22 April 2013

Pre-funk progress update - by guest blogger WillyG

Here's a double update for y'all.

Melissa called for yarn reveals for the May Day knitalong, and I'm more than happy to oblige, despite being not quite ready.

You see, I'm trying to spin my own yarn for the shawl.


This is a big deal for me; I've been scheming to do something like this (knit a shawl from my own handspun yarn) for a couple years, but never did enough spinning to make it happen.  Lately, though, I've gotten comfortable enough using a spindle to get a fingering-ish weight yarn from two plies.

I currently have one of the two singles completed:


I'm using one of my long-time favorite color combinations; this photo doesn't show you as well as the first that I am spinning a gradient.  Ooh, it's fun! I won't bore you with all the little details about how I'm spinning it, though I will say that it is less intimidating than one might expect. Check out my regular blog if this intrigues you.

I told you this was a two-fer; here's the news on my Leaves Of Grass. Last night I broke into the last repeat of chart C!



I know, I know...I'm probably not even half-way, but I'm one of those people that has to set small goals for myself, and reaching chart D is good enough for me for a while.  There are just too many good things I want to make and learn to spend all my time on just this one blanket. The happy result of my procrastination is that it provides a nice, relaxing retreat from other projects when I do pick it up. There's something wonderful about the drawn-out process of short repetitions of lace knitting interspersed with free-flying plain rounds that helps me be a different person than at work -- less driven, perhaps -- and I'm trying to keep it that way.  Apparently, I'm succeeding, heheh!

7 comments:

  1. Oh your spinning looks so nice. Spinning is slightly the reason I am second guessing joining the upcoming KAL. My parents and my alpaca are getting sheared in a few weeks and I have a lot of skirting, washing, carding, and spinning to do.
    I love the colors of your rollags and I can't wait to see how your LOG turns out. I like that you are savoring the knit.

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    1. Yay for spinning! My desire to spin more was an initial consideration on the LOG KAL, but I was reminded that folks around here are pretty easygoing about finishing deadlines. I'm certainly testing that out. The nice thing about the May Day KAL is the size -- it's just a little shawlette, and is adaptable to different yardages; compared to LOG, it's almost instant gratification! No pressure, though... :)

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  2. I so understand you thoughts on taking the Leaves of Grass slowly...I'm too have been doing the same. I want to enjoy the knit and I have. I am also not the fastest knitter and would rather not be driven in my knitting process as I am in my work world. I have enjoyed watching your progress as well.
    You spinning yarn is looking yummy.

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  3. I think it's great your desire to spin~ the spinning looks beautiful. How much time we talk'in? Someday I'd like to try it.



    Deadlines shmeadlines~

    Kelli

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    1. I managed to spin up half of the fiber in the past couple weeks, and I'm pretty confident I can get it all done in time for May Day, as long as I buckle down for several evenings.

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  4. I'm speechless...really

    that first color has me swooning!

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