My first handspun.

I've now got 34yards of handspun and hand dyed thick and thin yarn, that's all I got from my 50g Shropshire wool top. I'm assuming the better I get at spinning I'll get better yardage.

The dyeing was easier than I thought, it was just a Dylon cold water dye in colour Sea Green. After spinning the yarn I set the twist by putting it in very hot water for about 15 minutes, I think you're supposed to let it dry before the dyeing process but I didn't. Seen how it was already wet I decided to just go ahead and give it a go.

With an old bowl I added enough really hot water to cover the yarn, I added 13floz of vinegar and dropped in the dye tablet, very gently I swooshed it around and then left it for about an hour. I gave it another swoosh and again left it for an hour. Then I just rinsed it in the sink until no more dye was coming from it and dried it with a towel then hung it from the banana tree to dry, this morning I had a lovely pale coloured yarn.

I was hoping to get enough yarn to make Urchin a hat from thick and thin yarn that only requires 77-109yards of yarn but that obviously wasn't to be. Now I'm on the hunt for a pattern that only requires my 34yards hehe.

I've got a 100g English wool top that has yet to be spun, I'm hoping I'll get a much more even yarn and enough yarn to actually make a hat or something. I've also got my eye on a new spindle from here, not only are they really pretty but from what I've been reading are highly recommended. The price is also really good.

The spindle I've got is great, but it's probably better for laceweight yarn (when I'm even and consistent enough to actually start spinning laceweight LOL) and I want to do more sock/dk weighted yarns so think I'm going to go for a spindle in the 35-40g weight.

No matter the outcome, it's just so much fun, plus the pleasure from seeing my own little mini hanks of spun yarn is too good to pass up. yes, a new passion as been aquired.