Day 21 Tour De Fleece 2011 - Challenge Day

Today I was in the saddle early, I have had great fun spinning 200g  lumpy bumpy 'Art Style' Batts from YummyYarnsUK.  I purchased these batts to take part in a 'Spin Along' with the 'Yummy Yarns Group'.  I have really enjoyed spinning them today and they are really bringing me much joy seeing them dangling on the washing line to set the twist in these low twist singles.  These really are my kind of yarn!  I have four skeins out of 200g with about 30m, 20y of yarn in each skein.  I love very chunky crochet and I can see chunky 'Freeform' crochet hats on the horizon.  It has been a liberating experience after trying to spin fine, even yarns to embrace each lump and bump.  I practiced slubs and shoved more through my Orifice than I thought my little wheel could cope with.  (Yes Orifice is an official spinning term!  I will let you have a little snigger though.)  I also emptied four bobbins by Navajo plying all my left over yarns, that has been good practice.  I may chill out tonight with a bit more crochet on the 'Saggy Bottomed Bag'.

Handspinning 'Ula' Batts and Tussah Silk



YummyYarnsUk Ula Batts with Tussah Silk (Photographs by Patricia YummyYarnsUK)



 I asked Patricia at YummyYarnsUK if she could dye some Tussah silk for me to be plied with 'Ula'.  I was delighted when it arrived and think considering the two fibres were dyed separately, weeks apart they are a fantastic colour 'match'.  I love the green and the golds with the blue.  I have been spinning like mad!  I have never spun silk before and it was lovely.  A little tricky at first to get the tension right and then it spins as smooth as ... well ... as smooth as ...er ... silk.

I was completely surprised by the results.  Then when they were plied together I was surprised again.  I did not expect it to be so 'Marled'.  I had a slight panic that I had made the wrong choice.  Now it is off the bobbin and in a skein I love it.  It feels heavenly.  I really like the colour and texture of it.  The sheen of the silk is gorgeous with a slight sparkle from gold fibre in the 'Ula'  batts.  I am not sure yet what weight the Yarn is, if I am honest it is probably variable.  Very rustic and hand made! 



Apologies for the photgraph, my enthusiasm for sharing outweighs my photography skills, my philosophy is stick it in the sunshine, point, shoot and hope for the best!

When I have made friends with the other shawl I am knitting, I will finish that first.  Then I am hoping to knit a shawl with this yarn, when I wear it I will pretend to be The Little Mermaid!  I should end up with approximately 200g of 'Yummy' lovliness.



Handspinning 'Ula' - Yummy Yarn

You may remember I blogged about this fibre in February, You can read the post here

I finally plucked up the courage to spin with it this weekend.  It looked so pretty as batts that I was a bit reluctant to spoil it. 

  

 I untied and unrolled the batts, lovely, lovely, lovely.

 Using my trusty little Kiwi wheel, I managed to turn them into this nice fat bobbin full...

 It was fantastic to spin, I have been working on spinning some undyed Merino for a Dyers Picnic in June, so to switch to this was a treat.  The colours and the sparkle were fascinating.  It really made me think about Oceans, mermaids, dolphins and King Neptune.

   

A couple of hours into this spin I was having a dilemma with what to ply it with or wether to ply it with itself.  Then I saw some beautiful Yarn that Patricia, YummyYarnsUK has hand spun.  She Plied some wool with Tussah Silk in co-ordinating colours.  Patricia also loved the 'Ula' fibre and has agreed to dye some Tussah Silk to ply it with.  I am hoping the silk will be a fantastic contrast for this fibre, with the sheen of the silk complementing the sparkle that is already in the yarn, I can't wait to see it and have a play...for now back to the Merino.

Floral Dance - Yummy Yarn



This is Patricia's photograph as she has the knack for photographing yarn and capturing the true colours.

 I bought some gorgeous yarn from  YummyYarn UK
Kettle Dyed Shetland Wool 2ply 100g -
458 yards/419 metres per 100g approx
It is called Floral Dance.

I have never knitted with such fine yarn before but I couldn't resist the beautiful floral colours of this.  I searched long and hard for a suitable pattern to try and decided on...
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/violets-are-blue

The pattern is rated as 'easy' and the reviews I have read said, it was a pleasure to knit and very quick.  They also state the pattern is 'Spot on'.  So far I have frogged it seven times and this afternoon I gave it to my Mom to see if she could work out what on earth I am doing wrong.  My Mom struggled a bit but my sons were being boys and the dog was being playful so it was hard to concentrate.  Well, my Mom now thinks I should be on track with it, I am worried to try again as I have given it only one more chance!  I have work to do before I can get back to knitting today.  I seem to be a little jinxed lately.  Does anyone have any advice for when one feels they are about to throw a knitting tantrum or get aggressive with knitting needles?  It would make me feel better if you could share your disasters and frogging records!

YummyYarns UK

Yummy Yarn

This is a photograph of my YummyYarn UK 'Ula' batts - Ula is a Celtic name meaning 'Sea Jewel'.  Patricia from YummyYarns UK kindly let me use her photograph to show off my batts in all their glory, as it was quicker than sending me on a photography course!  This is a beautiful photograph that captures the colours and sheen of the fibre true to life.  I can't wait to spin these babies!  I can't quite bring myself to do it yet though as I havn't finished admiring their lovliness.

SPINNING batts, merino, firestar ,green, turquoise, lime, etc 104g - ULA-'Sea Jewel' YummyYarns uk



Patricia and I share the same birthday and are Pisceans, this may account for me obsessing over these 'Sea  Jewel' delights.  They do make me think of clear blue oceans and mermaids...I have said before I am a bit of a dreamer.  They are also a much welcome antithesis to my creation 'Oil Slick'!

This photograph is of the same batts that I took today, very different results and quite disappointing.

My photography does not do this fibre justice.  I purchased three of these batts from http://www.etsy.com/shop/YummyYarnsUK?ga_search_query=yummy+yarn&ga_search_type=seller_usernames
They are absolutely beautiful I just want to squish them and stroke them.  I will have to get tips from YummyYarns UK for photographing fibres.  If you visit the Etsy shop you will see a full range of fibres for spinning and hand dyed yarns.  I also had superfast delivery which is great for an impatient soul like me.