Found it!

I finally located that little sample skein that I spun using all the tricks that everyone was so nice to pass along last week when I was in complete dismay.
Here are some photos that clearly show the before and after. I am so happy to have finally reached some understanding about how spinning thin works. Now to figure out what to do with all that chubby Merino.

Eureka?

This tangled mess is what happened after I started listening to people who know how to spin lace weight yarn. Everyone has been so kind in helping me work through my issues with learning to spin thin. Fear and laziness seem to be the two things that were holding me back: fear of spinning really, really thin and plying really, really tight and being too lazy to make samples before just jumping into large projects without having any real control over the materials. It seems that a tangled mess is what you are looking for in order to have enough twist. Who knew? You can see the difference in what I thought was lace weight and what is getting closer than I thought was possible.











My little sample skein dried so nice and straight and thin just like everyone said it would. I am going to knit up a little sample with it as soon as I find it. It seems to have gotten lost in all the September fiber frenzy. I am sure it is here somewhere.

My Own Box of Phiber Phun

This time last week I was weeping hysterically (seriously) over my defeated efforts to get a September Phat Fiber box over on Etsy. After I came to my senses I realized I could just go and make up my own box. Instead of waiting anxiously for just ONE box of fiber fun, I could get boxes of fluffy fun all week. So I did. Much to the mail lady and the Mister's dismay, I received lots and lots and lots of boxes and bags stuffed full of some rather stinky goodness. Voila:











I even got more than I bargained for because most vendors included samples of things I just have to have. Like this little Moonbeam jewel from Moonwood Farms.











Here are the adorable little Red Hot Cinnamon batts the sample came with. The only thing wrong with them is that I didn't card them myself. They are exqusite.











For a measly $3.00 I got a large bag of silk hankie remnants from Bohemian Fibers in breathtaking colors.











From one of my favorite Etsy shops I got two bags of raw fleece in these gorgeous natural colors. One is merino and the other is Rambouillet X. Both are spectacular.










I also bought a huge box of some Cormo roving that is like sticking your hand in a cloud and a raw shetland fleece that is going to be lace someday whether it wants to or not. I suppose I have to thank Phat Fiber for indirectly giving me a another month of fiber frenzy but I swear, next month and I really mean it-that damn "secret" October email is getting deleted. Right in the trash. Cross my heart and hope to dye.

Oh No I Didn't...

Oh yes I did.
After a long snooze, the Thermal Socks were brought out of hibernation one lovely, cool Saturday morning. While enjoy all that early morning calm on the deck, I managed to pick up the wrong yarn end and create conjoined twins on the very first row. This pattern is no fun to undo but I am getting so used to it that the tinking back feels better than the actual knitting.

Not At All What I Intended

I thought I was doing a really good job spinning a lace weight yarn out of my Party in a Bag Merino but after plying it, it puffed up into at least a sport weight, at least-maybe it's even DK. Ouch. My tiny Golding spindle made some lovely thin singles (I thought) which now are all fluffy and puffy. I had wanted a light springtime shawl for a-wearin' to this year's MD S and W in May-not another mid winter stadium blanket. I am so bummed.
Must. Do. More. Research. On. How. To. Spin. Lace. Must.

I'm No Quitter

After my enormous weaving disaster a few weeks ago, you'd think that the loom would be out in the trash. I'm a bit calmer now and trying to figure out what went wrong with the tension of the Harvest Wrap that went so horribly wrong. I started by taking myself to Walmart-yes, I said Walmart and buying a cart full of clearance yarn that felt stiff to my fingers. I won't mention any brands because I can't imagine how awful it would be to find my name on a skein of yarn that couldn't even be sold at Walmart prices. Semi-celebs who lend their name to yarn companies get my total admiration for even admitting they pick up the needles now and again, so who I am to poke fun. Using this cheaper yarn made warping easier and substituting a giant roll of felt for the paper on the back roller is keeping everything tight and in its right place. I am not breathing a sigh of relief just yet but I am starting to get my hopes up.

Weekend Update

Sunday was a fun day.















I don't really need many words to explain why.












Merino. Fire. Coffee. Need I say more?