Cranberry Wool Spun into Gorgeous Yarn

Next to navy blue, cranberry might just be my next favorite color. I found this gorgeous shade of cranberry wool at the local yarn store and knew that it was going to be beautiful once spun. Since I have let my friends and family know about my newest hobby of spinning yarn, I have found that there are many questions. Mainly, if I am not using a spinning wheel, how else could I spin yarn? So, for any of you who might be curious, I included the following in this post's photo: roving wool, Single Ply yarn on a Drop Spindle (Bottom Whorl), and a Ball of 2-Ply yarn.

I am enjoying this new craft and my little guy loves helping spin the spindle. It just looks like a big top to him :)

Hot Air Balloon Mini Golf Quilt

My Little guy loves mini golf. It was really only a matter of time before the he asked me to make him a Mini Golf Quilt. So, I decided that it needed a theme, as most mini golf holes have themes. A hot air balloon seemed to naturally follow the path of a golf hole. We sat down together with a piece of paper and designed the quilt. He tees off at the basket, followed by the fairway and sand trap, and of course the green. Be on the look out for pirates in the water hazard if you over shoot your ball! He loves playing on his golf quilt and I smile every time I see him with it.

Felted Bowl made with my first handspun yarn

Felted Bowl made with my first handspun yarn.

Some people find a hobby or craft and stick to that particular artistic medium. I, on the other hand, have interest in just about everything. I remember making polymer clay figures, painting and crocheting as a kid. As I got older, I began to sew and quilt. After having children, I began to knit. This Spring, I attended the 35th Annual New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival. They had several workshops available to attend, and I signed up for the Spinning Wool on Drop Spindle Workshop, given by Carol Collins of Singing Spindle Spinnery.

Ms. Collins is a colorful speaker and educator. She started the workshop with some history and stories as she demonstrated how to spin wool. Next she focused on some techniques and we were each given a drop spindle and some wool of our own to start spinning. It was fascinating to see the wool magically turn into yarn right before my eyes. I had difficulty at first, because I over-twisted the wool as I spun. Ms. Collins gave me some pointers and in no time, I was spinning the wool into yarn with ease.

When I got home, finished spinning the rest of the wool given to me into single-ply yarn and then plied the strands into 2-ply yarn. Since it was the first wool yarn that I had spun, I wanted to make a special keepsake with the yarn. I decided to crochet a little bowl and felt it. I think that it turned out just darling and it sits happily on my mantle in my home.

Single Ply Yarn

2-ply wool yarn - My First Handspun Yarn

Goofy Golf - Lowe's Build & Grow Workshop

Our little guy is going to love Lowe's Build and Grow activity this week - a Goofy Golf Windmill! You can sign your child up online here for this FREE kids activity! Starts at 10:00 am.