What to do with rainbow yarn?

So I decided that the best way to use rainbow yarn was to make a hat for my beautiful new granddaughter. She is as bright as a rainbow and more beautiful. I looked around for a hood pattern so that I could knit the hat and the scarf together. These things are helpful for a small child. I found this hood pattern at Petite purls It worked pretty well, and though it looked big, I think it will work for her.



I also decided to make mittens to match, and to make the mittens match and not be different colors from each other.

I think it turned out rather well, but the proof is whether it looks good on her and if she likes it.









I think the hood was a hit. My daugher says that she carried it around all day and kept rubbing it on her face. It was made of merino and angora yarn that I spun for her especially and I think it turned out soft enough. And the mittens fit!

Rainbow yarn

I have been spinning for sock yarn and also for color. I had some beautiful angora/merino blend wool that was given to me by a friend. I separated the colors from the batt and spun them into a thin single. Then I did a navaho ply to keep the color clean. It is beautiful yarn and I will probably make something for my beautiful granddaughter with it.


Apparently she likes to wear accessories so I will make her some out of it. My daughter told me that she wears stuff as a scarf so I guess I need to make her some scarfs.

I have also been spinning white merino for sock yarn and knitting socks for myself, two at a time, toe up. I like the toe up method pretty well and the book, Toe ups Socks for Every Body. I have made two projects out of the book and now I'm making socks for my sweet DH.

I still haven't finished the purple sweater but I will as soon as it is under 100 degrees here in Arizona. Then I'll take a picture and post it.

Socks Galore

I have almost finished the purple mohair sweater but it has been so hot here in Phoenix that I could not stand to try it on. I think it will look nice, or I hope so. I don't seem to always choose good patterns for me. I will finish it and post a picture.

Lately, I've been crazy over sock from the toe up. I got a new book and did one pair, and am starting another pair. I have pictures on my phone and will send also. Made with stash yarn in a merino/bamboo combination. I'm looking for patterns to knit things for my baby granddaughter right now also. She just turned 1 and is cute as a button. Since she lives in cold Illinois, I will be sending her things to keep her snuggly warm.

I have not gotten stuff off to the fiber mill. I've been carding mohair myself and thinking of blending it with my lovely soft merino. Spinning for socks, and the granddaughter and a civil war shawl have been on my mind. I've started the shawl but need to produce some more yarn. I blended black merino and jacob for a very dark brown single and left it natural colored. I'm knitting it for a friend's mom who re-enacts. It's the Prairie shawl from Folk shawls. It's simple and pretty. Again, more pics soon. And today is my 4 month anniversary. Still on the honeymoon as far as we are concerned. It's been wonderful.

Anniversary

These are the flowers that my husband got me for our 1 month anniversary. They opened up fully and are so beautiful.

I am translating a pattern from Finnish to English because I want to use it for my purple handspun. It is a wrap sweater with lace. Very pretty and simple. I like wrap tops. I will put it on Ravelry when I get it right.

Navaho plying

I got an idea to try some navaho plying. When I first was learning to spin, I tried it and didn't like the result much. But now, it seems a bit easier to get a smooth more consistent result. It's still a little inconsistent but even regular plying makes a yarn that is a bit softer in spots. I think it would make good sock yarn, being a three ply. I might have to try some like that and see. I would have to spin very fine and then ply it. I saw someone else's navaho plied yarn made from a hand painted roving. I like the way the colors stayed together with not so much barber poling. So I figured I'd need to give it a shot. I will have to practice how much twist to put into the plying to keep it fairly balanced. My first attempt seemed a bit overspun but that is easily fixed. The other challenge will be making enough singles to do a good size skein of a three ply yarn.

I also decided to send some of my raw fiber to a mill to help with processing. I just don't have the time to process it all myself. I spent about 3 hours Sunday carding some mohair and got two small 2 oz batts for my efforts. That convinced me that it will be better to spend my time spinning and dyeing, and leave the carding to an expert. I can still dye it and blend it into multi colored batts if I want or hand paint the roving.

I have finally started putting my yarn up on Etsy too. So that is new for me. Not sure if I'll sell any, but I can give it a try.

Spinning again

I am finally getting some time to spin now since the wedding is over. Here are some of my latest yarns. I am so into color and texture, as I suppose all fiber artists are. I have been spinning soft merino and merino blended with seacell, doing some singles and some coiled yarns.

For my wedding

I just finished these Bo Peep fingerless gloves to wear at my wedding. I spun a silk single and then knit them up. I put the keyhole on the palm but it looks OK.

Now to see if they look good with the dress.

Hat for my new granddaughter

I spun yarn and knit a hat for my new granddaughter Khloe as per my daughter's request. I actually used elastic yarn for the ribbing on the hat by spinning wool around elastic thread. Kathy taught me how to do it. It helps keep the hat snug. The baby is way more adorable than the hat. But I liked how it turned out.

Crystal's slouch Hat

I made a slouch hat for my daughter Crystal. I first spun merino wool and black angora wool about 50/50 blend in a bulky yarn. Then I knit it up for her. She told me she needed to improve my fiber to people ratio. LOL! She is so thoughtful that way. (and so right!) I have more fiber than I can spin in 2 lifetimes!