Double Chin Cozy

Well, I haven't been spinning a lot lately, but I did manage to knit a small project with some of my handspun. I decided to try out knitting a cowl. They seem to be extremely popular and I have several skeins of handspun that are just the right yardage for such a project.

This came out okay. It's very soft, but maybe a little large in both height and diameter. It doesn't fit as snugly as I think it is supposed to either. Also it is probably a little heavy for the weather here, so I'll have to save it for when we travel to arctic climates. I probably won't wear it, but I'm not going to frog it either. It is going to be put in the hall closet.

The idea of a cowl seems a little strange to me at first, but I've never been extremely fond of turtlenecks and things that sit up against my neck. I don't think I'll knit any more cowls that are this heavy - but I might try one with a lighter weight yarn; maybe a dk or sport weight and see if I like that better.

Project Info

Pattern: Cherry Garcia by Hello Yarn

Yarn: Geddesburg Handpsun Yarn
color: Blackthorn; dyed by Pigeonroof Studios
1 skein: 4oz/132 yards: 8-9 wpi

Needles: addi TURBO Needles - US# 11 (8 mm)

Jester Shorties

I finished another pair of socks using some of my handspun. This skein had a lot less yardage and that is why the socks are so short. I think they will be fine to wear around the house once the weather get a little cooler. This handspun is thicker than the sock yarn that I typically use and I like the difference. The finished sock feels more thick and cosy.

This time around I only had 240 yards to complete the socks. So, I started by winding the skein into a single ball and then wieghing the ball. I then wound a smaller ball off the first until I had the yarn spun into equal weight balls.

I used each ball to knit a toe up sock. I knit the socks one at a time but didn't bind off the first sock until the second was done and I could ensure that they were the same length. Even though the balls were the same weight, I was pretty sure that the yardage wouldn't be the same because of the variance in the weight of the handspun. I did have a little yarn leftover and since it is superwash, I took the leftovers and knit up a little baby beanie.

Project Info

Stitch Pattern: Openwork Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks
by Charlene Schurch

Yarn: My own handspun; superwash merino wool
240 yards/4oz; dyed by Pigeon Roof Studios
WPI: 11 wraps per inch (average)
Color: Jester

Needles: addi TURBO Needles - US# 3 (3.25 mm)

Gauge: 6 stitches per inch in stockinette
Stitches Around: 50

Notes: toe up on 2 circular needles; short row toe and heel

What did he say?

I don't have any new hand spun or knitting to post today. I have a couple of finished knitting projects to share, but I haven't gotten the camera out. I haven't done any spinning either. I'll have nice pictures to show next week. I had Brad answer the little meme that's been going around and here is what he had to say:


1)What is your favorite thing about my knitting?
It keeps the remote control firmly in my grasp...where it belongs :)

2)What is your least favorite thing about my knitting?
Waiting to "let her finish this row" before doing anything.

3)What is something I have knitted, that you recall is good?
Just about everything looks good. I like my socks!

4)Do you think knitters have an expensive hobby?
Verdict is still out on this one.

5)Do you have a stash of any kind?
What's a stash?

6)Have I ever embarrassed you, knitting in public?
Not really. But I wouldn't take her on the golf course with me.

7) Do you know my favorite kind of yarn?
The kind that fits on a needle?

8) Can you name another blog?
Does anything from ESPN.com count?

9)Do you mind my wanting to stop at knit shops wherever we go?
Not as long as it's next to a coffee shop or a Best Buy.

10) Do you understand the importance of a swatch?
It allows one to accurately tell time?

11) Do you read my blog?
Occasionally...especially when Sherman is featured.

12) If I didn't knit, what would be different?
The camera would sit in a bag collecting dust.

13) Anything you would like to add?
What's for dinner?

Handspun Friday - Finally, a Regular Color

I'm not really sure what a regular color is, although my husband said when I should him this finished skein "You finally spun something that is a regular color". I think that is husband code for "I like it".

Well, I like it too and for more reasons than the color. This yarn actually turned out fairly consistent. It is a little more fuzzy than the other super wash I've used, but this wasn't labeled as merino. It isn't as soft either. But it is still very nice. I didn't expect the yarn to be as dark as it is either. I assumed the white sections in the fiber would show up more in the finished yarn.

I'm pleased that I got so much yardage, 460 yards, from one 4 ounce braid of fiber. This skein is 3-ply and with this yardage I should be able to knit up a nice pair of socks.

Geddesburg Handspun Yarn

Fiber Content: Super wash combed wool top
Fiber Source: Fat Cat Knits
Color: Bruin
Weight: 4 oz
Yardage: 460 yards
WPI: 18-20 wraps per inch (average)
Spinning Style: worsted
Spinning Ratio: 17 to 1
Plying Ratio: 17 to 1
Notes: super wash; 3-ply

Accessorizing My Wheel

I knitted and felted a little bag to hand on my spinning wheel to help me keep track of little gadgets I use while spinning.

This one did come out to be a perfect size for a folding Lendrum wheel. Hopefully it would work for some other wheels too.

The little bag is small, but is definitely big enough to hold almost all of the gadgets you would need while spinning. I can get my oil, wip tool, diz, pliers, scissors, spinners' control card, and maybe even a couple other odds and ends.

This one isn't for me, I'm sending it off to my hand spinning swap pal in the morning. I just couldn't help trying it on my wheel first. I'm hoping she has some place on her wheel to hang it.

I'm going to knit another one for me and a couple more in various yarns and then post a pattern once I get it all sorted out. I might even try for a smaller size that would only hold oil or something and could hand off of the tension knob.

The little bag was actually very easy to make and you might not even need a pattern to recreate one, but I"ll write one up just in case.

Handspun Friday - Copperpot

Today's photos look a little different because my regular photo studio (kitchen table and poster board) were taken up by the time I got home. My husband was performing surgery on his laptop and needed the space. So I opted to move to the top of a little black chest of drawers. The overall results seem a little moodier to me.

This skein of yarn is the last part of my Tour de Fleece work. I got it down on the last Sunday of the challenge. It is also not a skein I get to keep. I spun this for a swap partner. I'll be mailing it off on Monday after I get the rest of the package together. I hope she liked this skein.

I challenged myself to get as much yardage as I could for a 2-ply yarn out of 4 ounces of fiber. I did pretty good I got about 560 yards with an average of about 18 wraps per inch. I took several wpi measurements and averaged them together to get that 18. for the life of me I can't seem to get a totally consistent yarn. But, the yarn is soft and I like the colors. Hopefully my swap pal will like it too.