Spinning Continues and I DID Knit
It's the end of another week of running around and little knitting accomplished...sigh. However, Wednesday evening was the Wool Pack meeting and I brought a door prize (Anne's lovely bunny crack), which was won by Louise. She was very excited to get her hands on the Hank's Bunny Blend, but as a new spinner she was a bit intimidated. Kim once told me that every new spinner should have some exotic fluff to try out, so go for it Louise! The meeting was the annual Dye Exchange and, while I didn't participate, I went to see how it all worked. Many members brought 2 lbs of dyed wool in the color of the year, yellow and the yellows were as varied as the participants. Everything from Kool Aid to onion skins and every type of chemical dyes, too. Dyeing hasn't been at the top of my list of 'to dos', but by next year I plan on joining in the fun. Wouldn't it be fun to spin a project out of all the different shades of one color?
I was able to knit on the Forecast sock (February's Spunky Club offering) while on the fly this week and finished it just before bedtime Wednesday night. Size 3 needles and primitive yarn make for quick work. It's rather thrilling to have my first handspun, hand knit sock finished. Now onto the second one! (Oh, and it fits, too!)
Last night was my one and only quiet night at home and I spun up as much of the purple BFL as I could before being distracted by the Brick Corriedale. It just screamed to be plied and so, using my favorite 'plied chained singles' method (aka Navajo plying), the singles became yarn. I now have enough yardage to make one nice sock for Smith. And as soon as I spin and ply the other 4 oz. there will be enough for pair. The colors are very rich and I'm very pleased with the yarn.
Over the the next couple of days I hope to finish spinning the BFL, Violette's Dream, and ply it too, as it must be in the mail by Monday. It will be a two-ply yarn which is best for lace. (How'd that red thread get in the picture?) Kim and I will be spinning together and that should make finishing in time doable.
My intention tonight is to knit, knit, knit while I await Kim's arrival. Last night Hidcote received some quality time and tonight that should continue. The end could be insight! Enjoy your weekend...I sure will!
Beautiful colours on the sock - they remind me of the beach - all washed out and sun faded - roll on the summer!
Posted by: janine | March 23, 2007 at 05:12 AM
Have a blast with Kim this weekend! I'll be knitting on my Sock Madness sock - yikes!
Posted by: Carole | March 23, 2007 at 05:28 AM
I love your teeeny singles. Brick is beautiful, looks balanced and even. Smith will be walking on air.
Posted by: Laurie | March 23, 2007 at 05:47 AM
Hooray for hanspun socks! It's gorgeous!! I love the yarn for Smith's socks too, very nice.
Posted by: Amy Boogie | March 23, 2007 at 06:01 AM
How wonderful your handspun sock is!! There is something so magical to me about a sock that was spun and then knit. Great job!
Posted by: Kim | March 23, 2007 at 06:12 AM
It really didn't take you long to become a full-fledged spinner, did it? :-) Wonderful spinning and wonderful sock!
Posted by: Alison | March 23, 2007 at 06:15 AM
Love that first photo, all the yellow yarn. Oh, there are so many things to try...
Happy Weekend, Margene!
Posted by: Vicki | March 23, 2007 at 06:22 AM
I love the striping on your sock. And that purple you're spinning is simply luscious.
Posted by: Chris | March 23, 2007 at 06:44 AM
As usual your spinning looks great - and I love the sock!
Posted by: Lauren | March 23, 2007 at 06:44 AM
Have a great weekend, and give Kim a hug for me. I'm not sure what I'm doing this weekend yet. My brain is still sort of foggy and I need to snap out of it!!
Posted by: Norma | March 23, 2007 at 07:09 AM
Your sock is gorgeous, the Brick, too! Have a wonderful weekend!
(((Hugs)))
Posted by: Knitnana | March 23, 2007 at 07:10 AM
Oh, I love the sock from your handspun! It's beautiful! Girl, we are gonna spin ourselves silly! :)
Have a great day today--see you soon!
xoxoxo
Posted by: Kim | March 23, 2007 at 07:20 AM
oooooo - I love the Brick...
Posted by: Cheryl | March 23, 2007 at 07:21 AM
Lucky girls. Give Kim a hug for me.
Posted by: claudia | March 23, 2007 at 07:26 AM
Gorgeous! Inspiring! I love them all. That brick yarn is sooooo manly! Lucky Smith!
Happy spinning. Happy hidcote. Happy weekend!
Posted by: Roxie | March 23, 2007 at 07:44 AM
Have a great weekend! Isn't it wonderful how different all the yellows are and how something as simple as "yellow" can be so many things.
Posted by: Margaret | March 23, 2007 at 07:45 AM
Congrats on your first handknit handspun sock. It's really lovely - the color combination is simply soothing. Wear them well.
Posted by: Jennifer | March 23, 2007 at 07:55 AM
I LOVE the colors of the sock! And the Brick is lovely too.
Posted by: Lauri | March 23, 2007 at 08:19 AM
Louise can do it! The wool makes it okay to spin. It won't be skeery at all!!
I love that you have become such an addict....er... are enjoying spinning so much. :)
Posted by: Anne | March 23, 2007 at 08:20 AM
The Brick sock yarn is gorgeous. I can't wait to see the sock it becomes. Have a good weekend and enjoy your time with Hidcote.
