Hello lovely readers,
I thought it time for a yarny update. For the uninitiated FO is Finished Object and WIP is Work In Progress.
I’ve finished spinning this lovely blue merino from John Arbon Textiles. They call it royal blue but I think it closer to cobalt as it has a slight purpleyness about it so I’ve photographed alongside two pieces of Bristol Blue Glass. I have 807+ metres from 200 grams.
Currently on my hook is my grandson’s jumper (not shown) and this cushion cover. I’m using Lucy’s (of Attic 24) Neat Wave Pattern. I’m really enjoying it and love the colours.
And on the wheel I’m spinning this fibre…
And here it is on the bobbins…
So there you have it ๐ Bye for now xxx
Gorgeous blues!
LikeLiked by 1 person
๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful colours ๐ฆ๐๐๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, I think so too ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow you are one busy person! I love the wave pattern:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe…not much else gets done at the moment! The wave pattern is really nice to crochet and it looks so effective. Thank you ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that neat wave pattern makes me want to crochet. I’m not very good though. Love the colors!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not difficult. It’s a good idea to work up a sample first though and Lucy’s tutorial on her blog is very well set out. The colours are lovely ๐ Thanks ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely colours ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ๐ I’m really enjoying using these colours ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely bluetiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
๐๐๐๐๐ thank you!
LikeLike
That blue yarn is simply gorgeous! And i love your work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is isn’t it ๐ thank you ๐
LikeLike
Lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ๐
LikeLike
Those blues! That spinning fiber! That cushion cover! All of them are great colors!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mandy ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those colours! So deep and they go so well together. Very clever photograph also. I always struggle to come up with original photographs. Very impressed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, it’s only because the one thing reminded me of the other. The colours are lovely aren’t they ๐
LikeLike
They’re wonderful! Are you planning to sell them? Or just for personal use?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t have any immediate plans to sell them. To be honest it’s not something I’d really thought about much. I’ve been spinning for such a long time and it’s only recently that people have become interested in handspun. At the moment I’m trying to build up my handspun stash so that I can make colourful things just out of handspun. I think I need to write a post on that ๐
LikeLike
There’s a lot of pressure doing that I suppose. I think it probably takes some of the fun out of it too. Better to keep them for yourself! Always seems next level amazing that you can not only make things for yourself, but create the yarn to make it! The next step would be to rear and shear the sheep!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh….I’d like that ๐
LikeLike
Haha me too. We’d love some goats one day too. I think we definitely need to save for a farm of some sort,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes to goats and maybe a couple of pigs. The one thing I do know about farming is that sheep and goats have to be kept apart as sheep carry something that kills goats. Oh, and a couple of alpaca and several hens ๐๐
LikeLike
Pigs for sure. Oh I didn’t know that! I’ve heard that goats can get quite mean but thats new news to me. Alpacas! Yes! And some fluffy bunnies?
LikeLiked by 1 person
…as long as they don’t get into the veg patch!! ๐
LikeLike
Time to research bunny proof veg patches!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suddenly had visions of turning into Mr McGregor!
LikeLike
Oof I wouldn’t mind being Mrs Iwan McGregor..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol ๐๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ps… I like your photos ๐
LikeLike
Tehe thanks. Luckily I’ve got lots of scenic views around, but must use my imagination more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you have a sudden thought about how you could take a photo follow it through. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work because you always learn something from it to take to the next one. I really like the craft based photos of Lucy from Attic 24 and from Vanessa at Coco Rose Diary ๐
LikeLike
That’s a good idea. I struggle with light more than anything. By the time I get home it’s a struggle to get good light, especially this time of year. Lucy takes great photos, but will have to have a look at the other ones ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hadn’t thought about that. I wonder if a daylight bulb or two would help or just leave it till your days off…. ?
LikeLike
I have tried daylight lamps, they work in a pinch. I’m really going to miss having nice light to play with though ๐ฆ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, me too ๐ฆ But we’ll welcome spring all the more. Just had a thought…Some daylight saving bulbs work better than others. In glad the first one I ever purchased was a goodie because the second one I bought would have put me off them.
LikeLike
hmm good point. We had 2 small ones and each worked better for different things. We’ve actually got 2 bigger better ones since last winter. Thanks for reminding me i need to try them out! Maybe i need to invest in a light box too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm…a light box would be very useful. While we’re at it I would like a tapestry loom, a swift…. Lol ๐๐
LikeLike
Ha I could highly recommend a tapestry structure of any sort. Worth their weight. A swift would be a godsend. My Christmas list is getting longer ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
๐๐๐๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful work. Those fibres look like such a joy to spin and work with!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Yes they were ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous colours! I love Attic24!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really don’t know how she does it all…a amazing woman. And yes, it’s a fabulous blog ๐ Thank you! ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello, I just wanted to reach out to you and Thank You, for following me. I can see we have a tremendous amount in common and look forward to reading more about you.
Thank you, again.
Beckie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, thanks Beckie xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wish I was good at crochet, I just cannot get the tension right. I love the idea of spinning too, never had the chance, but in the UK it is hard to find a place that sells the wool, nevermind the expense of having a spinning contraption.
Love the blues, delicious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I struggled with crochet for a long time as I held the yarn the same as I do for knitting. So one day I started making a dishcloth very slowly holding the yarn properly and I succeeded. Tension was all over the place but that improved with lots of practice.
