Category: finished object

  • tour de fleece – the final wrap-up

    So! I accomplished my goal of spinning every day, and got quite a bit done.

    tour de fleece skeins

    These four skeins are the only ones I spun in their entirety during the Tour – I also plied some silver merino/silk and spun and plied the rest of some tussah silk.

    So how about some glamour shots and stats?

    DSC_9890

    Ashland Bay Merino Silk in Cranberry – 300 yards/100g of 2ply, worsted weight.

    3ply silk/camel

    Spirit Trail silk/camel – 320 yds/4oz of 3ply (chain ply), DK weight.

    95% cormo, 5% silk

    Foxfire 95% cormo, 5% silk – 350 yds/4oz of 2ply, sport weight.

    and one that I snuck in the last few days of the Tour – a skein of 100% cormo that I am absolutely in love with!

    100% cormo

    100% cormo

    100% cormo, 300 yds/100g of 3ply (chain ply), sport weight.

    I’m not sure what my grand total is, because of the aforementioned finishing stuff up that was already on the bobbin. But I do know that I’m feeling really re-inspired to get back to the wheel, and I’ve already started some awesome wool/angora. I’m gonna keep spinning down the stash until Rhinebeck!

  • Crossfield Shawl

    I’ve gotten a few emails about what I’m wearing in my Welcome photo over on the side there, and I’m happy to announce that the Crossfield Shawl pattern is now available!

    Crossfield Shawl

    CROSSFIELD SHAWL

    A super light, airy square shawl reminicient of a bandana or silk scarf. Easy to knit stockinette in the round with a fun garland lace edging. Wear it folded and tied, over your shoulders or any way you’d wear a bandanna!

    This shawl would also make a beautiful baby or lap blanket worked in fingering weight or heavier yarn for a larger finished size.

    Technical Editing by Jaya Purswani

    SIZE
    One Size; 28” / 71cm square, blocked

    Crossfield Shawl

    YARN
    Laceweight yarn, 815 yards / 745m.
    Shown in The Woolen Rabbit Whisper in Chocolate Chambord (100% merino wool, 1700 yds/235g skein), less than 1/2 skein used.

    NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
    US 2.5 / 3mm double pointed needles (or needles of choice for small circumferences in the round)
    US 2.5 / 3mm 24-32” / 60-80cm long circular needles (change length as required as the shawl grows)
    stitch markers
    tapestry needle

    GAUGE
    26 sts and 40 rounds = 4” / 10 cm square in Stockinette Stitch

    Crossfield Shawl

    MORE INFO
    Skills needed: cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, optional chart, knitting in the round.

    Pattern is a 3-page PDF file with full colour photos, written and charted directions for the lace pattern, and abbreviations.

    Available through Ravelry, payment through Paypal (no accounts required).

    $5.00 CAD

    Crossfield Shawl

  • silk, silk, everywhere

    I finally, finally (after ripping and reknitting several times) finished the little shrug I was working on before TNNA, out of Sweetgeorgia Merino Silk DK. The yarn stood up surprisingly well to the ripping, not a pill anywhere!

    pretty but big

    Unfortunately it’s too big for me. I made a bit of a math error and although it’s proportional and everything, it’s just about a size too big. I’ve blocked it and woven in the ends already (denying to myself the fact that it was too big) and I don’t want to rip again. So it’ll go off to a friend and I’ll work up another one. At least this time it’ll be even faster since it’ll be smaller?

    In latest spinning news, I pulled out some tussah silk that I’d started spinning well over a year ago.

    tussah silk

    It’s Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks, definitely purchased at Rhinebeck – maybe the first time I went? I had spun up the first half of the fibre and it was just sitting on the bobbin all this time. I spun up the second half fairly quickly (not very evenly, really) and plied it together to get 430 yards of laceweight (2oz). Should be enough for a little shawlette! I love the colour.

    I think my last bit of Tour spinning will be this silk/camel. It spins like a dream, but the pink comes off on my fingertips a bit. Super soft though! I’m planning to spin up the whole 4oz and chain ply by the end of the week.

    silk/camel

    After the Tour is over, I’m definitely going to keep spinning – it’s really given me that kick to get back to the wheel. It’s meditative, doesn’t require math (like my knitting always does) and it’s a good break from working on my knitting like I always am!

    Have you achieved your Tour de Fleece goals? What are you planning to do with your spinning after it’s all over?