Spinning projects

Spinning seems to be something that doesn't bother my wrist so I've been doing quite a bit of it recently. My wrist is improving but still not 100%. I am currently working on a new crocheted shawl design.

Here's a picture of two batts that I just finished spinning up. Aren't they gorgeous?

These were gifts from my friend Jamie in Missouri. I've been the lucky recipient of some of her carded batts, dyed fiber, and hand dyed yarn. :-)

These batts were 70% merino and 30% silk in some of my favorite colors. She called this colorway Forbidden Love. I had so much fun spinning these up. :-)

Here's what my finished 2 ply yarn looks like. It spun up into a light fingering weight yarn. A rough estimate is 3.4 ounces and approximately 430 yards.

Jamie has recently opened an Etsy shop with her friend Bonnie. You can find their Bon*Fiber shop by clicking HERE. Check out their hand dyed yarn and fiber as well as stitch markers and line keeper magnets. They have some beautiful stuff for sale.

I also recently spun up this 2 ounce bit of dyed Corriedale top. Two ounces and 259 yards of fun!

I've got to design something to use up some of my handspun. Every time I knit with it, I love it and wonder why I don't use it more often for project. The biggest problem is most of things I design require more yardage than I have in my handspun skeins.

Hmm, I will have to dream up some designs for these smaller handspun skeins.

Pirouettes Shawl to knit

Like a graceful ballerina turning round and round in pirouettes, this crescent shaped shawl turns back and forth with short rows that form the gentle curve in this shawl. No need to wrap and turn your short rows. Just snug up the slipped stitch as you get to it or read the tutorial I've included for another "no wrap" method of dealing with them.

This design shows off yarn with long color runs or will tame those bright variegated colorways that can be hard to work with.

This shawl is one of the results of playing with sideways garter stitch last summer. (Unfortunately, an injury to my right wrist this past fall has really slowed down my knitting (and crocheting) and the pace at which this design was finished. My wrist is much better but still not 100%.)

This quick-to-knit and easy shawl is knit sideways in garter stitch (no purling required). The lace edging is worked as you knit the shawl. When you're done knitting, tuck in the ends and you're good to go! No blocking necessary unless you want to do it.

I used 3 balls of Noro Aya with size 9 (5.5 mm) knitting needles for this shawl (about 450 yards of worsted weight yarn). Finished size was 48" along the neckline x 18" deep at the center back. I didn't block it. Because of the silk and cotton in the yarn I chose, my shawl has stretched quite a bit as I've worn it.

It's gotten a lot of wear since I knit it. I get a lot of compliments on it. It keeps the chill off your shoulders, looks good draped over a coat, and doubles as a hooded scarf if you place the lace edge around your face and wrap the "arms" of the shawl around your neck.

The four page pattern can be found in my Ravelry pattern store.

 For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.

Lil' Hoot

Knit these cute little owl toys fast with scraps from your yarn basket and a pair of size 7 knitting needles. Finished they measure 2.5” wide x 3” tall.

This is a little something I came up with last year for the Holiday Mystery Gifts group. It's a little owl toy. Stuff or fill it to create beanbags or juggling toys for kids or as cat toys for your favorite feline. Remember to sew the trims on securely so that kids or cats can't pull them off.

The body is knit flat and seamed with invisible garter seaming along one side.

The eyes and beak are crocheted. If you don't know how to crochet, I've included other options for these.

This single page pattern is available as a free download from my Ravelry pattern store. Click on the link below. You can view my store page even if you are not a member of Ravelry. Have fun!

Simple Knits pattern store click here