Designer Yarn Beanies

When I have spun up some designer yarn I always wonder what style is best suited. Top beanie I spun up the softest light blue merino with white mohair and glitter yarn. Pattern used is Knit 2 Purl 2 wide band with a long body allowing for a good head of hair. Below is designer yarn I spun up using natural black alpaca with dyed mohair . Similar style for a close hugging beanie

Coiled Beanies No 2

I have been enjoying knitting up this style beanie. Everyone is different. Grey has an extended body allowing for long hair, Green has only a short body and fits close to the head and the Red has a longer body and an opening at the end for a pony tail to hang out of.

Just Shawn Alpaca

Friday morning Marlene and I took a trip in search of this farm at West Corindi.
Ann rang to tell us she had some Alpaca fleece we may like. We couldnt pass an opportunity like this. After a warm welcome and cup of coffee Ann bought the Alpaca up for us to have a closer look at them. Having been just shawn they looked a little funny but those big eyes and eye lashers they are just beautiful, but known to spit which a couple did.
We came home with bags of fleece but it all needs to be sorted to get the best lengths for spinning.
The farm is surrounded by blue berry bushes, macadamia nut tree
and avocado trees.

Warm Scarfs

Top Scarf using wool from Nundle Woollen Mills. I loved the colours of a hank of wool I spun up so knitted a length which was to be a scarf. Not knowing how much length I was going to get found it was not long enough so it was back to my spinning wheel to knit more yarn then the memory had to go back to the colours I used. I thought it safe just using two colours and used the royal blue and a green. I then used half my spun yarn on the front and picked up stitch on the back and knitted them the same length. I had spun up another two colours similar to my first section and used that for the fringing. I will take it to Bellingen Market and have it for sale but if no sale I will keep it and hopefully match the green boots I have ordered from WallabyTracks which I hope will be next to us 19th June.
Using Nundle Wool I spun up plenty this time for a scarf. Some how in my plying back I spun it back t he same way I spun it up and I thought I had made a huge mistake. It had so much stretch in it. I went ahead and dyed it Red and Blue.
I was interested to see how it knitted up and to my biggest surprise it knitted up great and using no 10mm needles gives it a lacey look. I dont know if I will do it again and it will work. But I love it and wore it today with my new red boots.

I took the photos outside on a beautiful autumns day and the sun must have caught the lens of the camera.

Alpaca & Merino Scarf/Beanie

Using black alpaca and natural white merino micron 18, I carded together, then spun it up plied it back with white wool yarn and silver glitter yarn.
With the yarn I first calculated approx length and amount for fringe. Then I cast on 8 stitches and using No 20mm needles knitted
till I was happy with the length.
I still had left over yarn so I knitted a beret but had to add just black alpaca which I had in my stash. I will take it to Bellingen Market to see if I have a buyer if not I will keep it for myself as I do love the softness of it and you can wear black and white accessories with any outfit plus I have just bought a lovely black jacket.

Yellow, Blue, Red, Berettes.

How bright these colours are for winter to brighten up your day.
Handspun wool and dyed just the one overall colour a little different to my multi range. My pattern altered for each berette so I get a different shape.

Earflap Beanie Multi Colours Feb 2010

Warm, colourful & fashionable these Earflap beanies a must for winter this year and next. Lhs/ Blue, red, orange and green multi mix. Rhs/Green, black, orange & yellow mix. I handspun 16 micron merino which is so soft and dyed it to these lovely colours.



Lhs/Black and galah pink I chose with a touch of white, Rhs/ Autumn tones of brown, green and suntan yellow with a touch of white. I handspun wool that I purchased from Nundle Woollen Mills and dyed them as described.

Hand Spun and Dyed Yarn Jan 2010

I am in the mood to start my 2010 collection using 16 micron fleece.
I hand spun on my Babe Spinning Wheel. 6 Bobbins. I love dyeing and this time I left a little white showing instead of trying to completely colour all sections. I used mostly only two main colours as previously I have used three or more. Due to the lovely warm weather I hung them on the line and now dry and ready for me to create with my Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles.

Multi Shades Brown Earflap Beanie

I have started on my Winter 2010 Collection starting with Earflap beanies a little different style to last year. I started with 16 micron merino which I have spun up then dyed shades of brown and dark red giving a striped effect. I did start with a undyed natural white which looks great on most people. I have finished a shades of royal blue and shades of purple pink. Ask for them at February 20th, 2010. Bellingen Market.
I am hoping I do have a bigger selection but you have to be in early.

Baa Baa Coat Hangers

They are supposed to look like black faced sheep. Something novelty to place in our Spinners Group, Coffs Harbour 2010 Fibre Art Summer Exhibition. Held at the Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens Jan 19th - 26th.
I have spun up white merino fleece and plied it back with white wool thread.
I found a ball of natural dark brown Camel which I used for my experimental face. The other two I found some previous spun natural black alpaca.
I am hoping to get a few extras knitted just in case I get a rush of people wanting to buy.

Scrap Beanies

My two new scrap beanies in a sort of beret style, using my left over remnants of spun wool.

I have taken the front view and back, (double click on photo for more details)

They are a bit wild and woolly looking but very fashonable and lovely and warm to wear.

I am hoping to get a few more done to show off at December market at Bellingen or our group, Coffs Harbour Spinners have their annual Fibre Art Summer Exhibition 2010 at the Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens Jan 19th - 26th. Please take a note of the dates and write in your diary for a Must Do to see. Garments for Sale at reasonable prices.

Handspun Wool Vest

This vest I used my own handspun yarn. The yarn was shown on a previous post using cheeses from Nundle Woollen Mill. which I had spun up and dyed multi colours. I was interested to see how it knitted up so now I know.

It was equivilent to 8 ply and I used no7mm needles. Using my favourite Denise Interchangeable needles. I cast on 120 stitches. Pattern was knit 4, Purl 4 to desired length, then I cast off a few stitches for the armholes. I continued in garter stitch for the top part to stop the curling if I had used stocking stitch.
I used a garment to copy off so I cannot give you any more details.

I knitted a small I-cord tie, to bring the fronts together. or I can find a broach or leave it loose.

Marlene's Scarf Exchange 2009

What a lovely scarf Marlene has crochet for this years Scarf Exchange at Kurrajong Handspun Crafts Inc.
Using lovely beige wool. Marlene spun it up and added pre dyed yellow and orange wisps of mohair to dress up the colour.
I know I would be lucky to received such a lovely scarf.

Marlene is a very talented lady when it comes to wool. She can spin it, knit it, crochet it, felt it.

A member of the Coffs Spinners who has inspired us with her own designs.

She is also a good cook and often brings a plate for us to sample.

Pigtail Beanies Are Back

A selection of pigtail beanies, using very bright hand spun wool.
Girls will be the talk of the town. Get the boys hearts spinning.

Come early to Bellingen Market May 16th. plus other beanies just knitted.

Even little girls look so cute in a pigtain beanie.

Beanies With Bling.

I have just knitted 3 beret style beanies using my Designer Yarn which have plied using Metalic thread.
Each beanies is similar in style, but different in size and shape.

This handsome chappie is wearing a beret , from some very colourful yarn giving it a tartan effect.