I’ve been working with some hand painted fiber from cabin cove … wait … what’s that lurking in the background?

It’s my new spindle! Isn’t it loverly? I love kokopelli and have been drooling over wanting to buy it since the summer, but it wasn’t available until the fall. It’s hand made by Tracy from Woolly Designs. It’s a half-overlay – weight – 0.9 ounces and it has a notch unlike my other spindle.

Ain’t it purty?

Before I show you my new spindle, I have to share this with you – Presenting my first skein of 3-ply (chain plied) handspun and I love it! This is the first completed skein that I am truly pleased with.

4 oz, 106 yards. Blended Roving of 80% merino/20% colonial from CJ Kopec Creations.

from this and this:

to this:

Ok, I went the library and got this book:

I looked at the book multiple times at the bookstore, but really couldn’t justify buying a book if I only liked one pattern – Chevron Scarf…and I didn’t used to like this pattern. I totally blame Tiennie for that.

I visit her blog often, so when she made one, I thought ‘How nice.’ and didn’t think any more about it. Then she made another one and I thought, ‘How pretty.’ and admired it for a bit then went on my merry way. THEN… she made a third one… Now I wanna make one.

…and I think I have the perfect yarn for it. I went through my Cabin Cove sock yarn stash and found two possibilities that might work:

Midnight Sky

Sunrise

See what you started, Tiennie? (Thank you once again for the inspiration! )

Next up – What I’m spinning …. and… my new spindle! (I can’t wait to show you!!!)

Until then, keep on keepin’ on!

A month or two ago, I tried my hand at navajo plying on a spindle with a strip of fiber I had. I think it came out pretty well for a first attempt:

So, what I’m spinning now is specifically for extended practice of the same technique. I only have 4 more strips of fiber left: