Pomegranate: All Spun Up

I've finally finished the wool I've been spinning for Baby #2's special blanket! It's been slow and steady and it feels GREAT to have reached this stage! The yarn spun up BEAUTIFULLY and I'm really really pleased with how it turned out. It's soft, bouncy with a bit of spring in it, and really warm. Not to mention decadent in its gorgeous pomegranate color.

The lowdown:

• 80% New Zealand merino and 20% silk
• DK/Worsted weight (8-10ply)
• 933 yards total (853 meters)

I can't wait to get knitting on this blanket! I plan on something simple to show off the depth of color and richness of the yarn but with a soft and feminine touch to it. We'll see. I still haven't completely decided on a pattern. Speaking of which, recommendations anyone?

xo


Follow along with the journey:

The beginning - Spinning Wool for the Baby
Spinning it up - Pomegranate Progress

Pomegranate Progress

I've been making some slow and steady progress on spinning up this merino and silk for the baby. I'm really liking the way it's turning out!

Have you been working on any special projects lately? I've usually always got a few projects going.

Spinning wool: For the baby

I splashed out on some extra fancy wool to spin for the new baby! I have big plans for a baby blanket (and possibly a matching hat and sweater). After days of searching I finally settled on this luscious silk and merino blend by Ashford in the Pomegranate color way. This luxuriously soft blend boasts deep pinks, mauves, burgundy and an array of orange hues. Perfect for our baby girl but mature enough for me to love.

It's downright delicious. Stay tuned for when I spin it up into a soft, lofty yarn! And then knit it.

I better get started.

Dreaming Big

Yesterday I've sent off my entry form to enter my hand-spun hand-knit shawl into an upcoming exhibition. I'm extremely nervous as I've never entered anything into an exhibition before, let alone attend one, so I have no idea what I'm up against! It's a small dream of mine to have one of my knits on display so I've decided to go for it!

I've hand spun this wool and am currently in the process of knitting it up! I'm calling it "Nueva", which means "new" in Spanish. A friend of mine hand dyed this wool for me as a parting gift before I moved to New Zealand around two years ago. The deep greens represent new beginnings and the New Zealand countryside. I'm quite excited with how it's turning out!

Cross your fingers for me! I'll let you all know if it makes it to the exhibition.

xo
Check out more of my handspun projects HERE.

Houston, I think I have a problem.

A few years ago I used to run a small hand-dyed fiber business that featured handspun yarn and dyed unspun fiber for the wool enthusiasts. It's been a awhile since I've closed shop and put everything away. And lately I just haven't had time to sit down at the wheel and spin any yarn. It's been awhile since I've dug into my wool stash.

Putting together my craft room has really allowed me to tuck into every ounce of crafty stuff I own and make sure it's organized and easily accessible.

Holy crap, y'all. I have a LOT of craft stuff.

Especially wool.

I spread out just a portion of the wool across our bed to air out before I bagged and stored it in airtight containers. Seriously. This isn't even 1/4 of what I own. This is only some of the dyed stuff. I have about 6 fleeces and and several pounds of undyed wool left to sort out.

And yarn. Lots and lots. And lots. Of yarn.

....


It's kind of dreamy.

xo
Talia Christine

OH MY!

This morning I've been a busy bee. I don't have work for the rest of the week so I'm able to catch up on a few things I've been wanting to do!

I resized the vintage dress we picked up at the church rummage sale.
I made a pumpkin pie.
I finally put away all our clean laundry.
I sewed up Phil's jean pockets (they had holes in them).

Today was a very productive day.

The greatest part though, was the surprise ring of the doorbell. One of the ladies at church (who also shares the same last name as me) stopped by to bring me pounds and pounds of wool!



She used to be a spinner herself but has taken to felting since her spinning wheel broke. The wool has been in storage a long time and she wanted to see it go to a good home.



I'm so excited! The wool came from their sheep they raised and I'm looking forward to spinning some up. All of it is undyed in its natural colours. Yum.



I forsee alot of woolen things in my future.

xoxo
Talia Christine

My Latest Spin

I've begun work on baby Dylan's second present. I'm hand spinning some special wool to knit up into the softest blanket imaginable (or close anyway).

Before:




After:



I'm about halfway done spinning the 8.5 ounces of Merino/Tencel blend.
This stuff is a dream to spin.
It spins up like butter.
It has gorgeous hints of baby blues, grays, and silver throughout the wool and spun up yarn. I'm excited to knit a swatch to see how it looks!

Now to on decide (again, because I keep changing my mind) which baby blanket pattern I will knit.

For those of you interested, I purchased the roving from Spincerely. I'm a repeat customer. She has excellent customer service and has always answered my hair-brained questions that I throw at her. What's most though is that her dyed rovings are ridiculously incredible. I dye my own wool typically, but when I splash out and buy something fancy I head her way.

xoxo
Talia Christine

50th Post!!

Yay! It is my 50th post already!

To celebrate I am having a yarn sale with free shipping in the US and half price shipping to Canada.

Here's a sneak peek of whats in the shop:

Batts and fiber:


Handspun Yarn (Made with love):


http://bieowbieow.etsy.com


Happy Shopping!!!

Love,
Talia Christine
xoxo

Shop Update!

Here's a sneak peek of some of the wool and fiber I've put into the shop!



http://www.etsy.com/shop/bieowbieow

Tomorrow's Update - Handspun Yarn:



xoxo Talia


----------------

P.S. -- Because so many have asked, I'm updating with the proposal story soon! :)

Just When I Think I'm Out...

I was just complaining to myself the other day that I was running out of a fiber and stuff to spin. Now, for honesty's sake, that's not even close to true but it's what I like to think when I run out of inspiration and umph. It makes me feel better. It's my own little justification in my own little crafty world.

Today a friend at work pulled me aside and told me he had a gift for me. I recently gave him some handspun yarn, him being a fellow knitter, and he went nuts over it. I really hadn't the faintest idea what he brought for me. Never did I expect this loveliness!

Four different colours of four alapaca fleeces:




The natural colours are sooo beautiful! There is about 3-4 ounces of each colour. I really didn't take good photos, the pictures don't do it justice at all. The two lighter colours are just _silly_ soft! They are so soft you just want to giggle because it doesn't make any sense. It is really wonderful clean fiber. I haven't decided how I will spin it up yet. I'm ridiculously excited and thankful for this wonderful gift!!! Thanks again!

After this I come home to find these two things in my mailbox:

My monthly installment from Spunky Fiber Club



Soul Windows

Corriedale with 10% nylon
Really wonderful stuff! It's a really delicate feeling fiber with a hint of strength to it. I'm thinking either a 3-ply (yuck I hate 3-plies but I'm determined to conquer) or a delicious worsted single. We'll see what becomes of it, I really can't decide.


Two pounds of undyed corriedale:



It's really soft and I can't wait to dye it all up. It also _really_ smells like sheep. That also makes me giggle!

LASTLY (I promise) here are the dried and braided versions of my last dying adventure:








Who's complaining about a depleted stash now?!

xoxo