More About Twist and Knit

For multiple reasons, summer is not a good time for spinning and, my poor wheels, Emmylou and Corrina, spend months neglected and alone. Over the weekend the weather cooled and the desire to spin returned. Before I could spin, Corrina needed a little TLC, so with the new cloth, I polished her beautiful cherry wood finish, all the while dreaming of the soft, luxurious, and unique fibers we would spin into yarn. 

Fiber is often spun for the experience of working with the content and the resulting yarn can set aside unused. Spinning is about the process of creation, not necessarily using what results, thus handspun can marinate in the stash. Twist and Knit, Miriam’s first book comes to the rescue, with multiple patterns for the small and large skeins of handspun (or commercial yarns).

When the book arrived I went right to the handspun bin and started plotting and planning which yarn would work with which pattern. The white yarn is a soft as can be 3-ply Cormo from Wooly Wonka Fibers and should make up nicely into the cowl on the cover, perfect for winter’s cold. The white may have a dye job after knitting is complete.

The plan for the purple yarn is to knit the rustic and cozy Comfy Shawl in a 2-ply spun from Spinderella's thrums.  The shawl should be toatsy and warm, just right to throw over a jacket this winter.

As I told you yesterday, last year, while recovering from surgery, Miriam asked if I would like test knit one of the patterns for the book. You may remember it was quite awhile before my brain worked as it should, and I admit to struggling with even the most simple of tasks, but after several false starts, and multiple errors of my own making, the lace became easier to read and the pattern repeat stuck in my head. I was off and running!

Knitting Motte was just what I needed and, as she grew, I knew I would recover my sanity and my memory. The big plus was working with my own handspun and realizing my own yarn wasn’t half bad! In fact, it was beautiful and it helped create a unique, and rewarding, shawl.  If I can spin, and I can knit it into something so clever, I can do anything. Knit on!

Comments

[Kym]

Your Motte is so beautiful! It reminds me of a sunset -- a perfect, stunning sunset. I love the patterns in Mim's book, and I can't wait to try some of them for myself.

[Carole]

You are so right that many of the projects in Mim's books are suitable for handspun. Thanks for the reminder! I need to knit with my handspun more often.

[CindyCindy]

THAT'S MY GRRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chery]

Yes, you can do anything! Beautiful little shawl. I'm glad for your recovery.

Happy spinning and knitting, Chery

[Marijke]

I love the colours of your Motte. And it is a very good idea to knit a scarf from side to side - that way you can use up as much of your precious handspun as possible.

[Norma]

Lovely Motte! I'm thinking that you might want to leave the white cowl white. How pretty would that be?! XO

Thanks for Networking your blog. Now I see it!

[Anne]

I love the Motte you did for her - it really is beautiful.

Mmmmm.... cormo = yummy. If you decide you want me to throw it in a dye pot, just yell. That's one of my favoritest fibers.

[jill]

Beautiful shawl. What a lovely reminder of just how much you can do and push through. Invincible even.
I've not taken on spinning. I know I would love it, but oy, I don't think my home has room for more fiber!

[Chris]

Motte is so, so lovely!!

[linda-kay]

Beautiful shawl! Yay Margene's back! I always knew you could do anything! Sometimes the struggles we go through only make us better and stronger - it's just so hard to remember that as we're going through them! luv ya lady!!

[Vicki]

No kidding: you can do anything!!
; )

[Cheryl S.]

I think the cowl might be very lovely left in white, too.

[Elaine]

Indeed, you can do anything... You. Are. Woman!

[Hillary]

Motte is beautiful. I really love those colors.

[Cookie]

Woo!

I'm so glad you're feeling like spinning again. No spinning content here always makes me a bit sad.

Of course, you can do anything. Was there any doubt?!

xo

[Laurie]

I so love all Mim's patterns, but the Comfy Shawl is getting a lot of attention from me lately.

You are invincible!!! Knit and spin on and on and on!

[Anne B.]

Its so beautiful, and looks just great in the book (and in real life I bet).

[Joy]

Ooh ... lovely!

[Heather]

That is just the perfect blend of pattern and yarn. Very fine!

[Kristi aka FiberFool]

My wheel has been unloved for some time, but its pull is definitely strengthening as the weather turns towards autumn.

[Laurie]

Motte is lovely! Summers are hard, and if the craft doesn't call, it is not a good thing to try to flog it. The fall weather makes the fibery things make much more sense.

[Kathy]

Beautiful! I always think that my finished objects with handspun are so much better than the skeined yarn. The knitting hides a lot of ills!

[burrobird]

What inspirations! I have a lot of handspun yarns to match with small projects later this year.

[Sarah]

And in your own handspun, too! Even more amazing!

It's true--knitting with your handspun does let you know how well you are spinning, and you are fabulous!

Of course, it is always great to spin for the experience, too.

xo