First, the spin-fest. What follows is a summary of my last few months of spinning (I know, I know - you were hoping the above pictures were the summary, but... no such luck). Interestingly, all of these handspun yarns remind me of photos I've taken, so I decided to name them after the photos - pretty goofy, I know, but fun (for me, anyway) :)
Handspun Yarn I: December Sunset
Fiber: The Sheep Shed @ Mountain View Farm, Merino/Tencel (50/50) Roving
Stats: 187 yards (64 g), 15 wpi (fingering / light fingering weight)
Ply: "Navajo" plied
The namesake photo:
Handspun Yarn II: Milk Chocolate Lizard
Fiber: The Painted Sheep, Merino/Tencel (50/50) Roving
Stats: 503 yards (119 g), 20 wpi (light fingering / lace weight)
Ply: 2 ply
The namesake photo:
Mmmm... milk chocolatey! (Don't worry, I know I'm describing you in food terms, but I'm not going to eat you, Mr. Lizard.)
I had plans for this fiber even before I started spinning! I will be making Ruth's Tokyo top using my Milk Chocolate Lizard yarn in conjunction with Knitpicks Gloss Sock Yarn in the color cocoa (seen here with the fiber, pre-spinning):
Handspun Yarn III: Amber Ant (a.k.a. Sunflower)
Fiber: JulieSpins, Merino/Silk (80/20) Roving
Stats: 625 yards (113 g), 19 wpi (light fingering / lace weight)
Ply: 3 ply
The namesake photo:
I didn't do a great job of dividing the singles evenly between the 3 bobbins, so instead of trying to redistribute the singles after I ran out of the first bobbin, I switched to a 2 ply (55 yards, 6 g). I ran out of the 2nd bobbin with just a bit to go and finished up by Navajo plying the remainder (less than 1 g). Here they are together:
Bug appreciates Amber Ant's pillowy properties
Handspun Yarn IV: Owl Clover
Fiber: Ancient Threads Farm, Merino Superwash Roving (naturally dyed with cochineal, osage orange, tumeric, and lac)
Stats: 578 yards (126 g), 14 wpi (fingering weight)
Ply: single ply
The namesake photo:
My young nephew found it to be quite passably squooshy:
Handspun Yarn V: Columbia Fuzz
Fiber: Weaving Works, Local Columbia Wool Roving
Stats: 615 yards (128 g), 15 wpi (light fingering weight)
Ply: 2 ply
The namesake photo (yeah, this is a real stretch, I know):
Baa aaa aaa aa a... ...meow?
The guest cat paw you may have noticed caressing (well, perhaps "gripping" is a more accurate description - I had to disentangle the claws several times) the singles above belongs to my mom and dad's cat, Cali. She was kind enough to sit for a photo shoot with my oh-so-exciting white yarn (which I spun while visiting them):
Well, now... was that really called for?
Apparently Cali's not one to hide how she feels about a situation. Hmph.
Arte Y Pico & I Love Your Blog awards!
Bryony of Library Girl knits! (who has a fantastic blog herself) has nominated me for an award - thanks, Bryony! Here are the rules* of Arte Y Pico:
1) You pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award, creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogger community, no matter of language.*
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.*
3) Each award-winning, has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.*
4) Award-winning and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of “Arte y pico” blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.*
5) To show these rules.*
* = I'm amending this to add "if you want to," because I don't wish to impose mandates on anyone :)
Now, I read a ton of blogs (well, ahem... I usually do, though I have been rather bad about it these past few months, unfortunately for me), and I find stunning examples of creativity all over the place - you guys are a bunch of super-interesting, inspiring, and artistic people - so it's really difficult to choose a few blogs to mention, but here goes:
Through the Loops: Gorgeous photography (and fun photoshoots with Kirsten's spirited and entertaining kids), beautiful knits (and spinning!), great patterns...
