It's fall already

I didn't do much spinning over the summer. After the long winter it was just nice to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Here we are and it's fall already. Seemed like a short summer but time to get back into spinning and working with wool.

I did accummulate more wool this summer. I have about 4 pounds of alpaca in brown, fawn and natural color. I found a producer north of Bismarck that does have black alpaca also so when I run out I know where to get more.

I did finish the merino tencel which turned out gorgeous.



I took a cable knitting class just yesterday which was fun and much easier than I thought. I wanted to use my own handspun wool and then I realized I have also dyed this wool.

Spinning

I finished the Romney wool I bought. I loved the colors in this one. It seems the more colors involved, the better I like it . The way they blend together when they are plyed is always so neat to watch. Then I started spinning the BFL. I had to take a few days off last week as it was finally nice outside and it was hard for me to spend evenings indoors.

Then I have to make sure I have enough roving for future spinning projects. I got merino/tencel and BFL (which is fast becoming my favorite wool to spin) from FatCatKnits on Etsy. She always has wonderful colors and a good variety of different types of wool.

Back to spinning

After finishing my first sock, I immediately started working on the second sock. I am about half way done with that but I started spinning again for a change of pace.

I was asked by a friend if I could match some yarn she bought at a closeout sale and I was skeptical but I told her I would try. I already had the colors so that was no problem. I spun the singles and started plying and I was amazed at how close it was. I procrastinated because I thought I couldn't do it and it turned out very well.

I knitted a sock

Finally I knitted a whole sock! About the second thing I tried to knit was a sock but I didn't have much success. I decided maybe I should knit some simpler things first. I knitted scarves and lots of dishcloths. Then a sock class was offered at the local yarn store CE Designs. I started over about six times, it was very frustrating but Cheri is a great teacher and I kept trying. I had a lot of trouble with the heel and she helped me so I could keep on. Our last class was today and I started knitting the toe today and finished tonight. My next challenge, the second sock!

Spinning and Learning to Knit Socks

I'm taking a class at the local yarn shop and my first sock is in the making. I had a difficult time getting started and I couldn't tell wrong side from right side but all these things you learn as you go so my first sock will look rather funny but I'm making a sock.

When I started spinning I bought the book Spin to Knit and in that book are a pair of socks I fell in love with. One of my goals once I learned to spin was learning to knit socks which has proven to be a long process since I didn't know how to knit to begin with. The first thing I learned to knit was a dishcloth and I've made many since but I sent one to my cousin and she requested coasters so I finished these sent them to her today.

I finished spinning the yarn in trade for my slippers and I love how it turned out. It still reminds me of a forrest.

New wool

My newest purchases. The green in the lower right is punta wool, I bought from Alaska, the other green is corriedale. The ecru is Wensleydale and the multi colored is Romney. I'm trying out different kinds of wool. This will keep me busy for awhile.

I am working on this corriedale wool. I love these colors. It reminds me of a forest.

Warm and very soft slippers

These are the slippers my friend Jenny made for me. They are merino wool like the bobbin a couple posts below. She knitted and felted them to my size. They are so comfortable and most of all warm as my feet are always cold.

Superwash BFL and Merino

I was finally able to finish what I started at the Crafter's Bee held at the Former Governor's Mansion last Saturday. I finished 2 projects and started a third. This I started awhile ago but it made beautiful 2 ply yarn.

Here is one of my latest purchases from Wooly Treasures. I have never spun BFL before but it spins beautifully and it's very pretty. I love these colors.

Winter projects

This is the month for finishing old projects and starting new projects which seems more fun for some reason. I certainly want to stay inside these days with it 20 below and colder with wind chill. I finished my green scarf which I dyed and spun the wool myself. No picture yet but I will post one later.

I finished spinning some Merino wool I had started awhile back. I didn't really like it at first but once I plyed it I liked it better