Yarn Spinning: My Newest Hobby?

A few months ago, I met a girl at one of my knitting groups who brought in the yarn she had recently spun on a spinning wheel. It was BEAUTIFUL. I didn't even know you could spin your own yarn! I had heard of people dyeing their own yarn but never actually spinning it from fiber. Then and there, I resolved to one day do the same thing. So when my LYS (Local Yarn Store) advertised a yarn spinning class, I signed right up.

Now, here's the thing, as those of you who know me, I'm a bit of a perfectionist and it's very hard for me to be creative since I constantly need things to be perfect. I have a hard time being patient enough to cultivate a certain skill needed for a particular craft. I want to learn it and be able to do it well ASAP! I figured because of this, I would become impatient and frustrated very quickly and early on in the yarn spinning spinning class and sure enough, I was right.

First of all, the class was for Drop Spindle Yarn Spinning. This means we'd be using a drop spindle, not a wheel. Already, this makes a huge difference in the look of the finished product. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the class. I was very intrigued with the idea of going full circle with a knitting project. The concept of spinning my own yarn from fiber and then knitting it up into something wearable/usable really excited me. The teacher was very knowledgeable and more importantly, passionate about this craft. She taught us a few different methods of how to spin the yarn and then how to ply it together. But of course, I was not happy with my efforts and with the resulting yarn. I quickly surmised it would take a lot of persistence and dedication to get this method down. Not that I'm not capable. I'm just not feeling the passion and desire to dedicate the time to the whole process. I'm currently obsessed with knitting and crocheting using beautiful yarn that has already been spun to look and feel amazing. In the end, I decided I don't need another expensive hobby. At the moment I'd rather spend my money on gorgeous yarn. And so, I've decided to put this hobby on the back burner for the moment. But one day I know I will get the bug to spin my own yarn again. So stay tuned...

An Early Spring!!

Being a huge fan of the movie, Groundhog Day with the comedic genius, Bill Murray, I've always had a thing for that obscure holiday on February 2nd. So on Saturday morning, I'd set my alarm as I usually do (even when I lived in France) to watch the live coverage of the biggest Groundhog Day celebration which takes place in Punxsutawney, PA hoping Phil the groundhog would NOT see his shadow and predict an early spring. And guess what? He did!! Or didn't. That's to say, he DIDN'T see his shadow which means he DID predict an early spring. Got it? Good!

Legend has it that if Phil sees his shadow when coming out of his burrow, he'll go back to sleep since there's to be six more weeks of winter. But if he doesn't see his shadow, that means there will be an early spring. Once the announcement had been made we were to expect an early spring, I began to really hope it would be a reality. I'd had a bad last couple of weeks since I'd been sick, had had a falling out with a friend, and basically had a case of the winter blues. So I decided to take a cue from Phil and call for an early spring, mentally! I would figuratively clear out the cobwebs, draw the drapes to let the light in, and throw open the doors and windows to air out the musty moldy smell of winter. And what better way to get a jump start on this fresh new perspective/outlook? Why, with a spring crochet/knitting project, of course!!

I decided I'd crochet a bedspread for my bed in a bunch of bright bold colors. I chose this project since it's to be a bunch of squares that I will then sew together which means I am able to work on other projects at the same time. I can crochet a square in about a half hour and can do that at any time, wherever I may be, especially since I am easily able to memorize the square patterns. I plan on choosing about 5 different motifs and each square will be crocheted in one solid color for efficiency and because let's face it, I hate constant color changes, not to mention the weaving in of the ends at the end!! Once all the squares have been completed, I will be using a black yarn to sew them all together so that the colors will pop even more. For some reason, I keep thinking "Mexican Fiesta" when I think about the color scheme. I think with the black and the bright colors, I think of the colorful colors from Dia de los muertos (the Day of the Dead). So far, I have 11 different colors I've chosen that were inspired by a hank of yarn I recently purchased from my LYS (Local Yarn Store) and I will be getting a few more today. Since this is a pretty big project, I've chosen a commercial and inexpensive yarn that is acrylic based so that I may wash it without worrying about the colors fading or the yarn fraying or felting. For these kinds of projects, I really like using Simply Soft by Caron and Soft Yarn by Red Heart which come in many different colors and are only about $4 a skein or less. Sometimes, like at the moment, you can find this yarn on sale for 2 skeins for $5. The yarn also has a beautiful sheen to it and a great definition that really displays the artwork of your chosen stitch pattern. It's perfect for the different squares I've chosen to make and with a size K hook, the squares measure 9"x9" which means they are pretty big and therefore, you don't have to make a ton of them.

I hope to complete this project by early May but with the way I've been crocheting up the squares, I wouldn't be surprised if my bedspread is done and on my bed by April, instead! Stay tuned for some more pictures of the different square motifs I've chosen as well as the progress of the bedspread. In the meantime, I hope all of you are inspired to do some early spring cleaning, creating, and or clearing of the mental winter cobwebs!! Oh, and a special thanks to Phil, the groundhog: Phil, you've made my year, so far, with your wonderful prediction! Although I'm still predicting March 21st as the start of spring. =D

My Inspiration Yarn

My current colors. I still need some deeper pinks. And this picture doesn't capture the richness of the color scheme. They really do match the colors from my inspiration yarn. 

Blocking the squares. One of the ladies at my knit group suggested the kid's foam mats for this  purpose and so far I gotta say I'm loving them. I can use as little or as many foam squares as I need at any given time. 

Motif 1

Motif 2

Motif 3

Spa Booties!

I saw this pattern entitled, Peekaboo in a knitted socks pattern book called, The Joy of Sox by Linda Kopp, and instantly wanted them for myself. My feet get hot in socks sometimes and therefore, I'm very intrigued by toeless socks. Plus, I liked the idea of wearing these socks when giving myself a much deserved pedicure!

I purposely made the socks to not match and I like the contrast of the two color schemes. The pattern was relatively easy to follow and quick to make. I did have to go down a few sizes in needles since my feet are on the smaller side nowadays! I'm only now realizing just how important making a gauge swatch is. There's nothing worse than laboring to make something only to find that it's too big or too small. Check your gauge, people! 

There is a strip between the big toe and middle toe to help keep the socks in place. 

The Maggie Mat

This past summer I let a friend borrow my netbook while I was on vacation and I gave it to him in a crocheted case I made a few years ago. I had used Lion Brand's Suede yarn in Turquoise and it's very soft to the touch. A few days after I left the computer at my friend's house, he sent me a text of this picture of Maggie, his female cat. The text said something like, "I came home from work and this is where I found Maggie! I promise to get all the cat hair off before I return your bag!".  I thought the picture was so cute I couldn't even get mad. I responded by saying how cute the picture was and promising to crochet Maggie her own little mat. This past December, I finally did. Luckily, I had a bunch of skeins of the same yarn I'd used for the computer bag left in my old yarn stash. I think I got them on sale at Walmart or somewhere, if I remember correctly. I looked online for a pattern for a pet bed and I found this one: http://crochet-with-cris.blogspot.com/2012/02/1-skein-pet-bed-pattern.html

This pattern was really easy, fun, and quick to make. I did end up making two circles to put together. It made it more cushioned and prettier since both sides were right sides. My friend has since washed the mat and I'm happy to say the yarn washes well. All the cat hair comes off and it only needs to be air dried flat. You can use any worsted yarn, really. I do recommend doubling up the yarn if it's a bit thin as well as making two circles. I'm very happy to say Maggie loves her new little mat and uses it often!

Maggie on the original computer bag.

The finished Maggie Mat!

The queen of her new throne!