the beginning.

Three mini-hanks of chocolate-covered cherries BFL. My very first handmade yarn!

Mystery delicious fiber (the color combo is so unusual, and so beautiful). Spun up at a cafe during my lunch break.

To my inexperienced eye, I did the best job with this little hanklette. Julia's spindle (on loan; she's a generous friend... who is also getting me - and my budget - back for all the fabric links I've been sending her way since she got a sewing machine!) with some merino-in-progress in the background.  I'm trying to spin the rest of the merino a little thinner than my other wee hanks; we'll see how that turns out.

Just a quick note:  have you seen Bonne Marie's newest design, Ariann?  I really, really like that sweater!  I'm thinking a great big knit-along is on the horizon...

Comments

[Julia]

Looking good! It will be hard to really tell what it's going to look like before the yarn is washed and set, however. Right off the spindle, the twist kind of moves around and goes into curlicues - as you know!

The mystery fiber is from Capistrano Fiber Arts Studio and is a merino/angora/silk blend. I got it in Torrance at the Southern California Handweaver's Guild Spinning and Weaving Festival last year. This year the Festival is on November 5 - mark your calendar!

[Nonnahs]

Hooray!! Your mini hanks are too cute for words. That chocolate covered cherries colorway is one of my favorites. I may have to get my hands on some when I learn to spin. That's right, I said it! ;)

[Leah]

Looking really good Mary Heather! I've always liked the Chocolate Covered Cherries! So pretty.

And I have already purchased and downloaded the new B-Marie pattern. So cute!

[Sheila]

You know what my husband said when he bought me a Lendrum spinning wheel for our 5th anniversary (5th is wood!),"The problem with spinning is that it gets in the way of knitting!" He's right--I have hardly spun for ages, even though I was so into it, loving the idea of starting with the fleece and moving to finished product--all without modern production stuff. Yes, Marnie's husband, those of us who think like this are legion! :-D (Keep in mind that I was never a good spinner.) If you figure out how to get by on less sleep, please, please let me know. I'm not planning on giving away the twins, and I need my full-time job--I carry the benefits-, but the best knitting time that I can find right now is at 5:30 a.m., which was my gym time until now. I'm getting desperate for some progress on my projects. I swear, I need another Knitting Olympics to get me jump-started. Now, when I have a few minutes to myself and I get interrupted, I think, "That person just cut into my fiber time!" :-O

Any more sock monkeys in the works? How's the desiging coming? Will you give us a peek before publication?

Cheers!

Sheila in Boston
P.S. After seeing your spindle, I keep thinking about dragging mine out again, but I am still finishing those 3 paris of socks!

[Jessica]

Pretty pretty! I love your little skeins. What nice colors of stuff you have to play with--all I had to learn on was boring white! Colors are way more fun.

[Marnie]

Your spinning is looking amazing! I have no doubt that you'll be cranking out hanks you want to knit, in no time. And spindles are just wonderful little pieces of art. I can't wait to see what you end up picking out for yourself.

[andrea]

you've been busy! ;) mutual corruption is a good thing - i just got two little crewel kits in the mail. hurrah!

[Jenna]

Another convert! I just started spinning a week ago and it's all I can think about. Your mini-skeins are fab.