Chasing rainbows

As a brand new spinner, I'm learning about consistency. Not just when I'm spinning, but also when I'm plying. Somehow, I have managed to let my knitting projects get out of hand again, leaving me very little time to devote to my spinning wheel. That is going to change though, when Tour de Fleece starts in a couple of weeks. I'm told when you are in training for the ride, you should set a goal for yourself. I have been stashing away fiber for it, but again, being new, I have no idea how long I should devote in hours to spin up an eight ounce braid, or even a four ounce one for that matter. So, rather than setting a goal to spin up all that I have acquired for the tour, I'm setting it at two hours of sitting at my wheel each day. That doesn't mean that I can't do more, but I'm going to start at two hours since the thumb on my right hand seems to take a beating when spinning. I'm told it will do that when you're a new spinner, but wow, does the joint ever become inflamed and throb like crazy! I've been trying to loosen up a bit and not keep a death hold on the fiber, plus take some Naproxen, and it seems to help quite a bit. Then there's the idea of sitting for long periods of time without any back support. I am going to have to find the perfect chair for my wheel, so I can be comfortable. I'm sure it won't hurt to get out my body ball and do some stretching with that too. Being a rookie, I know I won't take home a yellow shirt, nor will I deserve to, but I want to be the best I can be. I'm getting a little practice at my wheel every couple of days or so, and this is what I produced this past Saturday, with the help of my friend Toni (aka coolpinkone on Ravelry) showing me how to Navajo ply. I am so in love with that technique!! The end product is a much nicer, more rounded twist to your yarn.

I bought two four ounce braids of this merino tencel blend by chasing rainbows dyeworks, at Stitches West 2010. The dyelot is Peacock Plume, and while it looked as such in the braid, I don't think it spins up looking like a peacock's plume at all. Not important, as I love it all the same! I haven't soaked/washed this hank yet to set the twist, but I did measure it out to be about 24 yards. Not a lot to do anything with, but the main thing is I feel more comfortable with navajo plying now. It takes three times as much yarn to get a good amount, so I will have to keep that in mind when I go to use that technique. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to which fibers are best suited for that ply, etc., but as with anything, it's going to take practice and I'm just going to have fun with it along the way!

My friend Dawn, knittenwolf on Ravelry, reminded me the other day that I had become lax in my charity knitting/crocheting so far this year. She posted pics of some adorable preemie hats she had knitted for the Sweet Caroline Project. So while I was getting my hair done yesterday, I knitted up this little teensy hat. They are fast, only take about 45 yds of scrap sock yarn (Lord knows I have enough of those!), and the NICU at your local hospitals appreciate them so much! I'm told the parent(s) love having them as well. Instead of the stockinette section after the ribbing, you can use any sock knitting pattern, but I prefer to just stay with the quick and simple. If I have any yarn left over, I love to make matching mitts and/or a blankie. I didn't have any preemie's in my family, but I do have some grandbabies that spent a good bit of their infancy in and out of the hospital, and I saw the need for the little hats. About a year ago, I had a grandbaby in the hospital for a few days. I happened to have a box of hats, mitts, socks, and blankies, so I brought them with me on one of my visits to the hospital and those nurses were all over that box. They loved it and said I had no idea how desperate they were for them!! I will definitely be making more of these from this pattern to deliver to the same hospital.

I hope you had a great first day of summer yesterday!! Just remember to stay hydrated, and stay off the waterways if they have been declared dangerous in your area!