Hi Knitters,The Knit Girllls are having a spinalong/knitalong on their Ravelry group that I joined. Cloudlover Yarns is the maker of the roving or yarn that was sent out to the knitters joining in. I love her stuff so much. This colorway is called the Haunted Vineyard. What a great colorway name. To join in you could either get the yarn or the roving to spin. Then The Knit Girllls pick a wide range of projects that you can make for the knitting of the Cloudlover yarn or roving.
The roving was so beautiful and I really wanted to try a different spinning technique this time. I ran across this post by Jillian on the Knitty Blog about a technique called the double marl. I ended up doing the double marl spinning technique on my Haunted Vineyard roving.
Along with this new technique I wanted to try to spin a bulkier yarn. I switched the whorl on my wheel to the largest size to create a heavier weight yarn. I was so pleased with the results. The double marl distributed the colors in a fantastic and interesting way and the roving was easy to prepare before spinning. Plus, it took such a small amount of time to spin up 4 ounces of fiber. Sometimes you need a quick project and this was it. I had just finished up spinning 8 ounces of fingering weight which took forever. I will share information later on this.
In the end, I got 130 yards of a yummy, squishy, chunky weight yarn. One of the patterns for the knitalong is the Thorpe hat by Kirsten Kapur (one of my favorite designers) and it happens to be free AND it happens to require 130 yards of a chunky weight yarn. How could anything work out better than that? It couldn't. I can't wait to cast on. I have all of December and January and February to complete the Thorpe hat and still be within the guidelines for the knitalong. I can easily make that.
(photo by Cloudlover)Here is what the roving looked like before spinning. Isn't it so gorgeous? Cloudlover has yummy yarns and tons of other roving choices and a fiber or yarn club. Be sure to check it all out. You will love it.
One more time:
Click here for The Knit Girllls! If you aren't watching this video podcast you should. You will be inspired.
Have a good Friday, Knitters. Into the weekend we go...
best, susie
I love Cloudlover too - I actually have several braids of her fiber waiting to be spun up. Thanks for sharing the link to the double marl technique - it's one I'll definitely be trying out!
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteI gasped when I saw your blog post today because I'm currently working with Cloudlover to carry her beautiful braids at my shop, Firefly Fibers in Beaver Dam, WI!
Your bulky Haunted Vineyard is just beautiful and I can't wait to see it knit up! Natalie's color technique is amazing and an absolute joy to spin! Thanks so much for sharing!
Alisa
Wow! I love your new blog "header!" Who took the picture? The double marl technique is pretty cool, isn't it? I haven't done it very often but now that you've reminded me, I think I have just the braid for spinning! Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteLove the new new picture of you on the top of your blog! Hope you keep it there.
ReplyDeleteLove the new picture of you at the top of your blog! Wish I looked good in hats. You look adorable.
ReplyDeleteThe yarn is gorgeous, but I, too, love your new header!! The photo and you are beautiful! (I really liked your old header, but this one is really special!)
ReplyDeleteSusan, I love your new blog photo! that hat is scrumptious! I searched your project page on ravelry, but couldn't find it. Did you use Sweater?
ReplyDeleteI just had to mention how gorgeous that new header is! You look terrific, as does the entire thing. And I too would love to know the hat pattern and yarn you used.
ReplyDelete