Tag Archives: handspun

Dusting Off The Wheel

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Finally getting back to my spinning wheel after months long hiatus. My last spin was some Spotted Circus and so I am going back to some of the 4 ounce fiber I had from a club.

This is some WoolFiend fiber in a 85/15 Polwarth and Silk blend. It’s name is called Lovin’ Feeling but I am calling it Frosty Roses as it looks like lovely red roses and it’s currently colder than a witches elbow.

    I split my braid in half and I am spinning half on on bobbin and I’ll take the second half and flip the other way and spin. Then take both halves and ply for a lovely barber pole. Again, I’m not a trained spinner. I just do what my fingers and body know how to do and I take the yarn as it comes.

    I was a little rusty at first, but the muscle memory came back quickly. I just need my blanket fever to subside so I have time for all my crafts!

    Happy Spinning!!

    FO Friday: Sparkle Handspun Mitts

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    After knitting three darn gloves, my Sparkly Handspun Mitts are DONE!

    Pattern: Loosely based off the Dreaming of Spring Fingerless Mitts by Joelle Hoverson

    Yarn: My own bulky handspun

    Needles: US 7s

    Mods: Started at 44 stitches and ripped back to 40 for a better fit

    The finished product ended up weighing about 100 grams which by some basic math worked out to 83 yards. Seems crazy to see how big these are but I guess that’s the magic of bulky/heavy worsted yarn.

    I have a little bit left of this skein of handspun and a second full skein. I think I will try and Musselburgh all that I have into a matching handspun hat. But I need to clear some needles first, lol.

    Happy Friday and Happy Knitting!!

    Smaller Was Better

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    I finished the second and smaller mitt. And as predicted, smaller was better. The 40 stitch mitt was a better fit than the 44 stitch mitt. So I ripped back the bigger one and started it over again. Sometimes, I hate when I am right.

    I fortified myself with a strong cup of coffee in my favorite Ted Lasso mug to work the now third mitt. The silver lining? The handspun did rip out fairly well and the re-knitting isn’t terrible. This has alpaca in it so I was worried about felting. So far so good!

    Now I just need to finish a third mitt to make a finished pair. Happy Knitting!!

    A Bulky Warm Mitt

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    Happy New Year!! I am starting 2024 off with some handspun. Hoping this year brings me joy and different challenges than 2023.

    I finished most of my first Handspun Mitts and cast on the second. I ended up using a 48 stitch count for the first mitt and it is pretty bulky and loose. It’s not horrible but not what I intended. So I have not yet added the thumb.

    For the second mitt, I switched to 40 stitches to see if the smaller mitt is a better fit. When I get both done and figure out which one I like better I plan to frog the loser and reknit to that matching stitch count.

    It really didn’t take me long to make this mitt after the holiday hubbub died down. And this handspun is super nice so I won’t mind knitting this again. I’m excited to have super fun handspun mitts that coordinate with my new dress coat!

    Happy Knitting!!

    Cast On: Handpun Mitts

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    I could not get the idea of black sparkly handspun mitts out of my mind. So here I am casting on!

    This handspun is thicker than the pattern calls for. So due to the rules of gauge, I am going up in needle size and down in stitch count to get a Women’s Med/Lg size mitt at the end. Did I swatch? No. But these are quick knits and I plan to treat the first mitt as a swatch.

    If I have to rip back and start again? No biggie, just means more New Years knitting time for me! Happy Knitting!!

    FO Friday: Blue And Gold Handspun Hat

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    My handspun Musselburgh is DONE and Jellybean helped me model it. This has been done for awhile but I got swept away by deadlines and holiday to-dos and forgot to get this photographed. I have even worn this once to hang Christmas lights in 28 degree weather.

    Pattern: My own loose recipe based on the principals of the Musselburgh hat by Ysolda Teauge

    Needles: US 8s

    Yarn: My own worsted/bulky handspun and a TEENY but of mystery DK to finish the final decreases

    This hat came out to an Adult Medium and fits either me or Jellybean quite nicely. I used the 80 stitch count and it worked out nicely. I used every inch of handspun and this is a deliciously warm hat with two layers of worsted.

    I can see the benefits of this pattern/recipe for my single skeins of heavier weight handspun. There might be more of these in my future!

    Happy Knitting!

    Yarn Chicken Lost

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    As predicted by my spidey senses, I am losing at yarn chicken. I will not have enough handspun to cast off this hat. But the good news about Musselburgh is that since it tucks inside itself….I can hack the system.

    I did a quick search of my scraps and found some DK weight teal mystery yarn that coordinates color with the handspun. I am a little worried about mixing the fiber types but it’s time to live on the edge.

    I am so excited to finish this hat!! It’s cold here and my head needs to be cozy. Happy Knitting!

    That’s Better

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    This feels better! My hat is back to normal human sized and zooming right along. The fireplace feels toasty on my feet and the puppy doesn’t understand why I get to bring sticks in the house and he cannot.

    Right now this project is cruising along until I get to the right length so the hat will be the right size when doubled inside itself. I MIGHT be playing yarn chicken but again that is a problem for future Rachelle.

    It’s also December 1st so I get to start both sock advents today!!! Happy Knitting

    Well Shoot….

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    Last night at golf lessons (indoor, thank goodness) I finally set about looking at my Handspun hat gauge. Doesn’t it look great!

    My gauge in this handspun is WILDLY too big. I mean this hat is almost two hand spans! So I pulled the needles out and took a big chug of water for courage.

    By the end of the lesson I had the hat ripped back and the needles back into the decreases. This time around I took out 16 stitches and moved this hat down to an 80 stitch count.

    So, time to persevere and redo this hat. The silver lining is that my handspun is holding up really well to the knitting and ripping back!

    Happy Knitting!!

    Cast On: Blue And Gold Handspun Hat

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    I know, I already have a hat on the needles. But this handspun has been caked up and waiting on my desk for months. I decided to start a hat but from the crown worked down so I can maximize the use of the yarn.

    I am using 8US dpns and I cast on 8 stitches and started increases at the end of each needles. This will create four lines of increase. Based on the size large hat I just finished for my coworker, I am going to work up to 96 stitches.

    Once this gets up to full stitch count I will switch to a 16 inch circular in the same needle size. I don’t know how I will finish the brim. That is a problem for future Rachelle!

    Happy Knitting!!