Saturday, September 5, 2009

A River Ran Through This


When I visit the local yarn store, which is more often than I should, I've made a conscious effort to avoid buying anything green. I own enough green yarn to last a knitter 2 lifetimes. I think I've succeeded in this effort, but now it seems I'm stuck on red. I really do need to branch out on the color wheel, but not today.


This is Mountain Colors' Ruby River Targhee Top Plied 3 Ways. It sounds like a delicious dish they'd serve on Iron Chef, but it's just yarn with singles spun the same (don't ask me about ratios, I just put the yarn on the leader and let 'er rip), but plied differently.

The yarn at the bottom of the photo is my first attempt at Navajo plying. I love the way that the stripes of color are preserved and I think chain plying is incredibly clever. It may not have a whole lot of uses in everyday knitting because of weakness and breakage potential, but whoever dreamed this technique up was brilliant. The top yarn is fantabulous (even if I must say so myself). I bought the commercial mohair that Mountain Colors makes in the same colorway and plied them together. It's light, bouncy and wears a pretty halo. In a word, yummy. The center yarn was wrapped into an Andean bracelet and plied. Although it turned out well, this is not my favorite way to ply. I like it so little, this was only the second time I've used this method.

I'm pretty excited about the mohair blend. I've got a whopping 240 yards of a fairly bulky yarn. I don't have a dohickey to measure wraps per inch, but I'd say there's enough there for a really toasty hat and maybe some mittens.

I have a lot to show for having spent around 8 hours at my spinning wheel today. I wish every day was Saturday.

8 comments:

Glennis said...

That red is very very un missable red, would be great as a toast hat and mittens and you wouldn't lose them. Lovely.

mrscravitz said...

I LOVE RED! I like your blog too, cause my neighbors got 4 llama's and she doesn't knit! LOL I was thinking of taking up the craft, but I have nothing, nor do I know anything about spinning my own yarns. (Well if you read my blog, I do a pretty good job I suppose! LOL) Anyway, the carding thing has me confused....LOL

Rudee said...

Thank you Mrs. Cravitz. Carding is hard work!! I've been trying to card the same dog hair since June. It makes me itch.

I hope your neighbor at least sells her fleece.

Glennis,

I think this red yarn will be a hat. If I'm lucky, some mitts, too.

kanishk said...

I like your blog too, cause my neighbors got 4 llama's and she doesn't knit! LOL I was thinking of taking up the craft, but I have nothing, nor do I know anything about spinning my own yarns. (Well if you read my blog, I do a pretty good job

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Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!

Anonymous said...

As red is my favourite colour I think this vibrancy is beautiful. As is your creative talent.

CJ xx

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Nancy said...

So glad I found you....I am a knitter and spinner and I have had so much fun reading your blogs and seeing all that you are creating.....Beautiful......