Tina Baltazar - EzineArticles.com Expert Author

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Covering Fiber Sheep
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies] Whether or not you card your raw fleeces before you spin them, the fiber must be picked and virtually free of vegetation before it is spun. To make this job easier, COVER your fiber sheep!

Choosing the Right Dye Mix for Your Natural Fiber Crafts And Handspinning
[Shopping-and-Product-Reviews] In my opinion, the old saying, "you get what you pay for? is not always true with dyes. I have tried more expensive dyes that averaged about $14 a canister that claimed to dye 1 to 2 pounds. However, they took a long time to set and never completely rinsed out. I have tried fabric dyes that claimed to dye natural fibers including wool and cotton. These dyes were very inexpensive and I got them on sale for $1.99 a package that dyed one pound.

Washing Wool and Mohair Fleeces for Handspinning
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies] Wool, Mohair, Alpaca and Llama fiber can be washed to remove dirt and grease and spun with or without being carded. A lingerie or sweater bag works wonderfully.

Selecting Wool Fleeces for Handspinning
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies] The first step in spinning a good yarn is of course selecting a good fleece. This is easier if you find a reputable wool grower that covers their sheep. Look for a fleece that has been skirted and shook out. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to get a fleece home to discover straw and feces in the center once I take it out of the bag. Remember, fleeces are sold by weight and I paid for that mess!

Farmer's Market Etiquette
[Self-Improvement] Ok, sorry about this, but I must rant! As many of you know, I sell my wares at the Farmer's Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico. On Tuesday, our slower day, the city does not allow the market to close off the roads to thru traffic. So,seeing the canopies and knowing that the market is present, and thereby FAMILIES are present, why must idiots speed thru these roads? Even if you are not interested in coming to the market, it is a parking lot!

Diary of a Handspinner-My Life As I Spin It
[Home-and-Family:Crafts-Hobbies] It started simple enough. We bought a home with 5.6 acres so my husband could raise horses and calves. I wanted animals of my own, couldn't let him have all the fun. What does one do with sheep? The seller explained these were fiber sheep, she would spin and weave the wool.