Knitting
This week I have just been adding some rows to my DK socks, as my feet are small these should be finished next week.
I haven’t decided what to cast on next.
Spinning
In YOP week 25 I forgot to share a photo of the aurora borealis single I had spun. This was on my Nano wheel.
Our Guild have their January challenge and one of the challenges is to spin some fibres that aren’t wool to make an alphabet of other fibres. I spun some banana fibre below.
Then I was spinning some pineapple fibre and the drive band on my little Nano 2 wheel broke! New bands cost 50 cents but posting to the UK costs $15! I have ordered what I hope are the right sized o bands from Amazon so I am keeping my fingers crossed these are a good alternative.
So whilst I wait for my new band, on my Ashford Traveller I have been spinning a World of Wool blend called Jellyfish Sprite which is 75% black Bluefaced Leicester with 25% red mulberry silk. I have been trying to spin it thinner than I normally would. I suspect I have sneaked into a little thicker during the last couple of hours of spinning 🥴.
Its 150g in total and I have almost half on this bobbin so far. My plan is to weave a scarf/shawl with it using the Brooks Bouquet pattern. I have woven that before with a commercial yarn so hopefully will be a good project to get me weaving on my rigid heddle loom again.
Other News
We have had snow on the ground all year, so far. That’s unusual as we normally have it a few days and then it goes. Walking to work has been a challenge where the snow has compacted to ice on the paths.
I can’t really think what else I have done the last two weeks, except laundry mountain from our holiday, work and online shopping.
I have bought myself a Kindle Paperwhite. I was reading at bedtime using my iPad and its just too much temptation to do anything but reading…like watching YouTube or doing the colouring app. So now my iPad stays out of the bedroom and I have finished two books that I started last year. I am now continuing with a 3rd book I also started last year!
This is a Year of Projects post. Officially the Group is in its 15th year, but this is my 8th year participating. If you would like to find more about the Year of Projects Group on Ravelry, as you’d be very welcome to join us.
HighlandHeffalump 
Your spinning is looking great! I don’t know that it would be of any help but if there’s something I can post to you from the US that would be cheaper let me know!.
Love your socks. Those should be extra cozy on cold and snowy mornings. Oddly – that’s usually how snow works for us too. We get some and it sticks around a few days but usually melts by day 3 or so.
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Hi, I had looked at shipping to another friend in the US to see how much if she posted to me, but even their in-country postage seems extortionate $6 for what is just a rubber band. Hoping the one I have found will fit, just waiting on Amazon to deliver it. Fingers crossed 🤞
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The new drive band arrived today and fits and seems to work so far!! They came in a pack of 25 for half the price of shipping one from the US so that’s a huge relief.
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Lovely spinning fibers! I’ve never heard of banana fiber. Is it soft or on the rougher side?
Those socks look nice and warm! I hope your ice melts, but at least your feet will be warm if it doesn’t.
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Its pretty soft, it got up my nose a little fluffy bits would float up like mohair. Softer than nettle fibre or linen.
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My hubby loves his Paperwhite. He uses it especially for reading outside in the sunlight. I had one in the early days, pre Kindles, and loved mine for reading books as well (Barnes & Noble’s Nook, no longer even made). Much better for your eyes. I just about only use my Kindle as a Knit Companion pattern device. I keep it in a 360 case so that I can display the pattern either landscape or portrait depending on which orientation is better. That banana fiber is so shiny. Beautiful. Love the borealis spun yarn. What a beautiful cowl it would make. Shipping!!! So crazy.
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I had a very early model of the Kindle but the light was in the case rather than the screen. It just won’t hold its charge anymore but I am really liking the paperwhite so far.
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Wow the Black and red spin and the merino with the sari silk are beautiful! I bet the banana fiber is soft, it sure looks soft! If that band doesn’t fit, you can order a bunch of the right size band, they are so light they shouldn’t add to the weight for shipping and then you wouldn’t need to order another for a very long time.
Our weather here has been a roller coaster!! But we haven’t had a lot of nice sunny days even when it’s warmer :(.
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It fits and seems to be working ok for the 10 mins I just tried it. It came in a pack of 25 so I have loads now for less than half the price of shipping one in from the US!
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shipping is the bain of our existence!! Guess that’s why Amazon does so well!!
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Beautiful colorways everywhere!
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I love the sheen of the banana fiber.
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All your spinning is so beautiful! Did you enjoy spinning with the banana and pineapple fibers? Were they very different from wool or silk? Your socks look nice and cozy!
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Its good to try something different. The banana I found ok, the pineapple I found harder. Today I spun Ramie which is nettle fibre. Definitely my preference is animal fibres. These natural ones are slightly harder on the hands to spin and I like floofy yarns like Rambouillet or Polwarth sheep give you. This is very much the opposite.
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That makes total sense! But what a cool experiment to try anyway! Do you have any other unusual fibers in your lineup?
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Mint and milk protein!
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Wow! Those will be different! Looking forward to seeing and reading about those!
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I never knew bananas and pineapples could be yarn! That’s so interesting.
The aurora yarn is stunning, do you have any plans for it?
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