Thank you! (and sneak peeks)

The "Mom Socks"

Early last autumn, I began to lose my "knitting mojo" as some have called it. Truthfully, that phrase kind of annoys me. It does, however, describe with more than a little accuracy how I felt. Designing began to feel like a chore, and maintaining my blog was even more difficult.

As the year drew to an end, I realized that I'd hardly been knitting or crocheting or spinning... Sure, we've been going through some tough times around my house, but enough to totally shut down? Well, maybe.

Brandywine Shawl (yarn: Shalimar Yarns Zoe Sock in Blue Raspberry)

But then something wonderful happened... My friend Kristi -- purveyor of Shalimar Yarns and designer of one of the cutest pair of mitts ever (Flitt Mitts) -- invited me to give some drop spindle demonstrations at the Indie Artist Celebration hosted by Eleganza Yarns. Surrounded by lovely, friendly fiber arts people -- knitters and crocheters alike -- I suddenly felt all warm and fuzzy, like I'd come home again.

I'll write more about the actual event in coming days. For now, I just want to take a moment to thank those of you who stopped by the table I was babysitting to say hello, those of you who told me you enjoy my designs, and those of you who read -- and comment on -- my blog.

Bento (A new pattern, available soon!)

Thank you, thank you. Your support and encouragement reminded me that I'm more than just a daughter, sister, friend, or wife. I am (among other things) a fiber artist -- knitter, crocheter, spinner, designer. And I count myself lucky to be part of this generous and talented community.

Thank you! (and sneak peeks)

Villette: A lacy new sock pattern for spring (and a great novel, too)!

Permit me to introduce Villette, my latest sock pattern, now available as a Shalimar Yarns exclusive. Created especially for the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, Villette features a ribbed cuff that flows into a gorgeous rippling lace, reminiscent of the flowing lines so popular during the Belle Epoque.

In my opinion, a special sock deserves a special heel. In this case, the lace melts into a delicately braided pattern framed with garter stitch, which mimics the ridges in the leg pattern...
A simple Dutch heel is easy to turn and creates a slim line along the ankle and foot. From there, the knitter returns to the lace pattern--centered along the instep and set off with purl and twisted stitches--down to a traditional wedge toe with two finishing options.

Shamelessly, I must admit that I LOVE this sock! It speaks to me in the language of a bygone era, one which I often wish I could have experienced--as a Vanderbilt or Astor, of course ;-)

The name I borrowed from the title of the lovely, melancholy Charlotte Brontë novel, in which an independent young woman beset by grief and financial woes begins anew in the French town of Villette.

An aside: If you are unfamiliar with Bronte's work (beyond Jane Eyre, of course), please do yourself a favor and pick up Villette. If you love English Lit, you'll may find, as I did, that it's a page-turner. Honestly--it kept me up late at night, wanting to know what would happen next!

The specs

• Height: 9 inches from floor to cuff
• Circumference: Approx. 8.5 – 9.0 inches around foot (lace pattern is quite stretchy) Gauge: 8 sts x 10 rnds = 1” in stockinette stitch
• Needles: US #1 / 2.5 mm 32” circular needles (or DPNs or any other method you prefer)
• Yarn: Shalimar Yarns Zoe Sock (100% Superwash Merino Wool; 100g / 450 yds); one skein in “Passion Fruit”
  

This is a Shalimar Yarns pattern. Which means all you need to do to order it is to contact Kristi (yarn-dyer extraordinaire) at Kristi@EleganzaYarns.com or on Ravelry, where her user name is KnitorDie.

In other news
Another Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival has come and gone. Saturday dawned rainy and gray, but by 11 a.m. or so the skies had cleared. Sunday, on the other hand, was truly dark and wet.

But reports were positive, and a good time was had by all--especially my husband, who ate lamb while I wandered through the barns, finding some great bargains among the smaller yarn dyers (like Shalimar and Three Irish Girls, to name two favorites), fiber farmers, and wool vendors.

