Spinning My Wheel

 

You can bet I am not twiddling my thumbs or sitting around and spinning my wheels.  I am spinning ONE wheel, Emmylou, my sweet spinning wheel.  Smith knows how hard it is for me to get along with January and so, he bought me "Happy Lights".  One is set up near my knitting chair and the other beside my spinning chair.  It puts a smile on my face to have that bright light shinning on me.  Let's hope it helps all through January.

 

The Sanguine Gryphon merino silk spun up beautifully and might be one of my best yarns yet.  The complementary colors changed considerably in the plying and now show a deep, rich blend of hues.  The yarn is soft and nicely round (as a 3 ply should be), but has a sheen and "crunch" of silk.  It makes me very happy that another 4 oz. (in another colorway) is in my stash and should spin up into some heavenly sock yarn. 

One of the SnB grrls, Katherine (blog free but on Ravlery) has been knitting Flutter with some of her Wooly Wonka handspun.  (You should check out her best FO of the year!) She's been working on Flutter durning Sunday SnB and that has put the idea in my head to spin for my own. In my (considerable) fiber stash is a cormo/angora blend, color Seashell.  Spinning a fine weight is taking extra effort and time, but I do think it's going to be lovely and it will certainly keep my hands entertained until January 1st. 

Comments

[KarenJoSeattle]

Boy, that fiber did change quite a bit when plied - much more depth and interest. I wonder how it will knit up.

When we swapped our city house for a condo and made a point of finding a space with walls of windows and lots of light, I expected it to make a difference, but not nearly as much as it actually has. Winter light, from any source, is such a tonic.

Have a lovely little spin.

[kv]

that yarn is so beautiful! hope the lights help, i've known people who swear by them. and we are on the right side of the equinox now......

[CindyCindy]

Your fiber room looks so bright and cheerful. Yay Smith! And, the Sanguine Gryphon is absolutely beautiful. Lovely craftsgrrrlship!

[Judy]

Why buy yarn when you can make it so beautifully. Love the way the colors changes. It is very rich to the eye. Are your happy lights color corrected? Sounds like a wonderful idea.

[Carole]

It's really weird but seeing a picture of "my" room makes me feel homesick for you.

[Nora]

That is just beautiful yarn, Margene.

I'm laughing - I spied the Happy Light immediately, because I'm sitting in front of one at this very moment! I think it works!

[Marcia]

Lovely spinning! Can't wait for the time to get back to some spinning myself. Not yet...

[Manise]

I have SAD too, though my lights are huge, bulky and get in the way- eat up too much space. I really like your smaller Happy Lights. Off to look at the site.

Awesome spinning- that was a surprising shift in color after plying.

[Vicki]

Let there be happy light! Maybe January will go as quickly as December...

[Cheryl S.]

That Smith is quite a guy. We haven't had much sunshine this winter, so it's definitely a good thing to have those Happy Lights.

Your new handspun is just awesome. It looks and feels wonderful.

[Anne]

Beautiful! I'm so glad you are finding some spinning time too.

YAY Smith for finding you those groovy mood lights. :D

[Chris]

Wheel keeps on turning, turning, into the future... ;)

[Pat K]

I do love Katherine's Finished Object! And I love your spinning room as well. You lucky girl! (Someday I, too, will have a whole room to myself for all my Stuff.)

[Leah]

Absolutely gorgeous! You'll have to keep us posted on the Happy Lights! SAD is the worst part of winter...

[marti]

I hope you had a relaxing holiday!

[Laurie]

Beautiful yarn you produced. Very impressive.

Good idea for a pre-emptive strike against SAD.

[Cookie]

That Smith is some kind of fabulous man.

Beautiful spinning as usual, Margene. xo

[Karen]

Really beautiful yarn Margene! I love the colorway.

[claudia]

That light is a great idea.

[Birdsong]

Wow, that yarn has so much depth, and it really is a nicely spun accomplishment! I think you will love making your own Flutter:) I am awaiting the announcement of both the first sweater of 2009, and a reduced blog schedule. You have been a daily trooper.

[Cathy in Va.]

Those Seashell colors are looking even more beautiful spun than they do in the roving. Almost iridescent!

[Sarah]

I hope the light helps make your January even better. I bet it is fabulous light to spin by, too. I think you might have me sold on the three-ply for the stuff I have on the wheel. I think I began with the idea of making a two-ply, but three will probably be better. Also, I think the first bobbin a spun was about one-third of the bag of fiber. That must be what yarn it is supposed to be.

[Norma]

Yay for the Happy Lights. I have a lighted alarm clock that also really helps. It simulates the sun rising, and it REALLY helps getting up in the dark!

[Katherine]

Aw, thanks! I was kind of wondering about the extra favoriting of C's picture the past couple of days...

I'm still working on Flutter, almost done. I find myself a little sentimental about this project and don't want to finish it. But I do want to wear it, so finish it I will and hopefully to wear by New Years.

[Teyani]

love that merino silk.
and I am crossing my fingers in the hopes that I can get spinning again in 2009