Monday, September 17, 2012

Mara Shawl...Almost finished

My Mara shawl is completely knitted but not yet blocked. I have two versions to block..my first one which was my trial version and this one... I think the Spindling has been slowing down my knitting... But it is all so much fun.

 

 

 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

First Yarn spun on spindle

 
Well I have been busy watching videos and playing with wool roving. Some roving I bought at a farmers market and some I bought online. The blue is merino and the orange is Corriedale. They were both nice. The Corriedale roving was really soft and fluffy..but when I washed it it got a little fuzzier but the merino stayed softer. Here is a picture of my first yarn... It has all kinds of lumps. But the texture knits up really nicely...
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
I really recommend trying spinning with a spindle. With a wooden dowel, a wooden disk from hobby lobby, a hook, and a drill ..you can make a spindle for less than 5 dollars. You can make a lazy Kate out of a big shoe box and some long knitting needles. And you can make a great niddy noddy with PVC for about 5 dollars.

Here is a picture of my 3 spindles. The one on the far right is a louet and it is nice but over priced. The middle one is one made from hobby lobby materials and actually faster than the louet spindle. The one on the left is just made from a dowel and a square of scrap wood. Since I am just starting I am using park and draft method... So why not have a spindle that won't roll around when I park it.

Here is a picture of my PVC niddy noddy.

 

 

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Mara Shawl Pattern and spindling

I am still progressing on the mara shawl pattern.   Right now I am working on the 2by2 ribbed edging.   This part will probably take me at least 10 hours to do.

 I am also trying to learn to spindle.   I am using the craftsy online course and have an instructor.   So far with my instructor I have learned to make rolags using cards, we have just started using a hook to spindle the rolags.   I have a bit of a hard time drafting consistently.   I ordered my spindle for the craftsy course.  I hope it comes in the next week because I am really excited to try that.  Learning to spin with a spindle is a lot cheaper than buying a spinning wheel.  I am not sure but I imagine one of the hardest things for beginners is learning to draft well.     I will post a few pictures of my poorly made yarn bits with the hook.   You have to start somewhere.

I find that when I card the wool to make it into rolags... if I do it for too long it really bothers my allergies.   Yesterday my eyes were itching, I was sneezing.   I have knitted with tons of wool yarn and worn wool clothing without a problem.. so I am a little surprised by this.