Monthly Archives: September 2022

Gratuitous Handspun – Deep Regret 2-ply

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Another skein of handspun has joined the stash! This merino tencel blend absolutely flew off my wheel. I had prepared this roving into little nestlets and managed fairly thin singles. All in all I think this was managed across four or five days.

I spun two bobbins and with my “go-to” 2ply approach which resulted in a sport weight with some light worsted spots. Super super super happy with this one! The 2-ply was 150 yards of yarn over 113 grams with really lovely barber poling.

My bobbins weren’t quite even and I had a little leftover so I chain plied the remainder into a teeny tiny 3-ply skein. Its 8 yards over 10 gram so a little heftier skein but gorgeous nonetheless.

Now I just need to plot my next spin! Happy spinning!!

Same Seat, Different Sock

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Another week, another gymnastics lesson. This time Jellybean decided to tag along, mostly for the reward snacks at the end! This session had me working on my second Victorian Mauve Socks. I finished the first during my cold medicine haze and owe you and update.

The math held true and I managed to add about 3/4 of an inch of sock during a 40 minute class. Jellybean brought a new book but spent most of the class keeping an eagle eye out for his sister. He’s a natural protector.

All this planned knitting time seems to be reigniting my knitting mojo. Spinning has just been easier these days but these socks are very mindful and helpful. And this BFL from La Bien Aimee is worth ever cent. This fabric is soft yet firm which should lead to hard wearing socks!

Happy Knitting!!

Spinning Deep Regret

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I love a good theme, so I decided to pull out the last of the three month fiber club I received early this year. This is four ounces of a merino/tencel blend. I decided to take a different tac on this braid to see if I could get finer singles than my previous spinning.

I split the braid in half to make two lots. And then for each lot I broke those in half lengthwise and then split those halves down the middle to end up with little nests of fiber. These are skinnier sections of fiber that I hope to control into finer singles.

Now I just need the spare time to keep spinning!

Steam Is The Answer

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The recent bout of germs around this house motivated to tackle a long overdue project….the family bath tub. This WHITE shower has seen so many bath crayons, bath paint, fizzy tabs and god knows what else. Jellybean cleans this regularly but not to the deep stain level. I couldn’t stand it anymore.

I first scrubbed the whole lot down with a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to get the surface stains clean. I then ran a Mr. Clean sponge over the lot to get rid of the grit and wash everything down. Next up, I hit the grout lines and the underside of the bath mat with a Bissel hand held steamer. Following this I soaked all bath toys in a bleach bath and then rinsed thoroughly. (A few were to far gone and got chucked). Lastly I took a white grout pen and marked over the remaining stubborn stains.

Y’all….my tub has never looks so nice! and what came out was so gross. There are few mildew spots in the corners I need some specialized cleaner for but this is marked progress. I may not be the most consistent housekeeping but damn if I’m not thorough when I find a project!

Happy Tuesday!

Let’s Barber-pole!

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I managed to squeak in some plying this past weekend in between laundry and dishes. Still trying to get my sea legs back after getting a cold. Darn boogers anyway!

I 2-plied the extra fine merino singles onto one super cute bobbin. I just let this fiber be what it wanted to be and didn’t try for anything in particular. I haven’t measured yet but I am guessing I have another worsted skein. I am going to let this sit on the bobbin and get it washed/whacked later this week.

But now….what to spin next??

Coffee Sock

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Back to school germs got me. I am down for the count with a sore throat and headache. Thankfully its not COVID, just normal non-flu germs so should pass quickly. But for now I am going to sip frozen coffee and knit my Victorian Mauve Sock while binging Netflix.

I am almost done with the leg and need to start my increases for the upper leg and cuff section. We will see if the cold meds allow such brain power.

Happy Knitting!!

Ultra Fine Merino

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Turns out that my practice at spinning is making me faster and more confident. I had a work colleague over for a patio chat one evening and I managed to get all four ounces onto bobbins.

This fiber is just so super soft. I am glad I don’t plan to wind these off into cakes. They would tangle like beast. Looking at these bobbins, I for sure will get barber-poled finished yarn. For now, I am going to rest these singles and try to get my mo-jo working back in the knitting direction.

Happy Spinning!!

Tiny Tots And A Sock

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PB is a bubbly 4 year old these days and we decided to give a shot a gymnastics. A chance to learn to move her body and socialize outside her daycare group. Upside for Mama? Forty minutes of uninterrupted knitting time as parents are not part of class.

This is the second sock of my UniZebraCorn vanilla socks. The first sock is done-ish and its a full tube now. And I owe you a beauty shot of that because its SPECTACULAR! This yarn is wild y’all.

I added about 3/4 of an inch in sock foot before I scooped up a sweaty PB. She looked me dead in the eyes and said “That was really fun. I don’t think we need to come back though”. Tough cookies tootsie, we paid for at least a full month!

Happy Knitting!!

Super Fine Merino

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My wheel was feeling a little lonely without any spinning on it after finishing my batt. So I pulled out another little braid from the fiber club that my hubby got me for Christmas. This one is DELICIOUS! It’s 18.5 micron merino and like BUTTER!

I opened up this braid and split the entire thing in half. I wasn’t overly scientific and just eye balled it. The plan is to spin half the braid onto one bobbin and the other half onto a second. Then I can 2-ply.

This braid is giving me some serious stripes in the singles. The colors are very saturated and I can’t help but think I will some great barber poling in my finished yarn. I am not taking care to line up colors in the singles. I am just letting the fiber do what it wants to do.

Happy Spinning!!