It’s been a while…

I’ve thoroughly ignored both of my blogs for well over a year now. That’s pretty depressing now that I think of it, because I love blogging. But between school coming to an end here in less than a month and some very persistent emotional drama, I’ve been torn away from a lot of my passions.

I have however, started spinning again – which is glorious! Like my last WIP, it’s also grey – but this time wool that I randomly purchased off Etsy ages ago. And, like my last spinning project, also turning out beautiful and heathery, though not as bulky.

(For future reference, that’s my obligatory “project on the nightstand” photo, because it’s got the best lighting in my room.) 

I started spinning this months ago then put it down and had other things going on. I think when I started I sectioned and weighed out my fiber – but as usual didn’t write any of that down… So when this bit is done and I pull it off the spindle I’ll have to compare its weight to the weight of the other mini-braids I have laying around.

Logistically, same spindle as the last time… it’s still the only one I’ve got, which really needs to change soon.

Anyway, that’s what’s on the spindle right now – I have plenty more fiber to spin (not enough time or spindles…).

Update: So, I finished spinning that bit of fiber I had parceled out. I weighed it and it was exactly 1.5 oz. So, I found another braid that was more or less 1.5 oz, and have started spinning that up, so I’m looking at a projected 3 oz of finished product. Once it’s plied and washed I’ll actually calculate yardage and wpi for an accurate tag and stash entry.

Some Vacation Spinning

I thought I’d quickly mention something that I was up to on my roadtrip from Ohio to Florida. During that insane 1,000+ miles of driving I stopped in Asheville, NC and picked up some yummy local alpaca (eta: it’s almost certainly huacaya) in this excellent natural steely grey. I started spinning it in my hotel, it was that good.

There’s the quick WIP photo I took in the hotel room on what was the most comfortable hotel bed ever. Think king-sized bed with a 3 inch pillow top and 5 of the fluffiest pillows you’ve ever hugged in your life – I felt like a queen, it was lovely.

So, for some specs:

Spindle: Kentucky Mare from the Woolery (1.7oz)

Fiber: 5oz Steel Grey Alpaca from North Carolina Home Crafts

Preparation: Mill Carded Roving

Drafting Method: Short Draw

It’s turning out really dense, thick and heathery – I love it. I plan on plying this and making a gorgeous warm winter hat perfect for Ohio snow. The people at NC Home Crafts were really friendly and chatty, it’s a cute little shop that I stumbled on accidentally when I was walking around the city. They have a lot of spinning fiber from local NC farms, which I really appreciated.

Oh, and here’s the necessary penny-for-scale shot: