Happy sheep and spindles

Blue Faced Leicester Sheep

Happy Friday ! It’s been another busy week her and even more so because of the clubs ! 

This month the artist inspiring the club colours is Marc Chagall . His painting of 1945 “le filigrane violet” to be exact with his dreamy imagery and gorgeous colours. Teaser of the IxCHeL September clubs is here : 

A long time ago when I was working in a small town, Tossa de Mar (Spain), with its old beautiful castle and museum, i found myself looking at this painting that was like a dream. It was one of Marc Chagall’s paintings. 

I never forgot how it made me feel. How imagination can make us fly; how colour can make such a lasting impression on us. How you don’t need to draw well, but draw what is in your soul. 

One of the Marc Chagall quotes I always remembered is “ Toutes les couleurs sont les amies de leurs voisins et les amoureuses de leurs contraires “(All colours are the friends of their neighbours and the lovers of their opposites). 

The September clubs are ready to be packed over the weekend. I know it’s a bit later than normal, but I’m only human. These Covidian times with their lockdowns and boundaries are taking their toll a bit it seems. Not to worry! 

Dyeing and prepping this months club has been an inspiration and I hope you will love it as much as I do.

 I was so eager I have actually dyed two tops more than I needed, so if you would like one or both to be sent to you , please email or message me and I will add it to your parcel. This month’s fibre is super SUPER soft and shiny. 

 I’ve written a bit about Chagall's life in a bio as well so that will be added to all the members’ parcels, as well as a gift. Sign ups for the next round is still open but I’m quickly running out of available spots ! Email me if you want to join and get your monthly bundle of fluffy happiness.

Now for this weeks blog update: I thought I would offer you something fluffy AND some spindles Paul aka Lair of the Bearded Dragon has recently turned too ! For the next weeks I will put a different type of spindle in the spotlight together with the hand dyed fibre. I hope you enjoy reading about the breeds, looking at the photos and learning more about spindle spinning in the process ! 

This week I have some super soft Blue Faced Leicester Sheep wool for you , blended with mulberry silk and cashmere ! I absolutely LOOOOOVE Blue Faced Leicester or BFL as it is also known for short. 

BFL is one of the English Longwools. The breed originated in Northumberland County, England in the early 1900s. It was originally developed to cross with other types of sheep to produce high quality crossbred ewes, a reputation they still hold today. BFL have dark facial skin under white hair, producing a "blue faced" appearance. Their heads and legs are wool-free. The Bluefaced Leicester is predominately a white wool breed, but does carry a recessive black gene so black and gray fleeces do occur. BFL is a fine wool (around 24 microns) with well-defined crimp, and a long staple length typically between 6cm and 12cm. Their fleece is described as soft, shiny, and with excellent drape. In general, longwools tend to be coarser fibres, however fabrics made from BFL are fine enough for next-to-skin wear. In addition, their long staple creates a hard-wearing yarn that is resistant to pilling. It takes dyes beautifully. BFL also blends well with other fibres such as silk and mohair, adding some resiliency to these.
BFL is incredibly versatile, it has resilience, drape and luster. You can use it to make soft, but hardwearing jumpers. Socks, mittens, and hats, as well as nice drapey woven handwoven fabrics. It spins like a dream !
Now for the spindles! This week I thought I would talk a bit about an equally versatile spindle: the Drop spindle! But not any kind of drop spindle: the Bottom Whorl Drop spindle.

There are a few different drop spindles: the Bottom whorl, the mid whorl and the Top Whorl spindle. The bottom whorl drop spindle has a shaft and a weight or whorl placed neer the end of the shaft’s bottom. The shaft has a hook near the top of the shaft, to make it easier to secure spun yarn to the spindle. There is a bit of the shaft on the bottom exposed so the whorl is not exactly all the way at the end and this is where it gets very interesting! Paul has turned the shafts of these bottom whorl spindles in such a way that you can use them either as drop spindles OR support spindles ! Just like the Blue Faced Leicester I find these spindles extremely versatile ! You can use it as a drop spindle or a support spindle! Easy !

The best way to spin on a spindle is to predraft your tops into thin slivers and not hold a lot of it in your hand. It will felt and clump up more if you hold a lot of wool in your hand. Before using a drop spindle, practice drafting out the fibres. Take a handful of wool in one hand and with the other hand, gently pull some of the fibres away from the mass and then add some twist by twisting the fibres in one direction between your fingers. 

