This morning I got up, had breakfast, and then sat down to finish plying my fourth skein efforts at the Little Gem. Lo and behold, I have managed to turn Kim‘s beautiful merino/seacell pencil roving (called ‘Brains belong inside your head’) into a skein of something approaching DK-weight.
Still not balanced, but I am feeling better about my consistency and am definitely looking forward to more practice. I think I will try for about this same weight on my next couple of skeins, and hopefully not injure my poor Little Gem in the process…I have been having the odd surprise with the wheel, things like the drive band dis-lodging itself spontaneously from the treadle, and although this has been intermittent it definitely plays havoc with trying to maintain consistent speed.
And speaking of things that are purple, earlier this week I pulled out my current shawl project which I started before Sock Summit, but which has sadly been languishing ever since I came back from it. This is the Swallowtail shawl once again, which I am trying to enlarge by extending the bud lace to 19 repeats and intend to work a 3rd repeat of the lily of the valley.
Wouldn’t you know it, even the nupps aren’t so bad any more. I could even start to enjoy them. I’m hoping to put in some quality time with this in the next week or so (famous last words, no?) so that I can move on to new things and have this as a fall wearable.
I hope your weekend is a good one! Keep the knitting close by.
Glenna Knits 
your spinning is LOVELY, and is looking mighty even for skein #4. (my first usable handspun was pretty uneven, but all knit up into a cowl, it became endearing, a design feature, and wholly unnoticeable to the untrained eye.)
can’t wait to see spinning project #5!
Such pretty spinning! You are doing amazing.
And lovely shawl, what pretty (purple) yarn. I was stupid when I did mine and didn’t pay attention to the numbers involved in making it larger… so I have one pretty screwy row when I switched to the lily of the valley…
Looks like you’re moving right along from your blue phase into your purple one (lol). I just can’t wait until you reach you’re green one.
Absolutely love the handspun yarn. I envision you hauling around this huge bag of wooly smelling fleece at Rhinebeck this year…..or maybe by next year;-)
Nicely done! 🙂 Balance will come.
Beautiful! I love the color texture of the handspun yarn I’ve seen — obviously comes from the roving being handpainted/dyed and then interesting things happening with the spinning and plying process. And I *love* it.
(Evil spinners will suck me in *some* day, I can just feel it. *grumble*) 😉
You made some nice yarn there. Any plans for knitting with it? Hat and mitten season will be upon us before we know it. 🙂
Your handspun is fantastic!! I love the colourway, and the name is the best.
You’re swallowtail is going to be amazing!! Perfect for the fall weather, and the in-between.
Your spinning looks amazing! Now you have to start wracking your brain for projects worthy of your handspun labour of love!
That yarn is gorgeous! You should be very proud of yourself.
And the Swallowtail is going to be stunning as well! 🙂
Your handspun looks great! What are you going to make with it?
Your handspun is looking very professional.
Seeing your gorgeous yarn makes me want to knit with it. I guess I’ll just have to make my own.
Blackberry (not the phone, the fruit) swallowtail looks delicious.