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

A Blanket For A Bean

With the Bean's due date coming up faster than I can get a grip on, I'm running low on time for handspun and handknit projects before the baby is here! So, I've stepped away from the computer (and the dishes, and the laundry, and tidying up in general. Yes. I'm the worst.) to work away at the wheel to spin up some special yarn for the baby's first blanket.

I still have a bit to go before the yarn is done but here is a little peek at what I've been up to.



If it looks insanely soft and squishy, oh that's because it is. So unbelievably soft.

The wool braid is a merino/tencel blend and it is a dream to spin. I normally would process and dye my own but I wanted splash out a bit and buy something really decadent and baby soft.

It was so worth it.

The wool was purchased from The Yarn Chef on Etsy. Do yourself a favor and also check out her hand dyed yarn shop.

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


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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