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March Handspun

Apr 5th, 2013
by SandAndSkyCreations.
6 comments

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March was a really fun spinning month for me … but I say that every month don’t I?  I guess that just means that I enjoy spinning :-)

This month I was working on a couple of challenges which I combined together … spin a sweater’s worth of yarn and combo spinning.  I decided on 1.5 lbs of brown Shetland combed top with I over dyed in three different semi-solid colorways.  I’m really quite happy with how the finished yarn turned out.  It is lovely and round (it is a 3ply) and the colors have a nice heathery look.

While I was spinning, I didn’t really have a particular project in mind as I figured that the yarn would let me know what it wanted to be.  Now it is telling me it wants to be a Grettir but I’ll need to do some more spinning for the contrast colors.  So you know what happens next?  I’ll be adopting some more Shetland wool to dye and spin for a lovely sweater.

 

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My second spin was part of an ongoing goal to get more comfortable with woolen spinning.  I used 4oz of fantastic carded roving from Belfast Mini Mills in an alpaca/merino/mohair blend to spin up this light and fluffy, ever so squooshy ball of sunshine. The color of this yarn just make me HAPPY.   The colorway is actually called “Good Morning Sunflowers” so how could that not make you happy :-D   I’m not sure what it is going to be yet, but I know that it will definitely be something fun.

So although the list is short this month, it definitely added up.  I spun 28 oz of wool bringing my 2013 total up to 4.5 lbs already.  And guess what?  I already have 8oz spun for April but you’ll have to stay tuned for that one but I’ll let you know right now that it is one super fun spin!

Happy crafting all!

When Colorways Combine …

Mar 12th, 2013
by SandAndSkyCreations.
10 comments

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Last year I ordered a couple of pounds of some really gorgeous brown Shetland wool from Spunky Eclectic and went on a dying spree.  Since this was my first time dying colored fiber, I decided that semi-solids would be the best bet and I was immediately hooked. I dyed every scrap of the fiber.  Pictured above is 1.5 lbs of my experiments – the green I call “Sherwood”, the red “Rustic”, and the purple “Catawba”.

Keeping with the adventurous spirit this fiber seems to have instilled in me, I’ve decided to use it for my very first combo spin.  I have 12 oz spun up and ready to ply.  I’m quite excited and look forward to seeing what these will look like when combined.

I’m off to start plying!

November Handspun

Dec 10th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
6 comments

I’m happy to share with you all another month’s worth of spinning.  I busted out my dye pot, tried a new technique, and practiced my hand carding and woolen spinning.  November was another fantastic spinning month.

My first spin is 4oz of superwash merino in  “Summer’s End” colorway by Spunky Eclectic.  This bump is spun as a worsted weight 2 ply but I do have another 4oz in my stash that wants to be fingering or sport weight for an Inspira Cowl.

Next up was 6oz of BFL that I hand painted in a colorway I like to call “Dappled Shade.”  I went really crazy with my dye pot in November and created some really beautiful hand paints that I will share with you at a later date.

The Dappled Shade BFL was spun up as fingering weight singles for a handspun Daybreak shawl for one of my kettlebell friends.  The finished shawl turned out so well that I was a little sad to see it going out the door but B. really loves it.  And lucky for me, I still have 3oz of it left in my stash. :-D

The next two spins were a lot of fun for me.  The first is 6oz of a wonderful brown shetland wool and the second is 4oz of romney/corrie locks in “Golden Dragon” colorway by Spunky Eclectic.

November felt like a good month to get out my hand carders and practice making rolags. I’m really coming to love hand carding.   I found that I like to card one or two rolags and then spin them before going back to carding.  The rhythm of the whole process is quite enjoyable.  Plus, the carding makes me feel even more involved in the whole process from sheep to finished object.

My last spin for November was crazy, wild, and a total blast.  I used a 3oz batt of merino/bamboo/angelina in “Jane” colorway by Butterfly Girl Designs to spin SUPER COILS!  Having both “Sit and Spin” and “Spin Art” by Jacey Boggs in my resource collection and the aforementioned amazing batt just waiting to be spun, I decided that the fiber really wanted to be something really different from my usual spins.  The finished object should be as well … I’m planning on making this funky yarn into unique textured yarn necklace.  After this spin, I’m eager to try out more in the world of textured yarns.

So how was November for you?  Did you get into lots of crafty things?  I’d love to hear all about it!

October Handspun

Nov 16th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
19 comments

October was another big spinning month for me.  I finished spinning my 12 lbs!  And I also got to try out some new dyers and fibers that I haven’t worked with before or that I haven’t worked MUCH with.

