Jobo Designs

• I had some odds and ends of dyed Merino and Mohair Locks… and some very VERY bright orange merino roving leftover from last year’s “Spin Wild” Maritime Handspinner’s Retreat… So I carded some technicolor batts, with Orange as a base, and whatever odds and ends matched the Red, Yellow, Orange, Black, kitchen sink. 
• The Fiber was carded on my Strauch Petite, with much gusto, and little thought or planning.  I unfortunately forgot to photograph the batts...
• The Yarn was spun extra chunky on an Ashford Traveler, and plied back upon itself instead of leaving as singles
• The leftover screaming orange Merino was spun in a similar manner (what else was I going to use it for?)
• The Mittens:  a makeshift pattern
• -Cuffs in K1P1 Ribbing, cast on 22 stitches, 7 rows
• -Knit 10 rows plain, then knit 3 stitches in waste yarn a-la-Elizabeth-Zimmermann thumb technique, then knit up approximately 14 rows and decreased like a usual mitten top (K2 K2Tog around, 1 row plain, then K1 K2Tog around, 1 row plain, K2tog around, draw through.)

-Thumbs: 7 stitches picked up (3 bottom, 4 top) from the stitches after the waste yarn was removed, knit 8 rows, and drew through. Results: VERY orange Mittens…. hopefully some kid decides they really like Orange, and I can give these away. They aren’t as ugly as I thought they would be, but not exactly my style either!

The Persimmon Seasilk yarn is completed.... washed, balled, and ready to go now.  I love the oranges and reds that came out of it.

The fiber was a braid of Waterloo Wools - Seasilk / Merino Blend, in many shades of orange and red... colors that I love, but don't tend to gravitate towards in the same ways as my earth tones of blue, green, and brown.  The fiber itself was a delight to spin, and was fun as a travel spinning project.  I used my Golding Dragonfly spindle, spun from the fold one little tuft at a time from one end of the braid to the other, most of the work done on my lunch breaks or coffee breaks.  A few minutes here and there really adds up!

I didn't measure the entiretly of the yardage, but am estimating that I have around 700 yards of medium Laceweight, with some slightly fluctuating thick and thin spots.

This is destined to become a semicircular shawl - Vernal Equinox!  I've cast on, but only just barely.

More pics to come :)

I can't wait to see how this will stripe up and see how the colors will arrange themselves!

I was lucky enough to receive 2 skeins of Silky Malabrigo in "Vienna" from my Mom and Dad for Christmas!  I love the colors and feel of this yarn... but as I often do with variegated skeins... I am having difficulty deciding what it should be in the end! 

Anyone have any good ideas for this yarn?  with two skeins I have enough for a really decent scarf, or mittens, or ??

I'm thinking more and more that maybe I should weave with it - so I can show off the beautiful fall oranges and browns, but not have the colors muddy up too much and overpower each other.

* Photo snagged from the Malabrigo Website, since I just can't seem to get this one to photograph correctly...