Of spinning, knitting and a special scarf

Good morning, or whatever time of day it is when you're reading this!

Our weather seems to be going backwards. Record breaking 95 one week and now we're into the cools, not that I mind. Can't remember another Fourth when a sweater was needed at midday.

We went to an outdoor concert given by the Portland Brass Quintet, a perfect way to celebrate our independence.

I seem to be doing same with the new yarn I'm spinning, Moonlight in Maine with Fireflies (up on the top). As my Constant Readers will know, I've been thinking about this yarn for some time. Many nights sitting outside watching the fireflies blinking at each other like so many animated stars come to earth inspired me.

So, having observed that moonlight is blue, I sundyed 6 wingspans of merino in the darkest blue I could create. It ended up having some blue grey in it as well, which I liked.

I began on the hardest part (we New Englanders always do that), the fireflies. I strung lots of tiny glass beads on black thread, pearlized and clear round ones and sparkly cylindrical ones.

I did this randomly. Art should be disorganization gently arranged to please the eye, don't you think?

I spun a skinny moonlight single and plied it with the beaded thread, much easier to type than to do, I assure you.

Oooh, they're playing a harp version of Debussy's Clair de Lune on the radio. How apropos!

I then spun what seemed like miles of the moonlight and plied it with glossy dead black nylon thread. It turned out lovely, drapey and dressy, an odd thing to say about a yarn. I also like the contrast of the shiny nylon and the matte wool. I snuck in a few beehives in the inky black. Nice.

My intention was to make a kind of set or kit, so a knitter or crocheter could make socks, or a scarf or mittens, etc. and knit a sparkly trim. It will be listed on Etsy soon.

I did knit up the blue/purple yarn with white and other colored nubs. I made a long skinny scarf, the kind I call Air Conditioner Chasers. (Shown above) A friend needed a purple gift for yet another friend and he snarfed it up before I'd had a chance to list it. I'll spin more of these kinds of "art yarns". Don't know what to call them. Maybe revolutionary yarn, appropriate for the season and as a tribute to PluckyFluff whose book, Handspun Revolution, inspires me. Yes, revolutionary yarn it is.

Off to dye and spin some more. Hmmmm autumn colors, worsted weight, lots of yardage. How much will my bobbins hold?

Every dye lot, every yarn spun teaches me more about color and the amazing properties of wool.

Thanks for joining me!