Spinning, Plying, Winding and playing catch-up

It seems that once I finish spinning the single it takes a while to ply.  The plying itself takes me all day so I have to plan for it because I really don't like stopping midway and have to pick it back up later. So, I try to forge ahead and get all the plying done at once.  Well, once I do that, then I don't have any time left to wind it on the niddy-noddy.  Then another weekend or two will pass by and I finally get time to wind it on and count the yards.  All that time just to say......I finally have some finished spinning.  They were both delightful to spin.

This first one is a result of spinning two 4 oz braids, each individually.  Then I plied them. I like 2 ply for several reasons, one is that the 4 oz braid goes farther, I like that I can get a lace-weight or light fingering weight from it and it suits my knitting purposes.  So a 2-ply with 8 ounces?  Yep, I was able to get some good yardage.  The fiber I purchased from The Sweet Sheep.  It's a BFL called Rosebush and I ended up with over 850 yards.  I've been thinking about what to knit with this yarn and I've about decided on the asymmetrical shawl, Imagine When.



This next one is a 4 oz braid of Polwarth and Silk (85/15).  At the time I spun the single I thought I would ply it with something else, but after I saw how beautiful and vibrant the colors were, I decided to ply it on itself.  I love the way it turned out.  This one hasn't had a bath yet, but it's still pretty.  This braid was purchased from Dragonfly Fibers and it's called Admiral Benbow.  I ended up with around 700 yards.



 
On the knitting front, I have been working on a second pair of Shlippers.  The first pair looked like they would be too small once I felted them, so I'm doing another pair one size larger.  The first slipper is finished and once I finished the 2nd, I will wash all four and felt them.  I'm excited to see the end result.
 
I also started the Love Me Tender cardigan. (not free)  It  was a little fiddly to start, had to frog it 4 times before I go smart and actually wrote out the pattern, line by line.  All good things come to an end though because the fourth time I cast on I decided to use the Chinese Waitress Cast-On which gives a beautiful edge, looks similar to an I-cord edge. This was good because the neck edge is what you cast on so it was a beautiful rounded edge.  The cardigan is knit with the I-cord edging built in and I like that.  Finally finished the yoke and separated for the sleeves and then started the woven basket pattern for the body.  Well 6 rows in to that I realize I've made a mistake 4 rows back.  How do you tink back a woven basket pattern as well as an I-cord edge?  Not only do I not know how to do that, I don't even know how to frog it back to a plain stockinette row. How do you do that with an I-cord edging?  So, it sits there now, untouched. I think I have come to the conclusion that I will have to start all over again, a complete frogging.  Maybe I'll do that today. :-(
Here are some pics before I frog it.
 
 The cast-on neck edge

Woven basket pattern

 
Weaving some Zoom Loom squares have slowed down considerably.  I've done maybe 5 over the last two weeks.  My Cricket sits there unwarped as well.  Where has all my time gone?  Well, we've been re-arranging the living room.  While we are almost there, we will definitely need to buy some new furniture in the spring.  We have a couch that has needed replacement for at least 10 years, we just haven't been ready. So we are making our list of items and starting to look.  We're working room-by-room.  First it was the bedroom with a new bed and new closets, then the office with new bookcases and a rearrangement of furniture to optimize the space, then the kitchen with a new refrigerator and freezer. Now, it's time for the living room. 
 
The Thanksgiving holiday was nice and relaxing.  I didn't even make turkey. It was just DH and I, so I cooked a regular meal. I had to go back to work on Friday and I didn't want to spend my day cooking for just 2 people.  I am always thankful for the day off in addition to being thankful for everyone and everything in my life. I am so blessed to have family and friends who love me, to have a job and a wonderful place to live. I have hobbies that I love and some extra funds to support the hobby.  Really, I don't want for anything and I have God to thank for all my good fortune.
 
I'm off to go make a cake........a yarn cake that is, with the Rosebush yarn above. :-)

Comments

Kathy... said…
Lovely spinning. What are your current spinning tools? I just scored another Jensen Turkish Spindle this past week. 2 guesses why my wrist is hurting today!

Thanks for the link for that new(to me) cast on. It made my head spin...but I saved the bookmark. Must use that someday - quite lovely.

Wise woman to have a "normal" meal on Thanksgiving. I spend 2 days cooking..... it was fun though, and having a bit of the extended family here was nice. My son and dil didn't make it from New Mexico though. :( Perhaps next year.

Take care. I always enjoy your blog updates. Me - total slacker in that department. Just not enough days/hours/minutes. And I'm talking to you - who still works outside the home! ;) K
Your spinning looks lovely! I'm looking forward to seeing you knit with both of them.

I had to work on Friday too and it was a busy long day.