I spun this beautiful silver grey Gotland sheep fiber into yarn to create a birthday shrug for my daughter, Jo. The yarn is natural and undyed so it has lovely low lights from the occassional black hair as well as a range of greys.

Have been enjoying my new wheel, an original Reeves hand turned Oak Spinning Wheel.

Reeves on YouTube

Reeves on YouTube too

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I also am selling my SpinOluton Echo. It’s a great little wheel. The item number is 130354471283. See it HERE

UPDATE Januray 3, 2010
The Hatbox is sold. The Echo has a pending offer. Thank you all for your interest and your bids.

Echo SOLD Hatbox SOLD

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Used hand spun beaded yarn to create top down beaded shawl. The yarn is wool and alpaca. The spinning process was described HERE and HERE in the blog. The beads are silver lined glass beads and antique Chec beads from an old lamp. I’d gotten an ounce of Momi fiber (wool, silk and glitter the color of sunset) from the Ashville fiber festival which I spun on the Trindle I’d purchased at the festival. Too little yarn for a project but worked great to provide an accent of colored lace.

I used the same pattern as the pink top down shawl

And, an interesting aside. Lacy, my mostly border collie … just learned she has no discernable border collie DNA. Had her DNA run through Wisdom DNA thinking I’d learn border collie and what. (No blood is taken, cheek swab.) Learned she has only two breeds discernable: Austrailian Shepard (that fits) and Cocker Spaniel (didn’t see that one coming). It was great fun and splendid painful anticipation while waiting for the DNA results.

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Completed the hand dyed, hand spun, hand knit lace shawl. The pinks blended nicely but to pick it up a bit I knit lace panels. The lace was knit from a bit of yarn previously spun. The yarn was a caliopi of colors but not enough for any project…but, a great accent. See the finished shawl below.

Happy “Black Friday”

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When I purchased the Norge Mongold Spindle, the seller packed it in space dyed roving. The roving was felted and wasn’t useable in its shipped state. I carded the felted dyed roving and then blended in tencil to create a soft, icy roving. I split the roving in half lengethways and then spun each half. I then carefully plied the resulting singles so that the resulting yarn slowly transitions from very subtle pink to vivid hot pink. I skeined the yarn, washed it and hung it to dry with weight. I then used a ball winder to create center pull yarn balls, being careful through out that skeins and balls were wound in sequence. I put a paper label in the center of each final ball with the sequence number so that as I knit, the yarn transitioned properly.

I wanted a pattern that would emphasize the changing yarn colors, a simple pattern that would compliment the texture of home-spun. I used the same pattern I had used for the Cheingora shawl

This is a lovely top down pattern that starts with 3 cast-on stitches and creates a chevron pattern for interest. (Instead of size 11, because this was finer yarn, I used size 9 needles.)

While searching the “net” this morning, after I had started the shawl I discovered a similar pattern by Janice Farrell Pea (CLICK HERE TO GO TO PATTERN)
I guess as they say, there is nothing new on the planet.

Aside from complimenting the home-spun and focusing attention on the transitioning colors, its a breeze to knit. I can sit and watch tv and not really have to think about my knitting. Because I can’t remember which side I’m on, the pattern side or the knit side, I used a safety pin on the face of the shawl to remind me which is the pattern side and to mark the center “k” pattern stitch. I put the pin through two stitches so it wouldn’t poke through on the back and confuse me. I move the pin up ever so often (5-6 inches) so it stays close to the active knitting.

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SpinOlution has introduced a reflection of its Mach II Spinning Wheel, the new Echo. Mine arrived this week. While it arrives unassembled; it is quickly assembled and spins like a dream! It’s lighter than the Mach II and has the same head as the Bee Travel Wheel. Notice the open orifice; no orifice dimension limitations. This open orifice arrangement is great for “art yarns”. I’m a distributor for the Echo that retails for $ 450 should anyone want to purchase.

It is an amazing wheel. I have tile floors throughout and some wheels walk. I usually have to place wheels on a bath tube mat to keep them from walking. The Echo is solid and doesn’t walk. I love it! Good job Mike & Kris!

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