spinning down the stash

Posted on | October 23, 2007 | 17 Comments

With SAFF right around the corner, I decided it might be wise to make a dent in my fiber stash and clear some room in the bins for new purchases.  If I have to buy another bin for fiber, my Tower of Rubbermaid will reach to the ceiling!

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Almost all of this was spun from Friday to Sunday.  Crazy.  The first two (LtoR) were dyed by Lynn.  Here’s a close-up of the first:

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She called these Flamewar and I bought both 4 oz. rovings.  One was a little brighter than the other so I split them in half and spun in the same sequence to match up the colors as much as possible.  The resulting skein really does look like fire – bright, bright reddish orange flames fading to sooty gray.  I think it’d look good in a multidirectional scarf or a similar pattern that would show the color progression.

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This is a batt I got from Miss Babs.  It was really easy to spin but I have no idea what to do with it!  Miss Babs will be at SAFF, and I’m definitely planning to stalk her stop by and say hi!

Now my favorite….

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This is Lantern Festival, dyed by the fabulous Adrian.  This was the July fiber of the month, Corriedale, and I am in love with this yarn.  I’m also pretty happy with the way I spun it – pretty high ratio and also plied with a lot of twist so it’s very bouncy and squishy.  It makes me happy just to look at it!

I’m becoming a hoarder when it comes to certain “yarn artisans.”  I’ve held onto this fiber from Adrian for three months!  That’s a long time for me, considering how much I love her colors and Corriedale.  I only allowed myself to spin this because I got in on her shop update last week.  I do the same thing with Lynn’s fiber.  But I’m even WORSE when it comes to Abby.  I am shamelessly hoarding Abbycrack (that’s the street name) and not even spinning it.  It’s like…I love it so much I can’t spin it.  I’m just keeping it safe in the Tower, petting it occasionally.

Is that crazy?  Do I have a problem?  Or do you guys do this too, with fiber or yarn?

 

Category: spinning

Comments

17 Responses to “spinning down the stash”

  1. margene
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 9:46 am

    If you love the fiber just think how much more beautiful it will be as yarn! You’ve spun some very nice skeins already!

  2. Carole
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 10:00 am

    Well, you may have a problem. But you’re in really good company. ;-)

  3. Tonia
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 10:10 am

    They are all so pretty. Yes I am a hoarder as well. For some reason it gives me the comfort of knowing that it is there. If I knit it or spin it then it won’t be there and I will HAVE to find more to take it’s place. Crazy hu?.

  4. Shannon
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 10:10 am

    Wow those turned out great! My husband is afraid I’ll buy a wheel whiel at SAFF. I can’t keep looking at yarn like that and not come home with a wheel!

  5. Meg
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 11:58 am

    And I thought I was the only Abby horder! Glad I’m in such good company.

  6. Crazy For Yarn In Alabama
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 12:23 pm

    LOVE the yarns!!! I have already noticed the distressing tendency I have to just “look at” roving like I do BMFA yarn……I guess I’ll have to put a time limit on how long I can look before forcing myself to knit/spin!! LOL!!!! It’s all just so PURDY!!!!!!!!!!

  7. kmkat
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 12:59 pm

    The first and last are especially gorgeous to me. I’m trying to imagine them knitted — will the beautiful color changes and barberpoling still stand out? Inquiring minds want to know… :)

  8. maryse
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 1:16 pm

    i definitely hoard adrian yarn. i just take pictures of it and have yet to spin any of it.

  9. Paula
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 1:47 pm

    Those are all pretty. Glad you are feeling better. DH still thinks buying a wheel will lead to sheep and maybe even Border Collies. Where does he get this?

  10. Beth
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 3:48 pm

    I do that too – with both fiber and yarn. It’s like I need to collect at least one to keep and then if I want to spin some, I need to buy two… It’s a sickness. I need more rubbermaid bins.

  11. Carrie
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 3:56 pm

    I hoard my little bit of Abbycrack too. My spinning skills are so not worthy, though I don’t think that would be an issue with you. :-)
    I LOVE the flamewar one. So pretty! And the colors are so flattering to redheads. Ahem. What?

  12. Emily
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 4:17 pm

    The Lantern Festival is marvelous! Makes me think of those candy canes that aren’t candy canes? The ones with all the colors twisted together? Delicious. Rubbermaid is remarkably affordable and comes in so many decorative colors…

  13. jenifleur
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 4:41 pm

    I may knit fast, but you spin like the wind. It took me all afternoon yesterday to ply two bobbins of singles together so I would have clear bobbins for class this weekend!

  14. mel
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 7:20 pm

    You’re amazing – I hope someday my spinning speed will improve! In the meantime, I will ogle your lovely yarn – really beautiful stuff Elizabeth :)

  15. Danielle
    October 23rd, 2007 @ 10:17 pm

    Pretty! You did a nice job with all of it, but I love the Hello Yarn the best :)

  16. Helen
    October 24th, 2007 @ 8:14 am

    Before people started coming out with such fantastic colored batts and rovings it was the needlepoint/crewel/yarn stores that gave me problems. I’d walk in and want one of the each. It is a color/texture- oholic thing. It doesn’t go away unless the house gets smaller or burns down.

  17. karrie
    November 1st, 2007 @ 12:03 pm

    Your yarns look so Squishy and fantastic!