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FO Friday: Panoramic Stole & Handspun Romney

My Panoramic Stole is done, and ahead of schedule, too; I wanted to finish by the end of this month at the latest, though my real goal was to bind off at the close of this coming weekend. I did end up omitting a panel, as I was running out of yarn: I have 14g left over, which is definitely not enough to make it through another mesh panel, let alone the short-row garter section. I was a little worried about cutting things short, so to speak, but everything ended up just fine - my shawl is very close to the 80" length listed in the pattern, in fact. I'm sure that if I wanted to block to the specific dimensions given, I could easily hit those marks!

Here's a shot of it blocking in my yarn room. Once it's dry, I'll be sure to take an "action" shot of me lounging around the house in my pretty new shawl! The pattern is from Coastal Knits, which my husband got me for Christmas, and I used two skeins of Malabrigo Sock in Chocolate Amargo.

In other exciting news, I spun & plied 4 oz. of 100% Romney fiber in under a week  - a record for me! Yep, I'm totally in love with my new Ladybug wheel; it's amazing how much easier everything is when you have the right tools.

Image from AmericanRomney.org
One of my goals this year (besides spinning through my stash) is to spin with new-to-me- breeds of sheep and other fibers. While I love my spinning staples (usually BFL and merino blends), it's time to branch out and learn more about the wonderful world of fiber!

Each time I spin a new fiber, I'll be doing a bit of research to learn more about it. Here are some fun Romney facts from Clara Parkes' Book of Wool, RomneySheepUK.com and AmericanRomney.org:

The Romney sheep is an adaptable breed that dates back to the 13th century in southeastern England (more specifically, a marshy area of Kent called - wait for it! - the Romney marsh). This hardy longwool required minimal attention, as the sheep are very independent and have very little interest in straying. They used to be referred to as Kent sheep, but once the breed began to spread, they were dubbed Romney. They are now raised in other parts of the world such as the Falkland Islands, New Zealand and parts of North America. Additionally, Romney sheep have been used to build such breeds as the California Variegated Mutant (CVM), Perendale, Romeldale and Coopworth.

I'm also really excited because earlier this week, I snapped up a book I've been eyeing for quite some time - I just happened across it when cruising the latest Craftsy Deals. There are so many adorable projects in Amigurumi On The Go, many of which I want to make for myself! It will also come in handy since so many of my friends are having babies this year....I simply couldn't resist. I'll be sure to post a review once I receive my copy!

Celebrate FO Friday by checking out more posts over on the Tami's Amis blog!

Have a crafty weekend!

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