Handspun Yarn Scarf

The brown-peach 2-ply yarn I spun in December now has a new life.  I knitted a skinny scarf with the yarn and crocheted the ends with brighter peach single-ply yarn.  It's a very simple scarf--- cast on16 and repeat k1 p1 until the scarf is long enough.  I had just enough yarn to make this scarf!

As soon as I finished my scarf, however, daytime temperatures here rose to 65-78F and it's been too warn to wear it.  Of course, I'm not complaining.  Stories about massive snow storms and deep freeze many northeastern and midwestern states are experiencing this winter sound like news from other parts of the world.  I remember how much I hated falling on my butt when I was walking to elementary school in winter.  No more icy roads for me! 

Handspun Thick-and-Thin and Supercoil Yarns

Every time I visit Kathy's ranch shop, I learn something new.  Last time, I enjoyed watching her spin super-coiled funky yarns and beautiful thick-and-thin yarns from batts she made with leftover fibers in multiple colors.  Although I only use a hand spindle, I wanted to try these techniques.  I randomly added some thick-and-thin and supercoil in two of my latest yarns.

The bright purple string is not part of this yarn---I use short  pieces of yarns from crocheting projects to tie hand spun yarn for washing and drying.  I don't like wasting anything!

The hand spun yarn in purple-gray base was spun with navy-blue cotton thread.  The dark cotton thread tones down some crazy bright color patches in the yarn.  

I used a bright leafy green colored cotton thread for the olive-gray-brown yarn.  Because of its darker, fall-to-winter colors, I don't think I'll be using this yarn for a while, unless I decide to make something for next winter.  It's been nice and warm in the desert in daytime, I'm ready for some bright colors!

Handspun Yarns

Spinning might be the most time consuming thing in craft category I've ever done!  It is not for people who need yarn right away.  After spinning a 2-ply, a single ply and a short single ply, I had to soak yarns and then dry them overnight.  I added a small amount of gentle dish soap with cedarwood-mint scent.  The yarns still smell nice even after rinsing and drying.

This 2-ply yarn is mainly brown-peach with some random yellow, orange and light blue fiber mixed in.  Brown mixed with lots of warm colors gave nice warm feel to this yarn.

This single-ply is mostly brown-dark green with nice splash of warm colors.  I can't wait to knit with this yarn.

The last one is the brightest one and I'll probably end up using this one as an accent.

All the roving or batts I used for these yarns came from Unique Design by Kathy.  Last Saturday, I joined Kathy and other spinners to spin together and chat.  Everyone brought in own spinning wheel so I was the only one with a hand spindle.  Big thanks to those ladies who answered my never-ending questions!  I've been spinning for 2weeks now and I have lots of questions.  There are some good tutorial videos on YouTube that I found very useful.  I'll be spinning more after Christmas.

Hand Spinning

When I went to the Holiday Craft Fair at Tucson Museum of Art, I met a lady demonstrating spinning with her beautifully crafted spinning wheel.  She pulled out a hand spindle from her purse and showed me how easy it is to spin fiber without an expensive spinning wheel.  The best thing about hand spindle is that I can take it anywhere! 

There was an article about Kathy in a local periodical we get in mail and I was immediately interested in how she uses fiber from animals at her ranch.  Although her ranch is not far from where I live, I met her at Tempe Festival of the Arts for the first time.  Kathy kindly showed me how to start spinning and shared a few do's and don'ts pointers.  I purchased this handcrafted spindle and about 2oz of roving to start spinning.

It didn't take me long to understand the 'meditating effect' of spinning the lady at the craft fair told me about.   It might be the best thing to do to clear my mind!  This is my cure for common holiday stress.