Fiber Arts Friday: Mohair

Soon after my trip to Stitches West, while I was cataloging my take, I was feeling inspired to make something with some of my new yarn.

This Japanese Mohair+Silk yarn is very special.  I knew it had silk as soon as I walked into the booth.

The people working the booth had asked me what I planned to make when I purchased the yarn.... I had no idea other than it would be something to go around my head, because I love the smell of silk.

I decided on a simple pattern that would feel lacy, without having much lace.

After playing around with the pattern, I decided I didn't like the color change, so I decided to make the piece with only the gold yarn.

After working on it for a bit and ripping it out, then starting again a slightly different way, ripping it out again, and then starting a completely different pattern, I have decided that I don't love knitting with mohair... or at least I don't love knitting with mohair lace weight yarn and the needles I was using.

I think I need pointier and smoother needles.... even though I was using Addi Turbo Lace needles.

I do love the colors, so maybe these will be better for a weaving?

The last time I used a mohair lace yarn, I added it to a thicker yarn to give a little fuzz to my SantaClava's beard... so maybe that's another idea.

In the meantime, this yarn has been sent to my stash.

Happy (frustrating) Fiber Arts Friday.

Fiber Arts Friday: Pay-it-Forward, part 3

My very first taker for the Facebook Pay-it-Forward Project was Vivian over at Bits and Pieces.

I was excited, I adore Vivian and knew instantly that I wanted to spin a yarn for her.  Then almost immediately, I was nervous.  Vivian is a prolific knitter.  She has a lot of experience with yarn.  So the voice in the back of my mind started chattering... What if my yarn isn't good enough?  What if she doesn't like it?  What if... What if... What if...?

You know... some people are just happy that you made something for them.  They don't really care about how good or bad the thing turns out to be... or at least they don't let on that they do.  We call these people Knit Worthy.  I like making things for these people.  A lot.

But Vivian.... Vivian knows what she is doing!  Vivian knows the work involved and has a keen eye.  She can recognize mistakes!  I admire, appreciate and adore Vivian.... and Vivian is really the first person I am making for who knows something about what I am making.... She knows, objectively, if it's good or not.

She is absolutely Knit Worthy, but even better, she is Spin Worthy.  :-)

I had quite a lot of a Wool+Mohair roving in my stash.  This was the very first roving I bought at the very first wool market I ever attended... Taos 2008.

I decided to spin a thinner single with the idea that the final yarn would become a 2-ply and hopefully, a balanced and consistently gauged yarn.

I think I did pretty well.  :-)

I hate finding knots in my yarn so the final result is three skeins of varying lengths totaling 269 yards and 8 ounces.

Vivian, I hope that you enjoy this yarn.  I enjoyed making it for you.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday.