23 yards of completely unusable yarn

Handspun yarn, no less.

I love this yarn anyway and am very grateful to Saffron for sending me links on how to Navajo ply.

There were two things I learned that had never occurred to me before seeing these videos:

1. Navajo ply is 3 ply

2. It isn't really that difficult

There was some yardage left from the colorful handspun plied last weekend and the color difference made it perfect for experimentation.

If you have wanted to try to Navajo ply, but have been putting it off, check out the links. Remember to send the kids outside and turn the TV off before beginning (I learned the hard way).

Let me know how your beautiful yarn turns out.

frustration: ISO post

I have been searching for a baby pattern...well, actually a baby pattern post.

One of you blogged about making a baby t-shirt and I can still picture the photo in my mind. There are many blog feeds that cross my computer every day and I've scoured those with the hope of getting lucky and finding that post again.

Maybe it was your post or you came across it as well. I thought the person had made 12 of these little shirts as a baby gift and the photo showed one which was white and little and sweet.

Oh, I should have bookmarked that post but who would have thought that I'd be making baby gifts this soon? That family wedding we attended a few months back - well, they are having a honeymoon baby.

Can anyone help?

2009 Tour de Fleece finale

After reaching my goal a little early, something extra was calling to me. This little batt began as 3 ounces of South African fine wool and became 200 yards of lovely yarn.

My consistency is returning and there are 3 more batts waiting in a basket. I really missed spinning and am so happy that the Tour came along when it did.

The yellow shirt isn't awarded yet, but I will nab it as soon as it becomes available.

Happy spinning!

Camellia: a work in process

The cover top left me drooling. My LYS ordered The Milk Cotton Collection, but I didn't begin with the cover design that had reeled me in. Camellia was the one I started with because it seemed like it would be easier.





Cast-on occurred just before we moved. The chart in the book is teeny-tiny (come on, Rowan, give us a break!) and increasing it on my copier left it a little fuzzy. The result: I couldn't follow the pattern consistently.




Since getting a little settled, there has been more time to work on this beautiful project. I won't lie, there has been ripping and it was almost tossed into a little pile in the corner. This is mostly due to the smallish, fuzzy chart.

The curve may be passed and the back is nearly finished. This yarn is super soft and I'm happy that I didn't give up.

One note about the yarn - I did have difficulty getting gauge. Size 1's are in it and it was still a little off-gauge so I went down a size to compensate.

I hope to move a little quicker now that things are settled - this will look great with my white linen skirt and there is a little project I'd love to cast-on.

Needs vs. Wants

I don't need more yarn...but I want it!

Madelinetosh's Magnolia Society Club was too much to resist. Had she named it something else, there would have been a better chance, but all of that hand dyed yarn plus the name 'Magnolia'...it was hopeless from the beginning.

This is Tosh Worsted in the colorway Foxglove.


The Shalimar Zoe was purely by chance. Honestly, I won this from the Yarn4Socks site for my Independence Day post. Lucky me, it was thrilling to receive their message that I had won and days later, the Juniper Berry was sitting in my mailbox.

Now, as if that wasn't enough, Jeanne posted about Wandering Cat Yarn's site on Etsy.

Yes, it is cashmere (700 yards of it). The colorway is Lemongrass and I am in love.

I must go knit something!

2009 Tour de Fleece: The Alps

I feel a bit like Lance Armstrong must feel - getting a little older, not quite up to the level I used to be...Lingering in here somewhere was the desire to treadle just a bit more to reach my goal.

Late yesterday I finished plying my 11 ounces of yummy Briar Rose Fibers BFL. My goal was to finish with usable yarn, not necessarily to target the gauge, wpi, etc. It had been a good, long while since I had been able to spin so the result is relatively pleasing. Excitement is building now that producing pleasing yarn has re-entered my activities and I will begin to regain some of the consistency that has been lost.

There are three skeins totaling 515 yards at 10 wpi. It is super soft and I am smiling just to think of it hanging balanced.

Reaching my goal early gives way to spin a few other fibers as a bonus. This week will be busy with work, but I'm going to choose something tonight and get ready to go after a day off.

Tour de Fleece 2009: first full bobbin

The first half of the 11 ounces is spun. This single inspires me and also makes me think I've set my goal a little low.

After spinning the second half the plying will need to be done and that might take me a bit longer. It may turn out that excitement will push me on and the plying will be flying.

The colors show true here and are much better than the previous photo.

We've had some hiccups with the pool and are waiting (and waiting) for the correct repairs to be made. The home warranty was a wonderful idea, but it is just taking awhile to get everything going. I'm definitely not swimming in it until electricity has been restored and the pump runs for a day or two which means extra spinning time for me.

Bobbin 1; a tour de fleece update

Oh thank goodness, I remember how to spin.

The groove was easy to find and my fingers did the right things.

The colors are a little off as it is cloudy and nearing evening today, better photos are forthcoming.

This is BFL from Briar Rose Fibers...have I mentioned that Chris is amazing?

Rivolo Finished (finally)

Anne Hanson is genius!

The pattern is Rivolo which I simply doubled in width.

There were two skeins of Malabrigo Sock in the colorway Velvet Grapes. I knit and knit until the yarn was gone.

FYS is back from his summer trip and took photos for me.


I would really like to keep this wrap, but I've been wanting to gift something to a certain someone and this seems just the ticket. It may be tucked away for a few weeks in case I change my mind.

Choices, choices...Tour de Fleece 2009

It wasn't a difficult decision - Briar Rose Fibers! This is beautiful BFL sent to me by Chris. The sun was going down by the time I ran outside to photograph it so you won't notice the subtle green and scattered reddish-browns, but they are there and they are absolutely beautiful.

My goal is to spin and ply all 11 ounces before the end of the Tour. I am optimistic, but also realistic. We've had visitors for 2 of the last 3 weeks plus, it has been awhile since I've spun seriously.

I am going to try and touch my fiber every day - yesterday, it was a miracle to just locate it. Today, I divided it into sections and prepped Georgia for the ride. She needed some serious dusting and oiling, but is up for the challenge now.

There is still time to join. Go over to the blog and get your spinning ready.