Woolgathering

A very nice and incredibly generous person is sending me a present to help feed my new wheel (I need a name for the Trad, what shall it be?) As a new spinner, I have only played with raw fleece as yet. I am really looking forward to trying out the roving that is coming. I have this weird idea that spinning with roving will be a doddle by comparison. We shall see. I still think it may turn out that I am not naturally adept at this craft and once I try roving, on a brand new wheel… well, I shall have run out of excuses for being bad at this

Anyway - I do love the natural fibre and its many shades, but it will be nice to see some zingy colour on my wheel as a change.

And, speaking of colour, I have been looking at a pattern for an Afghan in Kureyon.  It’s way off my affordability scale, as a blanket but, oh - the ideas that it threw up!

Sadly, this is one yarn that isn’t ridiculously cheap in the States, compared to here - so I can’t try that route. So I am thinking, “ahh…single skein panels as wall art!” Then I am thinking… “Hmmm, felted wall art…” and from there, I am thinking “I can do this with handspun too!” Probably not the full Afghan, but certainly some wall hangings - given time and a more adept hand on the wheel.  This would in fact be a great use for all those Shetland colours that J gave me. I have a very flat black, a grey flecked charcoal black, a chocolaty brown, a gingernut, and a honey type shade. Can you see it yet? But why stop at Shetland? Why not mix the brands and add in some Jacob or some generic white? I could get a Jumbo Flyer and make some gnarly stuff for extra texture… (woah, girl!)

Here’s the pattern. And, if I ever come into large funds, 21 skeins of Kureyon will be the very first thing on my list! Isn’t it just a gorgeous thing? I covet. I really do.

On another subject entirely - do you think I could get away with turning that 4ply Rowan Cashsoft (that mix is not what it says on my ball bands, I am sure) into socks? Will the microfibre content add sufficient durability to the cashmere/merino? It’s such a pretty colour and the ideal vehicle for some lacy patterns that I have my eye on.

I think I detect Incipient Second Sock Syndrome. I haven’t grafted my last toe yet, let alone cast on the other half of the pair. I keep looking at my stash and wanting to knit something different. Maybe I have Early Warning Sock Fatigue already? 

My silk from Hipknits hasn’t come yet. I am so disappointed. There was a soft package this morning that turned out to be addressed to ‘im indoors and contained just a pair of garage overalls. Pooh! I really want to start that Clapotis!! Why has the Post Office got it in for me?

I’m off to peruse the Yarn Yard and see if there’s anything there that I can do the damn scarf with. Though I’m horribly overdrawn, but I cannot stand the waiting. I want to knit a big flamboyant, wavy drapy, exotic extravaganza of a Clapotis and I want to do it NOW! I’ve been carrying my 5mm needles around with me for what feels like weeks, ready to cast on.