by Cynthia on January 10, 2012
In my
last post I shared some photos of my latest spinning project. Today I have some photos to share of the finished yarn from that post.
I’m so pleased with the results of this yarn! It is so soft, airy, and huggable. I think it would be just perfect for this pattern for Gabriel. Tonight I plan on winding it into a ball and possibly casting on. I’m just too excited about it!
My new carders are getting a work out. I find bits of time here and there during the day to make rolags. Gabriel is curious about the hand carders and has attempted to steal them more than once but for the most part I can use them during the moments that he is playing contently with this toys. Ariella is very intrigued by them and is always wanting to know why I am “brushing my yarn.”
Here is my newest batch of freshly made rolags. I’ve gotten the technique down now so I am whipping them out rather fast.
I cannot wait to see them spun up because I have added bits and pieces of leftover fibers from other projects to them.
Now that I was able to share these photos with you, I am off to finish up some work before the night gets away from me!
by Cynthia on January 6, 2012
For Christmas this year I hinted and hinted at my husband for the only gift I really cared to get. It seemed to work because I found exactly what I had hinted at under the tree Christmas morning.
I have wanted some hand carders for quite awhile now but could not bring myself to just go out and buy them for myself. I am so enjoying working with them and learning how to make rolags. I have been practicing with some already dyed wool top from Ashland Bay. The blue top as well as the yarn on the bobbin that you see in these photos are going to be plied together and will hopefully make a beautifully soft yarn perfect for a hat or cowl.
I am practicing my long draw for making some nice and airy woolen yarn and I am just loving spinning with my freshly made rolags.
I am such a visual learner. I found several YouTube videos to be very helpful and have referred back to them more than once. Like this one here on making rolags and this one on spinning using the long draw method.
I am really enjoying working on my long draw. It is so different compared to spinning a more worsted yarn. As you pull back on the fiber you can feel it become almost elastic-y as it draws out and I just love that. Maybe I’m odd but I think it is just the neatest thing ever!
Next up on my spinning list is this beautiful roving by Woolgatherings.
It is a blend of merino and tencel and is just lovely. I plan to spin it worsted and two ply it. I will be sure to share photos of my finished yarns. Until then you will find me happily spinning this rainy season away.
by Cynthia on January 4, 2012
I am just barely making it in time for today’s
Yarn Along!
Now that the holidays are over I am finding myself in a bit of a knitting slump. All the frantic knitting before the big holiday morning has me needing just a little break. Yesterday though, I found myself wanted to pick up the Shalom sweater I had begun back in November and put aside for gift knitting. I’m doing a few mods of my own and think I am going to add 3/4 sleeves to it.
The yarn is some Cascade Ecological Wool that was once a silvery white but I overdyed it with some logwood to achieve the eggplant purple you see in the photo. I like the variations the yarn has so much. I hope the photo shows it off. It is rainy and dark today so no good natural light for catching pretty yarn colors!
I’m in between books at the moment and am hoping to get some suggestions from everyone’s posts today. I just finished up a couple of nonfiction books and am now looking to balance that out with an easy fiction. I have been considering picking up The Peach Keeper from the library. Anyone read it?
Happy knitting and reading to everyone and thanks again to Ginny for hosting the Yarn Along every week.
by Cynthia on January 3, 2012
It is hard for me to believe that we are now the third day into 2012. My how these past few weeks have flown! I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday. I had wanted to share some of my handmade gifts with you before the season past us by but I was swept up in so much of its frenzy that I never found myself able to do so.
I thought I would at least share one of the gifts I made for Ariella- even if it is a little bit over due!
A little while back I came across some tutorials for bendy dolls- cute little dolls made from pipe cleaners. When I saw these I just knew they would be perfect for Ariella as she loves little toys that she can manipulate and carry around. I set about gathering up my supplies in early December to make her some as well as a little wooden box (which I painted pink with white polka dots) to keep them in.
I cannot tell you how happy I am with how they turned out! I used silk flowers for their clothes and my naturally dyed yarns for their hair. To me they look like sweet little flower fairies. After some flip-flopping decision-making I decided to go without painting their faces on. I really liked the idea of her imagining them for herself.
I am very pleased to say that she seems to love them and has named each one. (With rather unusual names I might add, like Izzia, but that is my Ariella for you- always coming up with interesting things.)
Below you will find links to the tutorials I used as guides. I know I will definitely be making her more of these in the future. Not to mention, my thirteen year old wants me to make him some that resemble zombies. I think I like the idea of the flower fairies better though.