This is the essence of spinning—drawing out the fibres and adding twist until you have created a stable yarn. Continue to pull out the fibres (drafting) and add more twist. If you don’t have enough twist, the yarn will fall apart. If you have too much twist, you won't be able to draw out the fibres from the drafting triangle. Spend a few minutes drafting out the fibres and adding twist—you will need to be able to maintain a comfortable rhythm when you start drop spindle spinning. Take a piece of plied wool yarn about 30 centimeters long and tie it onto the spindle shaft as your leader. Bottom-whorl spindle: Tie the leader above the whorl and then spiral the yarn up the spindle shaft. If your spindle has a hook, catch the yarn with it, wrap it around twice and you are ready to go. 

 Start practicing with the spindle. Remember that most singles yarns are spun clockwise (to the right). Most spinners hold the fibre in the left hand and the spindle in the right hand, but try both ways and see which feels comfortable to you. Hold the leader in one hand and with the other hand, give the spindle a twist. Practice until you can get the spindle to turn smoothly. 

 Once you are comfortable drafting out the fibres and twisting the spindle, put these actions together. Start by sitting down, because your lap will be a valuable tool. Before you start to spin, fluff out the end of the leader.With one hand, hold a handful of fibre and the leader together. With the other hand, twist the spindle clockwise. Watch the twist run up the leader and grab the fibres in your hand. You've just made a join. (You will do the same when you need to add more fibre to your spun yarn.) After you have made the join, twist the spindle and then stop it between your knees so it can't go backward. Slide your twisting hand above the spindle, pinch the leader, and draft out some fibres. 

Pinching the yarn keeps the twist from running up into the fibre source. The twisting/pinching hand keeps the twist under control while the fibre hand drafts out the fibres to the correct size. Once the yarn is the right size, open up the pinching hand and let the twist run up and stabilize the fibres you have just drafted. Continue to twist the spindle, stop it in your lap by holding the shaft between your knees, pinch, and draft. You determine the size of the yarn by how much you pull the fibres out. 

A few fibres make a fine yarn; many fibres add bulk. If too much twist gets into the fibre, slide your fibre hand back a little, untwist the yarn in the opposite direction it was spun, and draft out more fibre before allowing the twist to move back into the yarn. When the yarn is longer than your arm, it's time to wind it onto the spindle. Keeping the yarn taut, wind it on the spindle clockwise and make a cone under the whorl on a top whorl and an upside-down cone on top of the bottom whorl. 

The neater you wind the yarn, the easier it will be to remove from the spindle. After you feel comfortable spinning the spindle and stopping it on your lap, it is time to spin with the spindle suspended in the air. Continue to draft the fibres out the same way, but instead of stopping the spindle in your lap, let it keep spinning. 

When it stops of its own accord and starts to twist counterclockwise, add more clockwise twist. If the spindle keeps going backward, the twist will come out of the yarn, it will turn it back into fluff, and the spindle will drop. Soon you will have a spindle full of yarn. Now you can wind the yarn off the spindle and into a ball or skein. Best of luck learning about drop spindle spinning! I find having a bottom whorl drop spindle with its weight on the bottom a lot easier to spin with than a top whorl, but it’s all about personal preference. What really clinches the deal is not only its weight but also the fact that I can use it as a support spindle. I guess it’s all about versatility. Abby Franquemont has written an amazing book about spindle spinning: “Respect the Spindle”. A Definite Must Read!

The Bottom whorl drop spindle, because of its weight distribution as it has a lower centre of gravity. If you are considering spindling for the first time: a bottom whorl is the easiest way to start. "Regardless of whorl placement, a major factor in spindle performance is whether it is rim-weighted (with weight concentrated to the outside of the whorl) or center-weighted (with weight concentrated toward the shaft). A rim-weighted spindle will tend to spin longer, but at a slower speed; a center-weighted spindle will tend to spin at a faster speed, but not for as long duration, and with greater variation of speed. If you want a spindle that spins fast—for fine spinning or for short-staple fibres such as cotton or animal downs—choose a center-weighted spindle. If you want a spindle that spins slower, but for a long time so you can spin thick yarn or spin very long lengths of yarn before winding on, you might prefer a rim-weighted spindle. If you want to pack lots of yarn onto a spindle, a low-whorl spindle is an excellent choice.


Here are tonight’s spindle and fibre offers !

