To spin or not to spin?

V's "Bronze Goddess" handspun

Much as I love my drop spindles, I must admit, I haven't the time I'd like to use them. What a sad state of affairs this is.

My holiday season this year is being spent with a broken leg/ankle/foot so I have no excuses -- I've been working on knitting designs, and have left little room for anything else. Except, I am determined to enjoy spinning again.

The only problem? I some lovely handspun that I so want to knit -- a hank of V's handspun she's nicknamed Bronze Goddess. I dye the organic merino top last year. And now -- it is yarn and it's mine. Too much distraction.

So, I've found the oldest project clinging to a spindle and I'm determined to finish that this week. It's some polworth I dyed ages ago and have gently spun it every so often on one of my gemstone spindles. I'd spun and plied a bit of this yarn ages ago and have neglected to finish the lot of fibre in this colourway. Drat!

Back to the drop spindle.

More V's Handspun

Couldn't resist posting a picture of some of V's handspun -- she's advised she's got a new lot for me to photo -- the lot of organic merino in a custom colourway. The yarn above isn't spun from my colours, but it is rather fetching! One hank is a thinner laceweight than the other. Mmmmmmmmm. What to knit with it?

Here's the new lot of Semaphore superfine, low-micron merino top that is teasing me!


Back to the dyelots!

Handspun Beanie in Winter Blues

Handspun Australian merino beanie (SIOz spindler's club)-- the singles were spun to around 19wpi, then worked as a 2ply to around 10wpi, with lots of twist. This beanie is very warm and very very soft. I do not want to take it off my head!

Way Over the Rainbow Ball of Handspun

Ball of handspun (2ply, laceish weight) SIOz Way Over the Rainbow Organic Merino top. Finally, I get to knit with it!

Rainbow 2ply/laceweight

from this organic merino top to...
Ta-Rah!

That's most of it. There' s one more hank that I only spun the purple and red/orange -- played around with getting a nice big chunk of purple to knit with.

On Mars -- that's where I've been

No time to blog, as I've got a pile of knitting patterns and fibre to work on. The top is my Feb club fibre colour and it's so soft and squishy. One hank done and another to finish. 

The second photo is a colour -- On Mars -- that's exactly what I was trying to paint, which is making me very happy. It's already gorn from the market and I really look forward to the results. It's almost a shame to spin it, as the giant ball of fibre was so nice to look at.

It's a deadline month, so I'm not playing online. Where's that jumper I'm knitting?

m

My Big Bang Theory 2 Swap Buddy IS AWESOME!

Isn't this amazing? My buddy, Dasha from Prague, sent me so many goodies, it's just outrageous. She even sent a toy for my precious pup, Lyta -- a chew toy! Awww. 

Don't you just love the Enchanted Bunny she made me? He has a CARROT OF POWER! Can't wait to try the German sock wool ball -- it's shades of PURPLE. See the groovy stitch markers? And the 3 types of Fair Trade coffee? MMMMMMMMMMM. She even included some very tasty gummies, which I adore. The european ones are heaps better than Aussie or Yank ones.

Fibre Club SIOz 2010

Lyta wants to know - where is her Aussie Day lambchop? 

The Grrrrl was full of beans this am -- carrying on, wanting pats. I'm with her all the time, so have no idea what has gotten into her!

I've debated with myself and others for several months on whether I would do a fiber club for my business. I know it's all the rage these days, but I wasn't sure it was the right thing for me to do. And was it true to what I care about and believe for my work? The idea of my spinning encroaching on my business....

Anyway, after much debate and thinking, I've come up with a club that I think will make my customers and me happy. I'm working on the final touches, and will post the details on my SIOz blog this week. 

Alas, this week is a non-spinning week, as I'm under several deadlines and there's dyelots to go up as well. Yay!

bamboo spinning

So soft, so easy to spin. What will I do with this yarn? I really love the way the purple blended with the black. The gold makes it look really cool, like it's antique.  

Hmmmm. Must ponder on item to knit with it... Ieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

I said I wouldn't but...

I like to test the spindles that I make -- they require gentle fiddling for balance and a good feel.  I promised myself I wouldn't play with this spindle too long, but it's now got some very fine Cormo, alpaca, silk carded fibre on it and damnit, it's just so nice to spin. A fine Cormo thread? What to do with it? Ieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Little lace spindle. (sigh) And no time to spin at present.  

Personal Blog, star date 1234. A very rude gentleman stood in my market stall and told me that I didn't paint fibre. I'm not sure what he was aiming at, but he, being a man, decided that it couldn't be done. Am I getting sexist in my old age (?), but damn, the old feminist in me saw a BIG RED FLAG waving around. I couldn't wait for him to leave.  And I wish I could have had a snappy retort, but it was the end of the long market day. I smiled and prayed he would go away. 

I really can't remember a woman standing in my shop and telling me what I cannot do.  To be fair, I'm sure it has happened, but I'm blanking at the moment. So apologies to all my male friends. Doofuses come in all shapes, sizes, and genders. 

I'm sure it is quite unoriginal of me to ponder on the spinning mania that seems to be around of late. Are we all stuck at home, finding ways to amuse ourselves? Craving nostalgia? I remember a few years ago, someone asked me if I wanted to learn to spin -- this was someone I worked with -- and I immediately said no! I had a fear that a new fibre-related activity would get swallowed in my work. And become something I was responsible for on the duties list.

Still trying to sequester my spinning fun from my knitting and yarn work. The thought of spinning, my new hobby, getting absorbed into my business makes me rather sad. 

So, why am I meeting new spinners lately?