Dicentra Designs 80/20 Merino Silk

Jonathan Berner has inspired me to spin lace weight, real lace weight, two-ply.  I decided before leaving for Easton Mountain this spring that this delicious, deep purples, blues, greens, and teals from Dicentra Designs would be my next spinning project (on the wheel at least), so time to get busy with some fine lace weight.  Oh, and the colorway is Kili, and I have 4 oz.  The motto for Dicentra is "Radiant colors to brighten your world," and I believe my world is brightened.

Source:	Dicentra Designs
Fiber(s):	Merino (80) Tussah Silk (20)
Color:	Kili
Weight:	4 oz
Wheel/Spindle for Spinning:	Sidekick
Plies:	2
Wheel/Spindle for Plying:	Sidekick
Yardage:	TBD
Date Started:	August 11, 2013
Date Finished:	TBD
Intent:	TBD

Cherry Tree Hill 54 Micron Wool = DONE

Years and years ago, I started spinning some 54 micron wool roving from Cherry Tree Hill.  In going through my spindle collection and gathering them all into the same place, I discovered a number of spinning projects like this one in progress.  There were three separate colorways, with an ounce of each one.  Clearly I changed the way I was spinning the singles over the years.  The first color, which I had finished in 2006 (?) ran out about 90 yards earlier than the other two colors that I spun more recently.  Sigh...  This is why I think I shouldn't let spindle projects lay dormant like this.

Source:	Cherry Tree Hill
Fiber(s):	100% Wool (54 micron)
Color:	Three color ways (Red-purple, blue-purple, and blue)
Weight:	3 oz (1 oz each color)
Wheel/Spindle for Spinning:	Tom Golding 2" Purple-heart Tsunami (24g)
Plies:	3
Wheel/Spindle for Plying:	Sidekick
Yardage:	220 yds
Date Started:	2006
Date Finished:	6/11/2013
Intent:	I don't know yet

Tom Golding Spindles Rock

I recently started spinning with a Tom Golding drop spindle (a 2" purple-heart Tsunami).  I had forgotten how much I like spinning on these spindles.  The brass rings really put some torque into the spin, so I ordered two more.

The one on the left is made from 5,000 year old Russian Bog Oak, and the one on the right is Karelian Birch Burl.  They are resting in a Spindle-Kate from Tom Golding as well.  I got the 3/8" adapters but need to order the 5/8" adapters to use my older 2" drop spindles because Tom changed the diameter of the spindle shaft at some point.

I cannot wait to start spinning with them, but I am going to resist the urge to start lots of spindle projects without better labeling (perhaps through these blog entries).

Mauch Chunky Green Roving Sample = Done

Sharon just got in some new roving at Needleworks, in some beautiful colors.  I spun up a couple ounces and knit a sample for her shop.  I got pictures of the finished skein but neglected to get pictures of the swatches that I knit (on US #6, #7, and #8 needles).

Source:	Mauch Chunky Roving from Kraemer Yarns
Fiber(s):	100% Wool
Color:	Kiwi
Weight:	2 oz
Wheel/Spindle for Spinning:	Louet S-45
Plies:	2
Wheel/Spindle for Plying:	Louet S-45
Yardage:	122 yds
Date Started:	6/1/2013
Date Finished:	6/2/2013
Intent:	Swatches for Needleworks

Winterhaven Fiber Farm Merino/Silk = Done

Update:  August 11, 2013:  The Plying Is Done

I finished plying this afternoon, with a yield of 1,388 yds of 3-ply (514 yds, 484 yds, and 390 yds) with 58 yds of chain-ply with the "left over" singles.  The twist has been set, and the skeins are hanging to dry.

Update:  August 8, 2013:  The Singles Are Spun

I finally finished spinning the singles, and I have decided on a two-ply yarn.

May 4, 2013: For several years running, I have gotten so flustered figuring out which knitting to take to the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat that I've forgotten to bring a spinning wheel.  Well, I was not going to let that happen again this year, so I made sure I had a new spinning project on the Sidekick wheel from Schacht to take with.  The fiber is taking quite a stern hand in the pre-drafting, but I was warned when I bought it from Winterhaven (at The Fiber Event in Greencastle, Indiana) that it was on sale due to be a bit matted due to being a bit well-traveled.  Well, the color was too gorgeous to pass up, and I'm so fluffing anal-retentive about my pre-drafting, I decided it was worth a little extra ummph.

Source:	Winterhaven Fiber Farm
Fiber(s):	80% Merino / 20% Silk
Color:	Blue Lagoon
Weight:	12 oz
Wheel/Spindle for Spinning:	Sidekick
Plies:	3
Wheel/Spindle for Plying:	Sidekick
Yardage:	1,388 + 58
Date Started:	May 1, 2013
Date Finished:	August 11, 2013
Intent:	Vest for Dad

Kyle William Amethyst Merino = Started

Earlier this month, I was (quite) pleased to score some KyleWilliam hand-dyed roving.  I got some BFL and some merino.  This morning, I met Kara for another spinning lesson and needed to start another spindle project for portability, and I wanted to play with my new Trindle / spindle. Kara gave me several sets of Trindle arms for my birthday, and I wanted to give them a whorl (heh heh heh). The merino from KyleWilliam was a no-brainer -- I'm dying to see how it spins up.

Source:	Kyle William
Fiber(s):	Merino
Color:	Amethyst
Weight:	4 oz
Wheel/Spindle for Spinning:	Trindle Nano / Peace-Sign Arms (8 g)
Plies:	2
Wheel/Spindle for Plying:	TBD
Yardage:	TBD
Date Started:	May 25, 2013
Date Finished:
Intent:	Scarf for me

Abstract Fibers Laurelhurst = Done

Last night, I finished spinning the singles and began plying. Today, I finished the plying and set the twist. When the yarn is dry, I'll add pictures. Wish I'd thought to snap a pic of the fiber before I prepped or spun it. Oh well. Perhaps next time.

Source:	Abstract Fibers
Fiber(s):	50% Merino / 50% Silk
Color:	Laurelhurst
Weight:	4 oz
Wheel/Spindle for Spinning:	Tracey Eichheim Production Spindle, Comet, 17g
Plies:	2
Wheel/Spindle for Plying:	Sidekick
Yardage:	600
Date Started:	April 9, 2013
Date Finished:	May 25, 2013
Intent:	Scarf for Mom (or maybe Katie's HS graduation