Last night at knitting, I was talking to one of the group members about spinning. I think there’s 2 people in the whole group that spin! I mentioned that this year, I’d really like to get a wheel, so we talked a little about wheels and said that I should come over when the weather gets warmer and we can spin outside. I have wanted to get a wheel for a long time now… I think since 2005! I got a drop spindle in 2005 and there are a few posts here that I talked about it. I did spin up the first roving I had. Then in 2007, I went to Knitter’s Connection and took a class on spinning. I learned more about drafting and my second go round looked a lot better that my super bulky first try, but I never did finish it. I started having a lot of pain in my right shoulder and it made it really difficult to spin, so I put it aside for “some other time.” Every so often, I’d get it out and look at the spindle with the little bit of yarn I’ve made on it and just dream about having a wheel. This year is THE year. I want to have a wheel by the end of the year.
Anyway, last night I was talking to her about spinning and I mentioned how it hurt my shoulder. She asked if I pull it up or to the side when I’m drafting. Up. Then it hit me – duh! No wonder it’s bothering my shoulder so much. I’m pulling UP instead of to the side, which would be much easier on my shoulder. She said I should try it sometime. No better some time than now!
I haven’t actually tried it yet, but I plan to this weekend.
On Monday I started my sisters Hogwarts scarf in Gryffindor colors. After knitting on it last night and today, it’s looking pretty good:
I’m hoping this will end up being a pretty quick knit. It’s great for knitting in front of the TV, while on the phone, having conversations with people, or while reading a book (as long as you have something to hold the book open!). I was wondering, though, what the height should be on the stripes. It doesn’t say in the pattern and looking at it I almost feel they should be taller. Right now the are 3.75″. It does say the scarf should be 7 to 8 inches wide and mine is about 9 inches wide. I added 10 extra stitches to make it easier to knit in the round (70 was just a tad on the tight side).
Monday I had to go to Michael’s to get the yarn for the scarf (it’s Vanna’s Choice yarn, my sister requested something not itchy and this definitely isn’t). After I got home, I decided that I needed to get all the yarn I’ve acquired photographed and entered into my stash on Ravelry. All of it was either given to me or acrylic that I bought a skein of here and there.
I thought I’d have some fun and create a little picture with all the yarn I took pictures of and uploaded to my stash:
Might be a little boring here on the blog while I knit this scarf. I’m hoping it won’t take the eternity it feels like it will. Then again, I’m sure I’ll come up with something to talk about!
Ms Lindz - My little corner of the internet 
Totally not about anything you mentioned, but I love that little bag your spinning is in. 🙂 Definitely give the spinning another try. You might also have less pain if you find a little spindle and finer yarn. Of course that tends to be more $$ so you should know you want to spin. Have fun with the scarf knitting!
I skipped right past spindle spinning and got a wheel last year – Schacht Ladybug. I *love* it, it’s a great little wheel. I want to go back now and learn how to use a spindle, just for portability. I did have the same problem with my shoulder at first – switching chair height & drafting to the side really helped.
I find that spinning and spindling are quite different experiences. I started out with a spindle, then quickly went to a wheel, and honestly don’t think about spindling anymore. It’s like I need to have the yarn NOW! 🙂 In any event, there are so many spinning wheels out there now. I’m sure the right one will find you. And believe me, the big bulky first skeins are treasure troves. Once you start spinning more balanced and skinnier yarns, you’ll wish you could spin those big bulky ones again!
The scarf looks great and I think the stripes are fine? I haven’t seen the pattern, but how come it is knit in the round? Just for the affect of it?
AND – I noticed a lot of the Bernat Berella. Is this a good yarn? I don’t think I’ve ever knit with it?