Spin A Yarn for Ewe

Like I said before the last yarn left me feeling like I was feeling. Kind of blah. I did decided to ply it with the silver thread and blue and silver beads. I like it a lot better now. It is still not bright and bold but it is better.
This yarn is a perfect example of great looking roving does not always make great looking yarn in my opinion. I still love this roving color but I am not sure I can even bring myself to spin up the little that is left. Maybe I will spin it up and ply it with a bright color thread and see what that does. Experiments are one of my favorites and merino and silk should not just be left hanging with no purpose.

For my next project in spinning I think I am going to dye a bunch of my new mohair locks and play with those. Maybe core spinning would be fun to try or just sticking them in so often and leaving the lock sticking out. Maybe blending them on the drum carder with some other dyed wool with some angelina blended in or maybe some of everything.

As you can tell I am finally feeling somewhat better and the sun is out today so all is looking up. My golf lesson also went really well today so I am getting back into my busy groove.

I also have to get some skeins spun up for the "One Skein" Exchange I am in plus I decided to do the Dye-O-Rama one too. I signed up for the WTF group as I don't usually dye yarn and I would hate for someone to get a skein and say "this person doesn't know what they are doing." I also plan on buying the yarn I dye as I am too lazy to spin it too.

I have to say that this cold is totally kicking my butt. I am so sick of being sick. I want to cry and say this isn't fair and stomp my feet but....well, I have done the first 2 but not the last yet. I would if I thought it would help.

So, since I have been in such a foul mood I decided to try to spin something luscious to cheer me up. I picked a really lovely merino/silk blend and set at it. The singles came out nice and I decided to make 2 ply rather than anything fancy. Well...it suits my mood perfectly. It has nice colors in it. Hints of blue, tan and a subtle ivory. Should be very lovely but all I see right now is grey. I have decided to ply the rest with beads for more fun and also with a silver thread for even more color. I am determined to get out of this funk now and if fun colored yarn is what I need then damn it I am going to do it.

Stay tuned....

All of the yarn I have up is sold and I am very happy. Guess I need to get more spun up, quick. I have been feeling horrible lately so spinning and knitting has been at a bare minimum lately and I miss it. I am starting to feel more human today so maybe tonight I will get something done.

I got asked in my comments what my dream wheel is since she is on the way. I have decided to add a Majacraft Rose to my family. I will still keep my Joy as she folds up so nice to take along but the Rose will offer me a larger bobbin for plying so I can get some larger skeins or just not stop to wind off yarn because the bobbin is full. I also have the "Wild" flyer coming with it. I decided on this so I can try some of the novelty type yarn that has been calling my name. I want to try some with buttons and sequins spun in. The sequins would probably work on the Joy if I got small one but buttons would be a BIG no.

I also got asked by a friend about spinning cotton. I have tried it without much success. Maybe I should say without much fun as I found it tedious to spin. Maybe I will try it again as I know it is something I would like to be able to spin well but I like my spinning to be relaxing as well and produce something nice. I don't want it to be stressful or annoying. There is no point then for me as I like my spinning to be fun. I will be trying it again though as in San Diego it would be a nice fiber to be able to spin. A little cooler than wool but I really do love my wool.

Pictures next time as my progress this pass week has been so minor it really is not worth photgraphing.

I have been spinning and knitting and knitting and spinning. I also snuck some dyeing in there. I have been working hard on the sweater project. But realized on Tuesday that I was going to have to dye some more roving to spin. I had saved some of the dye I used the first time and got to work dyeing more. Here it is drying in the shower. It doesn't take too long this way as I always rinse and then spin dry in the washer. Works great and cuts the drying time in half.

Next it is on the spinning the singles. Since I had to dye more and it is close but not exactly like the first bit I am alternating between the 2 and I know it will be fine once I ply it. It still amazes me how much the color mellows out once spun. I know it does as I have done it tons of times but it still is unbelievable when you see it in pictures.

Like I said I have been interspersing the knitting too so here is an updated photo of the sweater. The sleeves are on waste yarn waiting to be picked up and knit down so it is all body right now. It has seed stitch down the front and I will have to pick up stitches around the top of the neck and do cords there. I still want to put beads on the cords but haven't decided how I want to do them. In the knitting or dangling off the ends. I guess I have time to decide.

I have also decided to get a new wheel. I found a great price on my dream wheel so I am going to take the plunge and do it. Hubby said do whatever makes you happy and instead of anymore discussion I said, "Great, I am going to order it today." Early Mother's Day gift to me.

I finally got around to updating the yarn for sale page so please take a look. There are 2 new ones and the sold ones have been taken down.

I have been cruising along on the sweater and I am now working on just the body. It looks like completion might be possible. My only hold up might be that I need to spin more first. It is already dyed just not spun. Well, some is spun so I think that will be tonights job to get the rest of the singles spun and then ply tomorrow and wash/set twist so it has time to dry before I run totally out of yarn.

I started my sweater. I love how the yarn is working up and hope that it will be a fast project. I am making my pattern up as we go basing it on one I made and liked. I am changing everything about the pattern except the basic shape. I want short sleeves, a cropped style and ties with beads on them. I figure if the the ties have beads on the ends then they can be tied or not and still have a decorative look. It is worked top down with a v- neck and I am almost to the bottom of the v-neck. Not too much longer and I will put the sleeve stitches on scrap yarn to hold for later. This picture was before I worked on it yesterday afternoon and evening. I am trying to get it done by the 22nd so I can wear it to a party and I also work better with a deadline. I have 2 days of car knitting that will for sure help with the deadline. The yarn is very similar to the Grrlie Grrl yarn I have for sale but no beads. So you can see how yarn like that works up. I love the subtle shading that goes with a drip dyed roving.

It has been busy around my house so I just haven't had time to post. I also have been tired at night so I haven't had time to spin every night like I usually do. I have gotten some yarn done. Here is my Project Spectrum yarn. It is yellow with bits of orange and white with yellow and clear beads. It came out nice I think and is a departure for me colorwise so it was fun. Next up is another striping yarn. I think of a sunset when I see it. It has yellow, pink, orange and blue sections and all plied with a gold holographic thread. It turned out to be a much biger skein then I thought and I still have another bobbin to ply up.

I decided to take a break to spin myself some yarn. I want to make a cute cropped sweater that I have in mind. Somewhere between a bolero and sweater maybe with 3/4 sleeves or short sleeves cardigan style with a tie in front or maybe one button. The first bobbin is started and it will be a simple 2 ply when done.

I have also been stalking a new wheel on Ebay. It was a smoken deal until a few minutes ago and now I am unsure whether to bid again or not. It is over in a few minutes so I guess I have to make up my mind now or wait for another one. Decisions, decisions.