Square Swap Fun

I am having lots of fun getting envolved with TheKnitGirllls Ravelry group. I finished up my square for April/May. I used Honeycomb Cable Square by Fiona Robertson-Clark with a few changes to get a 12" square block. Cast on 78 stitches for a 9 pattern repeat and used size 6 needles for cast on and borders & size 8 for cables. Yes, I did frog this (rip it) about 4 times to get the sizing right. What a great learning experience for me, I picture myself as a designer somewhere in the future. We all should have goals!

It was made for Debbilynn42 Since she is from Grand Rapids, Michigan, I had to include some Louisiana fun stuff.

The stitch markers were made from neat stuff picked up at Michaels with a 50% off sale on the beads. I will cover them on another blog. I also include a package of Red Beans & Rice mix, the flavor of Louisiana had to be included, right? A postcard with instructions for Crawfish Boil, some plastic crawfish & a aligator, Mini bottle of Tobasco and tiny Tony Chachere seasoning packet.

Pick out a block/dishcloth to try in a hard looking pattern. It is small and once you get going, you realize everything is K & P!

Fun Tams for Everyone

I had a lot of fun last year making Fair Isle Tam by Patons.  When choosing the colors, it is best to keep in 2 contrasting accent colors and dk, med, lt of another color.     Ravelry is a great place to see what others have done.  Have fun with your choices.

#2 Spinning

I was so excited about the spinning I did, it didn't take long for me to order more fiber.  I looked around on Etsy and purchased 4oz of superwash BFL in Sedona  colorway from Spincerely.  I started spinning it and had very good control, consistantly spinning thin.  I think the BFL is good for beginner.  I split it in half, then each half again for quarters.  Predrafting a little to open it up. 

I got throught half and thought I should ply it before continuing on to the rest.  Oh the things we learn as we go.  I thought I would be able to wind it off using a ball winder.  That didn't work.  I think the spin was wrong for the direction I was cranking the ball winder.  The yarn was falling apart as I went and made a mess.  At least I caught it pretty early.  Okay, I told myself, just wind it by hand onto a cardboard toilet paper roll and you will be able to ply from both ends and make a nice 2-ply that may be fingering wt.  Yuck!! I have a disaster on my hands now.  I was able to roll it onto the tube, but when I pulled it out to be able to use the inside end, the energy was extreme and it came out in a curly mess, yarn throwup.  I now have to spend the time cleaning up this mess since I didn't stop right away, but plied a few yards before I realized how long it would take for me to untangle each time I needed more available yarn to ply. 

After going online, I found that I am going to use Tammy Rizzo's Navaho Ply-on-the-Fly method.  I will do better spinning a little, ply, then spin some more...  It may take me a while to remember which way to twist between spinning & plying, but it will be done when the end is reached.

Just Couldn't Wait

 The tkgspringsal2011 SAL/KAL with TheKnitGirllls was set up to spin all April and knit all May, but many of us new to spinning couldn't wait that long.  We got excited and started spinning the fiber we had as soon as we heard of the SAL/KAL.  That's what so great about being enabled, you jump in and learn while doing. 

I was able to finish the Starving Artist hat by LaLa of TheKnitGirllls.  Since I was short on yardage, I took liberties with the pattern: the decreasing rows were only followed by 1 row in pattern instead of 2.  With a tail of 6" at the end, I am glad I thought ahead so there was no ripping. That makes me happy.  It is blocking now, I know it always looks better after blocking, but sometime you just got to take a pic!

The colors are wonderful so I don't think I could have messed up the spinning.  It has been a great first project from fiber to hat. 

Challenge yourself and learn something new.

New Beginnings

We all have projects we put off, thinking we don't have the time to give them justice or we simply have not mastered the skill level to have them turn out properly.  I am learning that  skills come when you are willing to put yourself out there and try.  Failure is not defeat.  All life is a process and it is best lived with attempts rather than regrets.

 I have recently tried my hand at drop spindle spinning.  I held onto the 4oz Mountain Colors 100% Targhee wool for over a year before I got the courage/guts to try.  I am happy to say, it did turn into yarn and some of that fancy thick/thin designer stuff that can cost a lot!  Okay, all beginners probable make this same 'fancy' yarn, it is a gift we have while learning to teach our brains/hands what to do. 

They say to spin 15 minutes a day and you will see progress.  I couldn't stop once I got started, and spun all 4oz within a few days.  There was improvement towards the end, so once I plied it  there was a little better consistency in the thickness.  A definite Chunky weight.  I am pleased with it and love the colors.  That is one of the reasons I waited so long, wondering what the fiber would do while spinning.  I was very encouraged once I started watching TheKnitGirlls and their talking about spinning and showing their work.  I looked around Ravelry and realized that homespun regardless of the colors, looks great.  I honestly haven't seen one that makes me sick yet.

I have started the Starving Artist Hat by LaLa of the KnitGirllls, a free pattern found on Ravelry.  It calls for only 104 yards and I think I was able to get 97.5 yds.  Hopeful to finish it all in the handspun and if not, a stripe will be added.  So if you have been putting off your spinning, I hope this has encouraged you to jump in and spin.

 Add a little twist to your life...it's fun!