Something Simple
Thank you to everyone with spinning wheel book and repair suggestions. I'll definitely be looking into a number of them. I'm actually kind of looking forward to making this wheel work, and then actually seeing if I can figure out how to use it to make yarn. Something tells me another great adventure and stash adding opportunity has arrived.
Morehouse Merino Belladonna Scarf
I was somewhere between my Phil'Onde sweater sleeve and my Audrey sleeve when I realized almost all of my projects involved ribbing. Now, I've got nothing against ribbing. Lately, I've realized that it's quite flattering for me. But I just can't knit only on projects with ribbing. And I really did want to play with some of my new yarn from Maryland Sheep and Wool. One of the project patterns that came from Morehouse Merino was a very simple garter stitch scarf using a laceweight multi-color yarn. Garter stitch on reasonably big needles seemed like the perfect antidote to my ribbing overdose.
The colors are a little funky because the light was just low enough outside after today's rainstorm to set off my camera's flash. The yarn really doesn't have any yellow in it. Anything that looks like yellow should really be in the Shrek-y green range. Like my fancy schmancy yarn bra? I love zip-lock bags. They are the perfect storage for lace weight and sock weight yarns.
I'm happy with the project so far. The colors remind me of a wildflower meadow, so the scarf has a very summery happy quality. I'm constantly surprised by how much I like knitting with lace weight yarn. The yarn is a little rough for what I expect from Merino. I'm hoping that once I finish the scarf and give it a little Eucalan bath and blocking it will loosen up and soften up a bit. I'm a little over halfway through with the first half of the scarf. I like how this scarf is constructed. After you get to the middle you start decreasing -- gives me the illusion of running downhill quickly after I get to the mountain top.
Happy Friday to All!
So glad you're learning to spin on a wheel, and will share that with us. I'm terrified of the idea, but I know a wheel is in my very-near future.
(A NZ aside -- my mother is from Ashburton, the town where the wheels are made. We visited NZ again last year, and somehow I missed visiting the store. Aarghhh.)
Isn't that Morehouse Merino laceweight fun on big needles? I did one of the rilly-rilly long scarf/stoles in a colorway of reds, and I get compliments every time I wear it. Compliments! For something that practically knits itself! Enjoy, and happy Friday!
Are you really up and posting at 1:38 AM? Inquiring minds.....
I think you are correct that a washing will really soften up that Morehouse Merino. After hanging with you and Bonne Marie, even *I* am on the lookout for Shrek-y green. How did this happen?
weird that it's rough. the worsted weight morehouse merino i have is most definitely the softest yarn i've ever used. it has little bits of crap in it that annoy me and must be pulled out as they are pokey and hurt, but the yarn itself is like charmin. i guess their laceweight just loses some of the softness?
When you start spinning, indulge yourself and get really really good wool sliver, something very free-drafting like Rosemary's Falklands top. It will soften the learning curve.
I was hoping that you'd start playing with your new yarns! Very pretty colors.
I once knit some worsted 100% wool that was scratchy and rough, but once I gave it its first washing it was as soft as down.