Handspun Plans

Isn't it nice to have a little garden full of growing veggies to use as props and blog fodder?

Here is the latest yarn Charlotte and I created. I am very proud of it. This is the Roses for You Targhee. I felt really good while spinning it and I think that the fun I had spinning it is reflected well in the finished product. It's a little overspun but not too bad. I plied this using a slightly different method. I turned it into a yarn cake first and pulled from the inside and the outside at the same time. I think I read somewhere that I should have taken one more step and rewound the yarn cake so that it the yarn cake itself was doubled. I'll try that next time. The way that I did it was a little tangley at points but the end result was worth it - 100% of the singles got plied.

I suppose that the natural next question is - what will you do with it? Until now, I've just been spinning away with little though as to what I'd do with the finished yarn. That has a lot to do with low expectations for the yarn I produced. As I get better at it, I find that I want to create with it. The yarn above turned out to be about 216 yards and I've decided to make fingerless gloves for the Drama Queen from it. I just need to choose a pattern and get to work. I'll do it right after I finish the first item made from my handspun. It's on the needles right now and nearly complete.

I know that DQ will appreciate the handspun properly. She just loves the hand knits and I shocked her this weekend by letting her wear one of mine. Seraphim! She was going to Saturday services at the synagogue in a blue dress that looks fatastic on her and I noticed one of her ratty old hoodies over her arm. I could not let her wear it and spoil the look so I offered to let her borrow Seraphim. She was shocked and thrilled! I may have said something to her on the way out about not returning home if she damaged my new shawl but, not to worry - she brought it home looking just as perfect as when it left. She was so proud that she was allowed to wear it that it gave me an idea about what to do with some of my other handspun. Hmmm....

Speaking of mommy pride... I have a picture that I am just dying to show you all but I've been sworn to secrecy. This coming weekend is going to be super busy and exciting around my house because my sister will be here with my niece and nephew. As if that wasn't enough - my brother and his wife will be here too! Over the long weekend we'll celebrate all of the May birthdays - Stinkerbelle, my sister and my brother. One of my daughters has big plans to unveil a new look but she wants to surprise the family so I can't post pictures yet. It's a radical change and I'm dying to show you but I promised so my lips are sealed for now.