Lots of Spinning

I've been doing a lot of drop spinning.  I finished my 8oz of Abi's Web Patina roving and got 246 yards of 3 ply.   I'm getting comfy with Navajo plying and discovered that its better to use shorter sections, which gives a more even ply.

I started on a gunmetal grey merino and pulled out the rest of the roving I purchased at Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool 3 years ago.  I'm still in love with the colors.  I am, however,  a bit concerned about the color fastness, as there was a little color in the water after setting the yarn.  I was planning on knitting the grey and patina together, but getting scared that the colors will bleed.

Spinning

I'm now a member of the Woodland Weavers and Spinners Guild of Damascus Pa. On the 19th I went my second meeting. The topic of discussion: Finishes. Everyone had tips and tricks for working with and finishing knitting, spinning and woven items, as well as neat tools and make-shift gadgets that will come in handy in pinch. Like making a center pull ball with a toilet paper roll.


One member demonstrated Navajo plying on the fly. A very skilled drop spinner, she made it look effortless and magical. I had to try!

On the ever useful internet and found "Tammy Rizzo's Ply-on-the-fly technique" which also has a link to her blog were she updates the technique, making it even easier.

Here is my hand spun, Navajo plied-on-the-fly yarn. First I did a Navajo ply with already spun singles, which was awkward because the center pull ball i made was very light and it was difficult to get a smooth chain going, without the ball jumping around. The second and third yarns were done on the fly. I spun a bunch of singles and then wrapped them on my fingers and plied them, then repeat.



I also tried plying with a spinning wheel, which i borrowed from my neighbor. It was great using the wheel. Spinning goes much faster but I did have a hard time plying. I found the wheel really didn't want to go in the opposite direction. But I did get a sense of the kinds of things I would want in a spinning wheel when I'm ready to get one. After that short adventure, I returned the spinning wheel to my neighbor in favor of my drop spindle.


Having finished the green roving, I knit a hat with the plied yarn. There was only about 53 yards of yarn so no ear flaps.


The rest of the green un-plied yarn, will probably be used in a weaving a project. For now anyway, its just a part of my stash.

novelty yarn neckwarmer...

novelty_cowl_2
Originally uploaded by Digital Leaf

I finished this a while ago... I got two skeins of this novelty yarn in a discount bin, one with bluish colors the other with greenish earth tones. I am really surprised how little yarn was actually in each skein. Both were just enough to a cowl/ neck warmer. I didn't even have enough yarn to make a pull string, so i used other yarn I have that is in the same color family and smooth, so I can pull closed and make it a hat.

Art Yarn solution...YAY!

novelty_scarf_3
Originally uploaded by Digital Leaf

I purchased this art yarn by Cherie Anne Designs that i purchased at the Renegade Craft Fair's Handspun Collective booth last year. I've been looking for something to make with it and everything i tried just didn't appeal to me. I like the yarn so much on it's own that even simple stockinette seemed too busy. I wanted something that was ALL ABOUT THE YARN.

I was window shopping a week ago and saw some smooth bulky yarn made into a woven scarf using mono-filament as the weft . I don't have a loom but the idea of the yarn lined up next to itself was perfect. So I sewed the yarn together instead of weaving it and its EXACTLY what I wanted... A scarf thats all about the yarn.

SWATCHING

I love swatching. I know...I'm a freak... but hear me out. Of course i swatch for guage, but that makes it sound so dull. I swatch to experiment with stitches, new yarns, and color combinations. I swatch when i can't think of what i want to do next. I swatch when I just want to have non-committal knitting in my hands.


Here is a recent example: I was asked by a friend to shorten a store brought sweater. When I started to unravel the bottom, I discovered that the ribbing was very strange. I had to unravel two rows at a time!?! I did a little searching around and learned that the stitch is called Brioche or Prime Rib (tastey sounding isn't it!) Excited, I swatched it in the same yarn I had just unravelled, verifying that it was indeed the correct stitch. I also found several variations in The Big Book of Knitting, which calles it Shaker Knitting. I tried it with different yarns, of varying weights and color.

I save these because they can sometimes provide inspiration or reminders about what works where.

When I'm ready to start a project, thats when i swatch for guage. These I usually unravel, as the project itself will be a big enought swatch for future reference. Also I tend to write down the guage of projects I start, as I often have to recalculate for my measurements or check if I have enough yarn. (I learned that lesson the hard way, having run out of yarn and never finding the right dye lot again)

So swatch for fun, play around with new stitches, colors and textures. Cheers!

Habu mania...

I couldn't resist... I've enjoyed perusing the Habu Textiles web site, admiring the kits and wonderful yarns made of unusual fibers, like Steel or pinapple. Habu has been front and center in the minds of those in the knit-blogosphere, people showing off their pretty yarns and kits. I couldn't take it any longer. During my lunch break, I dashed up to the showroom in NYC and much to my dismay and delight, walked out with a very small bag, a small bag with a relativly big price. Now don't get me wrong, totally absolutly worth every penny.

I brought two skeins of the bamboo yarn, which dare i say, is SOFTER than silk. I also got two sample bags, which had tiny balls and butterflies of some of their novelty yarns.


awwww, aren't they lovely. Habu will be a place I visit very seldomly, for no other reason than for my own finacial safety. (wouldn't wanna find myself homeless but warm and looking rather well dressed in my layers of knit finery).

Did i mention that their textiles......... aaaaaaah

Chunky, you don't know Chunky!!

I was just commenting to a fellow knitter how I got this chunky yarn from carabella, and how i found that i prefer working with thinner yarns.... And that i couldn't for life of me think of what I would to make and wear out of such a chunky yarn... Its just not my style.

Then I saw this by fashion designer Giles (on style.com). It was like he over heard me and was like "Oh, you don't like chunky, well i'll show you chunky! Take that and that... MWAAHAHAHAA!

I must say, I am still not a chunky yarn kinda gal.

Spinning

Well its been two week since i purchased my drop spindle. I am really gettng the hand of it. Its so fun. Of course now i have decide what the knit with it. I still haven't measured to see how much i have.
I went to Silk City Fibers yesterday and in their $2 bin were two small bags of silk roving. Very Exciting. I'm going to hold off on that till i really have this spinning thing down.




In other news, I've completed a sheer scarf made of a wool, acrylic and pam varigated boucle. I bound off the end of the green tank top. Its rolling terribly, so i will add a boarder stitch to it. Still haven't touched my orange cardigan.

Yarn...O wonderful Yarn...

Look at the pretty yarn!

This is an art yarn by Cherie Anne Designs that i purchased at the Renegade Craft Fair's Handspun Collective booth. I'm still trying decide what to make with it.





The new york Suss yarn store is closeing and the sale put a dent in my wallet, but when does 50/50 Cashmere-Superfine Merino wool yarn ever go on sale Half price. Its Boise Karabella yarn.
I swatched it, WOW, soooooo soft and buttery smooth. I got several colors. I'm planning on doing a Oleana sweater. I ordered Solveig Hisdal's book Poetry in Stitches. All i know is that whatever i make outta this yarn, has to be able to wrap around me so i can cuddle in its softness. JOY! ^_.^