Hi, there. Me again. I have been trying to get an entry written all week, and have been just too drained and too tempted by the knitting and the spinning wheel at the end of the day to pull one together. But I’m here now with a few pictures at least, plus a little video at the end to make you smile.
First, let’s talk spinning. When I bought my Rose, I bought a giant ball of silk/merino roving from Detta. It weighed somewhere around two pounds, and in the following picture it is about a third smaller than it started.
It is really nice fiber to work with, very soft, very draftable, shiny and smooth. The only downside is that it does tend to float around in the air and coat one’s clothes and furniture. And it’s a hella lotta fiber! I’ve got two big skeins like the one shown, and will probably end up with six total.
I find it endlessly interesting to compare the individual colors in the roving to the melded blend of colors in the finished three-ply. I’m doing my best to achieve some degree of consistency – I’d like to end up with a sport-to-DK weight yarn on average. But it’s hard. I keep having to fight the tendency to go thinner.
In the mean time, I also started another project on the spindle. This is a merino/tencel blend. I split the roving lengthwise and am planning to navajo ply it so that I will have two skein of self-striping three-ply if the plan works out.
I have to say that after working on the wheel, the spindle spinning seems to go ever so slowly. This fiber is also a dream to spin, also very smooth and soft. I started this project in order to demonstrate the process to some friends at a knitting group who were curious, but once I had it going it’s been magnetic and I’ve picked it up during some free moments during the day when the girls are around and I don’t want them messing with the wheel.
I could tell you more about the ribbon mix-ups at the State Fair – I picked up my items yesterday, and they accidentally gave me two ribbons that belonged to other people. One has been mailed off to the rightful owner, and the other one apparently they gave a replacement ribbon to, so I can let the girls play with the extra. Also, I found out that the Best Original Sock Design award that I received was intended for the cream-colored lace cuff socks. Which makes SO much more sense than the rainbow ones. It’s too bad that they were displayed without the ribbon, but I really can’t complain.
On to the family stuff…Julie had her first day of pre-school for the fall on Tuesday.
They moved the start of school back half an hour this year, and I could not be more thrilled. Hopefully we’ll be able to get out the door on time without having to rush through breakfast now. Julie has the same bus driver as last year, and I am glad – she’s great with the kids and very dependable.
Finally, I’ll share a little video of the girls at their dance recital last weekend. It was so cute, and I’m proud of them both.
If you find yourself with more of that silk/merino blend than you know what to do with feel free to give me a call. The roving is absolutely beautiful and I’m loving the way it’s looking spun up. Do you already know what you are wanting to make with it?
That’s sooooo adorable!!!
The yarn is gorgeous and the video was adorable!!
I’ve put on a happy face now!
I grinned from ear to ear during the entire video! Thanks so much for sharing. I have purchased some roving but I am chicken to try to spin it as of this moment. Your spinning is gorgeous! And…congratulations on your achievements at the fair. Blogless Mary Lou
I can’t wait for you to have spun so much that there has to be a cleansing and things start going up in the shop;) hint hint nudge nudge yarn squeeee;)