A Cabled Head Band

Wool from
The Wool Box
http://thewoolbox.wordpress.com/the-wool-box/
The yarn a present from my daughter.

More Socks?

Yes, here are more socks. I finished these last night.I don't know why I have re-entered a "knitting" phase.  They are knit from two strands of different wool sock yarns held together. The yarns were in  similar colors so they blended well together. I spun the orange accent yarn with my Rakestraw spinner.

Now here is the thing. I thought these socks would make good "gift" socks, but then I went and made a mistake. On the first sock, I re-enforced the bottom of the heel, but not the back. When knitting the second sock, I forgot about that and re-enforced the bottom and the back of the heel. What a dummy. I guess I will just have to wear them my self (Oh darn) or give them to a good friend who won't care about the different heels.   

Black and White

 

Yesterday I thought I would spin some fibers that coordinated with each other.Since I normally spin small amounts (I don't have a big stash of fiber), it makes sense to have some that can be used together. So, from the left:

Brown, grey, black and white wool--core spun

Black and off white wool singles, plied with silk fabric bows

Black novelty yarn (fiber unknown), coil spun

Silk shirt strips spun with bits of wool 

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I am a new spinner and have not had any instruction. It is just trial and error all the way. I read a lot and watch videos to help me figure out what to do. I have made the yarn with fabric bows before and thought I had that one down, but I didn't. After the yarn was soaked and dried, I saw that the fabric bows were not locked in and would just pull right out! Good thing I left the bow strips long and that the yardage was short. I went back and tied a knot in all the bows. Oh good. More reasons to practise. I want to say that I owe my ability to spin at all to

 http://www.shopneauveau.com/ 

and all the related books and videos. After watching a couple of these videos, I stopped being nervous about trying stuff and just jumped in!

Progress?

I think I am getting the hang of it. Sometime in the fall I bought three bags of wool roving from the trift store. I had no idea I would acquire a spinning wheel. I bought it because it was cheap and I could needle felt with it or make Nuno or whatever. Now I am so glad I bought it. It is the perfect practice fiber for the spinning wheel and I am not in the least worried about ruining it!