Emptyknitster

I haven't made a New Year's Resolution for years and really don't want to start down that slippery slope now! Most resolutions come and go without being achieved and I really want to accomplish a skill I've longed to do for thirty years. So this year I've decided to set a goal , to become a spinner. In October of 2011, I took a class on spinning and bought a spinning wheel the same day. Since then I've spun off and on but not consistently or well. I've begun to get a pretty nice single thread of yarn but the plying has always been disaster. Last Saturday I went to a refresher course provided by the Prairie Spinners Guild. I learned several things, beginning spinners should not use merino roving and a few tips on plying.  Now, my plying of yarn is much better and I'm very encouraged. I've signed up for a workshop on February 2nd. Jane Fournier is a native of New Zealand and author of I n Sheep's Clothing, A Handspinner's Guide to Woo l. W...

Over Thanksgiving, Sadie Lou Who wanted a spinning demonstration and I was happy to oblige. I spun two ounces beautifully and was rather proud. After the family left I thought I'd spin the other two ounces and promptly realized I'd lost my mojo, for five evenings I left the wheel frustrated. Monday night I gave it another try and was pleased with the results! The yarn is now spun, plied, whacked and wound. Encroaching Forest Hand Dyed Falkland 4 ounces From Fiber Fancy I'm going to try to find a solid yarn at the yarn shop today to knit my handspun into this shawlette.

Roving turned into yarn right before my eyes! It was a bit of a surprise not to begin spinning perfect yarn. All the years I've been knitting allows me to know exactly the yarn I want to use. Shouldn't I be able to spin it instantly? For a while I thought the yarn would only be used for a pillow for Nikko!   When Rosalinda arrived at the house, I vowed all yarn produced would be knit into items. Quickly I learned to order 8 ounces of roving or braid. It isn't easy to find something to knit when you have less than 200 yards of yarn! Thanks to Ravelry, I found two patterns for the new spun yarn. Monkey Mitts Fingerless Mitts by Alisa Bluesunflower Needle size: US 6 MY handspun yarn: 80 yards of Marl, just a bit of Ivory and Red Miss Sadie's Scarflette by Sara Kay MY handspun yarn: less than 130 yards Needle Size: 13 I thought this garter stitch cowl pattern would "cover up the yarn's flaws" but I think the stockinette stitch in the mitts made a b...

Madam Rosalinda Louet There's a new addition to the family! Since the 70's Rosalinda has been just a glimmer in my eye.  I've wanted to learn to spin but I'm so frugal that unless I know with absolute certainty I will use something that costs as much as a spinning wheel, I'll do without. However, since I started to watch and listen to pod casts the itch has once again resurfaced with a vengeance and this time I decided to take action. "When I retire and have more time," could have easily been my easy way out but the stronger nudge was, "If you don't do it now, you may not think you can afford a spinning wheel when you retire." A big concern I had about spinning was - if I spin it will take away from my knitting time. I'll be honest, I knit so much that my fingers and wrists on both arms hurt most all the time, a quiet ache that I try to ignore with pretty good success. I'm totally addicted knitting, and an addiction is very h...