Knitting Dragonflies

I have lots of handspun in small amounts, (less than 200-300 yards).  The question is; what to do with it? So I have been on a search of patterns, free if possible, from indie designers! (there are so many fellow bloggers that have wonderful patterns!) Some that have made my cue: Pattern/amount of yarn/type/blog - the Slouched Tuva Hat DK weight, ~120-130 yards (110 meter, 50 gram), from Give me a Purl; - Lace headband , 80-100 yards of leftover worsted weight wool, Blue Peninsula blog And while searching for patterns I found this great post from Simple Knits, 653 patterns to knit with 285 yards of yarn ! It is fabulous! She has found a wealth of wonderful patterns from inspiring bloggers. So I’m off to read some blogs and look at some patterns. From One Stitch after Another, her post quick texture patterns for last minute , all less than 300 yds of yarn. Take a look around on her blog, she has other posts with similar topics. Enjoy creating!

I have a new wheel, a Lendrum folding wheel from Paradise Fibers, I love it, of course it’s the only wheel I know or how really used so I’m biased. I started with roving to play with, then I had purchased about 12 or so oz of white merino at a fiber fair. I decided I would spin all of this and ply it. My logic was after that I would have a good idea of what I was doing. Which I think worked fairly well. Some snaggles at first. My first three skein of plied handspun. Woot…. Well I’m not sure what I had planned for this, but I just fondled them for a while, they were so soft and squishy, and made me smile. Some where along the line I decided they needed color. (I know some of these photos I have blogged before but I am so enamored by Kool Aid dyeing that they are having a encore presentation) Numerous online bloggers recommended Kool Aid for my first foray into dyeing. Even so, I was a bit uncertain as I started, after all this was my first, plyed handspun yarn. Off ...

Spring quickly turns into summer.  We have had so much rain here, I feel like I am living in a rain forest, upside to that is lush growth of the garden and flowers. The air is heavy, even at 80 you perspire, and, as my friend pointed out, everything you stick in your pockets come out damp. This spring I began with my first felted purse, I am still carrying it and love it. This quickly turned into an obsession. Fast forward to now, and I have numerous skeins of yarn, patterns and friends that I have drug along in my felt mania. I’m going to try to arrange a “felting party”, some friends, (yes all of my friends have had knitting needles thrust at them), some wine, snacks and a Saturday on the deck. Knitting and felting a purse is a great project for a beginner knitter. No matter what style of purse you prefer there is a pattern out there, or you can tweak one. Pick your color, or colors and your off. Mistakes disappear, a way too big knitted sack appears and the fun really...

Just a small update on my progress on using my handspun for my lace shawl pattern: Free pattern here . Not a very good photo, but you get the general idea. House slippers done. And of course I have help: And more magnets, tee hee..... Technorati Tags: Handspun lace shawl pattern link , Knitted slippers , glass magnets

Here is the handspun I am working on. When picking out yarn it usually lets me know what I should knit with it. I have found this to be true with fiber also. This fiber immediately started whispering "shawl" to me. I found this shawl pattern list on the blog Simple Knits all triangular shawls. Then are ranked by amount of yarn needed. How handy is that! Thanks to Vicki for all of her hard work, please check her blog out!! She has more lists of patterns! A great resource! I was searching for a shawl which I could knit as I spin. Something that didn't matter how much yarn I ended up with, yet pretty. I fell in love with this shawl, simple, but not just garter stitch, light and airy. Just exactly what this yarn had been telling me! So it looks like I am finally going to cast on some of my handspun!! I have had a phobia about it. Other wise I am on a mad mission to finish my UFO's!! Hopefully pictures to follow. Like my dogs, ...