Results of fibre club installment one...........

I seem to have been a little behind with things all year so far and fibre club wasn't an exception. Arriving back at the start of February I thought it was time I actually got it out of the packet and spun it rather than stroke it and put it back.

The first installment was some Polworth fibre which had come all the way from Australia and had been dyed in a lovely combination of browns with just a hint of pink.



I think the name Jackaroo is just perfect. I sat with my little fibre digestive and read through all the information on the fibre and then the tutorial from the talented Diane Mulholland. So I did as I was told and split up my fibre into four equal parts as evenly as I could, marking each of the ends with clips so that I knew which way I had spun my fibre from.





Apparently knowing which end I had spun from was important so that I could ply the gradients of the colour together. (I have to say this didn't happen in the end as I wasn't brave enough to do the breaking and the spit splicing.)



I got to use my new Niddy Noddy (which was ordered for my birthday and finally arrived at the start of March!)



I am sure hardened spinners will point out here that I have forgotten to put a coin in when I photograph the yarn. I don't get that bit!





Anyway it appears I have managed to spin up a thickish fourply which is going to make some gloves for Carl when he is standing out watching the rugby in the autumn term. I love the way the colours have blended together, even though I didn't quite manage the gradients suggested by Diane but I am really happy with the outcome of my yarn and can't wait for the arrival of the next parcel which I know will be very soon.

Update on the Fog..................

I am making good progress. I have now used 17 balls of the rooster yarn and I am past the divide for the arms. I am currently knitting up the back of the sweater. The knitpicks have made easy work of the ribbing. Dividing for the front and back was also easy work for the knitpicks by stoppering off the cable holding the back and starting a new cable for the front. The whole switch over was effortless and was done while attending the Knitterati book group and discussing The Pearl by John Steinbeck.

A foggy knit for foggy days..............................

Ok so a week or two ago I asked you what was in the Turkey shaped package. I can reveal the contents as.....



.....bags, and bags of lovely Rooster yarn from Andy (Alpacabuyer on Ravelry)from Bluefaced.com
I just couldn't resist the superb offer that he had.

• 4 bags of Mushroom arran
• 2 bags of Plum in DK
• 1 bag of Pink in DK

It is just the softest 50%alpaca/50%merino blend in splendid little 25grm balls. That means 40 balls of mushroom!
The thing was now I had it what was I going to do with it?

Well with the foggy weather we have been having and after a little searching on the Ravelry pattern database I found this free pattern. I thought this would make a good mans knit for the mushroom.



So I have cast on.........





What's really lovely about this sweater is I have been able to put my knitpicks options to good use as it is knit in the round. I have only ever knit socks or hats in the round before so this is a first. The only slight hitch now is the 40 balls and with each one only doing an inch I couldn't waste a bit. Enter the new technique of spit splicing. I had heard about it, even seen it demonstrated but never tried it. I was going to have to plunge in and I am so glad I did. 40 balls and no ends to sew in. It couldn't be easier. Unravel a bit of each yarn. Overlay the strands, wet a little and then rub between the palms of the hands. It is truly amazing. I never thought it would hold but it is just fantastic.

A couple of things about this sweater. It is what you would call rib heavy. The edge is 4x2 rib and the rest of the sweater is 1x1 rib but it's fine when you get into the rhythm of it. This is a lovely yarn to work with and the knitpicks are making easy work of it. Changing needles was great as well as I only had to screw off and on a set of ends. I think I will be doing more of this in the round stuff.