let it yarn

I spun this yarn and I was quite proud of my spinning until I set out to photograph it. Every photo I took was terrible and reminded me how new a spinner I am. I swore while spinning, plying, skeining, and washing it up that it was a bit more even that it really is. This is the best photograph I’ve come up with after days of trying.

specs:
averaging 14 wpi, sport or dk weight (depending who you ask) though it isn’t super consistent.
Approximately 220 yards (giver or take a few)
4oz Cabin Cove merino in “pocket money”

I only placed one order with Dave before he closed shop to focus on his weaving, among other things. This was what I picked up because I waited and his gorgeous colours sold quickly.. I’m still quite scared of colour mixing, so this “sorta solid at least low on the scary contrast so plain-ish jane” worked quite well. A poor photo of the original roving may be found here.

I don’t think it’s “good” enough for cables, but I’ll find something to do with it, I’m sure. I’m debating what to make with it, its much for a cowl. I don’t think it’s “good enough” for cables. I like the colour. We’ll see. One of these days it will “speak” to me and tell me what it wants to be.

I’m trying to knit and crochet from my stash, not because of monetary woes (which are a factor, but actually not the main one) but because of space. I’m slowly giving away what I don’t see myself using, and I’ve tried not to buy more. That said:

Through the stash enhancement loophole know as swaps, Emy sent me a beautiful package of pens, noodler’s ink, notebooks, yummy genmaicha tea, and two beautiful balls of Rowan 4 Ply Soft in the most beautiful soft grey, 387- Rain Cloud. I see something lacey scarf or shawl-like, no? I only have 382 yards and it is classified as fingering weight. Ideas? Yes, Veronik Avery’s Lace Ribbon Scarf from Spring 2008 Knitty is a contender.

A few weeks ago, Beverly surprised me with this fibre. Can you believe it? I think I want to do is spin it and ply so the colour changes are preserved. I know of two ways, one involves chain plying, while the other in being consistent over multiple bobbins (hah hah hah). I have other fibres on the wheel and spindles now, so it will have to wait. I’ve wanted to try some of Pippi’s stuff for ages, but similar to the problem with Dave’s yarn, it sells out long before I can either make a decision or place the order.

This afternoon, following procurement of our tofurky, I broke and went into the new lion brand studio at 34 West 15th and walked out with well over 2000 yds of yarn. I went in for one ball of Suede in a specific colour for a scarf I promised R I’d make a few months ago. It’s not my favourite yarn but I already own 3 balls and have calculated a need of 4 to make the scarf, so this seemed a cost effective option. If they don’t have what you are looking for in stock they’ll order and ship it to your house, no shipping fees. They take the price off the yarn, so the total is proper but it’ll still show full shipping. Oh right, the space. It’s gorgeous. I didn’t take photos because I had lots of stuff with me and my hands were cold and my camera at the absolute bottom of my bag. Please click on the link to the store to see inside. I looked around for a bit and a cone of 1878 in natural heather begged me to it with me. I tried to reason and say that it’s current home was much tidier and brighter, but it wouldn’t listen. In time, I think it’ll be perfect for Miriam‘s Zephyros Shawl and if at the end I want a different colour, I should take dye well as it’s neutral.

So I failed. Yarn came home with me, I seriously debated the Sock-Ease™ in #240-201 Rock Candy as it reminds me of this yarn, but as I have tons of sock yarn (including half of that yarn after making the pomatomus), I couldn’t justify it. I’m not sure I can justify this, but I am only so strong.

In any case, I wish the studio luck and success and when I reopen my cotton-ease stash for enhancement, I know where I’ll be. I’m am concerned how this will affect PS Yarns (their website is gone). I feel guilty as I’ve cheated on them lately with a few craft chain stores and now the LB Studio. *sigh*

Ok, back to writing and coding.

• Category: handmade
• Tag: spin