On friday, when computers were acting up and the sun was shining I spent an idyllic few hours outside with the yarn swift my Husband gave me for my birthday and some of the wool I dyed on the Indigo dye day last year.
Sitting in the fresh air, the chickens pecking around beside me and Snap asleep by my side (can you spot her in the picture below?), I managed to wind a full skein of very fine sock yarn into a a lovely round ball.
The gentle rhythm of the swift and nostepinne was perfectly relaxing and the warmth of the sun soothed my spirit. Technological problems disappeared from my mind as a crafty meditation took its place. I know there are probably far more modern and efficient ways of doing the same thing but the simple, traditional techniques appeal to me and I enjoy the fact that I have to slow down completely and immerse myself in the process.
Another traditional technique that has been enjoyed this weekend is that of spinning. I have started using my carders to combine some of the fibres I dyed at the same time as the wool above.
There was a merino/tencel blend roving
and some silk and bamboo fibres.
The resulting yarn is soft and full of texture, both physically from the raw silk but also due to the various shades created by the mix of fibres. My plans to start a lace shawl after Christmas have been delayed but I still think that is the direction that this yarn is eventually heading in.
Finally, in this very yarny post, I have my first peek of what is happening to all those rainbow shades of cotton to show you. As I said when I started, I think this will be a very long term project, picked up and put down as the urge for some simple crochet comes upon me (and taken to kayak lessons etc to keep me busy while I wait).
It is long enough to stretch across our bed from side to side and my plan is to continue in the lace pattern for as long as I still have balls of cotton or I get totally fed up, whichever comes first! So eventually it may become a blanket for our bed or if that is too high a mountain to climb it may end up as a lap blanket (or even a really nice striped scarf!!) I will show you the progress as I go along but in return I may ask for encouragement at moments of despair....does that sound like a good deal?