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Medieval Crochet

May 14th, 2013
by SandAndSkyCreations.
3 comments

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I don’t crochet often enough.  It is something that I really enjoy but I just don’t do it as much as I would like.  Since it is kind of a dreary and wet day, it seems like the PERFECT day to bust out my trusty crochet hooks and work on something fun.

I’m using 4oz of handspun BFL/silk in “Medieval” colorway by Southern Cross Fibre to make some super awesome granny squares.  The pattern is Control Issues by Cynthia Boylan and it is such a fun (and addictive!) pattern to work with.  The pattern calls for a 5mm hook and worsted weight yarn but since the handspun I’ve chosen is fingering weight, I’ve dropped down to a 3mm hook and I really like how the squares are turning out.  I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to make from these rockin’ granny squares … probably a fun cowl … but I’m loving just kicking back and crocheting for the heck of it.

Happy Tuesday all!

Spring Snow Sneak Peek

Apr 24th, 2013
by SandAndSkyCreations.
5 comments

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Still working steadily away on my new pattern and thought that today would be the perfect day to share a couple of spoiler pics.

I have chosen to name this shawl “Spring Snow” because it is soft, fluffy, and delicate, much like the last snows of the year.  The basis of the shawl is a garter stitch triangle with a knitted on top edging and a lovely geometric lace border.

The patterns is in the final stage of writing and will soon be sent out to be test knit.  I’m looking forward to making another  Spring Snow already.

WIP Wednesday – Something Lacy This Way Comes

Apr 17th, 2013
by SandAndSkyCreations.
10 comments

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I’ve been working on a new pattern and have decided to give you a little sneak peek of what is going on.  I’m being extra tricky too, because you can only see a teensy little piece but I will give you a few hints:

  • it is a shawl
  • some garter stitch love is involved
  • geometric lace
  • nupps
  • it is modular

That, and I’m knitting it is Rowan’s Kidsilk Haze … one of my favorite yarns.  I always feel incredibly spoiled when I get to play with this particular yarn.

So that is all I’m going to share about this project for the moment, but do check back as I plan to post more spoiled pics as I go along.

Happy WIP Wednesday everyone!

 

January Handspun

Feb 8th, 2013
by SandAndSkyCreations.
7 comments

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I enjoyed last year’s spinning challenge of 12 lbs in 2012 so much that I decided to join up with the 13 lbs in 2013.  And I’ve got a bangin’ start to this year’s spinning.

My first spin for January was 4oz of rambouillet in “Posturing” colorway by Hello Yarn.  It was my first time spinning both rambouillet and Hello Yarn fiber and it was such a treat!  The fiber is soft and fluffy and very much like merino and polwarth and the colors are bright and cheery.  I chose to spin this as an navajo plied fingering weight yarn as I plan to knit some really awesome socks!

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Next up was 4oz of BFL/Silk in “Le Tigre” colorway by Northbound Knitting.  I LOVE the drapey hand to singles spun from this fiber, and the colorway is to die for!  I chose to spin up this bump as fingering weight singles as I think it will look really wonderful knit up into a shawl … probably another Stephen West shawl :-D

 

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Next was my second bump of October Club … 4oz of superwash merino in “Summer’s End” by Spunky Eclectic.  This was a progression dye I chose to spin it as another navajo plied fingering weight yarn as it will make really awesome socks.  I mean, look at Spinnydread’s Summer’s End Socks … they’re freaking beautiful!

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My last spin for the month was 4oz of border leicester locks which I carded up into rolags and spun woolen as a bulky weight 2 ply.  The more that I play with carded fiber and long draw, the more I’m loving the whole woolen process.  I’m not really sure what this yarn will be but I’ve got a few ideas percolating.

January’s total was 16oz or 1lb of fiber spun and I’m already working on some really lovely spins for February.

What have you been working on lately?  Do you have spinning, knitting, or crochet goals you are working toward?  I’d love to hear all about them!

Treats & A Thank You

Jan 19th, 2013
by SandAndSkyCreations.
3 comments

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I feel so spoiled!  I was the recipient of two really wonderful fiber treats this week.

Lisa of Northbound Knitting sent me 4oz of her gorgeous BFL/Silk in “Le Tigre” colorway and Rosa of thewoolcraftshed.blogspot.com sent me some lustrous carded top and yarn from her own Wensleydale sheep.  I can’t wait to dive into all this lovely fiber!

You two ladies have made my week!  Thank you both so much for your thoughtful treats :-D

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!

 

12 Lbs Finished!

Oct 20th, 2012
by SandAndSkyCreations.
14 comments

In January of this year I joined up with the 12lbsin2012 group on Ravelry and committed myself to trying to spin 12 lbs of fiber this year.   In the beginning, I doubted myself a bit because 12 lbs seemed so daunting, but as time progressed, I fell into a routine it seemed more and more attainable.

Last Monday, I am proud to say, I finished spinning the last bit of fiber for my 12 lb goal!  I have really enjoyed the whole process, learned a ton, and got to try out a lot of new-to-me fibers.  Would I do it again?  Absolutely!  I’m so eager, in fact, that I am continuing to spin and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there will be a 13lbsin2012 group on Ravelry next year.

I’m received quite a few requests through email to see what my 12 lbs of fiber all spun up and to see what my yarn/fiber stash looks like now.

The first picture is of all of my handspun from 2012 to date.  It probably looks smaller than you were expecting because I have been knitting it up almost as fast as I have been spinning it.

The second and third pictures are of my yarn and fiber stash in entirety.  There is 2lbs of shetland and 2lbs of BFL underneath the bags of handspun.  It is bigger than this post in November but it truly isn’t  much of a stash explosion.  Surprising huh?

In my next post, I’m planning to show off all of the fun handspun projects that I have made from my 12lbsin2012 yarns (with lots more to come!) this year.

Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday and happy crafting!