Spin, Span, Spun

I have been spending most every day knitting as quickly as I can. But some nights, when I just can't stand to look at my knitting anymore, I've brought out my good old spinning wheel. Here we have an indigo dyed silk and yak blend (I'm pretty sure it was yak... or something similarly weird) from Twisted Sunshine. Indigo does have the habit of crocking, so I do have blue fingers after spinning for a bit. But I do believe that my spinning is taking most of the residue indigo off of the fiber.

I finally set the twist in the two skeins pictured below. The pink to brown skein is one of my Moonrover mystery batts. I chose to chain ply it. The actual skein slowly faded from one color to the next. So pretty! The blue skein next to it is from two batts from Tanglebella. I love how it looks like the night sky. That particular skein is a 2ply.

This particular skein is extra special. The yarn is from a friend's reclaimed silk sweater. As she pulled the yarn out, we found that it wasn't well plied anymore. The yarn is gorgeous, but trying to knit a loosely plied yarn would have been a nightmare. I offered to run the yarn through my wheel.

There is only one problem that has occurred with all this spinning. And that is that there is no way I will ever be able to use all the yarn I am making. I love spinning it all, but I spend most of my knitting time working on designs, which means I need to use commercially made yarn. So I have a hypothetical question for everyone. If I were to hypothetically sell any of my hand spun, would anyone be hypothetically be interested in buying it? Money from the hypothetical sales would go into funding my book. The book is not hypothetical.

Fast Flyer

When I was at Stitches I asked the people at Carolina Homespun what spindle would be the best to make lace since I had no luck with my wheel. I was asked something that made me realize I'm a bit of an idiot I have a lot to learn. "Have you used your fast flyer?" I made some stupid excuse that the fast flyer scared me or something... but really I'd forgotten I even had one. So I popped it onto my wheel last night and instantly I was making lace.

I'd been saving my second Moonrover Mystery Batt for a special occasion. Learning to make lace seemed like a perfect time to break it out. (I did test out my abilities on some other roving to make sure I could do it) So I'm halfway through the 2oz of fiber.

But that isn't the best part. While I was digging through all my spinning stuff looking for the fast flyer, I found an unopened box. And in it was a jumbo plying bobbin. I didn't even know this came with the wheel! It was like my birthday all over. I wish I'd known about it when I was making beehive yarn. It would have made life so much more fun. But now I can go nuts with the beehive sizing!

No Longer Having A Yarn Emergency

When I was in New Zealand, back in September, I bought 10 balls of Tui to make a sweater. After casting on for the sweater, I decided that it wasn't my style, so I cast on for a different one. What I hadn't thought about is that I might not have enough yarn. (Yes, that is a big oversight. And yes, I felt stupid.) Seeing how I can't just fly over to New Zealand at any old time, I asked a favor. One that I wasn't sure would work out. But thanks to a blogging friend, Kiwiyarn Knits, I have enough yarn for my sweater!

She went out of her way to get me one more ball of Tui. And whats more, she sent me some stitch markers that she made. I've never had proper stitch markers. I always have used bits of yarn. There may have been an audible gasp when I ripped open the parcel.

I sent something back, of course. I'd been waiting to post it here because I didn't want to give away the surprise. I spun up a 2oz moonrover mystery batt. I love my moonrover batts, but this one truly could not have gone to a better person.

Over The Moon

What an eventful month February has been! I released three patterns, went to Stitches West, started making a business and marketing plan. I also turned a year older and this year my brother actually got me a birthday present before I got his (his birthday is two months after mine). Thanks dude! You got me exactly what I wanted. I suspect that the birthday wishlist post, several facebook messages with links attached, and nagging may have helped.

He got me two moonrover mystery batts. You can never go wrong with moonrover. Her work and color choices are always lovely. She has stores on etsy and bigcartel. There is also a moonrover group on ravelry.

Skyway

I've been a bit lax in the knitting department. Fear not! I have been knitting... it just so happens that all my projects are a bit involved. So without further ado, I give you my hand spun cowl.

I bought the 2 ounce "mystery" batt from Moonrover. I knew that I would love it even without seeing it. I'm calling the color way Skyway.

It only took me an evening to spin it into a 218 yard single.

And another week for the cowl. The color progression makes it seem like a landscape. I love it!

Too bad today was 105 F/ 40.5 C. I can't wait until it is cool enough to wear it during the day.

I bought a second mystery batt as well. I'm calling this color way Sunset.

It spun up so quickly and easily. Yum.