Making progress.

Progress is good and making progress on fibre pursuits is even better! First up, I finished my handspun! I'm so pleased with how the merino/seacell spun up. The yardage is 182, ounces is 4 and it's a cable ply achieved through navajo plying. Thanks to my Twitter friends, I just learned that navajo plying creates a cable ply not a traditional 3 ply. Next on my list is to spin a traditional 3 bobbin 3-ply yarn to see what the difference is. Of course I now need to decide what fibre to spin - I'm leaning toward my new Serenity Roving just because, well, it has cashmere in it - how do you resist cashmere? LOL

Next up, I'm about halfway down the foot of my sock knitting! So far, the colourway is doing as I had hoped - not pooling and creating a bit of colour play with a few different colours rather than how a single colour semi-solid would. This is a technique I'm going to use for achieving semi-solids with a few colours in it rather than the traditional semi-solid with varying tones of one colour. It'll be interesting to see just how many colourways I can come up with this technique. So far, I'm really pleased - yay!

And thirdly, I'm not so sure if you know or not but my Dad is a carver! His work is exquisite and I'm trying to talk him into doing custom carved spinning wheels. We'll see how far I get with that idea with him but so far he's said "I'm looking into it" and considering that's coming from a man, I do think I'm making progress with him...LOL I am crossing my fingers he pursues this venture because he's retired and I would love to see him carving more - it's an art that not many can do well and he's definitely one of the best ones I've seen. Okay, ya, he's my Dad but I do speak the truth! Check out that sample photo of his work. He has some wonderful ideas about adding these types of carvings right onto the wheel of the spinning wheel with story inserts of the animals he's carved into the wheels. 

Did I mention he lives on Vancouver Island aka the birthplace of the Cowichan sweater? What a nice way this would be to continue the tradition of the knitting culture of the Cowichan area now that the sweaters no longer exist. So even if he doesn't pursue the idea, I'm hoping I can persuade him to do a wheel for me. That shouldn't be too hard, right? I mean I am his daughter after all! LOL

Comments

[Mia]

I am going to really recommend you pick up Judith McKenzie McCuin's spinning books. Start with her How To Spin book which will explain tons about basic spinning. And The Intentional Spinner is fantastic. I am still working my way through it.

I like the new yarn. Can we get your dad to do spindles? It is a start.

[RoxanneZYG]

Thank you Mia! I am going to pick up some spinning books and I like your recommendations! Ohhhhhhh, spindles...yes, very good idea...thanks...I'll ask him!

[Sandy]

I love the idea of doing a semi-solid with several colours. That would make totally cool socks, I think.

I second the idea of easing your Dad into the field with spindles. Smaller = less intimidating, maybe?

[RoxanneZYG]

Thanks Sandy! Ya, spindles to start instead of a full wheel although knowing him he's probably going to jump right into the wheels...LOL He has a friend who carves table tops/doors and he was going to talk to him about it too.

[Ann]

I love the color of your sock. Looks like you have been busy with spinning & doing a great job.

[RoxanneZYG]

Thanks Ann! Yes, lots of spinning these days...yay!

[Susan]

What a wonderful idea - to even ask your father to make custom carved spinning wheels! What a creative family. Enjoy your father while you have him.

Today (3/27) would have been my father's 89th birthday. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when he was 50. It was have been even earlier - except back then, the doctors couldn't believe that someone that young could have that dreaded disease. Now, we know it's even so much younger. I feel that I really lost MY dad beginning then. He was such an intelligent, caring man and I still miss him.

I love your yarns. Keep them coming. Just so you know - I found you through Ravelry. Make all your endeavors bring you great blessings in every way.

Susan

[RoxanneZYG]

Thank you Susan and so sorry on your Dad. I think it's important to cherish your parents for sure and appreciate your reminder to do that. Blessings to you too.