Tuesday, February 12, 2008

You spin me round and round

The sock yarn spinning obsession continues.
Last week I tried spinning superwash merino batts. Oi! This stuff is slippery as a wet eel, and I'm guessing it's not the best undertaking for new spinners. (just call me crazy.)

Onto spinning progress-- This week I've improved a great deal. The yarn is becoming more consistent. The thin and thick parts are evening out, the clumps dissapearing, and my singles are certainly less enthusiastic than a week before. (That is, it's not curling back on itself like 1500 piglets in a pen with their bums in the air.)

Oh, and I remembered to take a photo of the plied yarn with the original fiber! Well-- for one of these photos, anyway. Above is "Fall" by The Range at Etsy.com. Lovely dye work, great price.


Crown Mountain Farms-- oh how I love thee.
I will now refer to you as "Crack Mountain Farms"

Remember the sock hop love? I never ordered any skeins, but I did pick up a few colors of roving. At $19 for 8.5 oz of superwash handyed merino roving, its a stellar price compared to similar kits from Blue Moon Fiber Arts (Sheep to Shoe is 8.5 oz for $30), or many Etsy sellers with averages at $15 for 4oz of superwash merino.

From 8 oz. I was able to spin approx. 378yds of tighly plied sportweight sock yarn. I just love the way it turned out.


First Handspun Project:
From last week's spinning I started a pair of resoleable house socks. They're pretty comfy-- and may never wear out.
(Thanks to my enthusiastic singles!)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, I love that Fall colorway!

CathyCate said...

I bet those singles are sproingy, though!
I hope the superwash roving I have for you isn't too obnoxious! It's jewel tones. (You can always give it to Marge if it drives you bonkers; but I suppose no need to look gift roving in the mouth, as it were!)

See you Saturday!
;-)

Kay-From the Back Yard said...

Wow, I'm impressed with your spinning and your socks. Beautiful!

Guinifer said...

I love the doggy picture with the house socks! Your handspun is gorgeous.

renee said...

Your "slippers" look great. I like the idea of the two-color look.

Elemmaciltur said...

"curling back on itself like 1500 piglets in a pen with their bums in the air."

ROFLMAO

And OMG....you already are knitting socks with your own handspun?!

Karen S, Lykkefanten said...

Really, really beautiful socks!!! And they must feel even more wonderful than they look (which is a tall order) since you spun the yarn yourself!

Stacey said...

the orangey yarn is beautiful! i can't wait to see that knit up. the roving is so much less expensive than the sock hop yarn - may as well spin your own! my sock hop socks are holding up great and are cushy soft!

Criosa said...

lovely!

now, to get me some of that Crack Mountain... ooh, they have tussah blends. I'm doomed.

Diane said...

How exciting to see your spinning progress. I love your socks. They look so warm and comfortable.

limedragon :-: Harriet said...

I liked your colorful expression about the piglets!

Both yarns look great, and I really like that slipper sock!

Jillsknit said...

Great job with the spinning. I'm totally impressed and jealous!

Knitted Gems said...

Your Fall yarn is beautiful! You did an excellent job spinning it.

Jess said...

Wow, what great yarn! It's beautiful!

Deepa said...

Love the animal metaphors- wet eels and 1500 piglets. LOL.

The handspun gets ever more beautiful. I'm in love with Fall and will give you my filthy lucre for it, yardage be damned. Mine! Mine!!

Holly said...

yes, Crack Mountain Farms is a good description, try their pencil roving sometime if you want a real treat.

And handspun makes such beautiful socks - love the fall colours.75