Have you heard about the Yarn Museum? It’s open for business now, with galleries just begging for your submissions (I especially love the idea of the handspun fix), and even note cards for sale that feature handspun yarn, including my own.

Shop! Submit! Admire!

I’ve gone and signed up for another knit-along, despite the fact that I’m not much of a joiner. You people keep making such good ones, though, that I can’t resist! MJ certainly knows how to push my buttons, and a colorwork challenge is just the ticket. (Hrmm, we’re linking to each other today. I swear it’s not a conspiracy, just like minds.)

My mom’s Christmas sweater will be my first project for the knit-along, but I’m already totally freaking out over something I discovered last night.

*slobberslobberslobberslobber* It’s called Forest and is in Swedish Sweaters: New Designs from Historical Examples, by Britt-Marie Christoffersson, which is a lovely book. The first half of the book contains history of Swedish knitting with examples and charts, and the second half is full of sweaters inspired by the historic examples (some most of the “updated” sweaters have some serious 80’s style problems like general giantness and/or batwing sleeves, but the ideas are GREAT). This has become my official Dream Sweater. It’s done in rug yarn in the book, to closely approximate the yarn used to knit the coverlet that inspired it. It’s lined, since the wool used was quite prickly, even for a coat. To bypass that lining drama, I’ll stick to a less scratchy wool, while still using one that will take some wear. Peace Fleece comes in some lovely colors and is a great yarn, but perhaps has too much mohair, which would obscure the patterning. Beaverslide 90%/10% wool/mohair, I’m looking at you. And having a hard time deciding on colors.

Do you have any other yarn suggestions? Plied worsted weight wool is what I’m after in solid or very slightly heathery colors. I’m going to avoid stuff that’s possibly cheap and crappy (no Knit Picks) because I want this to stay around for a good long time. There’s Blackwater Abbey, but the color selection is a little slim, perhaps…. help!

It’s here! It’s so cute!

Louet Victoria S95 in beech with carry bag and lazy kate

size comparison with S17
The Facts:

System: scotch tension, single drive
Wheel: 14″ diameter
Treadle: double
Orifice: 23.5″ high but angled upwards, so it’s not awkward for me at 5′8″ tall, and 3/8″ wide
Weight: 7.7 lbs. (This figure is from Louet and may include the bag, as the wheel alone is coming in at about 6 and a half on my bathroom scale.)
Folded size: 5-3/8″ x 11-7/8″ x 18-3/4″
Ratios: 6, 9 and 13 to 1. (High speed flyer will be available later.)
Bobbins: 4 oz. capacity, comes with 3
Available in Beech or Oak
The Victoria comes with a carry bag that can be worn as a backpack, over the shoulder, or in the hand.

The Opinions:

I love it! It’s so small, even in the bag. The bag is 6″ deep, so it would be easy to stow under a sofa or bed, if you’re short on space, which I am. The bobbins are very similar in size to regular Ashford bobbins, maybe a bit larger, which means you can get a decent-sized skein (4 oz. or so) off of them, which makes this wheel, despite it’s small size, a good all around wheel.

It’s a sturdy little thing with the usual lovely Louet factory finish and a little carry handle on top. The base of the lazy kate is flexible and is bent to release the bobbins. No hook is needed, despite the small size of the orifice. There’s a large slot on the side, making it easy to just poke the leader through. Treadling action and uptake are smooth.

The orifice is small on this, and with no bulky setup to come, as far as I know, this isn’t the wheel for you if you want to make big novelty yarns. It’ll produce anything from lace weight to bulky with no problems, though.

Craftiness:

There was a sewing machine party here last night. I managed to make some pillows out of thrifted wool sweaters I got about 2 years ago for this purpose. Someone’s been slacking! There was some sewing and cutting of Icelandic sweaters, as well.

hand-dyed Preserved Ginger South African Fine Wool top

Today’s shop update day and Sarah of Maisy Day Handspun and I have lots of good stuff to offer. Check in at 2 pm EST to see it all or visit the Flickr gallery for the update once it’s all sold.

Sarah sent the favorite thick and thin Merino wool handspun and hand-dyed yarns, plus some gorgeous handspun and hand-dyed Merino/silk two ply and hand-dyed lace weight and sock Merino yarns. They’re positively beautiful.

I’ve dyed up tons of fiber, including Bluefaced Leicester, Merino, and a new wool- South African Fine wool top, which is almost as soft as my Merino- 23 micron- but with a silkier texture, making it easier to spin while still being so soft you want to roll around on it.

I’ve also dyed up lots of Sock, Fat Sock, and Tough Sock yarns.

There’s only one more shop update, on December 12, before Christmas. I recommend ordering yarn and fiber no later than December 14th for Christmas delivery. I ship USPS priority, so you can take your chances after that date, but I won’t make any promises. If you’d like Louet equipment for Christmas delivery, please email me to be sure the item is in stock at their warehouse.

The Louet Victoria wheel has been released and I’m currently taking orders for January delivery. If you’d like to know more about this travel wheel, check my blog later in the week for a review as I’ve got a test wheel coming in today. I might be a little bit excited about the wheel. There’s a ton of work to be done, but I keep finding myself looking out the window for the Fedex truck.