WnS Ep. 230: Dabbling in all the things!
WnS Ep. 230: Dabbling in all the things! | In today’s show, we talk about all the things from knitting with commercial yarn (Catbells Cardigan) to spindle spinning to weaving with 4/8 cotton. #woolnspinning
Dear Spinning Circle,
Live Stream: Saturday, January 15th @ 8am Pacific // 11am Eastern*
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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! Ketchup & Pickles for November 2021 here.
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)
Spindle Spun Stitches
Long-Term Goal: To Spin for a Sweater
On & Off the Bobbins
SweetGeorgia Yarns silk puff (40% merino, 40% SW merino, 20% silk) ‘hearth’ – Ashford eSpinner 3; continuous backwards, lots of twist @ 1430 on speed knob (Ravelry page here)
SweetGeorgia Yarns BFL+Silk (85% / 15% silk) in ‘Tofino Roadtrip’ – Lendrum Saxony, 18:1, 3-ply fractal (Ravelry page here)
Chaotic Fibres Whiteface Merino/Silk/Flax blended prep (Ravelry page here)
Hedgehog Fibres Merino/Silk/Flax combed top; pre-drafted (Ravelry page here)
Australian flax strict – Kromski Minstrel, 18:1(Ravelry page here)
Community Inspiration // Participation
Claudia shares: I finally got around to taking pictures of my BACS. I used 1 of the separated color kit that i made into rolags on my hand cards. I spun those on my supported spindles. Then i took the kit that was only the natural colors and spun those in long sections keeping the white/grey/brown sequence and putting just a little bit of color in between each natural strips on my wheel. I plied the two together knowing it was going to give me a crazy barberpole effect and it absolutely did!!! I’m thinking of using it in a striped garment with a few other small amounts of handspun i have laying around. To be continued… The little skein on the right is the leftover from my rolag ply that i chained plied to see what i would create. That one isn’t soaked and is still quite curly, but i think it would be great for colorwork mitts or socks.
Alex shares: I’m spinning cotton for the first time and really enjoying it. It’s slow progress but I was wondering if anyone has tips for finishing handspun cotton? I’m planning on making it a 2ply.
Diana shares: Spinning for Selbu mittens update: Singles done and wound into a two-strand plying ball. I’m plying it on my Majacraft Rose. I used six spindles on this project: from left to right – Carry Cherry Bog Oak; Italian traditional by Alice Savage; Curly maple caldron style by Woodlands Handcrafts; Tibetan style by Silly Salmon; Spalted maple by Texas Jeans, and Carry Cherry.
Eve shares: Here is my current spin, the blue is merino, the white is cashmere and the orange is actually gold eri silk.
Greta Lyn shares: Great show today!! Thanks Rachel. I finished a pair of accessories today for a friend as this year has been about knitting for some folks moving away. This cowl and headband with a twist are knit with handspun CVM from Gaylene’s flock in Colorado (a bunch of us got some fleeces from her). I wanted low contrast, super neutral colors—which works with the fact that I only had a few lichens to dye with in the first place. This CVM was lovely to work with and is soft enough for at the neck too.
Charlette shares: First make of ’22: Kelly G.’s Trochu. I used at least ten scraps from the recently completed cardigan, wet-spliced (which made me happy). I highly recommend the pattern (on Rav and LoveCrafts) Thanks Kelly! AND, her cardigan from late in December: Since we have one of those rare chilly days I got to trot out the new cardigan for its inaugural wearing, grocery shopping. There were no annoying fit issues – sort of forgot I had it on. (It Takes A Guild Cardigan, Valley Yarns Northampton, posted earlier)
Vikki shares: So Proud – This is the first fibre I prepared from a small bag of washed fleece a few months back. I used my combs for the first time as well. I had sampled with it almost immediately to see how I wanted to spin it. My preferred sample was my woollen sample from a rolag but continued to think about it. I think my “stalling” was because I knew deep down that is was my first COMBED fibre and I wanted to keep it that way. So I finally spun it up and I couldn’t be happier!!! Manitoba grown Shetland, 124yds, 73g, 774ypp, worsted prep & worsted spun, 13wpi, 8bpi, 10% elasticity. I have a bit more in a brown shade. I plan to prep and spin it exactly the same so I can use them in the same project!
Zero to Hero // #sweaterspin #useyourhandspun #spinallthethings #weavewithhandspun
Hannah shares: My first Zero to Hero! The Furze Hat by Darren K Cheng, knit in my 3-ply Cormo handspun. This was such a fun pattern and I love the result! Had to take it for a walk in the snow today.
Sample Spinning // PLAY
The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct. – Carl Jung
Eleanor shares: I have knit my first hand spun socks and I am surprised by two things. How much I learned and how much I like them.
Crystal shares: For Christmas, my amazing husband got me two tattoos. They’re every bit as awesome as they were in my head. I think they’ll certainly come in handy at the wheel. Anyone else with yarny tats?
Dionne shares: This is my Woolfiend Avent fiber spun up. I decided to group colors together. The first group I put on the hackle, pinks and turquoise. The second on the blending board and made rolags. The third I put on the carder. I was able to make 1 small skein and 2 large ones all DK weight. All were spun on my Daedalus Sparrow e wheel and played on my Starling mini e wheel.
Lisa shares: I spun this very pretty Merino from Nest Fiber Club
Amanda shares: ** Not handspun… I used Marie Wallin British Breeds yarn
Megan shares: It must be the Scottish genes but plaid makes me so happy!
Thank you so much for joining me today!
Until then, Happy Spinning!