Originally I didn't plan to participate, because knitting at a timetable always drives away my knitting mojo and I assumed I would not have time on my hands anyway.
But now I have very conviently a project with a deadline on August, 23rd. We are invited to a wedding on that day and my daughter needs a chic cardigan for her even more chic dress.
Just perfect, don't you think so?
I joined Team Germany and signed up for babydressage.
And not only with me. My children wanted spindles, too. To keep things simple I made some for them myself using some wooden wheels with rubber tyres from the hardware store (you can use them to build toy trucks etc.), kebob skewers, a little band aid and a bended paper clip. I also want to make some from old CD's but haven't gotten to it, yet. And I still need some really small hooks for the spindles, I haven't found them in my hardware store.
And then I needed some wool. I only had some merino roving and that didn't seem the approbriate fibre for children to start with. So I ordered some Bergschaf (a German / European breed) and now they can start. It isn't easy at all - spinning the spindle itself seems to be the easiest part and they already tried this because the spindles were finished long before the yarn arrived. But drafting is really not easy for 5 and 7 yo children.
But I'm sure they'll get it.
I also included a little for me to experiment with. Amongst it was some Gotland sheep. Not easy at all - sooo sleek, so also the staple length is rather long I have problems to keep everything together. I'm sure, my slow spinning cross spindle wasn't the best choice for this fibre but there was no other free.
Then there is some multicoloured multicolour merino that I tried on one of the childrens spindles. Nice effect, looks like Trekking 100.
And to make things complete I also ordered some yarn for felting - ordered again from Wollknoll.
I'm making quite good progress on my spinning project.
That's what about 220 g of finished yarn look like.
etwa 220 g / about 220 g
While spinning this yarn I learned a new technique: thigh spinning. Result: works great (also I've always read you can't do this with a bottom whorl) and I can fit much more yarn on the spindle.
With my former technique the spindle grew too heavy once there were about 30 g on it. It did hurt my wrists to drive the spindle so much I had to stop. With the new technique I can easily fit 60 g and more on it. Makes for much nicer balls of yarn.
The second try, 2ply this time. I spun the single more so I had more twist to go into the ply (does this sentence make any sense at all? I'm still learning spinner's Engish ...). I also improved the spindle a little by adding a hook. I used a stapler bracket (?) and some band-aid. Thanks to Christiane for your tip in the comments on my first post about the mini spindle. Yardage here is about 600 m / 100 g - so the singles are a rather constant 1200 m / 100 g with this spindle.
Okay, technically I already own two spindels - the two models offered from Wollknoll. But in the end I only used the basic drop spindle because I don't get along with the cross spindle at all.
All my spinning experience is with heavy, very heavy spindles. Mine has about 65 to 70 g. Reading alot (of course on ravelry) lead to the conclusion that lightweight spindles would be very interesting, too. And as I was not able to get my hands on one easily I started being creative.
The construction is rather simple.
a skewer (as used for shish kebab)
a piece of paper towel
a donut shaped bead
Originally a wanted a stone donut. But the local craft shop didn't have them and I was late and didn't want to run around the city any longer. So I took the a bit irregular bead.
Assembly was rather quick: cut a long small piece from the paper towel and wrap around skewer where the whorl is to sit. Wrap until the whorl fits snugly. Finished.
The wood isn't polished or super slick so the half hitch holds up very well without a rim or the like.
It's a completely different experience spinning with this light spindle.
How else could I have come up with the idea to spindle enough yarn for a sweater on my drop spindle?
gesponnen / single
That's the single, balled and ready to ply.
gezwirnt und gewaschen / plied and washed
About 25 g, ready to knit - now there are only about 25 - 30 more of them missing.
auf der Spindel / on my spindle
But I'm really busy with this. 4 skeins are already finished (but not all of them washed) and the spindle is nearly full again.
Let's see, how long I can keep my motivation up. Luckily on ravelry there is a group of people taking the challenge together. This maybe helps through times with less motivation.
For some time I'm spindeling on a kilogramm of Space from Wollknoll. Eventually the first spindle was full or better one rapport of the roving was worked. This is the single put in a ball and waiting to be plied (navajo). I find those colours just amazing.
Meanwhile everything is plied, the skein is washed and hangs to dry. I'm really looking forward on how it looks then.
I bought the yarn originally for the Oriel Lace Blouse (scroll down) but came to my senses early enough. As gorgeous I think the sweater is - I would never wear it because a) it's definitly not my style of clothing and b) I'm definitly no elfin. Instead of that I'll make a nifty little sommer top. Pure silk and summer - an awesome combination.
When ordering from Schoppel it is very adviseable to collect from several people, because there are good discounts on larger quantities. For me is only the little heap on top left - some blue yarn for a boy's sweater, some balls of more or less solid coloured sock yarn and a few skeins for dyeing (one is wool-silk-bamboo to experiment with). The rest is for family and friends.
Bestellung / order
For the easer holidays we traveled to Bavaria - for getting there we took a different route than usual because of some traffic jam, accidents and weather. Only when we had almost passed it I realised we drove nearly through the backyard of Schoppel. Being Good Friday (a holiday in Germany) they had closed anyway. But the next time I'll plan the trip better!
This week there was some shopping to fend of some frustrations.
Some things aren't working the way I'd like them to be at the moment so I went out twice.
Schewe Elegance
First I bought 13 balls of pink-shiny cotton yarn in extra bulky. The ball band says needle size 4.5 mm - 5.5 mm, I ended eventually with 6.0 mm and a gauge of 14 sts = 10 cm. Ups. But with only 1 € / ball and this colour I couldn't resist. First I tried with some smaller needles and a gauge of about 16.5 sts, but it was like cardboard. Now I'll have to do some math because I want to make this cardigan .
Kaufrausch / shopping frenzy
On Friday I was at the local Rödel - and dragged a real big bag out. 6 balls of Mille Fili in dusky pink for the rib top, 7 balls of Diamant for Classic one fifty cardigan , 6 balls of Borkum for a summer top, 2 balls of pink sock yarn for me, 1 ball pinkish Allround for some more crowns - a gift for my daughter's kindergarten.
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