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July 10, 2006
Summer Spinning
A few weeks ago I signed up for Summer Spinning. Kristi started this program and I couldn't resist. After all, the only requirement was to set a spinning goal for the summer.
Being an over-achiever, I set 3 goals:
1. Spin twice a week
2. Finishing spinning the Romney that I bought last February at SPA.
3. Knit something with my handspun yarn
So far, so good. I've managed to spin at least twice a week since the start of Summer Spinning. Spinning more regularly has had some pleasant results.
I finished spinning the Foxfire batts and I Navajo plied the singles. I love the way this yarn came out!
Can you see the sparkles? And how it's mostly even? Honestly, it's the best I've done. I've got two skeins and it might just wind up as socks.
I also spun some purple for July's Project Spectrum. This was a gift from my Secret Pal, Cecily and I have a nice little skein of purple merino. Yummy.
AND, I finally finished spinning that Romney. This has been on the Reeves since the day I bought it and I was just plain sick of it. Really, two bags of the stuff was more than I should have purchased. Truth be told, it was all Juno's fault. She stuck my hand in a bag when I wasn't looking and next thing I knew I had bought two bags. Go big or go home indeed.
That's my Summer Spinning so far. Sitting down at the wheel twice a week has been a pleasure and I feel confident that I can keep at it. Finishing the Romney is a huge relief.
Knitting with my own handspun, though? That's going to be the real challenge since mostly I just stick my handspun on a shelf. And then when people visit I shove it in their face and say, "See this?!? I made this!!!" Most people aren't all that impressed. Maybe if I show someone a finished project and say, "See this?!? I spun this yarn and knit this scarf with it!!!" then they'll be impressed.
But I doubt it.
Posted by Carole at July 10, 2006 7:00 AM
Comments
Lovely stuff! The foxfire batts turned out beautifully.
Posted by: Julie at July 10, 2006 7:18 AM
I'm impressed already with your handspun. It's beautiful. So don't let it sit on a shelf! My first handspun was lumpy and bumpy and I knit a little pair of mittens with it. People were even impressed with those.
Posted by: Joan at July 10, 2006 7:20 AM
That's some great progress. I like the idea of the spinning group.
Truth be told: I haven't liked knitting with my homespun, either. I'm going to save it up for when I get around to weaving. Now THAT should be cool.
I love your natural homespun. Nice twist;)
Posted by: Dave Daniels at July 10, 2006 7:24 AM
Love that sock yarn. Simply goregous!
Posted by: Kathleen at July 10, 2006 7:37 AM
That Foxfire yarn looks wonderful! I'm always amazed at how much better three-ply yarn looks than two ply. I wish I had the patience to spin more three ply, but it takes so much longer.
Posted by: Cheryl at July 10, 2006 7:42 AM
Very nice spinning. The three ply does indeed look wonderful.
Posted by: PumpkinMama at July 10, 2006 7:46 AM
Beautiful spinning! You have enough Romney to make a small sweater or vest or something! (Have you started dyeing things yet? That might be fun, too!)
Posted by: The Purloined Letter at July 10, 2006 7:47 AM
I'll be impressed.
hell, I am already impressed!
Posted by: ann at July 10, 2006 7:51 AM
It is all beautiful. You should make socks from the Foxfire. And the Romney would be beautiful dyed and made into something, too. Do you have a project in mind?
Posted by: margene at July 10, 2006 8:05 AM
I'M impressed!!! That is gorgeous stuff, and I'm especially fond of the Navajo-plied. Beautiful.
Posted by: Norma at July 10, 2006 8:13 AM
I'm impressed just looking at all that Romney. I've been severely neglecting my spinning lately.
Posted by: Lucia at July 10, 2006 8:15 AM
At a guild meeting yesterday, a couple of us talked about how we don't seem to knit with handspun and the conclusion we came to is because the handspun skeins are already FOs. Fill up a basket and set it out as home dec and that's enough.
Lovely spinning! Worth admiring.
Posted by: Chris at July 10, 2006 8:18 AM
Au contraire! I was VERY impressed with the handspun! Still am . . .
Posted by: Kathy at July 10, 2006 8:33 AM
Well, I'm impressed. That's gorgeous stuff, Carole. Sheesh, now I'm reading back a little bit and I sound just like Norma.
Lots of spinning in blogland today. ; )
Posted by: Vicki at July 10, 2006 8:36 AM
Just gorgeous! I set the goal for myself to spin for a few minutes every day, which in retrospect, seems too ambitious (seeing as I haven't spun in over a week).
Maybe I should follow the twice a week goal. It certainly has produced some fabulous results in your case!!
Posted by: Leah at July 10, 2006 9:09 AM
Mmm, those Foxfire batts...I spun up some green ones a while back and those sparkles are just too fabulous. Of course, your spinning looks much more even than mine! ;)
Posted by: Katy at July 10, 2006 9:10 AM
I'd be impressed!
Posted by: susan at July 10, 2006 9:17 AM
Carole! We're always impressed!
Posted by: Heather R. at July 10, 2006 9:58 AM
Wow!! You're rocking it!
