November's New Spin & Knit

Custom handspun for Kim. 55% wool, 35% pomeranian, 10% kid mohair. 12 wpi. 230yds. before wet finishing.

100% Shetland toque. handspun. 11 wpi. natural colour in a very dark brown.

Merino/tencel. Shawlette with broken edge. Needs repair.

These are the projects lately.  The hat I was hoping would be more masculine, but I'm afraid it looks 'girly' because of the patterned knitting. In the photo it is hard to see, but it's destined for one of the fair maidens here. The shawl needs more work. Since I ran out a few inches from the end in the last row & also because I ripped an edge when I was spreading it out for drying after wet finishing I must now do something with the edge all around it. Or maybe I will just rip back an inch & finish it prematurely.
The yarn at the top was not my favourite project because I had dog hair all over me. It does not behave like wool & I am afraid it might smell funny if it gets wet at all. Anyway, I am glad it's done and it did actually turn out very pretty.

Checkerboard Mitts

Just a few minutes ago I finished a pair of double knit mittens for this year's line up of Christmas mittens. This is a pattern from Robin Hansen's 'Favorite Mittens' book.

Two different colours of yarn were used - one being walnut dyed British Milk Sheep (BMS) blended with 18% natural brown llama and the other 100% Suffolk wool in a natural off white. The photos show the mitts before their finishing soak.

The Suffolk was spun from the Fibre Gardens' rustic roving which I believe comes from a mill in Western Canada from Canadian sheep and the dark brown BMS was from a raw fleece I prepared myself which I drumcarded & blended.

Here is the technical info about the spinning:
BMS blend: 12 WPI. 4 TPI. 25 degree twist angle. Prep: drum carded & blended. Wheel: Lendrum 7.5:1 ratio for single. Plyed on Lendrum plying head on 6.5:1 whorl. 2 ply. Semi woollen. Short backward draw. Hot water soak & dry before knitting.

Suffolk: 12 WPI. 4.5 TPI. 25degree twist angle. prep: drum carded & blended. wheel: Lendrum 7.5:1 ratio for single. Plyed on Lendrum plying head on 6.5:1 whorl. 2 ply. Semi woollen. Short backward draw. Hot water soak & dry before knitting.

Checkerboard Mitts. Nov. 2011.

Walnut dyed. BMS & LLama blend.