All Wound Up

I was gently reminded about blogging by my dear friend Patricia. The truth is that I have been obsessed with completing the Seascape Stole. I am nearly to the end of that project with only 16 repeats of the border pattern remaining. Then I will bind her off, weave in her ends and block her with my new "blocking wires". Instead of purchasing a $30.00 set of blocking wires, I opted to go to the local welding store and purchase stainless steel 1/16" welding wires. These wires are flexible enough to work on projects with curves, yet sturdy enough to handle straight edges. I need to go find stainless steel t-pins before I begin blocking my lace. I will post photos of blocking when I am done.

Being so close to the end of Seascape, my mind is wandering to my next project. I have decided to do a Clapotis, using Manos Del Uruguay that I had in my stash. When a local store was closing out on yarn, they were selling EVERYTHING for $1.00 a skein! I walked out of that store $50.00 lighter (or so)but with a garbage bag full of Yarn. Among the treasures I found that day was the Manos, which sold at regular price at $14.50. I purchased almost all they had left with no idea what I wanted to do with it. FINALLY, after seeing Patricia's beautiful Clapotis, I was convinced that I needed to take the plunge and lighten my stash in the process.

Patricia lent me her ball winder (thanks!) and I decided to wind EVERY Hank I had in my stash.


This is my current set up. I use a dining room chair with arms and clamp the ball winder down on the right arm, I then clamp my yarn swift to the back of my chair so it is sideways. That way it spins around more like a Farris Wheel or bike spokes. The yarn comes off the swift in line with the tension bar on the winder and I have had successful results so far with this method.


Here I am winding the ball...


And here is a look at the finished ball.


Like I said, I decided to wind all of my hanks that I have in my stash. That included 21 hanks of Manos, 2 hanks of Alpaca Cloud, and 4 hanks of hand dyed Wool of the Andes.




I love the citrus like colors in these hand dyed yarns. I dyed them a couple years ago. The are not very large though and I really don't know what to do with them. Wool of the Andes is not super comfortable against the skin (at least for me). I would really like some suggestions!