Navajo 3-ply Yarns

Currently, I am running a featured yarn ad on Ravelry for my Navajo 3-ply yarns. I learned how to Navajo ply in the summer of 2007, I believe. It took a bit, but finally, one day, I just sat down and said, "I AM going to do this." I used Lynn's (aka the Yarn Wench) wonderful video and tutorial that can be found here. The key was I needed both the video AND the description to help me finally get it. Once it clicked, though, I was so happy and spun 3plys nonstop for awhile!

There are two main reasons I like the 3ply over the 2ply. The first is that I like how it keeps the colors together a little better. It doesn't dilute them or mix them quite as much as a two-ply does. I love the colors in Lynn's roving, and Navajo plying helps keep the colors a little more solid and intense. The effect of a two-ply can also be really beautiful, but it tends to mix the colors and dilute them. So, Navajo plying is what I do when I want to maintain the integrity of the colors.

Plus, it is sort of easier to spin - all you need to do is spin ONE single ply strand and then Navajo ply it into the 3ply! You only need two bobbins and you never have any "left over".

The second thing I really like about it, though, is the roundness of the yarn and how it looks when knit. I remember reading early on that 3plys are preferred by some because of the even, round nature to them and the fact that they really show off the knit stitches. I didn't really believe this until I actually knit with one of my 3plys. Then, I realized and could see the difference between something knit with the 3ply versus the 2ply. I think both have their purposes and everyone has their preference - but I think I prefer the 3ply now, too.

The one downside for me about Navajo plying is these types of yarns take me *so long* and you always get less yardage from the fiber than you would if you spun a single or even a two-ply. And, it isn't actually the plying that takes the longest - that is actually pretty smooth, fun and easy - but spinning the single is what drives me crazy! I've been spinning a bit bulkier lately, but usually I try to spin a really really thin single to end up with a thinner end result. It's spinning that single that seems to take me longer than anything else! But, I do still love spinning them!

My preference of fiber for the Navajo 3-plys is the merino/silk blend, or the SeaWool fiber which is wool and seacell. Though, I think the merino/silk works better for this type of yarn. I also like using merino and Falkland.

Here is a mosaic of some of my newest Navajo 3-ply yarns - all of which can be found on etsy HERE.


I am hoping to continue to list new 3plys through the end of the month. I have lots more merino/silk I'd like to spin this way, and will have at least one more skein of the SeaWool spun, too!

And, what do I like to knit with the Navajo 3ply yarns? Wristwarmers or Fingerless Gloves! While fairly basic in design, I really do love how the 3plys work for them. I can get a small pair out of less than 2 oz of yarn, usually two pairs from one larger skein of Navajo 3-ply. I also prefer to knit them on double-pointed needles so that I don't have to seam up the side. Here is a mosaic of some of the ones I've done. (Some of these are available in my Kitty Grrlz Knits shop HERE.)
That's all from me today!

Success!

So, after 3 "bad" shows in a row (by bad I mean, making only a little over the cost of going, though I still did make "something" at each one), I admit to not really looking forward to this past weekend when I was a vendor at the Fall Harvest/Wine Festival in Cedarburg. I was secretly hoping this one would be good given the size and what I had heard from others, but you never know, and I admit I was dreading it.

Well, it was FABULOUS!!!!! It was SO worth the fee and the stress! I had a couple of return customers from a previous show which was great! I also had a woman (she is part of this group, the Crafty Angels) buy an armful of yarn for knitting holiday gifts! Her purchase alone made Saturday worth it! I actually sold more yarn than knits, though I did sell all 4 pairs of wristwarmers I had and both remaining shawls.

I had a perfect spot, in my opinion. I was in a high traffic area but not near some of the *really* crowded areas (like by the food). I was next to Amy's Candy with the Chocolate Factory on the other side of them. I had a small space on my other side, then another vendor. My spot was in perfect proximity to a side street where I could park all day. I also brought my spinning wheel, and on Saturday, I spun this yarn:

Pumpkin Patch Handspun Navajo 3-Ply Yarn

My friend came by on Saturday, but I was on my own on Sunday. This always stresses me out a little, but the people in the booth next to me were very cool and kept an eye on my wheel while I ran for a cookie & hot chocolate in the AM before it started. See, I usually get to shows right at the set-up time, even though it only takes me about an hour to set up. I do this, though, so I can get a good parking spot, and also so I'm not rushing around at the last minute. I also noticed that at this particular festival, which officially started at 10am, there were alot of people starting to look at 9am. Oh! And, I also met a fellow etsian, SaraLibbey! Yay for putting a face to a name!

