handspun toque & a call for testing.

This skein of yarn has been sitting in my stash for about a year. I loved it when I finished it but I’ve been torn about what to knit with it ever since. I finally decided to cast on for a toque based on the wraps per inch (WPI) of my yarn. Is anyone interested in a pattern for this simple toque based on WPI?

What is WRAPS PER INCH, anyhow?!

For those who haven’t used WPI in their knitting, it is a rough gauge of yarn weight. It is a great start to figuring out what needle size to start with when beginning to think about knitting with yarn of unknown weight. Gently, with a WPI tool or a ruler, wrap your yarn around the guide being careful not to stretch the yarn. Count the wraps over 1 inch, then repeat one or two more times for accuracy. Stretching the yarn will give an artificially high number of WPI and conversely, loosely wrapping the yarn results in too few WPI. Placing the yarn over the ruler or guide is the key to accuracy and takes practice. This is why I tend to take an average of three of my WPI results. If my yarn results in 12 WPI three times, it’s probably 12 WPI!

This Freckle Face Fibres from my stash was 12 WPI so I went ahead and cast on based on the yarn being roughly a sport weight. It was really fun looking back at the photos from when I spun this yarn in July 2014. I’ve come a long way in my spinning and it was really neat thinking about those early days on my wheel.

Pattern :: my own, pending publication

Yarn :: Freckle Face Fibres Merino in Frankincense (no longer available)

Needles :: 3.5mm 16” circulars, DPNs

… ummmm, I loooove this yarn …

I made the slouchy version because in the winter, I tend to tuck my hair into a bun and pull my toques over top so that I can also wear a shawl or scarf. It doesn’t get that cold here (in Vancouver, BC) so I am generally just wearing my rain jacket or cardigan with my shawls/toques. It works well to get my hair tied away to keep my neck warm!

I have to admit, I love how the crown decreases look in the yarn. The wonderful aspects about this yarn are the rustic, analogous colours so even though the variegation shows in the crown, it is still very pleasing to the beholder. Have I mentioned that I love this yarn?!

If you are interested in testing any size in your own handspun, or even commercial yarn, please send me a message and I’ll pass the tutorial onto you ASAP. Sizes include baby, toddler/child, teen, adult M and adult L (teen, adult M & L are available as slouch toques also). Yarn weights include fingering, sport, DK, worsted and aran. Choose any combination of those two and you’re off to the races! I’m looking for 3-5 testers. Deadline for finished toques with feedback to me is September 1, 2015.

Happy spinning :)