Despite the fact that their spinning fiber and yarn is often breathtakingly beautiful, many of these so-called "mom-and-pop businesses" and small start-ups don't have Web presences and don't offer their wares in "real stores." Discovering these treasures are, to me, what this is what fiber festivals are all about.

After all, I can always order Cascade, Blue Moon Fiber Arts, and Interweave Press books online right?


PS. We've been experiencing some problems with our Internet connectivity, so my posts may be a bit sporadic for a few more weeks. Thanks for bearing with me!

Villette: A lacy new sock pattern for spring (and a great novel, too)!

Quiche me once, then quiche me twice...

This may well be the most delicious Quiche Lorraine I've ever baked -- or eaten, actually. There was no skimping with this baby. Real Swiss cheese, real bacon, and real (heavy) cream. My eight-inch pie pan made for a deep-dish experience. I folded the crust upward, forming a wall that held the custard in place.

My oven is funny. It runs at least 100-degrees high. At least. Things that should bake in 20 minutes frequently take 10, even when I adjust the dial for the heat difference. But my quiche would not be hurried, so I was forced to turn the oven down, down, down...250, 225, finally 200 degrees, plate-warming temperature. All the while chatting with my mom via Skype.

Toward the end, I removed the aluminum foil protecting the crust's edges, turned the oven off, and just let it sit in there for a while. When I pulled the quiche out, I was rewarded with a clean fork when inserted an inch from the center. And when Chris came home and we sliced into it -- well, it was pure heaven.

The custard was absolutely tender and light. The balance of bacon and cheese was perfect. Even the crust seemed happy . This was no average love-you-and-leave you quiche, oh no! After a slice of this baby, you might feel a lingering desire for more of its savory goodness. But the richness was deceptive, threatening to turn a blissful experience into a slightly-headachey one after just one bite too many.

No average quiche, this.

In the interest of full disclosure: I used a Pillsbury rolled-up, refrigerated pie crust. So, what did I do with the other crust? Apple turnovers...

I finished Froot Loop Sock #1 today, and immediately cast on the second one. These are for ME :-) Happily, I love, love, love this Araucania Ranco Multy sock yarn!!! Wooly and lofty, plump and delightful to work with, the colors are mesmerizing. They actually seem to change with the light. Working on this sock in direct sunlight (last fall) left me besotted.

And when I put this sock on, it hugged my foot with comforting warmth. Great pattern, perfect yarn = relaxing knitting. (FYI: I'm using a US#1.5 KnitPicks Options nickel-plated circular needle)


Talking of colors, take a look at this gorgeous roving! Meghan (host of Stitch It! Podcast), sent it to me as a prize for a contest I won last autumn (here's her Etsy shop). Just look at the saturated hues, the way the peacock blue and plum colors seem as iridescent as the feathers on a Mallard duck's neck.

I also received a lovely basket of gifts from BethanyG (that's her "Ravetar"), who came up with the contest idea and coordinated it. Tasty goodies, spicy cinnamon-scented soap and candle, pumpkin-pie scented lotion and lip balm, and a catnip toy for Katja and Charley...it was literally a cornucopia of autumn goodness for all of us :-)

And, finally, speaking of Katja and Charley, here's the ultimate cuteness: a kitty version of Yin and Yang (in more ways than one!)...

Take advice from the experts: Stay warm and cozy, snuggle with a friend, and enjoy a little time for napping, spinning, knitting, or whatever floats your boat!

Quiche me once, then quiche me twice...

Yarn Stew

Handspun Leftovers: Yarn Stew, anyone?

For the past few years, I've been collecting random bits and bobs of my handspun yarn, throwing it in a baggie with other leftovers. Recently, I pulled the baggie out and realized my collection of handspun ends makes for a pretty combination. So, I've been thinking: Randomly striped scarf? Fingerless gloves? Hat? What do you think?