And, the WEATHER! It was PERFECT!! A bit chilly on Saturday morning, but the cooler temperatures probably helped my sales in that it got people thinking about winter, knits, wool, etc! Sunday was a little warmer and a little less crowded, but it still seemed to be a hopping event! I definitely am hoping to do it again next year!

On Sunday, I also spun, and this is the result, another Navajo 3ply, this one probably DK weight or thinner (haven't checked the WPI yet):

Andromeda 1 Handspun Navajo 3ply Yarn

Andromeda 1 Handspun Navajo 3ply Yarn

I'll also quick show this yarn--it was done on Friday, sold on Saturday! i have more of the fiber so plan on spinning another one similar to this one:

Tropical Fish HandSpun Art Yarn

I have a show this weekend but I should have enough to get me through, though I do plan on doing some knitting and spinning this week so I have some new things. THEN, I will need to really get productive again as I have some really big shows in November and December (and, hopefully October). I'm just so happy this show went well and I'm so thankful for all of the wonderful customers that came through my booth!

Quickie yarn post!

So, I have been working on knitting things for shows (which I don't always take pictures of) and of course spinning! It was rainy yesterday so I wasn't able to get better shots, but I really wanted to share the latest yarns. So, here are some pics! Hopefully I'll have better ones today and be listing these new yarns on my site and/or on etsy.

This one is Navajo plied from handdyed Falkland wool from the Yarn Wench. I wanted to spin it for EtsyFAST's September Challenge, with a theme of apples/apple colors. The colors are a little darker than I wanted, so I'm calling it "In the Orchard at Midnight". 118 yards

This is one skein of two that I spun from handdyed merino wool from knitspin on etsy. I spun in lots of novelty yarns and plied with rayon thread in variegated orange/green color. This one is 134 yards, soft and perfect for fall. I'm calling it "Autumn Wish".

It's partner, Pumpkin Patch, is 98 yards and plied with burnt orange thread. Very similar as the same novelty yarns were spun in and it is spun from the same batch of handdyed merino wool from knitspin.

Both of those are much better in person--I really need to get better pics in better lighting. These were taken at night with just our regular living room light.

On Saturday (Sept. 8) I did another show. Once again it wasn't great, but I got alot of spinning done. I finished one skein of the two below, and managed to spin most of the single for the second skein. Then, I finished plying it at home on Sunday. Both are Navajo plied from handdyed merino wool from the Yarn Wench. Her colorway was called "Sabrina" but I'm calling these yarns "Vintage Rose"

I have lots more pictures of these skeins at flickr. It is my current favorite and it is a possibility that I'll be knitting it for myself. Of course, I don't know when I'll have time, so by then it might have sold. Should be on my site or etsy later today!

I also knit up another pair of wristwarmers from yarn that I spun! These I did get up on etsy yesterday, HERE. I'm going to try and get a couple more pairs done for this weekend--I have a big show in Cedarburg, WI. I am *really* hoping it goes better than the last 3! (the last 3 have been kinda bleah. I've made enough to cover my fees plus a little extra but definitely not enough for the time/effort of getting to them and sitting there all day. Thankfully I brought my spinning wheel to the last 2 so have least been productive!)

Anyways, that's all for now!

New yarns & knits!

I know I haven't been posting here like I should, but here are some new things I've been working on. First, I have to admit I LOVE Navajo Plying! I love it because it keeps the colors of the fabulous Yarn Wench colorways much more "together" which I feel shows them off more! I also feel like the end product is a stronger, more durable yarn. Here are some of the latest Navajo plied yarns I've spun:

Sun Scarab, spun while at a craft show on Sunday, September 2:

Jinx's Woods, named in part for my kitty Jinx (RIP), the original color was called "Feral" by the Yarn Wench:

And, here is Purple Rain, spun from handdyed bamboo fiber from hollyeqq.com:

I also spun up this two-ply from handdyed merino wool from the Yarn Wench. It is two separate colorways (Rust Never Sleeps & Tradebeads Variation) spun into thin singles, then plied together. Not sure I like how it turned out, but that's probably because I feel like *everything* should be Navajo plied now! :)

Then, there are the knit projects I've been whipping up! I have knit a couple of hats with my OWN handspun yarn, and also a neckwarmer that I think I'll be keeping for myself!

