The SnB grrls met Saturday afternoon to swap knitting related 'stuff', bitch, drink tea, eat and knit (and/or spin) at the Beehive Tea Room. No hats were worn, but a lovely time was had by all! Laurie worked on her fabulous Wool Peddler's Shawl and Mim and I spun. Mim is a natural spinner! She's already making lace weight yarn.
The afternoon was productive and I ended up filling a second spindle with the beautiful blue merino. Sunday afternoon I was able to ply it and, once again, surprised myself by creating a nicely balanced skein. The new skein is just a bit finer than the first, but it's also around 300 yds and there is still enough fiber left to spin about 100 more yds (perhaps more). 400 yds will make a nice scarf or shawl and I'm so pleased to be able to make something wearable from my handspun. Is this how you show off handspun. How does it look? This project may not be as fabulous and showy as Cara's Seraphim (which is a to LIVE for shawl!) but, I am very, very happy with this beautiful yarn.
I also came home with two treasures, for which I owe Jacquie and Erin something in exchange (I'll bring you something tonight, grrls!) Jacquie had EZs Knitting without Tears and, since I had gifted my copy away some time ago, it was a nice find. Erin brought three skeins of Lorna's Laces in Berry....oh my it is so pretty and NO ONE else swapped for it. Not wanting to allow it to lure me, I waited all afternoon for someone to take it away, but that didn't happen and it became mine. Yes, it is pink and maybe I should just admit I'm in the pink phase of life.
Sunday was also productive as I made good progress on the buffalo Seaman's Scarf. The yarn is so wonderful, light and airy so it just flows through my fingers with ease. Mim came to my rescue, and while we were imbibing in a little tea for two, she grafted the I-cord ends together. I am ever grateful, as even after starring at it for 10 minutes, my mind just couldn't grasp how to make it work! What kind of knitter would I be without Susan and Miriam to help me look good? I'm indebted to both of them for their help with this lovely scarf, which should be finished up this week. Hopefully I'll be able to get one of them to graft the other end of the I-cord!
Handspun looks wonderful. I also love the 'pink', although it looks like a beautiful rose to me. The scarf is going to be warm for Smith's uncle. you had a productive weekend, girl.
Posted by: peg | October 10, 2006 at 05:13 AM
You could do it!! You are just taking the easy way out--something I am very familiar with!! Lovely spinning!
Posted by: Kathleen | October 10, 2006 at 05:25 AM
It all looks fantastic! grafting i-cord ..... I'd like to see that in action
Posted by: ann | October 10, 2006 at 05:32 AM
So much good in this post, Margene. Fiber, friends, knitting skills, spinning skills. All good.
Posted by: Carole | October 10, 2006 at 05:38 AM
Wow....I am coming away from this post completely inspired :)!
Posted by: Kim | October 10, 2006 at 06:03 AM
That looks so good on top of the pumpkins. And your spinning is humbling. It is so even and fine and good.
Posted by: Laurie | October 10, 2006 at 06:08 AM
Sounds like a good time! You're doing great with your spinning that handspun is gorgeous!
Posted by: Kelly | October 10, 2006 at 06:08 AM
Wait until you get the wheel. Can you say production spinner? ;-)
Glad you could get such good help from your friends.
Posted by: Cara | October 10, 2006 at 06:18 AM
PS - THANK YOU!
Posted by: Cara | October 10, 2006 at 06:18 AM
Ooooh, love the purple! (You knew I would.) The pink is pretty nice too, but there's nothing quite like handspun. The scarf is looking great.
Posted by: Lucia | October 10, 2006 at 06:20 AM
Everything is so lovely. A usual display of your weekend antics.
Posted by: Teresa C | October 10, 2006 at 06:29 AM
beautiful yarn! Nice spinning, can't wait to see what happens when you get a wheel:-).
Posted by: Sara | October 10, 2006 at 06:37 AM
Your yarn is just gorgeous.
Posted by: Rachel H | October 10, 2006 at 06:41 AM
Gorgeous! ;)
Posted by: Stitch-n-Snitch | October 10, 2006 at 06:44 AM
Your spinning looks great. I can't wait to see what you can do with a wheel.
Posted by: Hillary | October 10, 2006 at 06:48 AM
Your yarn looks amazing!
Posted by: Lauren | October 10, 2006 at 06:53 AM
I'm in love with Susan too, as she designed my incredible Forest Canopy Shawl, the perfect lace for beginners. I'll be posting FO shots over the weekend when I can give it a proper shoot.
I cannot believe no one scooped up the LL. I would have fought you for it!
Posted by: Liz K. | October 10, 2006 at 06:55 AM
Gorgeous stuff! The merino is just beautiful.
Posted by: Alison | October 10, 2006 at 07:01 AM
Oh, wow! Your merino is fabulous! Such lovely color, too. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed Seaman's scarf.
Posted by: Cheryl | October 10, 2006 at 07:10 AM
Hmnph...I've been working weeks on my new cherry spindle and don't even have it full yet. You are just a natural! Can't wait to see what you do with your wheel!
Posted by: Marcia | October 10, 2006 at 07:40 AM
Lovely handspun--the color is so beautiful.
Posted by: Isela | October 10, 2006 at 08:33 AM
Excellent spinning! If you keep a snippet nearby and refer back to it often, your grist will gradually become more consistent. The goal is to end up with a maximum of 10% variance, then work toward 5% variance, and so on.
You've come a long way very quickly, and since practice is an essential component, you might end up spending longer in the middle stages. Talent can only take a person so far. Be patient and enjoy the process -- your spinning really is beautiful!
Posted by: Sylvia | October 10, 2006 at 08:56 AM
sounds like you had the perfect time with friends.
Your handspun is divine - and would make a gorgeous little stole - wish we hand touch-o-vision thru our monitors ! there is just nothing quite so wonderful as knitting with handspun.
Posted by: Teyani | October 10, 2006 at 08:58 AM
Such beautiful handpsun!
I just received Knitting without Tears for my b-day. I haven't had a chance to really look at it yet but I have heard such good things about it.
How do you guys do your yarn swaps? We have been talking about doing that at our snb too.
Posted by: Karen | October 10, 2006 at 09:12 AM
OMG! I finished some of the corriedale I was spinning and it's ALMOST balanced. I'll show you tonight, but it's REAL yarn! It's real and it's pretty and I.Made.It. I could die happy right now, I think.
Posted by: Miriam | October 10, 2006 at 09:21 AM