Shalimar Yarns' new bulky weight yarn--soft as butter. Mmmmm...

I do want to say "Thank you" to those of you who haven't given up on me over the past few entry-less months! In August and September, a tendonitis-type injury sidelined me. No knitting for two months? Horrors! (Just ask my husband...)

For a fiber-holic like me, not being able to knit is like giving up cigarettes. I couldn't spend time around knitters, in knitting stores, or even on Ravelry--being completely unable to join in was just too painful. So I withdrew for a while.

During the past five weeks or so, however, my shoulder, neck, elbow, and wrist began to feel a better, little by little. At first I could knit for five minutes, then 20 minutes, and finally to an hour or two (max) here and there. Believe me: Taking regular rest breaks and doing a few hand and wrist stretches makes all the difference. If you feel discomfort, pay attention! The alternative is awful.

Gorgeous Zoe Sock from Shalimar Yarns in a gorgeous clover-honey color

Since my injury began improving, I've focused on much more "original knitting" (AKA: designing), and am spending a bit of time (health permitting) writing my patterns down. Soon, I hope, they'll be available via my Etsy store, and maybe someplace else, as well ;-) Stay tuned!

Shalimar Yarns Zoe Sock in a color I think of as "Country Lane."
Warm socks (new pattern) coming soon!

Happy knitting, all! See you soon...promise :-)

Oh, and yeah: GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!

Yarn Stew

Fleece & Fiber Porn!

Tulips roving from My Favorite Thing!

Romney fleece from Sapphire Child

Wine & Orchids roving custom dyed by Three Irish Girls

Ciara roving dyed by Three Irish Girls

Simply mouthwatering.
Today, I consider myself a very, very fortunate spinner...

Fleece & Fiber Porn!

Eye Candy Friday: Fresh off the farm!

Eggs from our local farmer's market.

I don't know if anyone still does Eye-Candy Friday. But when I saw these in a bowl, waiting for Chris to scramble them, I had to snap a picture. Aren't they gorgeous?

Two of them were literally pale green (does that show up on your browser? I hope so!).

I'd love to dye up some fiber in these colors, so I could spin a luminous two-ply, worsted-weight yarn. Then I'd use it to knit myself a cozy, woolly sweater.

Happy weekend!

Eye Candy Friday: Fresh off the farm!

Handspun Yarn Porn & Arts in the Park

Today, I have some handspun yarn porn for you...

Here's the plied version of Ply Me! -- now known as Fallen Petals. When all was said and done, I ended up with 400+ yards of a light fingering weight...

After plying, I dunked the yarn in hot water, then in cold water; ran in through the salad spinner; and hung the skeins out on the laundry line to dry.

Since the yarn was not blocked, the finished product is lovely and springy, with plenty of elasticity.

In other news, Chris and I had fun at "Arts in the Park" (connected to my little town's new farmer's market) yesterday. Not too many people, but it's early in the season yet. When more produce is available, I think we'll have more customers.

(What's in that box on the left? A load of really good knitting books I am selling,
since I hardly ever knit from other people's patterns anymore. Anyone interested?)

What I did sell: The striped purse (hanging in front of the table), a pair of earrings, and these red mitts, which I designed this past winter...

Plus, I got an order for several more pair of the mitts (sorry about the photo quality here -- my camera hates red!) from the customer who bought them :-)

Handspun Yarn Porn & Arts in the Park

Summer Knitting

First things first...Welcome back! Apparently I really DO believe in blogging without obligation, huh?

The top photo is of some cute little guys I made for the Little Critter Swap, sponsored by Meghan over at Stitch It! Podcast. The pattern is from an Amigurumi book. I think it's called "Happy Eggs."

