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!

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b...

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a...

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n...

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