Time

Well, it's time.

Remember the really expensive roving I bought from the Fold at Rhinebeck? Well, I figured it was time I finally spun it up.

So, the first thing I did was break it into 9 roughly even pieces and spread them out on the floor to decide how to subdivide. . . .

Which is when my helper came over to make sure that the wool was sufficiently soft and of the quality his Mom deserves. His verdict? "Comfy."

(Gee, thanks, honey, now would you please get off Mommy's most expensive roving?)

Once it passed the Chappy test, I divided the roving into thirds.

I put two of them aside for now, and then rolled one of them into little fiber "roses." I split each length of roving into smaller strips--absolutely necessary because the roving had been so compacted--and then rolled each one around my fingers and piled them into my hat.

And, yeah, I don't know why, exactly, I use an old straw hat for this, but then, why not? It looks nice enough sitting on my stool by my wheel, waiting . . . Sure, a basket with a handle might be more practical . . . or something with a lid, so it would be easier to travel with it, but . . . the hat works!

The colors of this roving . . . which is the Carbon color . . . are just lovely. Subtle. Greys, yellows, purples, taupes, hints of blue . . . And how is it spinning up?

Beautifully. Considering how extremely compacted the roving was (not to mention how difficult it was to tear it into strips), this drafts beautifully. And it is spinning up super fine. I still think it was ridiculously expensive ($46.25 for 9.25 ounces) . . . 19 microns or not, for hand-dyed, superfine merino, I still don't see any similar roving online for anything like that much money per ounce.

However, I am nothing if not fair, and I will say that the quality of the roving is excellent. I mean--look how evenly that's spinning! It's just lovely to work with.

The plan is that this will be spun into a 3-ply yarn, presumably for socks, unless something else more wonderful comes to mind once the yarn is done and I have some idea what the yardage is. There's no way I'm going to get all of this onto a regular bobbin, though, when it comes time to ply. Which is a shame, because I'd rather ply with a Woolee Winder than not. I actually kind of like spinning multi-color rovings without because I like to see the color progression in "stripes" on the bobbin, but for plying? Oh, it makes life soooooo much easier. I wonder why they don't make plying-size woolee winders? (Good question--I just sent them an email asking.) I wonder if it would be worth ordering a plying head for my Little Gem?

One last picture of that Celebrations Shetland. It was sitting on my dresser this morning as I was getting dressed, and I just happened to glance in the mirror . . . yep. I took this picture IN the mirror. It was reflecting back the lit-side of the skein, and the rest of the room looked dark . . . I just thought that lighting was fabulous. And the neatest part? I was able (in another picture, but I won't bore you) (too much) to zoom in to get more of a closeup but without needing to use the Macro feature, because the mirror added extra "distance" for the camera lens. Cool, huh?

Hope everyone's having as good a Monday as is reasonably possible. I'm still looking for the right pattern for that Sublime yarn of mine (though there are possibilities).

And, Harry Potter fans? Take a look at this fan-art picture from last Christmas. I don't, as a rule, follow fan-art or fan-fiction, but Marta's work is just wonderful, and this picture is just delightful. (This other Christmas picture is funny--love the slippers--and Awwww. I'm really looking forward to what she does for Book 7.

Comments

[Beth]

What a great Santa picture - I'd buy that as Christmas cards!

[lisali]

Love the little fiber roses!

[pixie]

oh that roving and singles are SO yummy... dang.. I want to spin so much but I can't bring myself to pull out the wheel, too lazy lol.

[jess]

gorgeous, if expensive. :)

[marti]

That is so beautiful You have come a long way in the spinning department!

[Lisa]

Beautiful spinning. I have some of their roving also (weak moment - what else can I say...) :).

[Kim]

Carbon is an awesome colorway. I have it in STR mediumweight and Blue Moon's cottonsock yarn, Sock Candy. I'm glad it's spinning up beautifuuly because that is mucho bucks! Great picture too, very Brooklyn Tweedy.

[Chris]

Oh, that is gorgeous roving!

[2paw]

Thank you for your Raisin alert!! I shall ask the Vet just to check!! Don't want to be killing Peri with Kindness!!!

[Risa]

What a great helper! The cats give me similar assistance with the fibery things too. I'd agree, that's lovely roving and spinning but yes, ridiculousy expensive.

[JessaLu]

Very pretty!!

[Rachel]

I totally looked at that first photo and thought, wow, what a gorgeous, golden sheen on that lovely brown roving! And then I couldn't figure out where it had gone in the subsequent photos. And then I was like, duh. I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes.

Great results with the REAL roving!

[Marnie]

That is some darn fine looking roving. I have some STR in that colorway, but none of the roving. Not sure I could justify that kind of cash for it. I shall have to enjoy vicariously through you. :)

[Jessica]

Definitely a little on the pricey side, but also definitely coming out beautifully!

[Debby]

What a pretty color!

[Carol]

Just gorgeous! And very cool photography!

[Carol]

Interesting picture technique. Ill have to try it!

[Ina]

Gorgeous spinning! I'm amazed at all the colors in the roving - can't wait to see it plied.

[Nancy]

Your spinning turned out truly beautiful!

Thanks for the info on the Modesitt book. I'll wait to see it at the bookstore.

Enjoy your Sunday.