By the way, if you listen to knitting / spinning podcasts, you should give Stitch It! a listen. It's funny, touching, entertaining, and enlightening...Meghan's show is one of my favorite things ;-)

Speaking of spinning, I've been doing a little lately:
I spun this yarn -- which I'm calling Ply Me! for now -- on my Kromski Sonata. I'll give it a real name after I do some bobbin juggling and decide what kind of finished yarn I want. I'm leaning toward two-ply sock-weight. The pretty colors are courtesy of All Things Heather, purchased at KPixie.com

I've also been doing lots of knitting. I have other photos to show you, but for now, I'll just post this one...
They're Mom's "spring socks" (Carolina, Last Queen of Naples, by MonkeyToes). I made these two-at-a-time on one circular needle, using Plymouth Happy Feet yarn.

Unfortunately, I packed them for shipping before taking photos of the finished socks! So I'll have mom model them for me and send a few snaps.

Wow! The Summer Solstice has come and gone -- amazing how time flies! And speaking of come and gone, we've also had visits from my mom, my sister, and my mother- and father-in-law during the past six weeks. Every visit was thoroughly enjoyable, and thoroughly enjoyed.

Summer Knitting

Reflection

View from Enid A. Haupt Garden, Washington, DC

Wishing you a peaceful Memorial Day with your loved ones...

Potomac River, Harper's Ferry, WV

A bit of time to reflect, with gratitude...



And a few hours to enjoy your favorite quiet pursuits...



BTW: We now have some chairs in place of the high fashion ensemble pictured above ;-)

Reflection

Counting My Blessings (Instead of Sheep & Wool...)

(Photo: SXC)

I'm so excited...My mother is coming from California for a 10-day visit!

My mom is a sculptor (one of her pieces will soon appear in Sacramento's Crocker Art Museum), a published poet, and a musician, to name just a few of her artistic accomplishments. She's not your typical mom, and I like her like that!

We always have fun together and have a lot to talk about. Living so far apart, though, we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like. So this will be a wonderful, rare treat. And we get to spend Mother's Day together :-)

Something else to look forward to: My sister is coming out to D.C. on a business trip (she lives in Washington state) and is planning to spend two or three nights with us. I am looking forward to that so much! We haven't had much sisterly time together since I moved to the East Coast in 1984. Which means having actual days together is a true luxury. Yay!

(I love lilacs.)

I had to make the sad decision to skip the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival this year. With so much going on right now, we need to be careful with our money, and I can't afford to spend much on yarn and spinning fiber. So...I'm sure you understand why I'm opting out of the Festival altogether. I mean, honestly, can I expect to go there and not buy anything? That would be sheer (shear?) torture!

Sure, I'm feeling bummed about it -- that's only natural. I might even have to avoid Ravelry and many of my favorite blogs because of the glut of MDSW excitement/news/announcements/events/fun & games featured everywhere right now. But I feel confident that this is the responsible thing to do.

However...
The silver lining: Chris has that day off, so instead of spending the day digging through the barns while he eats his way through 1,000 different lamb and mutton dishes, we'll get to spend that time together. And I can't think of anything I enjoy more than that!

So I consider myself among the luckiest of women: I actually rate my husband above acres of fibery, yarny goodness ;-)

Counting My Blessings (Instead of Sheep & Wool...)

Knit*Six: Back on Blogger!!! (Plus an LYS review of Eleganza Yarns)

Photo: Christopher Six

Hello! Welcome back to Knit*Six @ Blogspot :-)

If you have any questions about why I chose to come back to Blogger, please visit on my "old" Wordpress Blog. This change will also explain why my entries are out of order now: I transferred a few back from Wordpress (by hand) and didn't do it chronologically!

I don't know. Maybe I'm just getting older and less resilient, but Blogger seems more comfortable and easy somehow, and--importantly--faster! I love to write and share photos, but I don't want to spend half a day getting my blog entries "just so." So, here I am, this time to stay.

Now, on to the meat-and-potatoes...