Better get this show on the road! Have a fun snaffle !!!

Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? Always happy to enable. All my contact details are to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry. Have fun !!!

LAIR OF THE BEARDED DRAGON BOTTOM WHORL DROP SPINDLES / SUPPORT SPINDLES    

Shaft : Peruvian Walnut; 

Whorl: Australian red gum, 

Inlay: Uzurite Weight

 38 grams 

 Length: 28.7 cm 

Diameter of whorl: 75 mm 

 AU$98        SOLD

Gorgeous deep blue Azurite stone inlay

Beautifully balanced and a stunning spindle to create magical yarn

Bottom whorl dropspindle . 

Shaft : cypress, 

Whorl: Australian red gum with Purple Calcite stone inlay. 

Weight : 40 grams, 

Length: 27.5 cm, 

Diameter: 7.4 cm 

 AU$98    SOLD

Bottom whorl drop spindle ; 

Shaft: Peruvian Walnut, 

Whorl: Australian Redgum, 

Weight: 33 grams, 

Length: 28.8 cm 

Diameter: 7.2 cm 

AU$78

Bottom whorl drop spindle, 

Shaft: African Utile, 

Whorl: Snakewood. 

Weight: 34grams, 

Length: 28.2 cm 

Diameter: 6.1 cm 

 AU$78    SOLD

Blue Faced Leicester, Mulberry Silk, Cashmere Tops   

100+ gram tops, hand dyed AU$24

Velvet Gothic  SOLD

Cosmic Wave  sold

Indigo   SOLD

Casa Azul   SOLD

Rose Romance   sold

Lavender Fields   sold

Camouflage   SOLD

Rainforest Magic    SOLD

Vampire Weekend   sold

To order: email or message me on facebook, Ravelry or Instagram, quoting the colourway and the quantity you would like, together with your postal address and I will get right back to you with all the payment details.

To become a club member just email me on ixchelbunnyart at gmail dot com or message me on facebook or Instagram. More on how to order the clubs and anything from this update later in the blog in the section “how to order”

IxCHeL club sign ups for October-November-December are open ! 

 Here are some photos of the previous clubs.

August 20 Fibre Club

August Batt Club

August Yarn Club

June Club

June Club

Note to all International club members:
All international club parcels are now being shipped with tracking and expedited. 
There is an option if you want all three of your clubs to be shipped together to save on shipping cost:  Just ask me for a postage quote !

IxCHeL Fibre Club October, November and December 2020

The subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed and special blended top/roving per month

All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of IxCHeL Fibre Club ! Price to join the IxCHeL Fibre Club #45 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (October, November and December 2020) is AU$78 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double and triple serves available !!!

For Australia : single serve $78+$30 postage (parcel post), double serve $150(save $6) +$30m postage or triple serves $225 (save $9!) + $30 postage

For New Zealand : single serve $78+$45 postage (parcel post) double serve $150(save $6) +$45 postage

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$78+AU$60 (Airmail) double serve AU$150+AU$60; triple serve $225 (save $9) + AU$60postage

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$78+AU$78 (airmail) Double serve AU$150+AU$78; triple serve $225 (save $9) + AU$78postage

 For Asia: Single serve AU$78+AU$57 (airmail) Double serve AU$150+AU$57; triple serves $225 (save $9) + AU$57postage 

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #45 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The October 2020 Club is going to be shipped out end of October. the November club mid Novenmber and the December club early December. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.

 The IxCHeL Yarn Clubs July, October, November and December 2020

Every month for three months (October, November and December 2020) you will receive: enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks or a lush shawl or scarf of course! (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB and will range from a sockweight yarn (a 4ply/fingering weight yarn); Every month a sock or scarf pattern, tips and instructions ! Now is that GOOD or is that GOOD ??! 

 I will even offer a double serve for those of you who like their socks or scarves extra long ! 

