The unplaned project.

I have had the most horrible cold and have not felt like doing much of anything for nearly a week. This has given me some time to think about how I am going to finish the pinafore top I wrote about last time. I do have enough of the recycled mohair and Shetland mix to finish the bands and straps, it's the triangle panels of the skirt that are the problem.

At first I was using a madder dyed pink fleece, (Oxford Down) hand carded and spun with some space dyed pink, red silk. I rolled the silk into the rolag before spinning and was very pleased with the results. Then as I ran out of fleece I had to think again. Fortunately there was some similar coloured fleece in my stash but the method of spinning did not suit it so well. It was not labeled so I dont' know what it is. There's a lesson to remember LABEL EVERY THING. It's not hard and can save you a lot of trouble.

This fleece worked better if I spun it straight no carding. Then I spun a single of silk and plied them together. The colours link these two different yarns enough for me to work them into the pattern of the piece. At least I hope they will. Watch this space for the finished article and judge for yourself.

How much better it would have been if I had put a bit more thought into the planning of the piece in the first place and made sure I had enough of every thing to start with. Still it will be a unique garment that's for sure.

Plannig a project

The correct way to plan a project goes as follows.
Select a piece you want to make.
Select a suitable fleece.
Weigh up the amount needed.
Prepare as necessary.

Spin the fleece.
Make your piece.
Unfortunately it rarely happens that way with me. Usually I will find a fleece I like and can't wait to spin some up. Then I have spun wool that I have to find a project for. Running out of yarn is common,if I'm lucky I will have more of the same fleece. Some times I have to substitute, It may work it may not. Either way I am spinning as I knit. Not an ideal situation.
This time I undid a jumper that never really worked. I hate to waste yarn so I always reuse where I can. This is a mohair shetland mix that I spun ages ago, it will make the borders for a pinafore top. The inserts had to be spun from scratch. Yes you've guessed it I have run out of wool. The story gets more complicated so I will carry on with it next time.