The sewing room was buzzing with activity this week but I finished nothing.I was listening to audio books while:knitting two pair of socks - I'm on the second of each pairspinning up some roving - just over half finished with that ball of rovingmaking little stars - I have about a hundred of them so far!helping P with a commissioned sewing project - we're 3/4 the way finishedI enjoyed listening to Jim Dale read the entire Harry Potter series so much last fall that I am listening to it again. I have heard the first three books but the fourth was not at the library when I went so I had to find something else.Earlier this week I heard The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman read by the author and am currently listening to Year of Wonders A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks also read by the author. I love listening to Geraldine's voice.Do you like to listen to audio books? If so, which books have you enjoyed?
Spinning out of Control
One morning last week a friend who raises llamas came over for a spinning lesson. She had a GINORMOUS bag of llama fluff to play with and said she had several more at home. She even has baby llama fluff! She offered to give me some but I declined until I have spun the rovings that I have already.I pulled out one of my big balls of roving and gave her a demonstration. We played for a while but I just couldn't stop when she left.
I spun all of this Border Leceister, kid mohair blend and ended up with five hanks of yarn. Here are two. I don't know how many yards this is.
I'm working on another ball of fluff now.
In doing this recent spinning, I have learned several things:1. I want a wheel that allows for larger bobbins.2. I should spin roving when I get it. Letting it sit around for 5-10 years allows for them to it mushed and start to felt. This roving has required more preparation before spinning that it would have if I had spun it right away.3. I am easily diverted from one project to another.4. Spinning in a room with a running ceiling fan gets little, tiny bits of fluff EVERYWHERE.
Handspun Handknit
This little doll sweater was knit as a sample for Chris's Blue Faced Leicester roving. It was a real pleasure to spin this fiber and the yarn turned out very soft. I split the roving lengthwise into fourths before spinning. This is what it looked like before I started.
P loves this sweater. The pattern is for an 18 inch American Girls style doll but she was thrilled when we discovered that it also fits her doll. She has seen me knit two of these sweaters that were not for her. Both sweaters have been mailed away.
I am sure you can guess what I did last night.
I spun some yarn for a sweater for little miss Petunia's doll.
I don't know when I'll get that next sweater knit.
A mother's work is never done.
