Episode 172: Opus Spicatum, Cast-on-itis, Spinning Cormo & CVM
Dear Spinning Circle,
Direct YouTube Link here.
Thank you for being here today, especially those who were able to make it to the Live Stream. I appreciate your time spent here in this place with me. You are most welcome. I hope you feel most welcome because you are welcome here.
Enjoy the show!
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There is a lot going on in our community! It’s a lot to cover and remind you of each week. If you are curious about what happens in our community, please click the links below, reach out to me: rachel @ welfordpurls (dot) com, or reach out on Instagram/Ravelry/Slack (if you are a Patreon member, @welfordpurls_admin).
Housekeeping
Be sure to sign up for the Wool n’ Spinning Newsletter at welfordpurls.com.
For a softcover copy of How I Spin: A Sock Study, check here & e-book link here
Unbraided: The Art & Science of Spinning Colour – e-books here & book orders here.
Tin Can Knits ALONG Ravelry thread here & use #sweaterspin channel on Slack
51 Yarns SAL Group A here & Group B here
Book Club – for more information, check the #booksbooksbooks channel on Slack (patrons only)
On & Off the Needles & Bobbins
Works in Progress – Spinning
WestCoast Colour Karma Merino & Yak
- Prepped last week, spinning continuous backward, 3-4 counts, ½ draft
- Lendrum Saxony, DD, nice pull on 8:1
Sarah Elizabeth Cormo fleece, processed at Kingdom Fleece & Fiberworks
- Pin-drafted roving, some neps noted
- Majacraft Suzie Pro 28:1, continuous backwards with smoothing
CVM fleece, processed at Kingdom Fleece & Fiberworks
- Pin-drafted roving, light & airy preparation
- Lendrum Saxony 18:1, DD, long backwards draw
Cumbria Imitation, BFL/Masham/Mohair
- Spun 588 yards (200 grams) to date, 2-ply, 1271YPP
- Lendrum Saxony 18:1, scotch tension, continuous backwards with smoothing
- Settled on a garment pattern: Oshima by Jared Flood, yardage required: 1140 yards (original pattern calls for fingering-weight yarn held double)
Works in Progress – Knitting
#07 Tunic Cardigan by Joan Forgione
- Vogue Knitting 25 Year Anniversary Issue
- Juniper Moon Farm Patagonia Organic Merino in Sand & Smoked
- 4.00mm/US 7 for Mosaic knitting & 3.75mm/US 5 ribbing
Poet by Sari Norland
- Swans Island Natural Colors Collection in Goldenrod, fingering (100% Merino)
- gauge swatch, 3.5mm needles, got gauge!
Albini by Orlane Sucche
- Disdero Ranch 100% Shetland 3-ply
- woollen prep – pin-drafted roving, spun semi-worsted (continuous backwards w/o smoothing)
- swatch gauge: 19 stitches x 4 inches
Varma (unicolour) by Sari Norland
- West Coast Colour BFL, 2-ply, ancient stash from Lynne
- Calculated yardage of yarn since long-ago lost tag & information: 1479 yards / 452 grams
- Modifications: stockinette body (rather than reverse), knitting in the round
Finished Objects – Knitting
Opus Spicatum by Kate Gagnon Osborn
- Westcoast Colour BFL + Silk, Aran weight 2-ply, photos here of James’ toddler mitts
- Held double: West Yorkshire Spinners’ Aire Valley DK in cream/natural
Community Participation
For October, tell us about your spinning plans for the rest of the year? What are you looking forward to learning, exploring and making?
Episode thread here or comment below here on YouTube!
Tin Can Knits Along #tincanknitsalong
Tessa (@tessaw) shares: I’m joining in with a Love Note in commercial yarn – some Tukuwool paired with a luxurious mohair silk from Stranded Dyeworks. The tiny strand of mohair silk makes such a difference to the softness of the not-scratchy-but-not-soft Tukuwool. I can’t believe how fast it is knitting up!
Dana (@t28girl) shares: I’m working on Love Note too, in commercial yarn. I dyed the fingering yarn years ago so I’m really happy to be using it. I’m at the split for the armholes now although this pic doesn’t show that.
Glenda (@madstasher1) shares: I want to be able knit and spin outside when the weather turns colder so I made some fingerless mitts. They are Honeycomb by tincanknits.
Breed & Colour Studies
Dana (@t28girl) shares: I had in mind how I wanted to spin the batt, but couldn’t figure out how to split it, until I watched Rachel’s first video. What I wanted was the dark pink to be in the center and the mirror the other colors. I was able to achieve that in the finished yarn. I spun it as a 2 ply, splitting the batt in half first. I haven’t spun many batts and found this fiber a bit tricky at first, much different than spinning from the undyed braid of Charollais. I spun supported long draw and it got more comfortable and went quickly. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite spin or fiber but it was good for getting me out of my comfort zone, which is hand-combed top! My plan is to knit a garter stripe shawl, maybe Kallara.
Handspun Knitting
Tracey (@TRace44) shares: Goal this year was to use up those accumulating handspun single skeins. So far this year have made three sweaters incorporating handspun. Silverlining, Laurel Jumper, and a Shifty
How I Spin: Exploring Blends
Upcoming How I Spin content to finish off the year in November & December exploring how the recent explorations of blends resulted for me, thoughts for the future & kicking off luxury fibres for the new year. For more information, please head to the Co-Executive Producer or higher on Patreon.
Thank you so much for joining me today!
Until then, Happy Spinning!
