I am sorry about this, but I am going to blather on about fiber and not be able to show you anything for MONTHS.
I mentioned that some of us who get the Purple Fleece’s Roving of the month are participating in a challenge with the October fleece (which Debbie SO NICELY let us have early!)
The challenge is in two parts.
1.) Spin the 4 ounce braid with NOTHING ADDED in a way that is new to us, or that we haven’t done in a long time. In other words, get out of our comfort zone. Do this without sharing until the big reveal (in January).
2.) Then, knit up something with the yarn, and keep that a secret, too, until the next big reveal, likely in April or May!
So, I have the fiber, and I love it. It is a blend of targhee, silk, and bamboo. Spinning this at all will be new to me, I haven’t spun with bamboo before! Nor targhee, though I have some in stash.
Before I saw the braid, I was thinking of spinning it as a gradient, then chain plying it. My chain plying still leaves a GREAT DEAL to be desired, so this would meet the challenge rules.
But now that I have seen it, and fallen in love with the gorgeous soft colors and silkiness of it, I think I won’t do either of those things. So what will I do? Well, of course, I can’t tell you that. But I can tell you that I spent the evening reading and rereading my two knitting books, Yarn-i-tec-ture and The Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs. There are several yarns in there that I want to make, OF COURSE. But for the first time, I was really thinking about the end product that I will reveal next spring. I could spin a bunch of different yarns that would make good socks. But do I want SILK and BAMBOO socks? That does not seem the best use of this lovely fiber. So (here’s a clue) no hawser for me yet. And probably not a 4 ply cable, though that also sounds fun, this doesn’t seem the right fiber for that.
And we can’t add anything, so I think this won’t be a boucle, though I do want to spin one someday. Maybe with the mohair I have in my stash…
I did narrow it down to a couple of possibilities, and so now I have to think about how I will handle the color. Separate them so each ply is different? Spin them end to end and see what happens? Mix it up and make it random? The possibilities are endless.
I do have a few ideas of the type of garment I want to knit, but until I see the final yarn, the weight and the yardage, I won’t really be able to decide, will I?
And you, poor folk, will have to wait so long, and read about me working on something I can’t share details or photos of. I feel your pain.
Meanwhile, here is what I worked on over the past couple of weeks, and did get finished, mostly for the craft sale or to fill some orders.
I am feeling like I need color on my craft fair table table – I seem to have loads of neutral hats in inventory. So this first one, I put in the Community Caring bin at the purple Fleece. I really was just testing the pattern, and now I know how to do it, I will likely make some brighter ones to sell.
Your fiber project sounds like fun. Isn’t it amazing how seeing the fiber changed your mind on what you’d do. That happens to me with yarn I order online.
Everything is wonderful! I love the booties:)
I was surprised, but it is just too nice a fiber to make into a rugged sock yarn!
Thanks! Those booties are always a hit.
Mysterious and interesting! And I’ve gone and added the books you mention to my Christmas list 🙂
Oh, i think you will like having them in your library if Santa brings them! Mom got them for me for Christmas last year and I love them.
Thanks for the recommendation – good old Mum! Although after saying that yesterday, this morning I’m having another serious think though about spinning. As you say it’s a rabbit hole and although I enjoy it when i do it, other things call harder. Although right now I could say that about knitting vs crochet. All in all I’m still too unsettled from loosing Mr Hicks to work out if my new whims are the unsettledness or a more permanent change.
We can’t do everything, it is true. But I think if you master this one, you can then set it aside and do it when you want to. Which is also how I feel about sewing and crocheting. 😉
Okay first off, you must have supreme patience to take on such a long project. I admire that. I know you’ll spin and knit a wonderful creation. I can hardly wait til Spring…
Your creations are lovely. They look snuggly and soft. The colors are amazing.
Have fun with your adventurous project.
Thanks! I am sort of bummed that I can’t share project photos along the way, but I will take them so that in the end you can see how it went.
I look forward to seeing them. I was telling my husband about your adventurous spinning and knitting project. We both admire the patience and dedication you have to take on such a long project.
Way to go. 😀
Thank you! You know to me, it is not daunting because I love it. But it is a big commitment.
The projects look great! You have me intrigued by your secret, lol!
Ahhh, my plan is working!
This fiber challenge sounds fun.
I think it will be!
This sounds great and so interesting. I can’t wait for show and tell. Love the projects you’ve already done.
Thanks! I have been a knitting fool because of the up coming craft fair, but hope to spin soon!