I finally got the wheel out and did a little more spinning.  I should have this done by now, but of course there’s been a lot of puppy work around here and cleaning.

Ah - this week I should get it done.

Well this wasn’t planned, but both sets of fibers I sent out came home today. I knew last week my recent purchases at the NH S&W fest were on their way home all processed and ready for spinning. Spinderella’s out did herself again. Everything looks wonderful and a what a fast processing and shipping time.

There was a note on the oatmeal BFL that is on the ground in front that she sent it through the pin drafter because the staple was so long. It looks so totally yummy. I can so see this as a natural spun sweater - maybe one of those Lisa Lloyd lovelies from her new book. All and all these fleeces turned out really gorgeous. Really if you need a place to send your rovings, don’t hesitate to send them to Spinderella’s. They do a fabulous job.

Earlier this spring you may remember I picked up a gorgeous Coopworth at a little local festival. Well I took that over to the mill in my backyard and I wasn’t disappointed. The Illinois Wool and Fiber Mill also did a fantastic job. You can’t really tell from this photo as they look similar, but I asked them to run the light and dark separately and they did just as I asked and it turned out beautiful.

I’m so happy and pleased with all my rovings. Now I just can’t wait to spin.

I was consulting the pattern as it seems to be growing in width quicker than length and I have about 19 or 20 inches at this point, so that means about 5 or 6 more. But first I’m going to have to get the wheel back out as I ran out of the lighter brown mid-row and will be needing some more.

I think since it seems thicker that my is definitely off and causing the running out of yarn issue. Not a problem though, I would be able to get a few more ounces of the blues if necessary. Just have to make a run to the Fold for it. I have plenty of the browns.

So we met the blues and now it’s the browns.

I like this one and think it would be totally acceptable. It’s just a basic Romney.

I also did this Corriedale, but it’s so bumpy and lumpy.

I carded it up, but it seems just to come off in blobs when I’m spinning. Although, I could see that it could possibly give some interesting texture next to the very smooth in the shawl. I know the dark color would give some needed depth and a spot to rest the eye.

I have found it’s hard to judge a yarn in skein form. Sometimes you only know by knitting a sample. Onto the sampling…

So I finished spinning all the blues and then got sidetracked - Mother’s Day Knitting.  I have to sort through my stash today and look for some browns to go with these for the Danish Tie Shawl.

Here’s a close-up of the latests.

So if you buy stuff to mix in with other stuff, does that really count as stash enhancement? Probably. I would assume if the total content goes up then yes, you have had a stash enhancement exercise or the letters, which I won’t list out. Really, don’t need spam.

So while I have been drooling over a fine fleece, I decided I really need some nylon to mix in with my rovings. Did you see those cormo/nylon blended socks? <singingly> Sign me up, sign me up. Anyway… I realized that there was a hole in my mountainous stash and it was nylon. I have mohair sure, nature’s nylon, but nylon… hmmm… this synthetic thing is a whole new ball of wax. Well, well… a hole must be plugged. Going to give a pound a go and see what happens. At a 20% ratio that should blend up to 5 pounds. Check. Did I mention you get a discount on quantity?

Also, went by the lovely new wool mill today…which, brace yourself, is on my way to work. Yes… on my way there and on my way home. Twice a day one mile over up the road there it is and it is wonderful. A lovely building, a little shop for wears, and lovely, lovely equipment. We looked at samples and I dropped off that Coopworth fleece I bought on Saturday. I’m currently working on the Shetland.

She had some little sampler bags of alpaca roving… I dove in. Now be kind… it’s only 4 ounces. What’s 4 ounces, really? Not that much and it was a very good price. It’s the bits at the end and begs to be spun very fine when I did my test… but I’ve been itching to do some kitchen sink batts and may add a bit of this stuff in. I thought I might use it for the Danish Tie Shawl. I have all the blues spun - about a pound worth, but I’m going to opt out of the alpaca top - will pill badly according to my last item made with it, if I remember correctly, and will sub in something roving wise. I’m thinking one light and one dark brown. It needs a bit of balance to tone the blues I think… and I like to use odd numbers. My mother, the florist, always says use odd numbers in arrangements, it’s more pleasing to the eye.

Yesterday was the Stephenson County Fiber Art Fair and what a nice event.  I hadn’t been before, so I didn’t quite know what to expect, but they had an awesome selection of vendors and lots of choices to spend money on.  I circled around and picked out a couple of fleeces.  I don’t know what is about fresh fleece, but it draws me like bees to honey.

 

I picked out a beautiful black Shetland, which I swear could be the softest sheltland I’ve ever felt.  It has a bit of veggie matter in it, but I think that it will all work out in the wash.

Then I got this gorgeous Coopworth.  I’m still drooling over the projects in a Fine Fleece and keep thinking about my Romney’s in the basement.  I picked this one especially because it has definite variations in the fleece.  From very light silver to very dark gray.

So after rooting through my stash, I picked out some colors that I think may work for this Danish tie-shawl. I’m still deciding on the Alpaca as I’m not sure that will work for the singles.

I started spinning at group last night and then continued when I got home.

Not as straight as I would like but I think it will work for this pattern since it’s garter stitch. I did do a little hand felting when I set the twist in the hopes it won’t pill as much.

After reading the latest Spin-Off, I had to try the coils that were featured on the cover.

This was a lot of fun. It took longer to make them then I thought, but wasn’t intensive at all.

Here’s the close up shot.

Now what to knit. I’m thinking something simple to show off the yarn.

This was merino/tencel wool - 2 ounces from the sheep shed.  Coiled on crochet yarn.  I think it’s about 3o yards.

This past weekend, I also had a chance to whip up a Urchin. This is a great pattern and a fun knit. I really love how it knitted up. I had a hard time getting gauge. I went up a size to large as I wanted it to be large and cushy on, plus I went up a needle size to an 11US on the pattern, but still was knitting less than gauge and it seemed to work out. I kept thinking it wouldn’t be deep enough but it is.

DH suggested the pom pom on back.

I would definitely knit this one again. This was made out of the singles handspun that I dyed the color blue and my verdict is singles for knitting are here to stay. Yeah! I think mine were a little more energized than would be called for, especially called for the shawl, so I will have to work on that, but really I loved the singles.

I seem to be on an EZ or what I would call functional knitting kick. I keep thinking these singles would be so useful for a EZ Bog jacket or an Adult Totem - anything in garter really. I could whip things up a little faster for gifts - total time for this project and I swatched to death was only about 3 hours including the spinning and dyeing portion. I don’t know about all of you, but I’m going to have to start my gift knitting for the holidays. I know sickening, but everyone wants everything handspun.