Merrily We Spin-Along

The Hilltop Cloud first ever Spin Along has drawn to a close. 

Back in mid-March I did a bit of stash tidying up and came across some braids of fibre that were rather elderly and should have been spun a while ago. They were mosty merino, which is notorious for storing badly, when left to it's own devices, it compacts, and starts to stick to itself. It's nothing to do with the dyeing, it's just how that type of fibre behaves. 

I decided that I couldn't be the only one with fibre past it's Best Before Date, so set up a challenge thread in the Hilltop Cloud Ravelry group, and also suggested that people could use it as an incentve to try new techniques, or just to regain their spinning mojo. 

Altogether 56 of us chimed in on the discussion thread, and by my very rough count well over 7kg of fibre was spun.

Another very impressive first attmpt at navajo plying by chubbles. 

Amytuk's 3rd attempt at spindling

Wishonastar's spindling, also from her Learn to Spin kit

Handa's Blue Tit, and some naturally dyed merino from when I first started Hilltop Cloud

CraftFidget's Baby Camel and Silk (I did love that Thought colourway... maybe I shall have to dye some more!)

OrganisedKnots spun a whole mountain of yarn

As did RubyWool

Crossroadsdemon challenged herself to spin true laceweight.

And gaievans spun her first skein of sock yarn

lindarose tried long draw for the first time.

FlossieFlorence challenged herself to spin thicker

LadyJennifer used the challenge as incentive to finish off a batt she'd been spinning for the past 18 months.

legovial spun over 1500 yards to knit a sweater

scarletprincess not only spun the yarn for her daughter's cardigan, she also managed to get it knitted up.

zinniz spun an incredible 2500 yards

haxansurtant spun her first ever cable yarn

lisab was another spinner who tried a cabled yarn.

coxaby tackled the Blue Birds Sampler, and lots of other samples as well. 

pantoffels made some gorgeous teal yarn.



There are lots of spinners, and lots of skeins that I haven't included here. It was turning in to the never ending post, but if you want to go and look at what we've been doing the full thread is here, and just the images are here. 



I am properly back to work from tomorrow onwards, the first fibres to hit the dyebath will be Teeswater/Silk and some Superwash BFL/Nylon. Meanwhile, over in the Ravelry group we are already planning for the Tour de Fleece.