Posted by: Scout at July 10, 2006 10:03 AM
MUST USE THE HANDSPUN. Especially when it looks that good!
Posted by: Martha at July 10, 2006 10:25 AM
It all looks beautiful! And yes, non-fiber people ARE impressed when they see a sweater or whatever and find out that you not only knitted it, but made the YARN. It's like they can't see the beauty of the yarn itself, but definitely recognize the full achievement of the finished object.
Man, I really need to spin more . . .
Posted by: --Deb at July 10, 2006 10:28 AM
I'd be impressed.
Posted by: Rachel H at July 10, 2006 10:32 AM
Yay! Spinning! I vote for framing the handspun with a little brass plaque. That is sure to impress them.
Posted by: Emily at July 10, 2006 10:48 AM
Beautiful yarns, Carole! Goregous!
My Navaja plying sucks! How did you get it soooo even?!?!?!? I'm thinking I might try it with the purple I have on my wheel right now, but I'm a little chicken. Especially each time I look at the little bit I did in my class last August, LOL!
I too have rarely knit with my handspun and DH is bugging me about it, but I did knit my earflap hat from my very early handspun and I knit the fair isle alpaca hat for grandpa and Ashley knit a gorgeous scarf with some that I gave her! :-)
Posted by: Kristi aka Fiber Fool at July 10, 2006 11:08 AM
Though a rebel at heart, I too have to agree that spinning on a regular basis does seem to improve the twist/ply. Go figure!
Posted by: Lynette at July 10, 2006 11:16 AM
Drool worthy indeed. That is gorgeous handspun. And if you showed it to me, I'd definitely be impressed.
Posted by: Stephanie at July 10, 2006 11:31 AM
It's all beautiful. I love the foxfire! I have yet to knit anything with mine either, but I want to one of these days.
Posted by: Karen at July 10, 2006 11:36 AM
It all looks wonderful! The Romney is making me sleepy -- it looks so soft, I could curl right up with it and zzzzzz...
Posted by: megan at July 10, 2006 11:45 AM
Great spinning indeed! Will you dye the Romney or leave in it's natural state before kniting with it?
Posted by: Manise at July 10, 2006 12:29 PM
That's some seriously inspiring stuff. Sigh! Someday I will pass Remedial Plying and make yarn just like that. :-)
Posted by: Beth S. at July 10, 2006 12:40 PM
Wow! You've spun sooo much! I must be the slowest spinner around. I spin, and spin, and spin, but don't seem to get much to show for it! I LOVE the blues......they're stunning!
Posted by: Jinann at July 10, 2006 12:48 PM
Beautiful and fluffy! Love that purply goodness.
Posted by: jillian at July 10, 2006 12:56 PM
I tend to knit slipper-socks for myself out of my handspun. My yarn is a little too bulky for in-shoe socks (not that I wear shoes), but perfect for the sort I wear around the house.
Posted by: Snow at July 10, 2006 1:38 PM
They certainly will be impressed with the multi-colored yarn, so go ahead and stuff it in their faces... your spinning is so even! Reminds me that practice really does make perfect.
Posted by: Birdsong at July 10, 2006 1:40 PM
All of your spinning looks lovely. I still haven't tried out Navajo 3 Plying -- but given what I've been seeing (here and other places) I'm beginning to think that it could be high time to figure it out.
I think socks would be an excellent first project. I'm about to start spinning for a pair of socks myself!
Posted by: Theresa at July 10, 2006 3:11 PM
Those are great goals. Very achievable once you figure out the perfect pattern for your handspun. Your handspun all looks great and I especially love the stuff in the top pics -- what beautiful colors!
Posted by: amanda at July 10, 2006 3:22 PM
What? You're not just supposed to hold the handspun up and say "see!?" Crap. Now what do I do? ;)
Posted by: mamacate at July 10, 2006 9:24 PM
Fantastic spinning Carole! Yes, now I'm waiting to see what you make with it. ;)
Posted by: heather at July 10, 2006 10:25 PM
Beautiful job! I love the Foxfire dyeing. I don't know about you, but I'm mostly too busy spinning to knit it up.
Posted by: Laurie at July 11, 2006 8:08 AM
Beautiful yarn! I'm so impressed! Are you going to dye that natural colored yarn, or leave it the way it is?
Posted by: Angelia at July 11, 2006 10:33 AM
wow your spinning is really looking great - so nice and even I love the navajo plying - I've yet to really master that - you've inspired me to navajo ply what I have on my bobbin...I'll be doing that very soon.
Posted by: Marie at July 11, 2006 1:14 PM
You 'll have to knit up the Romney , it looks beautiful!
Posted by: Diane E. at July 12, 2006 7:25 PM
Nice spinning! You should DEFinitely start knitting something with it. Go. Now!
Posted by: Monica at July 13, 2006 11:49 AM
Let me just warn you now, knitting with you handspun is an addictive thing. I love knitting with my handspun, and while I was intimidated to start with (Before my first commecial pattern with my handspun) now I prefer it to commercial yarn!
Take the plunge Carole! :)
Posted by: Lizzy B at July 13, 2006 11:55 AM