Orchid Sky Hand knit hat with handspun yarn I spun (merino wool, romney locks, novelty yarns all spun up and plied with thread):

And, the matching mini-neckwarmer:

And, finally, here is a hand knit hat from "Turquoise Shadows" yarn I spun and plied with Moda Dea Frivolous. This is so soft and warm! This is also the yarn that was on etsy's front page last week! I still have one skein in my shop, but will be removing it tonight as I plan on knitting a matching scarf for this hat!

Well, I think that's it for a pretty picture update! :) I have a show this Saturday (again) and am hoping for the best. The past two shows haven't been very good, though the one on Sunday (Sept. 2) ended up not being too bad, PLUS I spun a yarn while there!

Behind . . .

I know i haven't been updating as regularly lately, and I don't see it getting better anytime soon . . . school starts next week which means work will be busier and i'm spending all my extra time spinning and knitting for all of the upcoming fall shows I have. My next one is this Sunday!

Here are a few pictures, though, of what I've been doing!

Handspun bamboo yarn, spun from handdyed bamboo fiber from hollyeqq.com

Handspun single ply and boucle spun from Sparklefluff "Cloud City" from maryjanesattic.net


And, here is a yarn spun from some handdyed wools from the Yarn Wench. This was a little different as it was spun from the locks, or fleece, not roving or carded batts:

And, here is the second skein of "Night Falls" navajo plied yarn.
I've also been knitting shawls, but have been selling them almost immediately at shows. Some of the things I knit with commercial yarns won't be on etsy or my site during the fall months since these go to shows with me and usually sell pretty quickly. I may try to get pictures of some of them, though, and will add them if I have time.

Well, that's my quickie update for now!

What I did today . . .

After a less-than-successful show yesterday (and one where I didn't bring my wheel), and lots of knitting done during the week . . . I missed my wheel and finally got to spin today!

I had this gorgeous merino wool dyed by the Yarn Wench, a colorway she calls "Night Falls". I wanted the skeins to match, so I prepped all of the fiber (8.6 oz!) and then alternated taking one "pile" from each batch while spinning. I got a bobbin full, about half way through the fiber, and just had to see it plied up. So, I Navajo plied it right away. Here is a shot of the fiber and yarn, and one of just the yarn. It is 158 yards and I should be able to get another bobbin of about the same size from the remaining fiber.

So behind . . .

in posting! I am back to work today -- ended up taking all last week off. The shows were pretty good (more on them later) and when I did return I went on a 4-day spinning and knitting spree!

Quickly . . .

My booth at Musky Fest:

Musky Jamboree 2007 booth

Musky Jamboree 2007 booth

This show was pretty good. The weather was *perfect*, seriously. Sunny but not too warm so people weren't afraid to try things on. I sold a little bit of everything--yarn, shawls, and even a hat and scarf set. This was on Sunday, August 12 in Boulder Junction, WI.

On Wednesday, August 15 I was in Eagle River at the Paul Bunyan Festival. It wasn't quite as good as Musky Fest, but I still did okay. After a morning that looked a little dicey as far as weather goes, it cleared up and was pretty nice (though windy). I sold a bit--mostly shawls, but not as good as Musky Fest. Seemed like at Musky Fest people weren't put off by my prices, whereas in Eagle River, they were. I could tell -- someone would love an item . . . until they looked at the price tag. Oh well. I know my items will not be for everyone!

On that note, these were the first two shows I was able to accept credit cards at, and I did make two sales at each show using my new account. I called them in after the show, but it went really smoothly and the fees are similar to paypal. I use propay.com.

I did bring my wheel to the shows and was able to spin this yarn while there:

Kindred Spirit 3ply Handspun Yarns

I absolutely love it!! It is from handdyed domestic wool from the Yarn Wench that I've actually had for quite awhile. It Navajo plied perfectly!! (okay, the plying isn't quite *perfect* but the colorway lent itself very well to this technique as it kept the gorgeous colors more solid!) It is on my website or etsy.

I was very homesick while up north, and I was *so happy* to get back late on Wednesday night. I was very beat, though, after a long drive, and ended up taking Thursday off from work. I went on a knitting rampage that day! I knit two hats and three scarves! Here are a couple of pics:

Mandarin Sky Hand Knit Scarf

Sailors Warning Hand Knit Keyhole Scarf

Sailors Warning Hand Knit Hat

Raspberry Floozie Hand Knit Scarf

Raspberry Floozie Hand Knit Hat (with pompom) (on)

Okay, I will write a separate post for the new yarns, as there is ALOT of them! :)