Anna's Flying Needles: Anna has really lovely taste in knits and her execution is fabulous :)
Green Apples - A Knitting Blog: Beautiful knits (and crochet!) - very artsy :)
missalicefaye: Holey, moley! (pun totally intended...) Alice does exquisite lace work and is my hero when it comes to drop spindle spinning :)
Yes, I'm A Yarn Snob: Great knits! She's currently on a bit of a cable kick :)
More recently, Washington Kestrel (check out her knitting and sewing projects - and zoo photos!) nominated me for another award (heh, maybe I should try to blog more often, so I can feel more deserving of these awards). Thanks!
Here are the rules*:
1. Please put the award on your blog.*
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.*
3. You must nominate at least 4 fellow bloggers for this award.*
4. Add links to the recipients.*
5. Leave a comment so the recipients know they have received an award.*
* = Again, I'm amending this to add "if you want to," :)
Hee, hee! So here are 5 more blogs that I love :)
A Little Loopy: Three crafty women share this wonderful blog :)
CATKNITS: Wendy knits, spins, and cares for four unbearably cute kitties!
Knittymuggins: A funny, very friendly knitter who's always doing exciting things :)
Sunflowerfairy Knits: The exploits of a knitting, spinning mom who I have the pleasure of knowing.
The A.D.D. Knitter: The queen of knitted accessories (with a healthy lust for sock yarn)!
Yay! Have a great weekend (and for those of you going to Rhinebeck - have a fantastic time)!
17 comments:
All of that handspun is so scrumptious. I really really love the Winter sunset one, which aren't typically my normal colors. But boy, that shimmer.
I really can't wait until I'm able to spin a more even single and ply a little better. Maybe I'll practice my spinning today; thanks for the inspiration!
Lovely spinning! A comment about the amber yarn - when I am doing 3-ply, I never have the same amount on each bobbin, either. (I am very casual about dividing the yarn among bobbins.) Anyway, when the first one runs out, I take the heaver of the 2 remaining bobbins and make it into an Andean plying bracelet. I ply that and the 3rd bobbin (as a single) together. When the bracelet runs out and I have a single bobbin left, I Navajo (chain) ply it. That way, I use up all the singles and the resultant yarn is all a 3-ply.
Beautiful Beautiful yarn!
Beautiful handspun. I especially love the December Sunset. So pretty!
Your spinning is beautiful! I'm really amazed at the yardage you managed to get out of some of that fiber, especially the three ply. How much fiber did you start with?
You are a spinning pro! Wow, those yarns came out so beautifully.
Cali has one of the most interesting faces. I love that straight color division right down the middle.
Thank you so much for the nomination! :) We love your blog as well!
As for this particular post...I really liked seeing the photo for each yarn. The yarns captured each one perfectly!
What a beautiful post with all of that roving and yarn.
Thank you for the award and I feel honored.
Thank you so much for the award! We definitely admire your artistry and love your blog, too!
Ad now- holy moly, woman! Your spinning is drop.dead.gorgeous! Really.
I love your spinning round up, fabulous colours!
Your yarn is freakin' awesome, Nell! I'm glad to see that you've been so productive. I have not been since the Ravelympics. haha The ladies miss you.
I love your yarn! So, so pretyy. Milk Chocolate Lizard is my fave, especially the name. I didn't realize you were moving back to CA...for some reason I thought you were just on a trip. Where did you end up??
Thank you so much for the award. I feel very honored.
Your handspun is so beautiful. The colors are just gorgeous. I liked seeing all the pictures of your inspiration for their names.
Wow, this post was worth the wait. Loved loved loved the photos and especially the namesakes. Amazingly clever!
Wow. I am awestruck! The Milk Chocolate Lizard is definitely my favorite. . . I wish I could get this much spinning done, in what did you say? A Month? I can't wait to see Tokyo in it! :)
Wow. That is a boatload of (seriously gorgeous) spinning. I think that would take me years. Beautiful stuff - and I love the names - and the kitties :)
The handspun is simply fantastic!! You are inspiring me to want to learn how to use a wheel someday :)
Thank you *so* much for the bloggy award! I am truly honored and touched by it and I can't thank you enough!! You have made my year :)
knittymuggins
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