I told myself that if I folded the 87 loads of laundry and put my stuff away INCLUDING the piles of towels and sheets that had been sitting on the floor folded for like two months, I was allowed to ply up all the merino I spun up on Sunday.
I was a good girl, obviously. I switched out my regular flyer for my plying flyer and plying bobbin because I wanted to ply it ALL. I’ve got about 310 yds there. For some reason (and yes I can hear you all laughing) I get really obsessed with the spinning and have to get it all done AT THIS MINUTE. And I never remember how long it all takes. I’m ALWAYS surprised at how physical the plying is – much more physical than the spinning – and seriously – it takes forever.
I’ve really only had one spinning lesson and that was really focused on plying and I was taught that no matter how thick or thin the singles being plied, the distance between the two singles should always be the same. I think I’m managing that pretty well.
I’ve got another 4oz of Amy’s Spunky Eclectic Merino in the Moonflower colorway from the Almost Solid series to spin up. I still don’t know what the wpi is on this but I compared it to some STR lightweight I had and I’d say it’s a fairly consistent sportweight. I’m also still feeling really precious about my hanspun and I have visions of a large basket or bowl sitting on the magic dresser filled with handspun – something like a living art installation where I can see it and touch it but never never actually USE it. I was thinking socks for this patch but how can I put this stuff on my feet and wear it around in smelly shoes and god forbid I get a hole.
In all the Spin Out excitement, I forgot to annouce the Bruce Quiz winner!!!
Congratulations Chris! I hope you enjoy the CDs and Yarn! Thanks everyone for taking my funny quiz. I think out of 202 quizzes, 95 were eligible to win. For those of you with less than stellar performances, here’s a little annotated answer grid:
Question 1: Which album introduced me to Bruce?
A) The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
B) Tunnel of Love
Georgie used to drive me around NJ and sing me Tunnel of Love. Incidentally, I fell in love with both G and Bruce at the same time. Cheezy I know.
C) The River
D) Lucky Town
Question 2: Am I
A) wrapped up like a douche?
B) asleep in a papoose?
C) snapped by a noose?
D) cut loose like a deuce?
Manfred Mann recorded Bruce’s Blinded by the Light and totally mangled the words. To this day Manfred Mann’s version is Bruce’s highest ranked song – it reached #1 on the charts.
Question 3: Which artist DID NOT appear at a Bruce performance I attended?
A) Terrence Trent D’Arby
B) Billy Joel
C) Peter Gabriel
We attended the Rainforest Concert at Carnegie Hall a bunch of years ago that featured Bruce and Elton and Sting and Billy Joel and a bunch of others. Billy Joel also showed up at a concert we went to out on Long Island and Terrence Trent D’Arby showed up at a concert to sing Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
D) Sting
Question 4: Which song was first played for me at a toll booth on the New Jersey Turnpike?
A) Drive All Night
I’ve told this story before.
B) Thunder Road
C) Racing in the Street
D) Stolen Car
Question 5: Where did they blow up The Chicken Man?
A) Trenton
B) Philadelphia
Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night they blew up his house too….
C) New York
D) Atlantic City
Question 6: What was my first Springsteen concert tour?
A) Born in the USA
B) Human Touch/Lucky Town
’91 or ’92. Can’t remember. I pumped my fist so freaking hard I had black and blue marks across my palms. No lie.
C) Tunnel of Love
D) The E Street Band Reunion Tour
Question 7: In how many states have I seen Bruce play?
A) 9
B) 5
C) 3
New Jersey, New York & Pennsylvania
D) 1
Question 8: Which song did Bruce write about a suicide bomber?
A) Point Blank
B) Paradise
Lyrics here. But I just the few people who gave answer C!
C) You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)
D) Souls of the Departed
Question 9: Bruce sings about getting stuck “somewhere in the swamps of Jersey.” Who’s he trying to get to?
A) Mary
B) Terry
C) Rosie
My tires were slashed and I almost crashed but the Lord had mercy
My machine she’s a dud, I’m stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Hold on tight, stay up all night ’cause Rosie I’m comin’ on strong
By the time we meet the morning light I will hold you in my arms
D) Linda
Question 10: Will I cry at the concert tonight?
A) Nah. I only cry when the E Street Band’s playing.
B) Maybe. Depends on the set-list.
C) Only if he plays The Fever.
D) Are you kidding? The waterworks will start on the Turnpike on our way down to Camden.
I’m pretty sure I made it there without any tears, but I was totally crying when
he played We Shall Overcome. I’m a wimp!
Last but not least – all you Chi-Town folks! You think I’m dumb just because I’m from New Joisey? The first thing I did when I found out I was heading out to Chicago was call Toni at The Fold and tell her I’m coming. 😉 G and I are roadtripping out there Saturday. I basically have Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday night, Sunday morning and all day Monday free. We’re staying right off of North Michigan Avenue if that means anything to anyone.
Toodles!
C,
That yarn is like so freakin awesome! major props.
L
Oh, I am in LOVE with that blue yarn! And the plying job is super welldone. Kudos! Now what are you going to make with it? It WOULD be a shame to hide it away inside a pair of shoes….
Beautiful blue handspun! And it is plied so evenly — yay Cara!
you’re a natural! that handspun is unbeliveably beautiful!!! i think i’d put it in a bowl and stare at it too for a while…
Awesomely spun! You could always start a yarn shop……me first me first!!!!
oooooh look at the pretty yarn!
That’s so purty – I’m very impressed. Miz Cara, I have been all over your site looking, but Google is not helping me – what kind of wheel do you have? I know I’ve seen that type (is it a Schact?), but I can’t put my finger on it – thanks!
Lately I am wound up tighter than a freshly tuned guitar string, and you are reminding me to take that twist out of me and put it into yarn. Love the blue.
It took me ages to summon up the courage to USE my handspun–it’s precious and one of a kind, right? And at least at first you don’t want to risk “wasting” it–right? The thing is, and I say this having only so far made two things from my handspun, but still . . . the thing is that knitting with your very own yarn is even more satisfying than admiring it in a bowl. I’m just saying!
What beautiful yarn! Your plying is soooo even!
And I’m with Deb on this one. There’s nothing more satisfying than finishing a handspun AND handknitted project. Unless you, like, sheared the sheep yourself too. =)
Gorgeous blue handspun and your plying is fabulous!
Chicago will be so much fun!! Your spinning looks great and the blue is fabulous, fabulous. If I spun something like that I would want to wear it just to show it off to everyone!
Woo hooo! I’m a winner! Thanks for that. And I’m very much looking forward to exploring Bruce. Well, ok, his music – though… ok, I’ll stop there.
The spinning looks terrific. Not sure what the advice “the distance between the two singles should always be the same” actually means but if it gets you where you want with the yarn, good!
Oh, and the STR – I’m all tingly with anticipation. I’ve never seen any STR in person.
Very pretty — the yarn has lovely contrasts in it. I’m a big blue fan myself. Someday soon I’m going to have to try some of Amy’s fiber.
And I agree with you on plying — esp. with the big plying head on the Lendrum. I usually feel like I am getting a real workout. But then I love having >400 un-interrupted yards of fiber if spin one of those big bobbins up to full!
WOW. Gorgeous stuff there.
I don’t know a thing about the spinning… *Lalalalala*… or the plying… *Lalalalala*… (even though I’m a good supporter and I can wear the shirt!) but I know what’s pretty!! It’s awesome, Cara; I could look at your pictures all day. ; )
Very beautifully spun yarn. Knitting with your own most precious handspun takes knitting to new heights. It will be such a pleasureable knit. It will make you so happy. Really.
:0)
drive all night is my husbands and my song where we look at each other and remember how much we love each other and the kids yell gross! and this song is stupid! but it brings back college and our early romance…
Very pretty, you should definitely make something with it.
Beautiful, beautiful yarn with such a nice twist. Thanks for sharing the photos.
The blue is amazing!! It was worth all that laundry!!
WOW. That is some of the loveliest handspun I have ever seen! I can’t ply at all, I need lessons. But I dream of being able to make yarn just like that.
Your yarn is beautiful!
So, um, I kind of got some yarn for this log cabin-along. Are you doing it, or are you too wiped out from the Spin Out thing?
Cara, my vote is hang that loverly skein of freakin awesome handspun slice of heaven around your neck! Ta-Da!
Your yarn looks great! Have a good time!
THAT is seriously gorgeous. Yum.
Wow, what exquisite yarn you’ve got going there!
Thanks again for walking me through the assembly of my wheel last night, You’re such a sweetie. That blue yarn is amazing! I sat and practiced last night and for the life of me, I could not get the tension right. I was pretty zen about it, but the stuff I made was pretty laughable (and doesn’t get to be called “yarn” yet — for now it’s just “stuff”). It was either clumpy and underspun or thin and overspun. I’ll get it eventually. Have a blast in Chicago, and if you go to Ann Sather’s for breakfast, I heartily recommend the cinnamon rolls and lingonberry pancakes. Yummmmmm.
Beautiful job on the spinning! I’d like to send you something to use as a prize; can you e-mail your address to me so that I can get it out in today’s mail?