Tag Archives: handspun

Finished Spotted Circus

Posted on by
2

My Spotted Circus spin is complete!

The larger skein is my 2-ply intended spin. I got 255 yards to 100 grams so I’m likely in the light worsted arena. I think this was 12 (ish) wraps per inch but I forgot to write it down. Based on the singles I was hoping for a finer yarn but it really plumped during washing. Probably should have suspected based on the alpaca and nylon content. This yarn came out barber poled/marled and its lovely

The smaller skein was the singles I had leftover chain plied back to them selves. This skein was 18 yards over 17 grams so a worsted/bulky. It’s finish is more self striping since the colors folded back in on themselves.

These are off to a nice nap in my handspun bin while I plan my next spinning project! Happy Friday!

Plying and Puppy

Posted on by
1

The singles from my Spotted Circus singles are finished and thoughtfully rested several days. So I sat down a perfectly cold beer and Welcome to Wrexham and got to plying last night.

The puppy is now half grown and FULL teenager phase. Spinning requires tiring him out before hand and making sure lots of toys are on hand.

The finished bobbin is resting and I hope to find some time later tonight to wash and whack it. It is a fairly fine 2-ply and has a nice marl in places. There was some more singles left on one bobbin so I chain plied a little mini skein of a 3-ply. But its a wee baby of a skein. I haven’t done any measurements on the 2-ply so I am ballpark guessing at heavy DK?

I need to pick my next fiber to spin so I don’t lose steam! Happy Spinning!!

Spinning Sunshine

Posted on by
1

The oppressive heat has finally broke for a brief minute here in Kansas so I broke out my dusty AF wheel. I still have my Spotted Circus fiber on the wheel from this past June.

I got several hours of peaceful spinning in whilst watching PB splash about and throw reusable water balloons. We literally had to drag her in for bath and bedtime at the end of the day. I managed to get almost all of the first bobbin spun up.

Duke even got in on the action and got VERY wet by getting too close to PB’s splash zone.

Nothing beats the last rays of sunshine in the day and some simple family fun. Happy Spinning!!

Finished Purple Floof

Posted on by
2

As promised, I let the fates decide. I had my children roll dice. Even numbers meant I would split the singles and make a 2-ply and the odd numbers meant chain ply. Numbers came up odd so it was chain ply!!

I don’t have a catchy name for this. I have been calling it purple floof spinning. My brain waves aren’t catching on to the theme here, lol. This skein still needs soaked and thwacked so I measure it. I’m guessing its somewhere between light and heavy worsted?

Now I just need the executive function to dig out my washing supplies from my disaster of a home office. Happy Spinning!!

Fresh Air Spinning

Posted on by
1

We had a brief break in the oppressive 90/100 degree days here in Kansas and I took full advantage! After finishing the purple floof singles I pulled out the next fiber that I had on hand and headed for the patio. It’s a de-stashed braid of Spotted Circus. I don’t remember the fiber content (I’ll look it up in my notes in Ravelry here some time soon).

My sister has been visiting with her standard poodle Greer and I was mean and made the dogs play outside too. It’s shady on the patio and only 88 degrees with a nice breeze. I split this fiber roughly in half and my plan was to spin a two ply. The dogs divided all the sticks they could find into many pieces.

Did I weigh or measure the fiber? No! I’m winging it because that is all the brain cells I have. If I get any leftover fiber I will chain ply the remainder and make a little mini skein. Happy Spinning!!

Now What!?

Posted on by
5

I have a four ounces of fiber singles all spun on to a single bobbin, now what?!

This is a sparkly fiber that is a mix of merino, rambouillet and sparkle. I just spun this fiber short forward draw and kind of let it do what it wanted with minimal changing by me. So now do I wind off these singles and split into two bobbins? Do I chain ply everything back on itself?

My work world has been incredibly stressful this summer and I just took on a HUGE full time project on top of the two FTE’s worth of work I already do. So I am decisioned out!! I legitimately may roll dice to decide this one, lol!

Happy Spinning!!

My First Handspun Sock

Posted on by
1

I cast on my handspun sock yarn! It is summer travel time and Kansas has some long flat highways!!

I got the toe started and I’m working in the round now. I am using US 4 needles and this gauge is TIGHT. I am pleased with handspun but I think I need to muddle on stitch count and needle size.

This is feeling much like heavy worsted and would benefit from fewer stitches and bigger needles. I don’t think I have enough for a full pair of socks. Though I have decided I am going to power through and see what I can make. A single handspun sock is still valuable as a learning experience!

Happy Knitting!!

Purple Floof

Posted on by
2

The spinning wheel and pretty floof is just WAY to attractive to puppies for me to have much spinning time. But I have made a little progress on my latest spinning project.

I have given up all plans on this. I am spinning all four ounces on to a single bobbin and will just wing it from there. This is Hipstrings fiber blend of Merino and Rambouillet so I am not sure I have any other braids that would blend content or color wise.

I am spinning for the pure zen of it….when I have time and the puppy won’t chew on my wheel, lol.

Happy Spinning!!

All Wound Up

Posted on by
6

I finished plying, washing and skeining my sock yarn spinning project before I realized I had ZERO pictures of it. So here it is in cake form!

I think I am not going to have enough for socks and I’m a little bummed. I have over 100 grams here but only 130-140 yards of heavy sport weight yarn. I think I will pull out my size 4 needles and start a toe of a sock. This will show me gauge and how far this yarn goes.

If it doesn’t work then I can rip it back and make something else. This also taught me that I need more fiber for a sock spin at my current skill level and singles size. So not a complete loss but did dampen my excitement.

Happy Spinning!!

Easing Back In

Posted on by
3

I have hit the wall of spring slog and busy season at work. I have had ZERO energy to do anything crafty. But yesterday was sunshine and breezy where outdoors beckoned to me. I pulled some of the fiber I got from a destash sale.

This batt comes from Hipstrings and its a mix of Merino and Rambouillet fiber. It’s spinning very nicely. I didn’t get much on to the wheel before life interrupted. So I am counting this as easing back in.

Happy Spinning!!