What Sarah is doing next...

It really was lovely, after an epic week of plying, I was in a position on Friday to choose what to do next! Wha-hey! After doing the victory jig in my head (far too much energy usage to perform in person) this is what took my eye. Actually, it has been sitting teasing me for quite a while now, so here we go.

Some time ago, I fell in love with these 2 fine bundles from Amanda Hannaford

(the link doesn't seem to work, so in long hand she is www.mandacrafts.etsy.com)

and just knew I needed to take them home, to love a squudge. And, eventually spin. So here we are. The first is 211gms of 28 micron Falklands tops that she has dyed the most fabulous Eau de Nil (which, oddly enough, is what she has called it!) I know it looks an odd blue, but it really isn't! The second, is 213gms of space dyed soybean tops in a colourway called Victorian Velvet.

Now. For some reason, the colours just haven't come out as brightly as they are in reality because I promise the two go together perfectly and will look stunning as a plyed yarn which I tend to do as follows:

The Majacraft Suzy, long draw with a ratio of 23.9:1 (gosh, aren't I being accurate!) After each is spun they will be plyed together to product a fab squishy yarn about equal to a light 4 ply. Predominantly a mottled Eau de Nil with flashes of silky colour through it. With any luck it should look a bit like oil on water, which is what I'm aiming for!!

Now I know why it's taken so long....

Four fabulous hanks of loveliness. I am just sooo proud of myself. It has taken me since June and I really was beginning to despair. I thought I had dropped into a fibre take on the Inferno. Doomed to spin and never finish... Left to right is the Lavender Merino, followed by 3 hanks of Autumn Colours. If the ply seems a little crisp, it's because I haven't had the energy to was and block as yet (by Christmas, I'm sure.). I don't suppose anyone remembers my posts of 14 June, so I shall give a little reprise. This is the completed the 252gms of Ultra Fine Merino spun on my Majacraft Suzy at a ratio of 23:1. Initially, I intended to leave it as singles but after careful thought, I plied it. It has produced over 644m of equal to a 4 ply. It is just sooo squishy and soft, I am really quite pleased. Whether I want to face it to knit it for a while - don't really think so, all lavendered out. The Autumn colours are the 450gms of English 54's fine wool tops that Freyalyn dyed for me about this time last year. I know I had intended to ply it with some white, but to be honest, the colour would have ended up as really insipid and as it is, it is truly vibrant. It was spun long draw on the Majacraft Little Gem at a ratio of 18.5:1 and has produced 1212m! I'm really pleased with it and DH has fallen for it, he has managed to talk me into knitting him an old mans cardigan (his favourite sort). I said yes as I'm a sucker for a cute face so next years big projects are beginning to line up already!

See- I have been making stuff....

I am in the midst of Chistmas present creativity - see! As I have been stuck in the house for a couple of weeks with this bronchitus thing - which has finally seen fit to leave - yay! Rather than waste the time, I have been knitting. I'm aiming for a pressie a week, and so far have managed it. Just remember, none of them have yet been washed and blocked, thought I would leave that until I could stand up-right (wrestled the dog last week & lost, back now in spasm... Never rains, but it pisses down!!). The latest mittens are directly below. I have learned a lot from knitting them and really am looking forward to the next pair (did I mention I was missing colourwork...). But I think another couple of pairs of socks this week would probably be a good idea. Hmmmmm, two pairs in one week, it's a challenge. I really am looking forward to next week, when I should be well enough to be off down to the workshop for a couple of hours at a time if nothing else. In the mean time.... thockies!!