Most of my time online has been spent on a Ravelry group called Spinner Central. No thanks to the lovely JudyMac, I’ve become addicted to the fiber from Enchanted Knoll Farm.
You may recall some singles I spun up earlier. They’ve now been transformed into a laceweight yarn totaling 1,040 yards from a 4 ounce batt. Shame on my camera for not picking up the sparkly Angelina fibers in it.
Gratuitous close-up shot.
I want to make a shawl, but I’m not sure what pattern. Most of the patterns I’m attracted to call for at least 1,100 yards. I may have to beg for more fiber to make up the difference. I’ll have to think on this for awhile.
Included in the package of the batts, Farm Witch put in a little sample of silk. It was a lovely surprise since I’ve never spun pure silk on my wheel.
I split the top lengthwise into two, so I could make a 2-ply and off I went.
Even though the silk had felted a little, I had a lot of fun trying out a new fiber on my wheel. I’m thinking that this yarn would make a lovely little case for Tarot cards or Moo cards.
My love affair with Enchanted Knoll Farm continued, because even though I’ll be going to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, I could not resist another purchase. I lusted and coveted after this particular roving for a couple of weeks. I bothered and harassed my friends every day by showing them the listing on Etsy while the following conversations ensued.
“Isn’t this pretty?”
“Yes, you showed me that yesterday. And the day before.”
“Do you think I should get it?”
“Yes, I told you to get it yesterday. And the day before.”
It’s a wonder they didn’t clobber me with a blunt instrument.
I finally got the message and I finally purchased it. It came in the mail this week and I’ve been petting it and loving it ever since.
On one hand, I can hardly wait to spin this up and see what beautiful yarn it’ll produce. On the other hand, I love the unspun fiber so much that I hate to see it’s pristine state disturbed. But I do have plans for the yarn so I think the urge to spin it up will win in the end.
Because I can’t resist, I’m going to leave you with another feline picture. I give you Scheyer.
Happy Friday, you all! Have a great weekend. I plan on watching the Final Four and hanging out with the monkeys cats.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Over 1000 yds! WOW! I think you should be able to find lots of patterns that would work with that.
I’m glad you finally got that dang roving lol!
April 4th, 2008 at 11:22 am
How about trying yarnharlot’s Snowdrop Shawl? I made it without the edges… with much less than 1000 yards.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Oops, forgot to link to the pattern: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/images/Snowdrop_Shawl_v1.0.pdf
April 4th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Wow — that’s beautiful roving, and it will work perfectly with the pattern you chose! You could probably also get by with the Laminaria shawl from Knitty — maybe just bind off a row or two early, or leave a repeat off. I love that one.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:29 am
That is one RELAXED cat! LOL
April 4th, 2008 at 11:51 am
If I was Scheyer, I would be very jealous of you petting the fiber.
Your homespun is beautiful.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Uhhhhmmm, I’m still stammering and drooling over the yarn. You are so very awesome!
On the shawl – have you seen the simple knits website? There’s a list of shawls organized by yardage (link below).
http://simpleknits.blogspot.com/2007/08/296-triangle-shawl-patterns.html
April 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Haha I love when cats sleep in the most uncomfortable positions.
I just ordered from Enchanted Knoll too. I have been wanting to for a while, and just couldn’t resist any longer.
April 4th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Oh my, that yarn is GORGEOUS!
April 4th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
The last fiber shot looks like blue velvet to me…must be very soft :)
April 4th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Wow, what a gorgeous single! I’m sure you’ll find a shawl that will fit with your yardage. It never hurts to check with the designer, if you can, in case s/he overestimated yardage by 300 yds or so (to account for gauge swatch and individual usage).
Also, do you keep pretty yarns/rovings by your bed so you can see/touch them first thing in the morning or last thing at night? Not that I do that or anything…ahem.
Scheyer is just illustrating that good posture isn’t everything.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Man, that’s some pretty handspun yarn.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
You are just a spinning maniac! Your laceweight looks amazing but I know what you mean about needing a bit more for your project. 4 ounces of anything is not much. Still, beautiful job on the spinning and great photo of your cat :-)
April 5th, 2008 at 5:02 am
You are really doing well spinning – I love the picture of Scheyer! That roving is soooo pretty. Keep up the spinning!!
April 5th, 2008 at 6:23 am
It’s hard to tell which end is up in that picture of Scheyer. That’s some pretty nice fiber you’ve got there.
April 5th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Ohhh… I’ll have to check Spinning Central out! Beautiful of course!!!
April 6th, 2008 at 3:00 am
Very pretty yarn – love the color!
April 6th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Look, if you can’t think of something to do with that amazing, angelina enhanced fiber, I’d be happy to take it off your hands :)
By the way – I know that angelina is added to fiber to give it a bit of sparkle? But what is it, exactly? i assume it’s a synthetic, nylon perhaps? Inquieing minds…heh…
Scheyer looks very endearing – but, to me, all cats do when they sleep on their heads like that. We also have a cat towersimilar to yours; it sits in the living toom window and gets a good deal of sun. Jade and Goldie are always “interacting” over who gets the sun-spot!
April 6th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
That is beautiful yarn, and beautiful roving. I’m glad to see Scheyer is feeling more at home now!
April 6th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Your handspun is just perfect. It’s so professional-looking! I understand your feeling about not wanting to spin the roving–I have trouble cutting into perfect, untouched, beautiful fabric. It’s a problem!
April 7th, 2008 at 3:02 am
ooh–lovely! I aspire to your lace spinning skills. :) I just bought an enchanted knoll batt last week, too–ostensibly for a gift, but will I be able to part with it, I wonder?
April 7th, 2008 at 11:19 am
That is a lot of spinning! I salute you!
Beautiful work. I just hope you don’t go into shock at MSWF….
April 7th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
That lace weight yarn is fantastic! Such lovely colors in it.