Tangled Up

This weekend I caught another bug.  It bit me hard and I was completely swept up, taken down and tangled up with sweet Emmylou, my spinning wheel.  It's been a month of Sunday's since I took time to sit and spin for any length of time and it was a blast to get back at it.

The bug first bit when I sat down Friday afternoon to finish spinning up the funky Crosspatch batt.  It didn't take long before the second bobbin was full, all the fiber was gone and plying was the only thing left to do.  But, I wanted to spin, not set up the wheel for plying.  It was then I decided to take a look at the overflow of fiber and find something to spin that took my fancy.   I pulled out the bins of fluff, plus a couple of bags, and was shocked at the amount.  Oh my, I do need to do some spinning, and quick!

After sorting through the fiber, what called to me the loudest was the soft and pure cormo wool from Anne's Wooly Wonka Exotic Fiber Club.  As a little bonus, she had included a bump of lovely soft blend of cormo and angora.  I decided to spin the three bumps and then ply them together. A three ply would make a soft, warm hat. One bobbin is complete, the second partly spun, and I'll work on this exotic fluff the rest of the week.  At first I worried that pure white fiber would be boring to spin, but that is far from the truth...it is heaven.

I was so captured with spinning desire that I also pulled out the square spindle that Cara and sent from Rhinebeck.  A few months back I had spun a bit of hand dyed blue onto my Golding Spindle.  To be able to create a plied yarn, I needed to spin a second spindle full (remember my Lizzy Kate?).  It was so nice to spin on a spindle again...a beautiful spindle.

On Sunday morning it was time to ply the funky Crosspatch batt.  It was as fun as a barrel of monkeys to watch the fiber twist around itself to create a very textured and slubby yarn.  It should be fun to knit, too.  It's been a long time since I've had the inclination and time to spin so, it was fun to spend a bunch of time at it this weekend. Now to find a fun pattern for this yarn!

Comments

[Carol]

You got me. At first I thought you got sick again! Thank goodness it's only the gorgeous fiber bug.

[Manise]

Glad it was just the spinning bug. I too had to re-read the first part of your post. Your plied batt looks great! I need to pull my spindles out from hiding and become reacquainted with them.

[Cindy/Snid]

Oh how gorgeous-

I have been wanting to get at my spinning wheel as well. But I need to find a chair that I can use that is the right height! Hmmm, maybe I should have one made...

[Kirsten]

What is it about spindle spinning that is just so calming? That blue is beautiful.

[DebbieB]

Lovely spinning - you got a lot accomplished this weekend!

[Lucia]

That is some fine white yarn you're spinning! I've been working on some too, for, um, quite some time. I'm hoping I'll get along faster working with Maggie.

[Chris]

The funky yarn is pretty cool. Oh yeah - bloglines is more messed up than usual. *shakes head*

[Laurie]

You are doing amazing spinning. The singles are beautiful, even, crisp. Such beautiful hands.

[Kim]

Whew....I'm glad it's only the Spinning Bug!!!

I love the blue yarn you have on your spindles!

[ruth]

Now that is the right kind of bug to get. All this spinning is going to my head. I'm going to have to learn how.

[Rosa]

Whoa! So much fibery goodness. I LOVE the white single. It looks so pure and clean. I can't wait to see the finished yarn. It all looks so delightful.

[Norma]

YOU SCARED ME. I thought you'd been really sick again. This is the kind of bug to have, baby. XO

[Wool Winder]

I hear the spinning bug is contagious. You might just pass it on with this post. Love the funky yarn!

[Lauren]

I've got the spinning bug now too! I love your Crosspatch yarn :)

[deb]

The white is gorgeous! What fun it will be to knit as well...

[Teresa C]

Oh yum! The spindle spinning is my favorite, surprise! I sat behind my wheel this weekend too. It was great, just the push I needed to get it going again.

[Heather Joins The Round]

Oh, for a couple of seconds there I thought you were sick again!

Wheew! Nice yarn!

[Stacey]

The blue is beautiful! I think your "bloglines" worked! It finally picked up all the weekend blogs.