Posted by: Colette | March 23, 2007 at 08:48 AM
The sock is lovely! Congrats. The colors work so well together. Amy is a great dyer. I'm afraid to use my Spunky until I get better. Looks like Smith is going to have a great pair too.
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Stacey | March 23, 2007 at 08:55 AM
I wanna meet Kim! Is she gonna be here for SnB or maybe the one on Sunday?
Posted by: Miriam | March 23, 2007 at 09:09 AM
Look at that sea of yellow!! I was wondering what it was all for. =)
The plied corriedale is so lovely!! And the purple is just so bright and beautiful. I want a wheel so bad!!
Posted by: Tonia | March 23, 2007 at 09:09 AM
The sock looks lovely - I bet the handspun feels divine, too.
Posted by: Ruth | March 23, 2007 at 09:10 AM
I'm in awe of your beautiful sock. That's quite an accomplishment!
How long until you have a pair? ;-)
Posted by: Beth S. | March 23, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Your handspun sock is kickin', Margene. Love it.
Posted by: Kathy | March 23, 2007 at 09:51 AM
I just learned how to navago ply and I must say it is one cool technique. Your spinning looks fabulous btw!
Posted by: ann | March 23, 2007 at 09:53 AM
I hopped over to that spunky club and what a cool bunch of projects out of the same yarn. Loved the Eleanor. Your socks make the colors sing too. What fun.
Posted by: Ann | March 23, 2007 at 10:53 AM
Have fun!
You SHOULD be pleased with that yarn; it's gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Christine | March 23, 2007 at 11:14 AM
That's a great idea! Unfortunately, I think I'm the only dyer in my guild! Your BFL is luscious. I want to take a little nap on it!
Posted by: elizabeth | March 23, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Your purple-ish handspun is gorgeous!!! Love it.
Posted by: Erin | March 23, 2007 at 11:42 AM
Have a fun weekend knitting and spinning and chatting up with Kim! Your sock looks wonderful and I'm sure it feels GREAT on your foot! I'm looking forward to my first homespun sock project. :)
Posted by: Laura | March 23, 2007 at 11:54 AM
Your spinning is gorgeous!
Congratulations on the finished sock out of handspun. J won't even let me knit him socks. I think he'd have a coronary if I suggested knitting him socks out of handspun.
Posted by: Kat | March 23, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Thr brick corriedale is stunning! They will make wonderful socks.
The Wool Pack meeting looks like fun. I love yellow with a passion.
Posted by: Maia | March 23, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Your sock looks fabulous! I really need to put my poor chained singles experience from nearly 2 years ago aside and give it a go one of these days. Especially since I'm so in love with 3-ply now. It would be much easier than trying to split fiber into three equal amounts :-) Your results with it are so inspiring!
Posted by: Kristi aka Fiber Fool | March 23, 2007 at 01:16 PM
I love the colors of the Forecast sock, but that Brick corriedale is wonderful with its spectacularly complex-and-still-subtle mix of colors. Violette's Dream just *looks* soft... Very nice, on all counts.
Posted by: loribird | March 23, 2007 at 01:51 PM
I am stunned. This is the first time I've ever heard mention of a dye exchange. I am absolutely champing with anticipation - what a wonderful idea. Our guild does a fiber exchange, but I have never ever heard of a dye exchange. This is hot!
Posted by: Sharon | March 23, 2007 at 05:11 PM
Beautiful sock yarn! You have come so far so quickly with your spinning.
Posted by: Pat K | March 23, 2007 at 05:49 PM
Violette's dream is such a vibrant color!
Posted by: Jennifer | March 23, 2007 at 07:16 PM
That's a lot of yellow yarn! How did they exchange it? A stealing type game?
The sock looks great! You've become a real pro at spinning. Soon, very soon, I'll get my wheel going again.
Posted by: Wool Winder | March 23, 2007 at 08:28 PM
Glad you have found a bit more time to knit and spin. I am in love with Violette's Dream. The color is beautiful.
Posted by: Sarah | March 23, 2007 at 09:03 PM
handspun, hand knit ... what a success!
That spinning circle would intimidate any of us! All that luscious fiber waiting to be pounced on - wow. what fun!
Posted by: Teyani | March 23, 2007 at 09:43 PM
the BFL is extremely yummy!
Posted by: lori | March 23, 2007 at 10:22 PM
Mmmmm. Such luscious beauty in your hand spun yarns. It's very inspiring. Knit if you must... :)
Posted by: Valerie | March 24, 2007 at 01:02 AM
You do such beautiful work! The sock is lovely and yarn, yum!
Posted by: Carol | March 24, 2007 at 07:34 AM
Your spinning is lovely! I love how your sock came out too. :)
Posted by: Andrea | March 24, 2007 at 08:44 AM
Beautiful spinning!
I remember my first socks with my handspun - I love them, but am afraid to wear them! ;o)
Posted by: JessaLu | March 24, 2007 at 09:26 AM
Pretty pretty pretty. As usual.
Posted by: jackie | March 24, 2007 at 09:34 AM
ooh I think a handspun, handknit sock sounds like the ultimate fiber-head's dream! I'm going to have to get crackin' on my thin yarn spinning skills.
Posted by: Faith | March 24, 2007 at 06:24 PM
Wow! The purple is amazing. I love Navajo plying too. It makes for a nice yarn.
Posted by: Rosa | March 24, 2007 at 06:57 PM