SPUNKY CLUB

February’s ‘Forecast’ was my first offering from the Spunky Club. Being a new spinner, I thought the Club would be a good way to try different fibers and techniques and learn all I could. I spun the Forecast and plied it in chained singles and then knit a pair of rather funky socks.

The March offering, Dandy Lion, was bright and happy. It said ‘baby’ to me so I plied it again in chained singles and then knit a baby hat. Too cute, eh?

You’d think by the time the April offering came that I’d have had enough practice with chained singles but, feeling the need for more practice, I spun Strawberry Fields into sock yarn. I can’t say it was a very good job and I really haven’t enjoyed knitting with it. But putting the finished sock on my foot gave me the needed push to keep going. There will be pair of socks in my future.

The June offering may be my favorite of all as it is ‘my colors’. This time I stepped outside my comfort zone (and I feel I’ve been getting a better handle on control) and spun Nightshade into a single. They were lightly steamed to relax and set the twist and I was so pleased with the results. A small shawl (the skein is about 400 yds) is in my near future.

July’s Tulip was another favorite of mine and I spun it in a simple two ply and gave it a good soaking. It’s soft, yummy and will be just perfect for a fun, thin (only 280 yds), but warm scarf for my black coat.

I have only been spinning on a wheel since November, but I have spun a lot of fiber as practice and to learn the charateristics of different breeds. Amy’s fiber is consistantly nice in texture and color. I have enjoyed using it to learn techniques that enhance my abilities and I look forward to my next fix!

Margene

I’m slowly catching up! This week I blame Rogue. Because, you know, nothing like being obsessed with knitting a wool sweater now that we’re getting 90-degree days.

I’m halfway done with my February roving; I had to take a break to spin up some silk that I’m going to give a good friend for her birthday in a few weeks.

You can see a larger version of the photo, and the silk if you are interested, here on my blog. I am really, really over the moon about Forecast. For the first time the yarn that’s come off the bobbin looks exactly like what it looked like in my head before I began spinning. I had tentative plans to give this yarn away to a friend (how did I get so many friends who knit…?) but not now. I am selfishly keeping this beauty for myself because I am in! love!.

Have a great weekend,

Lorena

Edited to add: I keep trying to comment, and for some reason whenever I hit the submit comment button, I get a page reload and my comment has gone POOF. Is this only happening to me? What I was trying to say is this:

 Aw, thank you, Maia! I try! ;p

Believe it or not, since everything lined up so nicely, it’s not Navajo plied! I have tried and tried reading tutorials on how to do that, and just can not “get it” by reading. I need to find someone local who will show me how that’s done. Usually my 2-ply is kind of all over the place… so I feel really good about this!  Thanks all!

Speaking of plying, I’m almost done with that silk and that means February will be back on the bobbins tomorrow morning. I’m not going to say that I’ll be caught up soon because that’s just tempting fate. But I’ll be inching closer to spinning up that beautiful Strawberry Fields…

When I saw Amy’s post I am such a Lemming, I was sure she was posting another forecast sock. After seeing the beautiful Forecast socks by Amy and Margene made, I was feeling a bit lemmingish when I too Navajo plied my Forecast roving for socks.

This is my second pair of socks made from Amy’s roving. (Note: that makes three different Amys referenced in one post!) The first ones (BFL in the Chocolate Covered Cherries colorway) are probably my favorite socks. More info on my blog.

My handspun, hand knit Forecast socks were finished last night. You can see the pair on my blog today.

It was so much fun to spun, ply and knit this color and fiber. Thanks Amy!

Margene

Forecast was my first shipment of Spunky Club roving. I’m looking forward to the next already. I spun and then used plied chained singles (aka Navajo plying) to make the yarn and then decided to knit socks (instead of Argosy as first planned). I’m so happy with my first handspun sock and can’t wait for a pair! We should have just enough winter left that I’ll be able to wear them at least once. Check out the picture on my blog and/or the Flickr group. Thanks!
Margene

I finished this Lady Eleanor shawl this weekend with the yarn I spun from Forecast.  It is about 1000 yards of yarn, #10.5 needles, 10 stitch squares and 7 squares across.  It is very lacy (see the Sunbonnet Sue peeking through the top).  It is still warm enough to keep out the chill.

- Amy from amysbabies