The Fox Hop - Product Review

I thought I'd start reviewing other shops from Etsy and the Phat Fiber box, as I buy or trade from them. First up in The Fox Hop. I decided to splurge and spoil myself with a mystery batt and some loverly merino/tencel roving. I've never spun from a batt before, and this one made the experience something I'll be sure to repeat over and over. I was even sent a second batt, for some unknown but very much beloved reason. One was a 1.3oz blend or 70% superwash Merino, 30 % alpaca with tussah silk, sari silk, firestar, and angelina. That would be the slightly darker batt to the right.

The second batt was a 1.1 oz blend of merino wool, superwash merino wool, corriedale wool, angelina, a bamboo-merino blend, and soysilk.

Both were amazingly soft and fluffy. I decided that I would pull them into a combo roving, and spin that, then make it into a 2 ply, around sport weight. It spun like a dream, and is the first yarn I considered ever leaving as a single. But I went with my first idea, and have 163 yards of what I'm calling wrought pewter yarn. the firestar and angelina look like little jewels in the yarn.

Both batts together

Skein of Wrought Pewter yarn

Close up, still can't get the firestar and angelina to show properly

Superwash Merino, Alpaca, tussah silk, sari silk, firestar, angelina

Merino, Superwash Merino, Corriedale, Angelina, Bamboo/Merino, Soysilk

The Merino/Tencel roving is soft and fluffy, and all sorts of reds and pinks. I love the dark red/purple that's in it. The tencel gives an amazing silky shine and I can't wait to see how this works up. I also couldn't pass up the size of the braid, 6 oz of spinning fun. Again, I plan on making another 2 ply (I like them) but might go for a fingering weight 3 ply to match 8 oz of a blue/purple braid of merino tencel I have from Zarzuela's Fibers. A stripped shawl might just be the ticket. Though the spinning of that is another post, for another day.

All braided up, see that amazing color I was talking about? I need to make this prettyful :D

Closeup of the wheel I made on the bed. What, you don't have a tye-dyed blanket? You're missing out.

Would I shop at The Fox Hop again? You bet your last fluff of fiber I will be. The prices are good, the fiber is *amazing* and I can't beat the customer service that I received. I hearty recommend the Mystery Batts to folks wanting a surprise. Poke through her shop, you'll find something to covet, bring home, and pet.

Coming in a few days, descriptions of the samples for July's Phat Fiber box, and a happy dance about the shawl pattern/kits finally being done.

Beauty Sheeps

Introducing Beauty Sheeps. A line of hand crocheted face cloths in a variety of colors. Lightly textures, soft enough for a baby's face, and tough enough to take on the dishes, and win! The sell in packs of 3, and come with one white/black/natural (depends on the color used), one patterned, and one "solid" of a hand painted yarn. These are done in Isis cotton yarn, so are softer and thinner than others on the market. But don't let that thinness fool you. They are tough and sturdy, just like the 5'2" person who makes them. Yes, I'm short, your point? :-P

Beauty Sheep in Cheshire Smile

Also up are some beautiful scarves, made by me of course. And a chunk of my stash is going up for grabs too.

Wool/Alpaca/Nylon crocheted scarf.

How could I forget the handspun? Hand spun cottons, wools, and a merino/alpaca/border collie blend. Check them out.

The Merino/Alpaca/Border Collie blend.

Hand spun Organic cotton, naturally dyed