Focused!

This morning I was straightening by bedroom, which lately has been colonized by mountains of fabric, sewing machines, and yarn. As I was arranging the books on my bedside table, I had to smile.

The titles of the books sum me up: knitting, domesticity, handspinning, and obsession, all that topped with a little bit of knitting, a sock in progress for Mr. SockPixie! Pretty focused, wouldn't you say?

Handspun Sunday

It is Sunday again, and that means it is spinning day. Today I picked a bold gold and black roving with just a touch of green I had dyed years ago as part of the Vermeer Collection.

Today, on this 4th of July, it just made me think of fireworks exploding in the dark sky in bold golds. I really enjoyed seeing the golds pop against the blacks as I sat spinning this afternoon talking and laughing with Miss SockPixie.

This lovely Merino roving, which I spun as fine singles, will be plied with another fine singles this time in black. I am planning on knitting socks from it. Spinning sock yarn takes a little more concentration for me. The singles really need to be fine enough for the sock yarn not to be too thick. Enough twist also needs to be put in the singles for them to hold together and not disintegrate as you spin or when you ply. I set my wheel on the medieum size whorl, and slowed the uptake a little. This should give me a sturdy single that will resist the plying, and will make a comfy yet sturdy sock.

That's it for tonight. We are off to see the fireworks over the Charles River. I wish you all a wonderful 4th of July!

Handspun Eye Candy

A new post, a new handspun. I actually spun this yarn a couple weeks ago. It is a merino silk blend spun in light worsted singles.
I hand-dyed it in a lovely tealy green.
It will become a beret as soon as my hand recovers from a wood working injury...

More Handspinning

Ishbel is finished and is being blocked. In the mean time I spun some more yarn. I spun wensleydale for the first time. The staples were soooo long! I first spun a multicolored roving in firy tones (you know how much I like bold colors!) The result: soft fingering weight singles.



I then chose a contrasting roving, a practically solid lavender. When I placed them together, I instantly fell in love, and though it was way too late, I spun all the lavender I knew I would need.



It was a good thing it was so late when I finished, because that forced me to let my singles sit overnight before being plyed.



I love the result! The lavender brings some calm to the fire. I can't wait to knit it! I am thinking really hard about a good project.