Roving Ramblings
When I’ve not been following the train wrecks taking place in the forums on Ravelry, I’ve been spinning up some of the bags and bags of roving that are stored throughout my house. But, it’s been slow going since I’m not the world’s fastest spinner; I tend to be a bit . . . well . . . meticulous.
First up is a skein of single-ply yarn I spun from a merino batt I bought at Copperpot Woolies. I really wish you could reach your hand into the monitor and feel it because it’s unbelievable soft.
It weighs a little under 100 grams and I’d call it light-fingering weight.
I think I’ll use it to make either a Forest Canopy Shawl or the wrap I’m designing for the Wooly Wonka lace club.
The single-ply was a nice break after the yarn I spun the weekend before:
This is 400 yards of 3-ply that I spun from some Coopworth roving that Margene gave me for my birthday last August. I believe it was dyed with madder and cochineal.
The finished hank weighs about 6 ounces. The fibers were a bit rough to spin but I set the twist by soaking it in some really hot, soapy water and it softened up considerably. There was also a huge amount of excess dye that bled out of the finished yarn. Enough that it changed the color of the yarn ever so slightly.
Two bags down, thirty-something more to go.
View blog reactions
25 comments Susan | spinning
Your single ply is so soft and beautiful. It will make a very nice shawl! The three ply is amazing. Meticulous? Amazingly so.
What beautiful yarn you made! And I love the colors.
Great yarn! You don’t want to know how long since I’ve sat at a spinning wheel. So long, in fact, that the Sonata is on its way to a new home! What “train wrecks”? I know there has been some major Judith-bashing on one of the spinning groups…hope this isn’t getting like Knitter’s Review!
Oh man – look how beautiful and even. Wish I could spin a bit more. Silly work day getting in the way of my fun time.
Lovely spinning. Fill me in on Ravelry trainwreck please. I never know anything!
Pretty!
Your handspun yarn is so beautiful! I spend a lot of time on Ravelry, too, but I try to avoid reading the controversial forums. (I just don’t want to get sucked in. I wouldn’t want to pollute your comments with any of that stuff, either.) I spend a lot of time looking at people’s projects and reading about yarn. I admit, it has cut into my knitting time too much!
Ooo, such beautiful yarn!
I know — I’m knee deep in roving too!
Your handspun yarn is so beautiful! I spend a lot of time on Ravelry, too, but I try to avoid the trainwrecks. (I will admit to reading more than I should, though.) I try to spend most of my Ravelry time looking at projects and reading about yarns. It has really cut into my knitting time, though!
I’m sad to hear that there have been trainwrecks at Ravelry. I make it a point to carefully avoid those, since I tend to get sucked in, and really invest time and energy into trying to “help”. I’d love to hear a synopsis, though. ;o)
And that is lovely handspun. We’re moving, and my poor, malfunctioning wheels are going to be finding new homes. Hopefully I’ll get to learn to spin in a few years. Keep it up, though. I love to see what you’ve made!
Oh, that Copperpot skein–! It is splendid, and I don’t just mean the color. I despair of ever making such a beautifully even singles.
Your yarn is lovely!
And why don’t our computers come with tactile capability? Sort of like the Pat-the-Bunny books. That and scratch and sniff, and we’d be all set.
I just found your blog today when I heard about the MagKnits take-down over on Ravelry. I was so disappointed because I had bookmarked your Lombard Street socks but hadn’t printed off the pattern. Is there any chance you’ll be posting it here like the Horcrux socks? They’re another pair I intend to knit, but they’re already on my hard drive! I love your work!
Don’t you just love ticking things off? When do you think you’ll be down to “one to go?” Heh.
No Ravelry for me. I have enough drama in my own life, I can leave that stuff to the people that seemingly don’t have enough to do in their own.
Well, being meticulous clearly pays off. Amazingly beautiful yarns, Susan!
I’m so glad I’m not a Raveler. I don’t need any more drama in my life, thankyouverymuch.
OH MY..what pretty yarn you’ve made..it’s just totally beautiful!..What an art!
Hi I have to say I am really impressed at your spinning! my babe wheel isnt up for that lol I wish it was. . . . Awesome spinning And Lovely knitting in other posts I am glad I found your blog ravelry is annoying me a bit too I hate that magknits is out! Have a nice day
-Johnathon
p.s. i wish I had bags and bags of roving laying around haha
Your single ply yarn is such a scrumptious colorway…one of my favorites!
There must be some real drama going on right over my head in ravelry as this is the 2nd mention of it. Call me clueless in NH….and clearly better off for it..LOL
You say “meticulous” like it’s a bad thing……
I can’t decide which I love the most, the first one, or the madder/cochineal Coopworth; glad to hear that one softened up from the hot wash. I have been very neglectful of my spinning, and your post has really taken me to task! I don’t have 30 bags, but I do have an entire and wonderful fleece to tackle as well as another pound or two of interesting fibers… though they will have to wait several weeks yet. You see, I have a lot of lace to knit so I will be ready when your lace club design arrives:)
Stephanie (Wooly Daisy) just finished a Forest Canopy shawl in a DK/worsted weight and the most lovely soft medium green… I will send a link when she posts about it.
Beautiful Handspun!!!
I’d comment, but I’ve fainted dead away at the sight of all this beautiful handspun…
i’m petting the monitor anyway.
you say meticulous—I say (never mind)
Ravelry trainwrecks? I say bring ‘em on. I LOVE drama. I don’t get nearly enough IRL.