singles yarn (Baby Alpaca Top) and two-ply yarn (Blue Face Leicester & Alpaca)¹

This past weekend I learned the Andean plying method – you wind the singles yarn onto your hand and then respin them together on the drop spindle in the opposite direction. The goal is to respin the yarn so it is balanced (the Z-twist and S-twist energies neutralize one another).

I washed the handspun in warm water and then let them dry – which took longer than expected. But after a few days, the two-ply really bloomed!

Rx Reading: Spin It by Lee Raven, Interweave Press. A great little book that gives step-by-step instructions on how to spin and includes a few patterns.

1 Fiber Source: The Yarn Tree
Thanks to Linda and Caroline at the Yarn Tree for the excellent instruction, fiber talk and all around fun. (Hi Barley!)

Posted by brooke at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Progress on the Turbulence pullover.

front with center cable

finished back piece

Cables are classic and my favorite stitch pattern to knit.
My love of cables began back in October 2005 when I became obsessed with a cabled hat and scarf pattern from Rebecca 30. I knit it in soysilk, karabella and ggh cashmere. Knitting the hat with soy silk was the first time I used dpns – I remember that day at my lys vividly – attempting to knit with multiple needles, trying to decipher a Rebecca pattern, using soysilk yarn to make big cables and eating jellybeans from a bowl on the table.

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Yesterday a few friends stopped by - I had the back of the Turbulence U-Neck Pullover on the table. (Earlier in the day I had been walking around the house and knitting rows of stockinette. Walking because sitting for too long makes my back feel stiff and knitting because I can’t stop. Eventually we left for a family lunch and I left it on the table, separated from its pattern.) So when they inquired about the knitting, I ran upstairs to get Knitting Nature and showed them the back cover. They loved the cable on the front of the pullover. I felt like screaming, I know! Isn’t that the most amazing cable! I showed them a close up and the chart. You’re going to knit that? It does look challenging, but I was thinking, I’m going to knit that!

Lolly put it best when she said at the end of her book review, “Destined to be a classic, and destined to be on my needles!”

Knitting Nature References:
Sknitty’s finished Roundabout Leaf Tank

Grumperina’s Pentagon pullover

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Niddy noddy used to make a skein of yarn, prep the twist and count yardage.

My first drop spindle handspun yarn! I’m not sure if I want to keep it like this or knit it up right away.

It doesn’t get better than this - spending a Saturday afternoon in this lovely store surrounded by yarn, fiber, delightful people and interesting customers. One woman was looking at silk cocoons which can be used in spinning or weaving (or in her case, knitting).

I left the store carrying the niddy noddy in one hand and my bag cradling my handspun in the other. Can’t wait to return next week when I’ll make plied yarn.

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pattern: hat from Pea Pod Baby Set Designed by Kate Gilbert
Interweave Knits.com Summer 2006 online pattern
yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere – less than one ball
needles: bamboo dpns size 3.75mm
size: 12 months
started/completed: june 11-12

Two lace projects already on the needles and I decided to start a third yesterday. I still need to buy yarn for the sweater and will pick something other than white. The hat was a quick knit so it won’t be a big deal knitting another one to make a matching set.

ETA: The lace pattern should be centered between the decreases-oops, mine's not centered! (Didn't catch it until a reader pointed it out. Thank you!) See how it should look here.

Posted by brooke at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

My handspun looks a little sloppy wound up - an odd-watermelon shape. I slipped it onto a needle and will make a skein with a niddy noddy later. My thoughts on spinning right now are just to do it – even if it’s imperfect with slubs.

So to keep the rhythm, I started spinning some baby alpaca top in colour pacific sand.

Working with fiber. I know what I’m using isn’t raw. It’s combed and grease free and pretty. But the source of the fiber is on my mind. I love that The Yarn Tree lists the source of the fiber on their web site. The Targhee top, for example, comes from a Montana sheep farm. They also have Border Leicester Roving from a sheep farm in Vermont.

Spinning with this alpaca is smooth and delicate. I’ve been developing an obsession for alpaca for many months. I love the handle of alpaca and the way it looks knit up. And another reason to knit with alpaca…check out this post by the Worsted Witch.

Posted by brooke at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Yesterday I learned to spin at The Yarn Tree in Brooklyn. Below, Caroline, spinning instructor extraordinaire, showing me how it’s done. Watching Caroline use the drop spindle, I was in awe. Caroline made it look so easy, but I knew right away that a certain amount of coordination was involved – using two hands, a tool, feeding fiber and watching the drafting zone. It looked like some kind of modern dance. I hope I wasn’t too poor a student (my spindle bobbled when I spun it and I kept on letting the twist enter the fiber supply). Experiencing something so different shocked my senses and pushed away the work fog that has accumulated over the past few weeks.

I started with Targhee Top. I learned how to pull out some fibers from the mass of wool, tease them and how to hold them in my hand with the ends out of the way. I started by using a small amount of fiber and folding it around my index finger.

I was so excited by the entire endeavor that I completely forgot the fact that the store was having a yarn sale. But I did get lots of fiber so I can practice before the next lesson.

When I got home I sat down at the kitchen table and started spinning. He said, “You haven’t even taken off your jacket!”

Posted by brooke at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The stockinette-stitch body of the Icarus Shawl.

I knew what I was getting myself into after looking at the charts and photo. I’m knitting this for someone else, who only likes a little lace. Knitting with the recipient in mind, I think the edges/end of the shawl offer just the right amount.

Indulge me as I stretch out the knitting to show you I’m finally at the good stuff.

My inspiration to finish? Joyousknits finished Icarus Shawl here. It’s gorgeous!

Posted by brooke at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)