Spinning finishes and FNSI

Last weekend I finished off two singles and managed to get a lot plyed off and washed!  Really pleased with that as I haven't had much time to actually spin for quite some time.  Below are some pics of the finished yarns.

Hand dyed 18 mic merino blue and orange.  Leftovers on bobbins.

Solar dyed 18 mic merino navaho plied.

Ixchel Club Samhain plyed with hand dyed pale blue merino

I also had the pleasure to win a spindle.  So managed a quick play on it too.  I think I will always prefer to use my wheel but it will be fun learning how to use it and they do say that some fibres spin differently on different wheels and spindles too.  I also received a pack of mixed coloured corriedale as well.  So I will do some reading on spindling and have a bit more of a go at it.

On Saturday I am heading off to Wangaratta for a fibre event so I will be back on Sunday with the results of FNSI.  I believe it is hosted by a local spinning group and there are a few people I know that will also have things for sale there.  I am on the look out for Mothers Day presents and that will be a suitable shopping place for them lol.  Plus it will be a lovely day to join others.

Have a lovely weekend everyone,

Cup Cosy Swap

Here is the parcel that I made for my partner NBloomy on Ravelry in the LittleBobbins group.

I really enjoyed making both of these cosies and they used some firsts too.  The black handspun by me English Leicester with my overdyed Bendigo Mohair Farm 3 ply is my first stranded colour work piece and I worked out the design too.  It was fun to knit.  The second one is crocheted from my first lumpy, bumpy but balanced spin!  It is Border Leicester.

Well parcel is heading out today being the 8 April so I had better schedule this post to appear later so I don't spoil the surprise.

Now that it has been received I can now share it and show what I have received from NBloomy on ravelry.

What a wonderful swap and I am now off to share the pics on ravelry and see what others have swapped too.

Finished item! and the Wool Museum

I have just finished up another pair of work socks for Lance.  This time I used the fish lips heel pattern which is by the Sox Therapist and is available for $1 on ravelry.  I used some merino/nylon and the shropshire roving that I spun up.  The brown was done as a 2ply but the shropshire I navaho plied so it is a nice thick 3 ply which should wear quite well inside the boots.  Well that is what I am hoping.  They are about an 8ply weight sock.  Another pair will hit the needles soon as I am wanting to use up some yarn so stripy work socks it will be.  

They are not blocked in the photo but they haven't had a chance to be blocked because they were straight on the feet the next morning lol.  

I have also been to the National Wool Museum in Geelong yesterday and taken lots of photos which I will share below.  I was looking for something to do after dropping our eldest back at University after the Easter break and thought this would be a perfect way to break the journey as nearly 8 hrs in the car for a round trip is a little too much at times.  

The displays featured machinery that takes you from the scour to finished yarn and then on to weaving and rug making.  I was a little disappointed that there was only one spinning wheel on display in the wool growing to shearing section but thats ok as there was more than enough fleece and machinery to keep me occupied lol.

I will now just dump a whole heap of photos so that those who are interested can have a look.  There was also a special section of Women in war or similar and that also featured loads of poppies.  It was an amazing display.

FNWF results!

Well the knitting on this cable cardi is going to take a fair while but I worked on it for a couple of hours and cast on some toe up socks for hubby too.  So I had a very good FNWF!

Made with BWM 8ply alpaca yarn in mauve.  The yarn is about 20 years old and is the first lot of alpaca that they produced.  I also had a deep purple which I made up into a plain cardi a couple of years ago.  It grew about 3 inches last night!  Until I started dropping stitches so then swapped to casting on socks instead.

Tomorrow or Monday I will pop round and see what others have made via Cheryll's sign up link.

Have a lovely Easter with family and friends tomorrow!

FNWF

Yay its FNWF over at http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com.au/ tonight.  SO looking forward to doing some knitting with Cheryll and friends tonight.

Finished objects

Finally here are some pics of my finished objects.   Started around the 26 Sept last year, well that is when I first blogged about it.  Sarah's jacket knitted from Bendigo Woollen Mills 12ply Charcoal which I thought was not as soft to work with as it used to be.  Washed up okay but I still need to de-hair the dog off it before Sarah gets home from uni tomorrow.

It is one of those huge wrap around things and is very long.  If I was going to knit it again I would definitely go a needle size lower to shrink it a bit.  Should be nice and warm for her in Geelong though.  If she still likes it that is.  If not sure Mum would love it lol.

Next up is my scarf made from old Bendigo Mohair Farm 3ply which I overdyed last year.  I am pretty happy with the outcome and used the cast on amount and the first pattern repeat for Wester Wald Waves by Kaeidschie on Ravelry.  I used thicker yarn than intended and there wasn't a full pic of it but thought what I could see looked interesting.  Took quite a while to knit so many stitches but then all of a sudden I was running out of yarn.

I have also been enjoying watching some podcasts about knitting etc by Little Bobbin Knits and also Tilly Trout on Ravelry.  I joined a mug cosy swap that was mentioned on Dani's podcast which is Little Bobbin Knits and they are drying on the blocking board at the moment so will have to remember to share a pic of those once my partner receives her parcel after Easter.  It was a large swap with people from all over England, America and a few Australians joining in and my partner comes from Melbourne so only about 3-4 hours drive away.  The idea was to make a mug cosy and add your favourite tea or coffee and a postcard.  Well I have managed to do all that and add some locally made chocolate as well! 

Tomorrow I am off to Geelong to pick up Sarah for a week at home.  Hopefully the weather will remain nice for driving and the traffic on the freeway not too heavy.  I am leaving really early so hope to be heading home again by 11am.  8 hrs in the car will be a long day and I am so glad I don't have to do it every week!

Happy Easter everyone and I am now going to pull out my mauve cardigan and start working back on that.  Plus some more socks for Lance.