[Hillary]

Isn't it wonderful when spinning takes hold of you. I've got the spinnig bug too thanks to you and I couldn't be happier. I need to finish some stuff that's I already started but your pictures of the white cormo is making me want to pull mine out. Darn! Must not play with the cormo, must not play with the cormo...

[bellamoden]

That blue stuff? GORGEOUS. Yum. Any plans for it?

[Marcia Cooke]

Yeah....BAD Margene! Do not scare us like that again! I wish that bug would bite me though....cannot get up any enthusiasm for spinning at the moment. Some of your products of the weekend might get me interested again, though!

[kelly]

MARGENE!!! I read the first line and thought OH THAT POOR GIRL!!!
Cheeky monkey!!

[thegabbyknitter]

That is one bug that's great to catch. Your spinning looks wonderful and I love how Crosspatch batt spun up!

[Cheryl]

The consensus from my fellow spa attendees is that I shouls do Anne's Hypoteneuse pattern with my crosspatch yarn. I sort of was leaning towards Gust, but everyone seemed to think the yarn would be better served with the more geometric shape. I still might just do Gust anyway though. . . I'm sort of rebellious by nature.

[Carole]

Well you know I did a lot of spinning this weekend!

[Knitnana]

I thought you meant you were really sick again! So glad THAT wasn't the case...
The spinning is lovely - especially the very last photo!
(((hugs)))

[Beth S.]

Now that's the kind of bug to get! I love how the Crosspatch turned out. And the white stuff, is that going to be laceweight? It looks very fine... :-)

[Paula]

Yeah, I too thought you meant you got sick again. It's a relief to see your spinning.

[Pat K]

Well, at least that's a good kind of bug to catch! But while you're suffering from it, the dishes and the laundry get behind just the same, don't they! ;-) Wonderful results!

[KarenJoSeattle]

I haven't contracted that bug, but from what I've heard it can really hit hard. Still, most don't seem to suffer too much from the afliction.

The cormo looks gorgeous. I want to see the finished yarn and the hat. Now, please.

[Birdsong]

Sometimes funky turns out to be the most fun! How about a potato chip scarf to continue the theme?! I love the Cormo's feel and need to make time to spin my collection of fine fibers from Anne's club... thanks for the inspiration.

[Mia]

That is a wonderful bug to catch. And you were very productive!

I am going to have to find some cormo roving and yarn at MDS&W. That may be the inspiration I need to start practicing spinning again.

[Cookie]

Now that's a good bug to catch.

You really are a temptress. /sigh

[Sarah]

You got me! I thought you were ill again. I'm glad it was the spinning that bit you this time.

[kathleen]

geesh...so glad it wasn't a sicky bug!

[--Deb]

Well, that's a bug that's a PLEASURE to get bitten by, and your spinning all looks just wonderful. (And I'm still awed by those square spindles.) Beautiful, Margene! So nice, in fact, that I can't bring myself to send "Hope you get over this bug" wishes.....

[Sharon]

I was catching bug after bug - my immune system just couldn't put a fight any more. My doctor recommended that I take Airborne every day for the next couple of months and I think it's working because I haven't caught anything in the past two weeks.

[Nora]

I don't know if Airborne would work on your sort of bug, but I enjoyed your spinning post so much that I thought I'd delurk and comment on the lovely results! (I'd also love to see more of that lace - gorgeous!)

[Cathy in Va.]

Find a fun pattern for that Crosspatch yarn? Any pattern will be fun with that! Also enjoyed the glimpse into the bags of roving; pretty colors! Clearly there's lots more fun still ahead. :)

[Teyani]

now that's a "bug" that is a delight to 'catch'.
beautiful spinning.

[Alarming Female]

Must be something in the air!

[Opal]

Hee! I got bit by the same bug this weekend! You've got some lovely fiber there and your spinning is really beautiful. :)

[Danielle]

This one is a good bug to catch!

[elizabeth]

That's funny; I did the same thing Sunday! Went through all my colorful rovings and batts and settled on spinning Shetland from the lock. Sometimes simple is best!