Yesterday, 1/29/2007 in SALT LAKE CITY, UT: 31 high, 6 low (Today will be the 19th day below freezing, which is the 2nd longest period since records began.)
Sunday night we were told that Salt Lake City has the WORST air in the country right now. The cold air is trapped and can't leave, so everything, every emission from cars and industry, every breath you take, every last burp from your hubby, every-everything is still here and isn't going away. If only we could live in the mountains...but that's a bit beyond our budget. There could be a bit of a reprieve on Thursday and the temps could be slightly warmer by the weekend. It must be 38 or higher for someone to win the contest, so keep your fingers crossed it will happen soon!
Credit must be given where due and I would like to thank Miriam and Susan for Kitchenering the toes of Smith’s socks. There is a block in my brain that keeps the ability to remember, understand or do a Kitchenered toe from sinking in. I know the mantra and have had the technique, and every trick known, explained to me over and over. Susan has a method, she calls fool proof (she hadn't met me at the time), and I'm willing to give it a try next time. She was able to explain how it works in such a way that I didn't hear the usual 'waa-waa-waa-waa', like a Charlie Brown character, and may have understood more of what she said than before. We'll see. Thanks Susan, but I still don't see how you can Kitchener and carry on a conversation at the same time.
One thing I do understand is how much I love Emmylou and how much more I love the Oberon roving
I bought from Anne. The color, texture and lovely fluff of this roving is creating such a soft, lofty and luscious yarn. It tells me it want to be a warm, three ply hat to warm my ears during long walks with Moxie. This must be what a cloud would feel like if you could spin it. It's hard to think of anything else with something this yummy on the wheel.
Jessie, a good enabler, fiber pusher dyer and spinner, nominated me to show the difference between a three ply and plyed chained singles. I prefer 'chained singles' to Navajo Plying, as it is descriptive of the technique, and there is also a question as to the origin of this method. Interweave has a very good article, in PDF form, by Dodie Rush and you can find more info by using Google. In my fiber stash was a beautiful wool roving, Delphinium, from Amy’s shop.
The contrast in color made it perfect to show off the different methods and how they create different effects. I had fun spinning up a couple of samples. On the left is the three ply yarn. Three singles were spun and then plied together as one. The color twists in the same way as a barber pole with the separate strands twisting around an 'invisible core' to create yarn. The yarn on the right was created in the chained singles technique. With this method you can ply a section of one color by controlling the length of the loops. You have more control over the end result and can keep colors in sections. Both methods create a good three ply yarn.
click to enlarge
Plying chained singles creates a little more texture in the yarn and it is easy to over-twist (at least I found it so). Both methods of plying could be used in one project for 'different but the same' effects. Spinning three ply yarn uses up bobbins and all the singles must be spun before plying. Chained plying can be executed after one bobbin is finished and the empty bobbin can be reused for the next skein. I doubt there would be any time savings from one technique to the other and they should both create the same amount of yardage from the roving.
I feel like such an inexperienced 'expert', but it was fun to spin in both methods and share with you the results.
It's been some time since we've bought anything new for our home. A collection of yarn shouldn't be hidden away in bins when it is so full of life, color and potential. Color and texture add a bit of brightness to the drab, smoggy days. 
The best way to enjoy any collection is to add it to your daily surroundings. It shouldn't be locked away in the safety deposit box or hidden from sight in closets and drawers. With this lovely collection of yarn in plain sight, ideas and inspiration should abound. Yarn is longer lasting than flowers and more inspiring than any tchotchke. 
In this gloomy, long lasting, gray winter, it is best to bring bright color into ones home and to sit in front of it daily as a way to get rid of the blues. Another way to enjoy this new look in your home is to pick up a set of needles, wind somthing colorful and beautiful into a ball and knit it up. This way you can have your yarn and knit it too. Fiber is very good for the soul. 
