everyone needs sparkle in their life. amiright?!

In keeping with this new theme of mine, which seems to be handspun central … everything fibre and spinning … I thought I would share with you my new project. I am hoping to finish this one during Spinzilla. Are you participating in Spinzilla?! I sure hope so!

This started with Instagram. Someone had favourited ewe and me yarns’ Cola Classic Stellar Top. I saw it and thought, “Hmmm, I really like that.”

It came up again … and again … and then again. I thought on the third time that maybe I should go look in their shop. It was empty of any Stellar – and rightly so! The stuff is beautiful! What to do?! I decided to PM Ali on Etsy, who returned my message within mere moments. She was professional and friendly, mailed out the 2 braids that I custom ordered as quickly as she could and I was not disappointed.

Fibre: Stellar base (merino/mulberry silk/stellina)

Colourway: Cola Classic

Technical specs: 2oz, 232yrds

Yarn: Sport, 14WPI

This initial amount was a test spin. I decided to break the initial braid in half, spin it as a traditional 2-ply and decide from there what to do. In my heart of hearts, I was hoping I would like it so much and obtain enough yardage from this initial ‘test’ skein that I would be able to spin the rest to knit a sweater. I am not disappointed! But what sweater you ask? How will I ever have enough yardage for an entire sweater you ask?

I have a couple of options given that roughly my yardage will be 800 after spinning the remaining 6oz.

Here’s the list of contenders that I am seriously considering (I know there are many out there):

• Hitofude Cardigan – knit at a larger gauge in a smaller size
• Long Sands Cardgian – knit at a smaller, looser gauge
• Abalone – a completely customizable pattern!
• Vitamin D – again, open and drapey … needs modification to knit at a looser gauge

Are you seeing a pattern here?! Open with a bit of lace work?!

This is one of the reasons I love spinning: While I traditionally walked into a yarn shop looking for a yarn to fit a pattern, now I make a yarn and find patterns that work with it. In some ways it is very liberating but in other ways, requires much more thought and attention to what I am choosing for both patterns and roving/top. It is an interesting tension and one I am excited to explore further in the future!

What are your plans for Spinzilla? Any favourite sweater/cardigan patterns at the moment?

Happy spinning and knitting :)