Tag Archives: handspun

Drop Spindle Class: Meagan Condon

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At Knitting in The Heartland KC, I took a drop spindle class from Meagan Condon.

I chose this class for two reasons. One: I never properly learned how to drop spindle and only ever dabbled. Two: it didn’t require any homework….

Meagan was GREAT and the class was light and informative. A great mix of information and background with hands on spinning. I made a neat barber poled blue and white yarn. As part of the price I got a bag, notes, 3D printed spindle, extra bobbins and fiber.

I am not sure I will ever become a major drop spindle but it’s nice to have names and techniques for things I tried to learn years ago. I consolidated all this kit into the black bag and I’m going to put in my spinning area so I can pull out when I need a portable project.

Happy Spinning!!

Finally Past The Orange

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I have been a little low energy lately and my crafting has been….intermittent. I did however finally force myself to finish spinning the dang orange singles on my advent spin.

I am not sure this next bag is any better as it is full of stellina. The wool fiber mixed in is nice but I am getting glitter everywhere. This is spinning finer and faster than the orange. It’s kinda weird to not know/remember what fiber this was supposed to be.

This spin is just a “let go and it will be something” kind of project. Definitely one where done is better than perfect!

Happy Spinning!!

Finished: Handspun Sparkly Hat

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I was successful at finishing my Sparkly Handspun Hat during my all day work training. I even have it washed and ready for glamour shots

Pattern: My own basic beanie recipe. I think I used 76 stitches?

Needles: US 10s

Yarn: My own bulky handspun here and here

All finished this hat weighed almost 120 grams and used 163 yards of my handspun. I mixed two different spins together and you would never tell. The fabric is quite dense as you can see in the first photo with zero drape. But it is soft and VERY WARM with the alpaca content.

I plan to keep these and the mitts in my hat stash. I like that I made the whole project from soup to nuts so to speak. And it feels good to “clear out” a 2024 WIP from my bag of WIPs…

Happy Knitting!!

Leadership Knitting

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Really dusting off the old WIPs with this one. This is my Sparkly Handspun Hat from 2024…..

I was back in the ribbing when I dug this back out ahead of some Leadership retreat knitting time. I got all the Shiny Black 2-ply incorporated that I had left after the fingerless gloves I made from handspun. I am now working in the Alpaca Firestar Blend 2-ply that was made to match the original fiber.

Looking at it, it looks pretty seamless. And I have like a 7 hour day to knit this hat while I have to pay attention and talk but not do a lot of typing. I think I can clear this very old WIP!

Happy Knitting!!

That’s ORANGE….

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I am really not on a good roll with the advent spinning. I am moving from super sparkly and hard to spin green to blaze orange. I am feeling very Oregon Ducks over here.

I guess the upside is that the orange fiber is a high micron fiber count of some origin. It is very soft and spinning fairly easily. I am trying to spin this fiber in the order it came in the calendar. Some of my bags have lost there stickers and so I am guessing on some of them. Though I do know this orange is day 16.

Just going to keep spinning along.

I Hate This One

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Okay this third advent mini on my 2024 Advent Spinning #2 project is AWFUL. I hate spinning it.

This is some sort of long wool fiber mixed with a metric poop ton of stellina. It sheds everywhere and feels awful moving through my fingers. And it’s terrible to keep a consistent single size. 10 out of 10 would never do again.

I have most of it spun and I’m going to make a second cup of coffee and power through so I can pull the next skein and move the heck on!

Happy Spinning!!

Finished: 2026 Comfort Blanket

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That Handspun Pull was very effective as was the stomach bug that kept us home for a couple of days. The 2026 Comfort Blanket is completed and frosty in the snow.

I ended up adding four of the six skeins I pulled. I ended up fully using my Frosty Roses handspun for the mini skein, Moonstone Dyeworks Purple 3-ply, Cotton Candy yarn, and Woolfiend Fiber Super Fine Merino.

This blanket started with 150 chains and I just worked a granny stitch. It’s mostly square and I think I managed to keep my stitch count pretty even. All the yarn I used was handspun and varied WIDELY. But all mixed together it blends nicely. I alternated three skeins at a time to help break up the color blocks.

The finished blanket was 1,649 yards of yarn so it consumed a TON. It is roughly a finished lap quilt that goes from toes to armpit. After a good wash and freshening, I will add this to household blanket pile. And I’m super happy to actually use some the first handspun I made and it be useful.

Happy Crochet!!

A Wee Bit Of Spinning

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Plodding along with my desk spinning. I am onto the second mini fiber bump of my 2024 spinning advent calendar.

I CANNOT explain how soft this fiber is. It’s like melted butter meets baby kitten. I am loving spinning this fiber. I am having to concentrate to not let this get too thin as it will break due to the softness. Therefore I am concentrating on thickness and adding twist to keep it together during plying.

I think some dedicated blocks at my desk will get me moving to get this fiber onto the wheel and out of stash. Happy Spinning!!

Fireside Blanket

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This is going to be short. Jellybean and I got a stomach virus so we are spending a lot of time horizontal this week.

The healthy two made us a fire and brought us ramen. So I’m working on adding the extra handspun I pulled to add to my 2026 Comfort Blanket. I think I will have PLENTY enough to make a decent sized, albeit small, throw. And now I have the dedicated time to work on it.

Stay warm and wash your hands!!

Handspun Pull

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After looking honestly at my blanket yesterday I pulled my handspun tub upstairs and did a good dive into it.

I am finding a new things that might work. Except for the two marled skeins in the middle, these are VERY early handspun. It’s honestly thicker and bulkier than what is in my blanket now. I am for sure going to use the blue, pink and dark brown. I am less sure about the pink/yellow mix. And I’d like to save the two marled skeins for last in case I don’t need them.

It is a nice silver lining to finally use some this handspun in a project. With a unique and bulky as this is, I don’t know what else I would have done with it anyway.

Happy Crochet!!