Ply | Three
Yardage | 289.56 m
WPI | 22-24 (Fingering to Light Fingering)
Fibre | Falkland in Aster from Shunklies
Tool | Serenity Wheel [5.5:1 ratio]

I bought two 4 oz braids of this lovely fibre from Shunklies a while back with the intention of spinning it into some lovely sock yarn skeins that are over 300 yards. Unfortunately, I forgot that I have a short attention span when it comes to dealing with colours. Too much of a good thing can be quite boring…and it so happened that when I was spinning this up, I was in one of those first trimester pregnancy moods.

Yes, tired, sleepy and easily bored. Not a winning combination for spinning 8 oz braids, if you ask me.

Nevertheless, looking at the results now and how bright the colours are, I might just spin up the rest in similar fashion. The colours are bright and quite cherry – suitable for mild striping – plus although the spun yarn is not quite as soft as superwash merino, it’s tough, durable and is appropriate for felting into house slippers or anything of the sort.

In the meantime, I’m still working on that lovely spring-coloured merino-bamboo which will probably end up again as a skein of 3-ply sock yarn.

(On the side, anyone up for Discount Blinds?)

Thick & Thin Peachy Life I
Ply | One
Yardage | 140 metres
WPI | NA (Bulky)
Fibre | Corriedale (My own handdyed fibers)
Tool | Serenity Wheel [5.5:1 ratio]

Thick & Thin Peachy Life II
Ply | One
Yardage | 91 metres
WPI | NA (Bulky)
Fibre | Corriedale (My own handdyed fibers)
Tool | Serenity Wheel [5.5:1 ratio]

This is my first time spinning with Corriedale and after reading about how thick-thin yarns would go really well with wools, I thought texture and colour-wise, it would be suitable for this art yarn. It’s a little on the fuzzy side but still, I like how the colours move from one to another and the texture makes it awfully cool for a hat. I’m not exactly sure if it’ll be right for a scarf – those with sensitive skin might find this a little scratch so the safest bet would be to recommend it for a beanie!

Now, this was an awful fast spin – I need to go back and weigh it to get the exact specs – but just so you know, I had about 7 to 8 ounces of this yummy colour and it took me just under two days to finish spinning up the yarn. I knew thick-thin singles were fast work but I wasn’t prepared for how fast it really took!!! Since I’m still on my spinning craze, finishing this project ahead of my average four day spin-up is really good news.

I started work on 8 ounces of falkland which will either be turned into 3 ply sock-weight yarn or laceweight – it depends on the final outcome. All I can say right now is that the spun single on the bobbin is awfully thin, as thin as your regular cotton sewing thread! In a way, this is good news – I get to maximize yardage output per ounce of fiber which in turn will allow me more options when it comes to plying.

So yes, back to the spinning…and hopefully by the end of this week, I ought to have some yarn up for sale! Hm, I wish they would stop giving me assignments like “tv stand” and stuff…variety is the spice of life, no? Then again, I shouldn’t complain. Geh.

Swirls of Green Tea
Ply | Two
Yardage | 348 metres
WPI | NA (Fingering)
Fibre | Superwash Merino-Tencel from Pigeonroof Studios
Tool | Serenity Wheel [5.5:1 ratio]

I started this project way before Christmas and was delayed by the usual holiday festivities not to mention a forced New Year resolution that I have still yet to complete. Yes, Nil made me swear to finish all my knitting WIPs before I can start news ones. Thankgoodness I have a couple of baby knits already underway!

Anyway, due to recent turn of events, I’ve decided to kickstart my spinning again in hopes of offering up some handspun yarn for sale over at the shop. It’s still very much a work in progress, but I’m definitely happy with the results so far.

I must reiterate – spinning is relaxing…not to mention my legs and arms get quite a work-out! That said, all the spinning craze of lately is excellent for my overwhelming stash of fibers which, thankfully, have come to a halt already. Acquisitions have stopped until further notice and so has the dyeing. I’ll put most of them up for sale except for a few…we’ll see how things go.

In the meantime, do keep an eye out for more handspun goodness to come because I’ll be experimenting with some art yarns to add to the traditional 3- and 2-ply handspun inventory! By the way, what the heck are Grohe faucets???

Merri Merric (Skein I)
Ply | 3 ply
Yardage | 140.2 meters / 46 gms
WPI | 22 – 24 (Fingering to Light Fingering)
Fibre | Merino-Soy-Bamboo roving from EGMTK
Tool | Serenity Wheel [5.5:1 ratio]

Silky smooth is how I would describe this fiber. It is one of Mandie’s special paddock blends – she gets a mill to custom blend all the mixes at her store and a chance visit to her shop one day a few months ago, prompted me to make a couple of purchases and one of which included this very yummy fiber of 50/25/25 merino/bamboo/soy.

Now I don’t know how she does it but the resulting spun yarn from this skein has a gorgeous silk-like sheen to it and is quite tough. It is a little coarse to the touch but I suspect that’s from me overspinning the singles. Still, overall, it makes for a very lovely soft skein.

I was tempted to turn this into a two ply laceweight but seeing how gorgeous the individual colours turned out, I decided to navajo-ply it to maintain the colour sequence and therefore, ended up with enough for a smallish project of some sorts. I reckon this will go perfectly well for a lovely cabled beret. The second skein is hanging up to dry after spending a few days on the Niddy so we should have a total yardage count soon enough.

In the meantime, I’m off to get some much needed rest (all this nausea is making me…sick (heh)) and continue on with my spinning. I’m thinking of working on some merino-tencel I got from a Ravelry destash before Nil and I cash in on some self-made travel deals in the form of a car rental and two weeks off in France. Can’t say I’m looking forward to the travelling – it’s the nausea. Just thinking of travelling makes me green.

Orchid
Ply | 3 ply
Yardage | Approx 230 m/150 gms
WPI | 18 (Fingering)
Fibre | Superwash Merino in Orchid
Tool | Serenity Wheel [5:1 ratio]

Seriously, I don’t mean to toot my own horn but the base for this colourway is simple amazing! Smooth and silky with a slight sheen, it beats the previous merino which I first dyed as an experiment. That base was more for felting but this one? Ohmy, ultra soft and great for next to skin items!

Because I have too much yarn in my stash, I’ve decided to let this one go on sale at the shop. It’s one of a kind like my other colourways, and I’d most probably churn out some handspun yarn for sale on a regular basis with my own handdyed fibers or those from my stash.

Going back to the process, I’m in love with Navajo plying. Sure, it’s different from the conventional 3-ply but for maintaining colours spun, it does its job well. The first time was a bit iffy, trying to coordinate both hands was not easy but after a while, it’s quite alright. The only complaint I have with plying (overall) is that once you start, you can’t exactly stop. It’s fine if you don’t have much on your bobbin but in my case, I was at least a good 200 over metres on each bobbin. Talk about being glued to the chair!!!!

Still, spinning with a wheel definitely has its perks.

And oh, just a quick question: what’s fascinating about Playstation 3?