World of Wool in Yorkshire sell fibre for spinning online as well as their shop (which I would love to visit one day). Perhaps there is a weavers, spinners, dyers guild near you. I’m sure someone would be happy to give you a lesson and may be there may be a spare wheel amongst the members you could borrow.
Yes the Blues are particularly yummy ๐
Thanks so much for your comments ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are in Yorkshire quite a bit, so will put it on my list of places to go to. Thanks for the heads up. I will have a look for a guild here, and see if I can have a go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I’m really envious now ๐
Yay, I hope it happens for you ๐
LikeLike
Love those colors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lori ๐
LikeLike
that is such a beautiful shade of blue! i love it. ๐
i like attic24’s blog too. i reckon it’s very generous of her to share her knowledge and skills. i’ve been working on her solid granny stitches pattern for some time now. i have no idea when i’d ever finish as i keep starting and stopping projects ‘coz i keep running out of yarns. lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you ๐
I agree, very generous. As long as you enjoy the process it doesn’t matter how long it takes ๐
LikeLike
yep. like that time i wanted to make a crochet throw blanket but ended up enjoying the process too much that before i knew it, it was almost the size of a queen bed! lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol! Aww, I love that ๐
LikeLike
Love the colors!!!…
I am crochet throw blanket right now I haven’t really got to far with it due to illnesses …but I thought about undoing it while its not to far into to make a smaller one…since the one I was working on was going to be the size of a California king water bed …lollol…and we are changing bed out in the near future…lol…
Can I ask you a question???… I want a soft throw …I have one from a gift and it is made out of Polyester and so in love with it due to the softness and again with my illnesses I have to have soft…Can you recommend online link where I can buy some yarn like stated above???… I use a j hook or k…if that matters I am just at basic learning and its not to much for my hands right now…
Do you know if they use another name for Polyester??? I looked on HSN online and can not find Polyester : (
If you have time to respond I appreciate it…if not I do understand…
Hugggs
Suzette
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Suzette, I think I know the super soft throws you mention. In the U.K. these yarns are often sold with baby yarns in craft stores and are probably labeled acrylic rather than polyester. Most well stocked yarn stores would sell them. Also the yarn you are after might have nylon in it as it is softer to the touch. Baby yarns often have an acrylic/nylon mix as this makes the yarn softer to sensitive skin. I hope this helps… I don’t mind answering questions ๐
Thanks for commenting and it’s very nice to meet you ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omgosh thank you so much for your help!!!…that really clears it up for me…since I was so lost and not able to just run into the store for myself and look …
Thank you again my friend…I will look on this shopping network now I know what to look for…thank you thank you thank you…
I look forward to reading and seeing your work on your post…Yes very nice to meet you as well… I really appreciate your help
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ps…it’s very late here so I’ll probably go to sleep soon but I’ll check back here in the morning in case you have any more queries xxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
ohhh ok hun!!!
Thank you again…
Sleep tight don’t let the bed buggggs bite hehe
your so kind again thank you…
โฅโฅโฅ
LikeLiked by 1 person
โค
LikeLiked by 1 person
โฅโฅ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the blog. It’s nice to meet you from the blog party!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Julia, welcome to yarn and pencil ๐ It’s nice to meet you too. I’ll be on over to the party again in a couple of hours ๐
LikeLiked by 1 person
:>
LikeLiked by 1 person
I started my first Crochet stitches yesterday having been given a book on ‘Crochet for the Absolute Beginner’ for Christmas. I was recommended dish cloth cotton to work with but I am finding it too inflexible. It’s hard to pull the hook through. On the other hand the Rowan Big Wool I bought for one of the first patterns in the book (expensive!) looks a little frightening and perhaps I have chosen too dark a colour to see the stitches clearly. Can you help? What is a good yarn for a beginner, not too expensive, easy to work with and can be found easily in the UK. I’d really appreciate any tips.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Lesley, good for you ๐
Yes, choose a light to medium tone and something that isn’t fluffy as you need to be able to see your stitches well. Cotton doesn’t have any give to it and can be hard on the hands and wrists. Acrylic is similar. Wool has more elasticity. Are you able to get to a yarn shop?
LikeLike
There are no houses for a few miles let alone a yarn shop but I have put a message out to Friends on Facebook to find out if there is one in the nearest wee town. We’ll see what they say. Mostly I buy stuff online to save long journeys.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok thanks. I was trying to gauge if taking your pattern book to a shop would be an option. Obviously now that is not helpful to you. Some online shops give an alternative yarn of equal weight/feel etc which then gives a choice on price. I’ll have a little look and will post another comment under this one xxx
LikeLike
https://yarnsub.com/yarns/rowan/big_wool
Check this site Lesley. I just googled cheaper alternative to Rowan big wool and this came up. Lists a few yarns underneath. Remember to look up the total length of yarn in Rowan big wool in your pattern so that you purchase the required quantity of your substitute yarn.
LikeLike
Thanks for that xx. I will check it out. Someone else has suggested the Wool Warehouse online and to start with Stylecraft 100% acrylic yarn and a no. 5 hook for a beginner. I had a look and they have so many colours to choose from. I might give that a try for practice until I feel ready for a pattern.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great. I’m glad you have found a solution ๐
LikeLike