Gratuitous Handspun Photo



I plied up this yarn last night after work. We didn't get home until late*, so I was rushing against time to get it done by bed time. I hate to stop plying in the middle. It's kind of dangerous too, since the cat likes to eat inappropriate things.

I brought out the big plying head for my lendrum because I wanted this all in one nice fat skein. That meant treadling my butt off as fast as I could since the ratio is so low. By the time I was done I realized my left ankle was so sore I needed help to get down the stairs. Gordon was laughing so hard at my predicament that I thought he'd run back upstairs to plurk about it.

This yarn is a merino/alpaca blend, 100 grams, 2 ply and 334 yards. It's roughly a sport weight, but it varies a bit. I think it will be something lacey.

*I hiked all around downtown for a couple hours after work and then met Gordon for dinner

Greetings!

I have been absent far too long, and though I have a few pieces of holiday knitting on the needles, not enough to justify falling off of the blogosphere ;)

Since we last met I was smitten with the wonder that is Malabrigo Sock. It is truly amazing. Standard malabrigo, while soft and beautiful, has always had that annoying diva temperament. I couldn't get past the pilling that comes with an achingly soft single. Malabrigo sock has no such drawback. It is a tightly twisted three ply that somehow manages to keep the softness of it's high maintenance sibling. I don't know how they do it, but I suspect black magick.

With my first skein of the loveliness I knit up a lacy little scarf. The pattern is Tudor Grace, by Anne Hanson. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.


I've also been back on the wheel this month. I spun up that lovely black BFL into a navajo ply worsted and am making nice thick socks with it. I'm finally starting to make myself socks that don't need to be layered with two other socks to wear with my boots. Go team me ;)


And currently on the wheel is a lovely earthtoned merino/alpaca that I bought when Elaine was in town. I'm spinning this up a bit finer, but I'm not sure what I'm doing with it yet.


Oh! speaking of handspun, I almost forgot my latest Ysolda Teague hat. Rose Red, (or rather blue) made from handspun 3 ply South African Fine, dyed in the crock pot.

Ysolda Teague, have you ever written an ugly pattern? I'd hate you if I could stop knitting your stuff long enough to find the energy :P