Harvest Season is coming
Entries for the Big E hand spun skein competition open this week and I am thinking of entering this year. Here are the skeins I might pick ...

The classes are 1, 2, and 3 ply in 50 to 100% wool or mohair and 1, 2, or 3 ply in 50-100% camelid, cashmere, or angora.

My handspun skeins from left to right are: 2 ply wool, silk, angora and angelina blend; 2 ply mixed yarn of 1 ply angora and 1 ply canine undercoat; 2 ply Romney wool; 1 ply mohair; and 2 ply blend of wool and canine undercoat.

Entries close September 10th, so I am thinking of trying to get a 3 ply alpaca done before then. I am busy cleaning out the house and preparing for a yard sale, so I'm not sure how much spinning I will get done. I need to clear out some space mentally and physically, so a yard sale seemed like a good idea. Getting rid of stuff does feel good, but it is also a bit overwhelming. Or maybe I was already overwhelmed and that's why I need to clear out some space. Hmm, well now that I have gone around in circles verbally, maybe I should go unwind and spin at my wheel for a bit before going to bed.

A Great Friend's Great Wheel

A good friend of mine passed away a couple years ago. Her name was Eunice and she lived across the street. She was a sincere and wonderful person. I miss her more than I can express.

Last week her family sold her house, so soon we will have new neighbors.

As the moving begins and my friend's world possessions are sorted and divided, I have been blessed to receive her Great Wheel. It has been in her family for a long time, and though
she never spun, she loved this wheel for it's family history. The wheel is not in working order; some important pieces are missing. I hope I can find someone skilled at spinning wheel restoration and see what can be done to get the wheel back into usable condition. I'd be so thrilled to spin on this wheel. Just looking at it keeps my friend close in my heart.

Midnight SurferThe roving for this scarf is from Chameleon Colorworks. I spun it for the Morning Surf Scarf pattern that is featured in the Summer 2008 issue of Spin-Off magazine. The roving is dyed in the "midnight" colorway. I loved the colors in the roving and tried to Navajo ply the singles to preserve the color transitions. My technique was not very good, though, (will keep practicing) so I opted instead to make a 2 ply yarn from the singles and hoped that the bright colors wouldn't become too diluted. I wanted to get started on the scarf right away and couldn't wait for my plying skills to improve before casting on for the scarf. I must be an impatient knitter...... I am happy to say that I am very pleased with how the colors are knitting up in the scarf. I can't wait to see how all the colors come through in the finished scarf. Yes, yes, I know, I need to be patient. Note to self: Knitting is a relaxing activity, speed doesn't count for much. How FAST you knit is never as important as how WELL you knit.