The first yarns pictured are fingering weight singles spun from 8oz of Shetland in “Jazzy” colorway from Southern Cross Fibre.  I am in love with the deep, rich, semi-solid magenta of this fiber.  I had originally planned to knit an Orchid Thief shawl but after starting the project, I felt that the yarn was calling for garter stitch.  It really sparkles when knit into garter stitch so I frogged my shawl and started on Stonecrop which is absolutely perfect for this yarn.   I’m still knitting Orchid Thief but I’ chosen a lovely bamboo yarn from my stash that it working out great.

My next spin was 4oz of Finn in “Feast Of Kings” colorway by Two If By Hand.  It was my first time spinning Finn and it was very fun.  It yields a bouncy, light, springy single which I put some extra twist into because this fun fiber had socks written all over it.  And it is shaping up into fantastic socks indeed!  You can see my WIP shot here.

Next was 4oz of Polwarth in “Going Bush” colorway by Southern Cross Fibre.    I love the bright autumn-y hues in in this colorway.  It makes me think of falling leaves, pumpkins, and crisp fall air.  This yarn is also destined to become some awesome socks.

These skeins above were my first of two spins for October of BFL/silk and let me tell ya, if you haven’t spun this yet … do it, do it, DO IT!  This 4oz was spun up as fingering weight singles with a bit of extra twist in the colorway “Medieval” by Southern Cross Fibre and you guessed it, this yarn will someday soon be transformed into socks.  I might have a serious sock spinning/knitting addiction. lol

This yarn above was spin #2 of BFL/silk for October.  It is 6oz of the Spunky Eclectic Club Fiber colorway “Pheasant” spun up as a light fingering weight.   This yarn has shawl or stole written all over it!  It is drapey and delightful.  I haven’t picked out a pattern for it yet but it will tell me what it wants to be eventually.

And the last skein for October was 4oz of light fingering weight singles spun from a natural, creamy BFL.  This baby has shawl plans as well and it might even hit the dye pot too!  I’m thinking something Stephen West-ish for this yarn …

So October was a very productive spinning month for me.  Lots of fun new yarns and fibery daydreams … a big goal achieved … and more yummy sock yarn for my sock-yarn-deficient stash.  Even though I reach my 12 lb fiber goal, I’m not stopping yet.  Stay tuned for my November handspun post next month to see all the goodies I’ve been working on.  I’m might be working on my hand carding and woolen spinning, playing with some sparkley fiber batts, and dying up some fun in my kitchen …

So what kinds of projects do you have on the go now?  Are you knitting, crocheting, spinning or dying up anything extra special?  I’d love to hear all about it!

 

Just Hangin’ Around

Oct 28th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
6 comments

Eight ounces of Shetland all spun up and hanging to dry …  A new handspun shawl is on the horizon.

FO Friday – Handspun Stripe Study Shawl

Sep 28th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
10 comments

After almost two months, I’m finished knitting my stripe study shawl.   This project was so many firsts for me and I’m really in love with it.  Actually, I’m wearing my new shawl right now and it is incredibly cozy.

The fiber that I chose for this project was June’s club shipment of 4oz of Shetland wool in “Field Of Dreams” colorway by Spunky Eclectic and some lovely natural colored BFL.   Both skeins were spun up during Tour De Fleece.

The pattern for this shawl is Stripe Study Shawl  by Veera Välimäki and it features an asymmetrical shape worked with short rows and it knit entirely in garter stitch.

One of the new techniques that I tried out with this particular project was spinning woolen style with a long draw.  It was an interesting experience and I was fairly satisfied with the yarn that I produced but I do need to practice this draw more as my yarn was a bit uneven in places.

I found the Stripe Study to be a very easy and satisfying knit.  It works up quickly and the short row strips are very fun.  Add in rainbow colors and it gives the shawl even more pop.

The most difficult part of the project was taking the photos.  It is REALLY had to take photos of a shawl that you are wearing!  lol

Now that I’m finished this project, I’m hoping to spend some more time on my Rockefeller shawl as I am very eager to finish that up and wear it as well.  The evenings are getting a little cooler all the time here so I need lots of handspun shawls (and handspun socks) to snuggle up in.

Happy crafting all!

WIP Wednesday – Handspun Stripe Study Shawl

Sep 5th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
No comments yet

I had taken a little break on my stripe study shawl as I have some other projects that really needed (or wanted) my attention first but this week I”ve been back at it.  I am only a stripe and the edging away from finishing and I’m already in love.

As you may recall from a previous post, I am knitting this shawl in shetland in the “Field Of Dreams” colorway by Spunky Eclectic and some lovely natural BFL.  These fibers seem to work really well together and I love how the creamy color of the BFL makes the Field Of Dreams pop. My first experience both spinning and knitting with shetland wool has been delightful as well.  So much so that I am eager to jump into the 2 lbs of natural brown shetland that I have in my stash.

I’m hoping to finish knitting and blocking my shawl by next week so I can share it with you all in my FO Friday post :-)

So what projects have you been working on?  Are you close to finishing something that you are extra proud of?  I’d love to hear all about it!

July Handspun

Aug 2nd, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
6 comments

July was a fantastic month for handspun for me.  Participating in Tour de Fleece gave me a little extra push to try some new things and to spin a bit more than usual.

First up was May’s Club offering from Spunky Eclectic,  a lovely 4 oz bump of BFL in “Big Bang” colorway.   I decided to spin my Big Bang as a navajo plyed fingering weight yarn with the plan to make some very snazzy socks.  I held on to this fiber just for Tour de Fleece and it was so hard not to spin it as soon as it arrived in the mail!

My next spin was the Spunky Colorway of the Month for June, Coxstand, in a delightful merino/yak blend.   This was my first time spinning yak fiber and it was such a treat!  I decided to spin up my 4oz as a 2 ply fingering weight yarn with my Ravellenic Games project in mind.  This baby is currently being knit up into my Akimbo, which is ALMOST finished.  I’m really looking forward to wearing my new handspun shawl.

The next spin for July was a few more firsts for me.  June’s Spunky Club offering was 4oz of Shetland in “Field Of Dreams” colorway, and as soon as I saw it, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.  I wanted to spin it as a gradient.  I separated the fiber by color, watched a few videos on how to hand card fiber, and went to it!   It was my first time carding rolags and I was really quite happy with them.  When spinning time came, I decided to try my hand at spinning woolen style.  I have a lot to learn by I was fairly satisfied with my first attempt.

My last two skeins were fun as well.  I spun up another 4oz of Merino in “Copper Hills” colorway by Greenwood Fiberworks as thick and thin singles for a funky cowl I’m planning to make a little later this year.  I love the bounchy, bumpy, squishy texture to this yarn!

 

The last skein is 6 oz of natural colored BFL that I practiced my new found carding and woolen spinning skills on.  This is to be the companion skein to my Field Of Dreams handspun for a Stripe Study Shawl.

So it really was a great month for me.  I got to try out two new fibers, which I have fallen in love with, a fiber prep technique, and a new spinning technique.  It felt great to step outside my comfort zone and push my spinning just a little further.   I spun a total of 1 lb and 6 oz this month bringing this year’s spinning total up to 8 lbs 8 oz!   I am learning and trying so many new things with my 12 lbs in 2012 challenge!

Also, if you’re planning to be in Charlottetown on August 10th, be sure to stop by the Women’s Institute booth at Old Home Week.  I’ll be doing a spinning demonstration from 2 -4 and will have lots of handspun yarns and items knit from handspun on display.  Happy crafting all!

 

 

Field Of Dreams

Jul 18th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
4 comments

Things around here have been quite busy lately … filling custom orders, spending time with family that are visiting + a super awesome family picnic, and, of course, lots of spinning and knitting.

I’ve decided to be a bit more adventurous this month with my spinning and tossed in some fiber prep as well.  When I received my June “Field Of Dreams”  fiber club shipment from Spunky Eclectic, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.  I wanted to spin the fiber as a spectrum – a rainbow from orange right through to purple – to showcase the wonderful bright hues that this Shetland wool shows off so well .

To get the color effect that I was daydreaming of, I needed to separate the fiber by color, so I pulled the top apart and divided it into distinct color groups.  Here is where the fun really began!    I used my hand carders to blend the colors so the transition from orange to purple was very gradual.  Here’s a pic of a few of the rolags:

This was my first time carding wool (I used some spare wool to make 3 practice rolags first) and I’m really happy with how they turned out.  The cards felt a bit awkward in my hands in the beginning but it quickly got easier to do.  I still have a lot to learn about hand carding but this was a great first project to cut my teeth on.

Field Of Dreams was a couple more “firsts” for me besides the carding.  It was my first time spinning Shetland (which I’m totally in love with) and it was also my time spinning a woolen style yarn.   The long draw was kind of scary as I normally do a short forwards draw, but once I got the hang of it the fiber felt almost like it was spinning itself.  Such a neat feeling!    I’m eager to try spinning more woolen yarn.

This fun handspun is destined for a Stripe Study Shawl paired with some yet-to-be-carded-and-woolen-spun cream colored BFL.  I can’t wait to start knitting it already!

Are you spinning in the Tour de Fleece this year?  Are you trying anything new and daring?  I’d love to hear all about it!