From Sheep To Shawl

Welcome to a special episode of The Botanical Knitter vlogcast! This episode is all about my ‘From Sheep to Shawl’ project, the Three Rivers Fibershed, and my thoughts on the whole experience. Grab your WIP and let's chat all things fiber, spinning, and yarn.
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Anderson Center Soil to Soil Exhibit - www.andersonce...
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[@hawthorngrove3629]

Congratulations, its a big job. Your shawl looks fabulous, i love the earthy tone of the marigold over the greay.

[@selfishknitter]

Thank you so much for participating in this and sharing your experience. I have so much more appreciation for the process just from watching your videos.

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thank you for watching! I was excited to share my experience and thoughts with others.

[@SoulfulSpinning]

I’m only half way in but I had to make a comment! So much of what you said resonated so much with me. Your conflict between natural and superwash, the time it takes to go from fleece to finished piece even your husband’s reaction. 😁 Roving or batts from a mill is a great compromise I think. I love indie dyed fancy yarn, too. You express yourself so well and your project is magnificent. 🥰

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thank you so much for commenting and watching. I'm glad I am not alone!

[@bagladysendtheferalspinner3761]

I'm a spinster who process local fleeces for my spinning and love it but another spinner who was in my Master Spinner's who processed fleeces for our courses and assignments but said after she finished the program that she never wanted to wash a fleece again, which is fine. Each person has their own comfort level. I don't knit as much, since 95% of the items I knit or weave come from my own produced yarn; however, the items I do create are very precious, intentional and made to last. I'm in awe of the knitters who show stack of their knitted garments on line at the end of the year. I only have 3 to 5 projects a year but I love the process of combing, carding, dyeing, blending, and spinning before I even get to my knitting needles or loom.

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Intentional and made to last - I love that!

[@theholisticinitiative]

This was so lovely to watch !

[@jessicabandelin4870]

Thanks for sharing your process, and the amazing program! loved it all!

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thank you!!! It was a lot of work but so worth it.

[@jessicaleonard8992]

Super interesting! Thanks for taking us along on your journey :)

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thank you for watching! It was fun to share this with others!

[@lorraineo.7824]

you did an amazing job, its looks so time consuming, I had no idea how much work goes into the finished product, thank you for sharing the process.

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thank you so much!

[@karisinks5128]

This is such a cool project! Thanks for sharing!

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thanks for watching!

[@lisahamilton3380]

Well that was well done!!! Impressive that you took on the challenge but just as impressive how you explained and showed the process - right down to the music! Loved the music for when the dyed and undyed skeins were drying. LOL! So fun to see the finished shawl for the first time at the exhibit along with the others. Super enjoyed this thoughtfully done video. As much as I love the idea of starting with a fleece (and love watching others do it!) I am content to begin at the spinning stage:) I have a kiwi 3 and an eel. I wish I had a carder:)

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thank you for watching! That music transition was a happy accident! I wish I had a carder, too. That is on my someday list.

[@canndell]

Very cool process!!!

[@thebotanicalknitter]

It was such an incredible learning opportunity! I have a whole new appreciation for the process.

[@DanaBarbieri]

This is so cool! It turned out so pretty, and the display looks great. You must be so proud. I was given an alpaca fleece a few years ago. It was soooo dirty. I tried washing it, but it was too dirty for me AND I had no way to comb or card it. The Soulful Spinner does this process often. One day I hope to try. Thanks.

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thank you for watching! I just discovered Soulful Spinner and really enjoy the episode I have watched so far. Washing fiber is so much work!

[@mywoolmitten]

Fantastic!

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thank you for watching!

[@seniorblanco584]

🐝🐝🐝🐝

[@aneilaknits]

What an amazing experience! Seeing the whole process is a beautiful thing and I’m sure it was so so satisfying. I’d love to try this someday, but have never even spun my own yarn! So cool to see all the pieces displayed in a gallery at the end.

[@thebotanicalknitter]

I started spinning with a drop spindle, which took awhile but I learned to love the process. There is a season for everything! Thanks for watching!

[@apippin774]

In general a bat is for woolen spun for the long draw. Combing aligns the fibers straight for worsted spinning unless spun on the fold. Sounds like your needy bits come from not combing enough to take out the news.

[@thebotanicalknitter]

It was definitely a learning lesson for this first-timer.

[@knitcalifornia]

This was such a fun video to see your whole process from sheep to shawl, and then to see your shawl in an exhibit! I loved it so much. I'm getting an eSpinner for Christmas, so I may need to pick your brain at some point for some tips and tricks! :)

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thanks, Leslie! I am so excited for you - spinning is wonderful!!!

[@apippin774]

I just soak my entire fleece in a large tub for 2 weeks with soap. Less work and The tips come out clean

[@christinegiroux8471]

Your shawl project turned out wonderfully! What mordant did you use with the marigolds, and did you use any modifier?

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Thank you! I used alum and no modifier…the marigold over the natural grey is so lovely!

[@Inuyashagirl2015]

I would put it on and then go stare down the sheep it came from. "We are the same now and theres nothing you can do about it, sheep." He would know what I mean, I'm sure.

[@thebotanicalknitter]

Hahaha!