My first handspun!

On my beatiful new wheel anyway...Hurrah! It's mystery roving I bought several years ago in Kansas City. There wasn't a ton in the ball of roving. I'm going to guess 2oz or less. I should have weighed it before spinning, but I wasn't that smart. I spun it onto one bobbin and then wound it into a center pull ball and plied it from both ends. Which was an adventure and probably not the smartest way to ply on a wheel for the first time. I've done it from spindle spun yarn.

It's about 85 yrds of what I'm going to call a dk weight in most places. Yeah me. Now...what can I make with 85 yards of dk weight yarn?

Does spinning on a wheel count as exercise?

What about if it's a double treadle?? It would be fantastic if it did because I'm a spinning fool. Loving the wheel. Have had some brand new wheel learning experiences. First, needs lots of oiling. Never knew that. But, after reading on-line, not unusual. Thank god for the internet. Second learning experience was lessons in tensioning on the wheel. That was a fun lesson. NOT! Too much tension and it draws too fast. Too Too much tension and it's hard to treadle. To little tension, does not draw in. But, I'm getting a better idea about that and we're moving along more smoothly.

I have two bobbins of singles spun up and "resting" per suggestions from just about every other spinner. Of course, I want to ply it sooo badly, but it's not going to happen tonight or even tomorrow since I have to work late. But Tuesday night might be a date. Yippee.

My knitting is suffering though. Anyone expecting knitted christmas gifts might get gifts of handspun yarn. :-)

My credit card slipped...

at the Shenandoah Fiber Festival today... Not only did I get all this...
Two skeins of Wolle's Yarn Creations
1 skein of Organic Wook from Crabapple farms
1 skein of Stranded in Oz sock yarn
Superwash Merino Roving from Bitsy Knits in "good Night My Dear colorway
Superwash Merino Roving from Wildhare Fiber Studios
Several pounds of Golden Crisp apples from a local orchard.

For the observant of you, you'll note two bobbins in the haul...hmmm... whatever could they belong too....Perhaps the big purchase of the day????

My fabulous, wonderful new spinning wheel. It's a Kromski Minstrel. It has a custom finish job in Cherry, Walnut and Pecan. It looks amazing. I have not named her, but, I'm working on it. THe only thing I don't like is it's too tall to fit easily in the car. Maybe I need a new car?

Of course, there has already been spinning...

This is come corriedale roving that I've had for awhile. It spins like a dream. I love, love, love it. And, even better didn't have to pay shipping, wait for it, or assemble it. Instant gratification.
Yeah me!!!

Oh, my aching back...

In spite of throwing my back out on Tuesday, knitting still continued...in spite of a day and a half spent laying flat. Thanks to my sister and her fabulous back stretch, I'm feeling much better.


First, an update on the Tahoe sweater...behold the left front
Although, I must say with the amount of knitting and frogging I did on this on front, I probably could have finished both fronts. I tok lots of notes, so hopefully, front side 2 will turn out the same size...

Almost done with my other working project, the Grey Goose scarf.

It's currently 56" long and I have 1 more skein of yarn that is about 80 yds. I love long scarves, so I'm happy that I'm able to get this to be longer. So,this should be done by next weekend...just in time to go to the Shenendoah Valley Fiber Festival. Hurrah! I'm driving, so the passenger or passengers will be knitting.

Other than that, I spent the weekend trying to stay dry, making yummy beef noodle soup and rearranging family room.

Just keep knitting

And the knitting continues...
First, I finished the mittens for my neice for her birthday. They are flip top mittens, so all I need is buttons.
I had enough yarn left over to make a hat, so it's just a simple little hat with a rolled brim. I put in some eyelet holes so I can threada ribbon through it and tie a little bow. I think she'll look so cute in it. Hopefully the colors will work for her and she'll consent to wear it.

After finishing that, I had to cast on a new project and while loooking at patterns favorited by friends, I found the perfect pattern for some Organics wool I bought at Maryland sheep and wool in 2008.

It's the Grey Goose pattern. You must have a ravelry account to view the pattern. But I loved and still love the color of this yarn and I'm liking it a lot in this pattern. Hurrah!

Other than that, I've been taking it easy and relaxing this weekend. It's finally turned cold, so I think it might be another soup weekend next weekend. Hmmm. I think Beef Noodle or Minestrone might be in order.