I'm still working on Arielle, but it's pretty slow going. Tiny yarn and needles combined with a pattern that I have to think about mean that I can only knit on it when I'm a) at home and b) awake enough to concentrate
So far I've got the waistband done, and picked up 120 stitches for the body. I reduced the number of repeats of the waistband pattern, because there was a lot of feedback on Ravelry that it was a bit too ruffly as written, so I'm hoping that this will lie flat.
I've also been working on a spinning swatch of my Shetland Fleece. I wanted to see how long it would take me to get from raw fleece to yarn, and how much I would lose. I started with 35g of raw fleece, and after washing and carding, ended up with 24g of rolags.
This was my first time using the hand carders I got for Christmas, so it took a bit of getting used to but it seemed to work in the end.
I then spun up two singles and plied them, ending up with 20g of finished yarn (and ~4g of left over single)
The finished yarn is around about aran weight, and I was hoping for DK, but I've got a bit of single to compare to when I spin the rest, so hopefully I can make it that little bit thinner. But it seems like it will make a really warm, cozy jumper, which is what I'm eventually aiming for.
And then just for fun, here's a rainbow of hand knit socks! These are all the socks that I've made for myself, more than enough for one every day of the week...
Needs more yellow and orange don't you think? I may need to cast on some more...
Arielle is looking good and I hope it does lie flat for you. That's the great thing about reading peoples notes on projects you can make adjustments where you need to. Well done on the spinning, gorgeous colour and as you say would work up into a great jumper. Really love the array of socks, this is what I'm after and yes a little yellow or orange to life them all would look super.
ReplyDeleteLoving those colourful socks and Arielle is looking great too. I've never tried spinning but it looks like you'll have some fabulous yarn there.
ReplyDeleteOh I love all the socks - looking to get somewhere near that myself!! The yarn looks lovely, can't wait to see what you make from it :-)
ReplyDeleteI love that sock collection! One of my pairs got munched on by a nail this week, so I'm planning a pair for myself, soon, too.
ReplyDeleteI recently washed a fleece and lost about 30% of the weight in the washing; it was a small fleece to begin with, so I'll be interested to hear your numbers as you go along.
I'm not sure what Arielle is? A shawl I thought but then you mentioned waistband....either way that is one of the most beautiful pieces of knitting I have seen. It's so perfect and I don't know what the pattern is but it looks like pleats...I love it!
ReplyDeleteThat was my hope for a sock wardrobe and I will get there some day but I had to lay off the knitting as it was really doing a number on my ego and not a good one! I was not enjoying myself at all so I'm back to crochet for awhile.
After I get moved I want to get serious about spinning which I've never done. I've tried it but I don't have time to mess with it now. I love handspun yarns....yours is gorgeous!
I love the socks! Fantastic photo. One day I hope to have that many (if not more) hand knit socks for myself.
ReplyDeleteThose ruffles remind me of the south. So pretty and feminine. Wow, you even made that intarsia sock? It's very cool how you have a good stash of socks to wear that are handknit.
ReplyDeleteArielle is looking good! Congrats on the spinning - it looks great!
ReplyDeleteI love the watermelon socks, they are gorgeous.
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