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I’ve been swatching and planning what to do with my merino/silk handspun, and I’ve decided to make a shawl. I’m starting simple, since I’ve never made a shawl let alone designed one! I’ve decided to make a square shawl that can be folded on the diagonal. I used a provisional cast-on for the center square so that I can pick up stitches in the round later and miter the corners.

Here are my swatches (blocked) and the center panel thus far (unblocked):

The yarn is as much fun to knit with as it was to spin and ply. Spinning laceweight inspires so many projects - I’m thinking I would like to spin pure silk and then use it to make bobbin lace.

There is a surprise later on the blog - I’m having a very special visitor later today…. details to come….

Well, I’m a day late with Eye Candy Friday. I didn’t see the end of the week coming until it bit me in …… well, you know. Needless to say it’s been a busy one.

Last week Friday, I received my Woolery order. Some undyed merino and some luscious merino/silk blend in a colorway called Sea Mist. Of course, I briefly fondled the merino (so soft - it will make a special yarn and a special sweater for my mum), but I immediately pillaged the merino/silk and started to spin.

While I was spinning it, I thought I would use it for a pattern I saw in Victorian Lace Today. Once I had a few skeins done, however, I decided to swatch some lace motifs and try my hand at designing my own shawl. I know what I’m going to do for the center panel and am now working out the border pattern.

My wheel and I have a standing date practically every evening after dinner. Sometimes I meet my wheel for breakfast or lunch (sometimes breakfast and lunch). We meet occassionally for tea, too (I always have tea; the wheel seems to prefer oil). I know we are in the first fresh moments of our new relationship, but a couple nights ago we had our first argument.I have been enjoying our companionable silence as we worked together to produce this yarn so when my wheel started vocalizing (and continued to vocalize) it started to get on my nerves. First I “served” it oil, then I loosened its bolts, then I tightened its bolts. Still it wouldn’t shut up! So, I gave up spinning (*sheesh*), and really started to focus my attention. Seems the wheel has not forgiven me for driving the crank in too far. Turns out the crank was rubbing against the wheel support. I sanded the area to try to create more room for the crank and reapplied danish oil. Seems to have done the trick - for now at least. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

Here is the fruit of my (our) recent productivity:

This is an alpaca/wool/angora blend I picked up at a spin in a couple of weeks ago. It’s all Maine fiber and so soft. My wheel is very efficient (and I’m such a beginner) that I spun it on the “slow” setting with a moderate bobbin tension to control the twist and the rate the singles wound onto the bobbin. I then tried out the navajo ply technique a member of my spinning group showed me to get a nice three-ply yarn. I love this yarn because it reminds me of the colors of my environment, and it is so soft. Of course I wish I had purchased more than a meager 6oz. I hope that by this evening the skein has dried and I can swatch a bit of it!

This is a wool/mohair (?) blend that I picked up a while ago when I thought I would be satisfied with spinning on a drop spindle (*giggle* as if!!). I love the color. It’s not as soft as the alpaca blend, but it has a beautiful sheen. I’m in love with it and already have a project planned. I’ll be swatching and designing my pattern as soon as it dries.

Click on photos for larger view

A few weeks ago, a friend and I drove in the snow to East Franklin,

where we met Susanne Grosjean of Hogbay Pottery and Susanne Grosjean Rugs. Susanne is a master weaver and spins her own yarn. I was able to rent a Louet wheel from her and take a mini spinning lesson. I have taken to this craft, well - and please excuse the cliche - like a duck takes to water. Spinning yarn feels very natural to me, as if my fingers have done this for centuries. Last week, I decided to purchase my own wheel from Susanne (she is an Ashford and Louet authorized dealer). As you know from my previous post, it arrived a couple of days ago at her studio.

A ride was procured, and last night I laid out the pieces of my new, unfinished Ashford Traditional with double treadle kit, and applied two coats of Danish Oil.

After letting the oil soak in overnight, I rose early, gathered all the supplies I needed for assembly and put it together. First, I buffed each piece to remove any excess oil and to enhance the warm glow of the wood.

Then I assembled the mother-of-all. It was a piece of cake! I followed the instructions and before I knew it, it was done!

I rocked! Next, I assembled the frame. Again, the process was smooth - I was so excited. The wheel was taking shape.

Well, cockiness does not go unpunished. I positioned the wheel, knocked the crank in with a hammer and gave it a test spin. Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap……… I knocked the crank in too far and the wheel couldn’t complete a full rotation! So I had to try to pull it out again, which was very difficult given that the fit between crank and wheel is extremely snug. Eventually, I got it out part way. The next hurdle was to drive the pin in to secure it. Again the tight fit makes this difficult. But determination is 9/10 of success, right?

Here she is finished in her new home. Doesn’t she look happy? Of course it wasn’t long before she was put to work!

I’ve had to “reacquaint” myself with the basic techniques, since her tensioning system is different from the Louet I was renting. But I’ve already spun and plied some samples (photos to come).

I see us quickly becoming best friends!

My beautiful Ashford Traditional with double treadle kit.

Well, it’s not exactly here here. It’s more like 20 miles away at the woman who sells the wheels - and I don’t have a car. This is going to take some thinking (probably some begging, too) to find my way there.

So, you may be wondering why I don’t have a car. I lived for years in a major metropolitan city where an automobile was more of a hindrance than a help, and I learned to love not having a car. No car payments, insurance or repairs. It only becomes an incovenience when my wheel is 20 miles away, and I can’t find anyone who is going in that direction.

I’m keeping the faith, however, and hoping I can find a ride.

I’m waiting for my camera to charge up, and will upload photos of my most recent projects soon.

Meanwhile, this is what I’ve been up to:

After years (and years and years) of wanting to learn to spin my own yarn, I’ve been able to rent a wheel and learn a bit about this wonderful fiber craft. Words are not sufficient to illustrate my obsession with spinning. It takes all of my self-control (and I’m weak!!!) not to drop everything I’m doing and sit at my wheel spinning. The irony is not lost on me that centuries ago this was work - hard work - with the meager proceeds on which people struggled to survive. Now it’s a leisure activity and a distraction from the work that provides me with my meager proceeds.

I’ve joined a local spinning group, which meets every other week. Knowing that I’ll get an afternoon of spinning guaranteed twice a month helps me get my obligatory tasks done. As it is, I’ve given myself the hours between the after-dinner washing up and bedtime to devote to my spinning projects. I go into my office, put a book on cd in the computer, and spin, spin, spin.

I realize that keeping my wheel in my office is needless temptation during the day, but I’m an adult (sometimes). I can control myself! (…most of the time)