Sarah Knits and Weaves

I am finally back to knitting, weaving, and spinning after a long semester. I have woven one scarf using my own handspun and have started a belt with a very mixed warp (rayons, silk, cotton, wool, acrylic). I am also almost finished with a huge knit bag and hope to felt it this week.

I have been spinning a lot recently. I'm finishing a green merino top that I got for Christmas. It is being spun just under fingering weight and then being plied with gold rayon. The result will be used as the weft in a woven scarf, with more gold rayon for the warp. It should be cushy from the wool, but also very shiny and with a lovely drape.

I'm also starting to spin 9 ounces of a wool mohair blend. I don't know what breed of wool was used or the percentages but it is lovely. I think it might be naturally dyed, though I"m not sure. I have no plans for it yet.

I have four ounces of blue BFL roving that I will spin and ply with some soysilk I"m also spinning up and will probably dye a similar shade of blue. I want to knit some sort of lace from this but I don't do lace so I'm not sure.

Last on the spinning front a friend I know online sent me a few ounces of natural colored cottons. I really like the colors and hope to spin them soon.

With this much spinning I needed more spindles than I already had. My dad made me a cotton Tahkli spindle for the cotton, it was made with a half dollar and a brass rod. I was given a cd spindle that is good for plying up merino and rayon. Then I finally gave up and bought myself a Kundert spindle. I have been using very simple uncarved spindles until now, and this one is just awesome. Much faster and spins longer. Maybe this year I'll spend what I make in selling my knits and weavings to buy a wheel.