One of my favorite things to do is to sit down and spin yarn from our flock. I have a big plan for the Tour de Fleece this year involving spinning enough yarn for a sweater, but mostly I only get allow myself an hour or so here and there and then I end up with baskets full of small amounts of yarn...that just sit there.
I do enjoy the baskets of yarn. There's something joyful about all the different colors, textures, weights and especially all the individual sheep tucked in there, but I've been trying to think of something special to make that would utilize those small skeins.
I decided to try weaving a multi-yarn scarf. I used my handspun bits and bobs for the warp (the up and down threads) and some Nistock Farms Golden Fleece Cotswold singles for the weft (the side to side threads).
Since the warp threads were all different thicknesses, I used a reed that would accommodate the thickest yarns. Actually, I started with a 6 dent reed (6 ends per inch) but didn't like it and, you know, ripped it out ;-). The 8 dent reed worked reasonably well, but a 10 would have been better.
I wanted to showcase the individual handspun yarns rather than the solid color weft, so I worked for a warp faced weave (more warp showing than weft). I know who most of the yarns are. The white Cotswold is Keebler, the warm brown is Petunia, the thinner white is Peabody, the too thick for the 10 dent reed gray is Rebecca Boone, the medium weight gray is probably Jester...
And it's too hot to even ask 20 to model it, so I hung it on the barn ladder. Next to the fire extinguisher.
Some day it will cool down enough to wear.
Regarding books...I have lost the energy to listen to "grown up" books and after thoroughly enjoying the Terry Prachett young adult books last year, decided to delve into the Newbery Medal Winners list this year. I may just stay there. I've listened to The Girl Who Drank the Moon, The One and Only Ivan, Moon Over Manifest, Walk Two Moons and Bridge to Terabithia.
I highly recommend them all :-).
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