LYS REVIEW: Eleganza Yarns, Frederick, MD

Located in "Shab Row," a funky, upcoming little neighborhood in this historic town, Eleganza is housed in a 19th Century building with more than a little charm. The low ceilings and upstairs-downstairs layout add a bohemian appeal, and make browsing feel more like a treasure hunt than usual. Plus, there's plenty of free parking, a coffeehouse one block away, and an outside patio where non-knitting companions can chill when the weather's nice ;-)

Since we moved to this part of the world, I've visited Eleganza three or four times. Every time, I've found the staff friendly and helpful--even the owner, who invited me to join her as she opened a delivery of new yarn that arrived while I, the only customer at the time, was nearby.

Eleganza's yarn selection is lovely, and includes: Jo Sharp, Debbie Bliss, tons of Ella Rae classic, Dale of Norway, Noro, and even some locally spun/dyed yarns. You'll also find plenty of needles and gadgets, and a slew of books to tempt you if you're looking for some inspiration.

They do offer classes, which range from beginner to advanced levels, focusing on socks, sweaters, designing, spinning, etc. Perhaps best of all are the Sunday Sojourns and (new) Thursday night knitting groups. I'll definitely be checking those out soon!

I heartily recommend stopping in at Eleganza, whether you need something specific, crave a yarn fix now, or just happen to be in the area.

NEXT UP: I'll review Y2Knit, located in Funkstown, MD (and owned by one of the authors of YNotKnit: Step-by-Step Instructions for Continental Knitting and Knitting Basics).

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend...Happy knitting!

Knit*Six: Back on Blogger!!! (Plus an LYS review of Eleganza Yarns)

A Few Things About Me...

We moved this past Sunday, to a cute little cottage in a small town near the "Quad-State Region" of Maryland/Virginia/West Virginia/Pennsylvania. It was not an easy move, but with the greatly-appreciated help of some ultra-kind friends, we've got our stuff in our new home and are settling in to country life (Chris has to commute to D.C. for work, though).

So now I'm recovering from exhaustion and getting my creative mojo back! Meanwhile, here's something to pass a cloudy, chilly day (aside from unpacking boxes), which I got from Lynne...

Puttin' my feet up

A FEW THINGS ABOUT ME

Are you a yarn snob? Kind of...but not too much. I just love QUALITY, and sometimes that includes a bit of man-made something or other. Like most knitters these days, I'll pass on the novelty yarns.

Do you spin? Crochet? Yes, I do spin. I have a Kromski Sonata, which I LOVE! Now that we've moved out of the city, I want to spend more time on spinning so I can sell my handspun. Crochet? I'm not a very sophisticated crocheter, but I'm handy enough with a hook :-)

How long have you been knitting? Seven years.

What other crafts do you like to do? Sketching, painting, sewing, making stitch markers and jewelry, and I want to learn how to make paper and bind books

What are your favorite yarns to knit with? Alpaca, Pear Tree Merino (soft as cashmere!), Socks That Rock (the original kind...I love the springy feel), basically anything soft and pretty

What are your favorite needles to knit with? KnitPicks traditional 32" circulars for socks, Addi Turbos for anything else...

What's your favorite knitting gadget? My Royal ball winder and Swedish umbrella swift

What fibers do you absolutely NOT like? Cheap acrylic that squeaks and feels like it's leaving microscopic cuts in my fingers; those good old fuzzy novelty yarns; and linen (I tried Euroflax Sport, but it was not a fun experience...maybe I did something wrong?)

What are your favorite items to knit? Fingerless gloves; socks; interesting scarves; and I'm looking forward to making tops and sweaters when I can afford to buy that much yarn at one time!

What are you knitting right now? Two pairs of socks I'm designing, one hat I'm designing, a tea cozy, Leigh Radford's Tube Scarf, a hand-spun shawl, and I'm almost done with a pair of "Fetching" gloves made of Pear Tree Merino

What do you think about ponchos? I don't know if I'd wear one outside the house, but I think they'd be comfy for lounging around knitting in front of the telly!

Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Definitely circular

Are you a sock knitter? Oh, yes! I really enjoy knitting cuff down, but I'm pushing myself to add other sock-knitting techniques to my arsenal ;-)

How did you learn to knit? Wish I had a cozy story about my grandma teaching me, but honestly, I'm entirely self-taught (I originally learned with a Leisure Arts booklet, a pair of US#10 aluminum straight needles, and a skein of Pepto-Bismol pink Red Heart acrylic yarn from JoAnn Fabrics

What is--and how old is--your oldest UFO (unfinished Object)? It's that damn Tube Scarf from AlterKnits...I mean, really! Six feet of stockinette in the round with lace-weight yarn? Yawn. But I'm determined to finish it. I keep wondering if I should put all other projects aside and just push through it, since I love the finished scarf (and so do other knitters who've finished theirs!)

Well...unpacking, laundry, and other fun awaits me.

Happy Knitting!

A Few Things About Me...

Crochet: Inspiring Option or Distracting Dream?

Oh, the siren call of the Ripple Blanket...

OK, let me first state for the record that I am not One of Those Knitters. You know who I'm talking about...the nearly-militant anti-crochet zealots. Not large in number, but they're out there.

Nope, that's not me. In fact, the "problem" I'm dealing with lately feels like a sort of fiber-arts-related ADD--You'll note, I'm sure, the complete absence of "H," or hyperactivity ;-)

I adore knitting. And spinning. I've always liked to sew, and can spend hours in fabric stores. But lately, I've been finding myself attracted to crochet...Odd, since I've never been "a crocheter" in my life. Or maybe that's the point.

Who, after all, doesn't like a challenge. And with so many mouth-watering crochet books coming out, how can anyone resist? Books like this one, my new favorite (it has an adorable "breakfast set" pattern, complete with a retro tea cozy chocolate/robin's egg blue):



And this lovely collection of delights:



And this--complete with intriguing designer interviews:


See what I mean? Oh, what's a person to do with only 24 hours in a day?

To be honest, I count myself as fortunate, having a bit more "unscheduled" time than most people I know. So the solution to my little quandry is the ever-so-simple-and-yet-so-difficult task of moving beyond the dreaming and planning stage to the learning, practicing, and executing stage. I might find I love crocheting, or---horrors!---I might find I'm not very good at it.

Oh, well. I guess that's why it's so much fun to just page through books like these and dream of all the things you could make. Don't you agree?


Until next time...Think warm thoughts, and happy knitting (or crocheting)!

Crochet: Inspiring Option or Distracting Dream?

Back to Tahoe

This weekend I got back in the mood to work on my Tahoe cardigan...
The sweater's back and right front are complete, and I cast on last night for the left front. After this, it's just sleeves and finishing--and I'm going to make a few changes at this point. First, the sleeves will be knit from top down, circularly. Seaming is OK, but not my favorite way to spend an evening.

Also, instead of the turned under picot edges knit with Koigu, I may knit or crochet a less bulky alternative. Sundara's Bittersweet remains my yarn of choice for the edging...the colors just work so well with my mauvey-violet Heirloom Breeze from OzeYarn (a GREAT and affordable site to order from, no matter where you live!).

I haven't used my spinning wheel or wrote about spinning in a while, so I thought I'd show you my latest. Actually, I spun this hank in February or March (I don't remember!), and then it sat...and sat...and sat on the spool. But this weekend my yarn was liberated! I wound it onto the two-yard niddy-noddy and set the spin by soaking and hanging to dry.

I am very pleased with this, as I'm still a beginner and am totally self-taught. What you're looking at is a 300-yard skein of sport-weight yarn spun from Finn top.

Best of all, to a newbie like me, is that I managed to spin a soft yarn that doesn't twist back on itself or kink up...This was my goal. I tried really hard not to overspin, but to spin enough so it won't fall to pieces when knitted.

So...what's this yarn's destiny? Well, last fall I began a VERY simple shawl for my husband's grandma--who's been like a grandma to me, too. She's so sweet and smart and beautiful. I really do love her. Unfortunately, she has Parkinson's disease and is in a nursing home in Pennsylvania, so we don't see her too often :-(

Anyway, I knew I'd run out of yarn in the midst of the shawl, and when I did I had the wonderful luxury of sitting down at my Kromski Sonata (Yay!!! Love it!!!) and spinning up the rest of the Finn so I can complete the project. The first batch of yarn I used was spun when I was even more of a beginner, so it's a bit slubby. This yarn is much, much nicer. But I know that grandma will love it all the same...perhaps even more...because it's made from scratch, just for her.

I know some of you are spinners, too. Tell me, what kind of wheels do you use? What fibers do you like to spin? I'd LOVE to see some of your yarn! Nothing's more exciting than making something from yarn and needles EXCEPT making something from a pile of hair that you spin yourself, then knit or crochet into a lovely piece that comes from the heart.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! Cheers!

Back to Tahoe

Not About the Socks

Remember these socks?

No? Well, if you're interested, you can look here. If not, don't worry...this isn't about the (warm, cozy, comfy) socks. It's about that lovely Corriedale roving.

Oh, those colors! They were like Italian water ice and gelato. Raspberry, blueberry, grape...Transluscent, saturated colors. I dyed the top/roving with Karida. It was our first hand-dyed roving experiment last fall. (She founded Neighborhood Fiber Company last year.)

Karida let me keep her Louet S10 at my place--a studio apartment...my husband's so nice. (Well, with his trombone and trumpet taking up space, there wasn't much he could say, right? But he's still the nicest person ever.) So the S10 and I made friends while I practiced with some coarse Finn top they sent to me.

(Like my chaotic fiber workshop/breakfast nook? I'm happy to say that the boxes are finally gone and our mirror is on the wall.)

I'd never spun before, so it took a few tries to get it right, but my drop spindle experience really paid off.

(Check it out: We have a Murphy bed in that cabinet!)

Not that my first attempts at wheel spinning felt easy, mind you--the speed was challenging. It made sense, though: I looked at the wheel and thought, "OK, there's the hook, there's the place that acts like the drop spindle shaft (the bobbin), that's the part that puts the twist in the yarn..." You get the point. It just made sense to my brain.

After spinning the Finn for a while I started getting a consistent, DK weight singles yarn. So I took a deep breath and switched to my beloved roving. I was afraid of "wasting it," of spinning yarn the color of mud, the thickness of a pencil (I don't care for bulky yarns), of breaking or overtwisting it into a useless ball of crap. But I didn't.

Ta da!

Now, this all took place last fall. What a great learning experience! Books like the Twisted Sisters' Sock Workbook and Deb Menz's excellent Color in Spinning were invaluable. Because you can't just grab a bunch of roving and spin! Oh, no, no, no. You have to prepare the roving: separate it into thinner strands, roll them into sweet little nests of fluff, and plan out how you want to use the colors. I tried the one-color-at-a-time method for a while, but wanted more colorplay. So I changed my plan and created a yarn with candy-stick color twists.

Oh, lovely yarn! Why did I abandon you for so long??? It took me weeks to get around to my decision to not ply--it homogenized the colors--and then to set the twist. Finally, washed and dried, my yarn was ready to wind on the niddy-noddy. The final product? Three bouncy, springy skeins (about 500 yards total) of gorgeous singles DK yarn.

Knitted up (I swatched it yesterday...nothing seems to happen quickly around here!), the yarn was drapey, with a subtle glossiness and long color changes.

Now...I just have to decide what to make with it. Entrelac? Maybe a smaller version of the Lady Eleanor Stole (from Wrap Style)? If you're out there lurking, help me out! Suggestions are welcome...

Not About the Socks