Published!

Today I got my advance copy of the March/April issue of Belle Armoire Magazine. My 1870's inspired 12" creation is on pages 52 & 53 (back-front) AND the lead picture for the article by Morgan McLaughlin. I am doin the Happy Dance. The one bummer is that I am the only submitter without concrete contact info at the end of the article.

It's been awhile since I've posted, I had that horrid cold that is going around and I have been spinning ingeo. I also took a class at WEBS in Northampton from Barbara Parry of Foxfire Fiber in January. I finally learned the technique for spinning lofty soft yarn and am busy practicing.

The class was wonderful. I learned so much and am looking forward to another.

Hats, Socks , etc.

I haven't been blogging because I have been knitting and crocheting like a fiend. I am a little more than halfway through the knitting of a pair of socks in the embossed leaf pattern in a bamboo and super wash merino wool blend yarn that I bought from

stick chick. Love the way it shows off the pattern. Love the leaf pattern. They are a gift for you know what so I have to finish them soon!

Project two - just listed for sale in my etsy shop is a crocheted cloche from yarn I made from soy silk that I hand painted and spun and plyed with wool that I also hand spun and dyed. The wool provides a soft contrast to the soy silks lustrous shine.

Why Spin?

This week I was interviewed as a possible consignee for a trendy crafts store. The interviewer asked a lot of questions which made me think about the possible answers to the question: Why do you spin yarn?
1. As a knitter, spinning and dyeing your own yarn gives one total control over the nature, color and texture of the finished product. If you design your own knits or want to create your own spin (no pun intended) on a commercial product, spinning is very attractive.
2. History. I don't know about other spinners, but I seem to have a built in drive to learn and try to preserve and/or promote ancient arts.
3. There is a kind of zen involved in spinning which is very addictive.

Drawbacks:
1. Expense - a good wheel is upwards of $300, dye is around $5 a package, raw fleece is over $5 per pound which will get you about enough for a shrug, roving is more, exotic fibers are more than that. Not to mention carders (hand or drum or both), lazy kates, knitty noddies, etc.
2. Time- It takes about 2-3 hours to card, spin and ply the yarn for a 2 ply 150 - 200 yard skein. 1000 yards are required for a fitted mid hip length small to med. size woman's sweater. Additional time is required for sorting and washing fleece and /or pre-prepping and driving or shipping it to the processors. And then there is dyeing and time for setting the twist and re-skeining.

Taking all of the above into consideration, I know I will never make money spinning yarn. I derive joy from the process of creating each skein and knowing that I am taking part in preserving and sharing an art form from the past.