For Australia : single serve $96+$30 postage (parcel post) double serve $177( save $15!!) +$30 postage

For New Zealand : single serve $96+$45 postage (parcel post) double serve $177( save $15!!) +$45 postage

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$96+AU$60 (Airmail) double serve $177 (Save $15!!) +AU$60 

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$96+AU$78 (airmail) Double serve $177 (Save $15!!) +AU$78

For Asia: Single serve AU$96+AU$57 (airmail) Double serve $177 (= Save $15!!!) +AU$57

Numbers are strictly limited ! Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal . Just PM or email me your details By the way: you don’t HAVE to knit socks if you don’t want to.. the hand dyed yarn is amazingly nice for scarves, cowls, beanies and even tops ! Anything goes . The October 2020 Club is going to be shipped out end of October, the November club mid November and the December club early december. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs July, October, November and December 2020

Here are all the details. Just pm me when you have any questions or want to be part of the funky bunny batt club Movement ;-) Welcome to the blingy dark side ;-D The subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed funky bunny batt per month to the value of AU$40 or more . The batts will range in weight from 140grams to 170grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even wallaby and bison, and rare breeds !!!! All the batts will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of IxCHeL funky bunny Club ! Every month you will receive a HUGE luxury funky bunny batt ! 

Sign up now and you will receive an IxCHeL Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt for October, November and December 2020

Price to join the IxCHeL Funky bunny for three months is :

For Australia : $114+$30 postage (parcel post)

For New Zealand : single serve $114+$45 postage (parcel post)

For USA + Canada: AU$114+AU$60 (Airmail)

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$114+AU$78 (airmail)

For Asia: AU$114+AU$57 (airmail)

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY BATT CLUB now. Numbers are strictly limited !

The October 2020 Club is going to be shipped out end of October, the November club mid November and the December club early December. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.

To become a member just email me on ixchelbunnyart at gmail dot com or message me on facebook or Instagram. More on how to order the clubs and anything from this update later in the blog in the section “how to order”

To order: email or message me on facebook, Ravelry or Instagram, quoting the colourway and the quantity you would like, together with your postal address and I will get right back to you with all the payment details.

IxCHeL Tweed fingering weight yarn

Super soft lambswool 70% and Kid Mohair 30%

Spun singles, fingering or sock weight yarn

+/- 200meters/218yards

50grams      1.76oz

AU$16

Great Barrier Reef

Leafy Seadragon

Flying Fox

Airlie Beach

Sea Mist

Amethyst

Wattle
(A beautiful sunshine yellow that goes so well with the kookaburra the silver grey)

Kata Tjuta  -sold out-
(an intense pure red that goes well with the Kookaburra and the Wattle and the Amethyst colourway and soooooomany others)

Kookaburra
(a beautiful silver grey with ochre accents that complement the dingo colourway)

Dingo
( A beautiful warm honey ochre with pops of royal bluebell, kingfisher and kangaroo paw)

Grevillea
(a gorgeous raspberry base with pops of royal bluebell, flowering gum, grey and daintree)

Flowering Gum
( a gorgeous medieval warm red with bright red, kookaburra and fern forest accents)

Fern Forest
( a deep forest green with accents of bright red, dusky purple and daintree) )

Jacarandah 
( a fabulous deep purple with accents of royal bluebell, daintree, grevillea and kingfisher )

Wombat
( a fabulous deep walnut brown with accents of dingo and kookaburra)

Kangaroo Paw 
( a fabulous warm orange with accents of fern forest, royal bluebell and grevillea and dingo )

isn’t it gorgeous how the Kangaroo paw knits up?! )

Royal Bluebell 
( a deep blue with accents of flowering gum, kookaburra and fern forest )

Wallaby
( a warm light brown with accents of soft blue and kookaburra)

Daintree ( a soft green with accents of fern forest and dingo)

Kingfisher 
( a fabulous Turquoise blue with accents of fern forest, kangaroo paw, Jacaranda and Grevillea)

Landscape dyes

 100g tubs   AU$12
250 g tubs AU$27

Want to dye your own with easy to use acid dyes? I have been selling these Landscape dyes at my workshops and shows for a long time :  They are extremely easy to use and come in great shades.

Just contact me with the name of the colour you are after and I will get right back to you.

All my contact details are here:

Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? Always happy to enable. All my contact details are to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry. 
Have a fun weekend !!!

How To Order:

1. You can email me on ixchelbunnyart at gmail dot com  or ixchelbunny at yahoo dot com dot au
2. Message me on facebook or 
3. Message me on www.ravelry.com  where I am ixchelbunny.
4. message me on Instagram where I am @ixchelbunny

I will email you right back with all your order details and payment methods.

Any questions? Any custom orders for yarn or dyeing fibre? : Please don’t hesitate to ask! Always happy to enable.

Keep your eyes out for any news on the 

ixchelbunny Instagram feed and the IxCHeL facebook page!!

 RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly