Oh Dear I Think I May Be Addicted to Yarn. June 30, 2009

Sirdar Snuggly babybamboo

Ella Rae Amity afghan yarns

So I have been dutifully working to knit off many projects from needles.  I had run out of needles onto which to add new projects so I vowed to no longer start any projects until I had finished EVERYTHING I had started. Ha. Ha. Ha.  Since then I had to rip off a purse from one set of needles to knit a sweater for Olive (see previous post)  I started a skirt after ripping out a cotton silk blend in a lovely purple that was the most awful sweater ever,  looked HORRENDOUS on me.  I also started a pair of green, teal, blue and yellow wool socks.  But today I finished a wool vest for Morgan and now have exactly four more rows to knit on a linen sweater I started three (or was it four?) years ago.  But then I had to go to a yarn store with my Mom and had to buy yarn to knit an afghan for a coworker who is getting married, and yarn to make a 2 baby sweaters to sell at the Plowshares Festival next year.  Oh and did I mention the afghan book and the baby sweater books I had to purchase because I cannot make up my own patterns without a baby to measure and I am afghan clueless.  Sweaters for the daughter or me, a hat, socks, mittens, fingerless gloves yes.  Baby sweaters and afghans not so much.  But after this no holds barred.  I came home and immediately started knitting.  I have a baby sweater to finish and a bag I will never finish and that purse to stick back on the needles and finish.  Then afghan and baby sweaters here I come.  Oh I cannot wait.  Did I mention that my hemp satchel is full of yarn oh over flowing, and my little settee, and the cupboard and the shelves and the little mini cart.  Oh forget it. I LOVE YARN!!!!!

Olive Ewe June 22, 2009

Once long ago we said “three” instead of I love you but now there are only two, so we say “olive ewe”.  Olive is a gift to my daughter upon her high school graduation.  Her body is made of olive printed cotton fabric, she has batik fabric ears, tail, udder and hooves.  She is wearing a homespun wool sweater in beige and violet. 

Olive the Ewe

 

Olive Ewe

Wool June 22, 2009

I love the smell of my rovings, that particular sheep smell.  When I spin with it and later as I knit with it.  I breathe in through my nose and the smell is like fresh baked bread in that it is almost intoxicating.  I try knitting a sweater for a stuffed animal with my first attempt at drop spindle, then the thinner more springy second attempt.  I look at my first attempt on the spinning wheel, Bad Acid, and am doubtful anyone would buy anything made of such ugly yarn.  I am spinning the Raspberry Sherbert, its twist more regular and less springy, the weight more regular.  I can go for quite some time now without having to rethread it.  There is a deep satisfaction in making my own yarn.

Spinning June 6, 2009

I am feeling very amatuerish after reading a book about spinning, spinning woolens spinning worsted, who knew.  I always thought woolen described the type of fiber ie from wool.  And worsted described the size of the yarn.  HA!  I have no idea what I am spinning, I fan the roving spreading it out in a triangle from the spin, sometimes long lines of fiber gets twisted in.  It is thick it is thin it is bumpy and long long lines of smooth even twist.  Oh dear I have no idea what I am doing.  Michelle asks what are you going to do with all that hot pink yarn.  Make a baby sweater I say – at least my mistakes will only be worn for a short period and then put into goodwill.  I will not label it with our business labels.  I will not lay claim to my early morning foibles and frustrations.  I have a confession this Finn sheep yarn seems to spin itself.   It is so soft I want to bury my fingers in the rovings.  I touch the yarn on the spool.  Oh it is so glorious and gorgeous.  I stop to pick out bits of hay and start again, steady even feet.  Pedal, pedal fan and twist.  I spin for a long time, better hot pink than 70’s turquoise, orange and brown – ick.  I will call it Raspberry Sherbert and the other Bad Acid.