday at the Gathering on April 21st. 

First off, let me say how great it was to be together with other soap-makers. They mostly use the cold
process method of making soap where I have always used the hot process method. There was some new terminology for me but the end result is the same - wonderful handmade soap.

There were lots of demonstrations.  

We started the day with a Foaming Bath Whip demo by Debbie. We got to sample this and let me tell you --- delightful!

Next up was Christy with her hands-on Bath Bomb demo. Anyone who wanted got to make one. It really is something that is best learned by doing. You have to have just the right touch to pack the material as densely as needed and to get the bomb out of the mold in one
piece. 

Kelly showed us how she makes soap dishes out of polymer clay.

Kristy demonstrated how to make wax tarts. These smelled so good and were so easy to make. A Rival Hot Pot is on my immediate wish list. Great for melting the oils and waxes for wax tarts and it would also be great to use when making lip butters.

The next demonstration looked so fun! Rhonda demonstrated the Column Swirl method of making soap. This was so totally cool and made  
the most interesting color effect.

Rhonda used part of a post she bought at Lowe's. She had her mixed soap all ready to go in pitchers. She first poured one color and then another and then another slowly over the top of the column. The soap ran down the   four sides of the block of wood into the mold below forming patterns. When Rhonda finished pouring all the soap, she removed the wooden block. Then, she took a skewer and moved it through the soap to make the final design.

Kristy's second demo for the day was making Flower Swirl soap. This was also a cool technique.

Color Mixing was discussed and demonstrated next by Christy.

We had a swap where attendees could bring handcrafted items to be given away and receive items in return. I took three things and won a wonderful bar of soap, a jar of homemade honey, and a jar of tub tea. 

There was a contest where people submitted tips and tricks and we picked our favorites. All were very helpful.

The vendors were great! There was lots of stuff to purchase - silicone molds, other molds, cutters, oils, fragrances, etc. I left with some ingredients to make the foaming scrub and also pitchers to mix my cold process in. Also, scored some jars and lids for my lotion from Ruth at the "garage sale".

I came home with a big interest in making soap using the cold process method. In fact, I made a batch this past Sunday. One of my 100 oz. batches makes two log molds full. So, I made half the batch into Lemon Drop and the other half into Love That Lavender. Making it was easy and relatively fast. Clean-up was also fast. I cut one log into bars today but the other one is still too sticky. 

I did encounter one problem that happens to soap made from the cold process method. The surface looks like an old chocolate bar with whitish areas on it. I've read that this happens when air comes in contact the soap when it's curing. I had it covered so need to find out how to avoid this. I think I can just wipe the surface to get rid of it and it doesn't really bother the soap --- just doesn't look great. 

I do like that the cold process soap was more liquid where my hot process soap is much thicker. I was able to pour the soap into the molds where I usually have to spoon mine in. Once the soap set up a bit, I could use a skewer and a spatula to make designs on the top.

Now, I want to make MORE!