This time of year is always characterized by the mad rushing around, hoping to get errands done quickly, waiting in lines and, because I usually have two small children in tow, feeling frazzled. This year, I decided to ‘get organised’ by making a list, sticking to it and voila! I finished everything I needed to do early. The last errand was done bright and early this morning (I’m writing this in early December).
© Rachel Smith /
SweetGeorgia Yarns 2015
© Rachel Smith /
SweetGeorgia Yarns 2015
One thing on my list for this month, though, was to spin up the reveal as usual. But how to enjoy a spin that I am on quite a tight deadline for this month?* The same thing I did last month, that I have been truly treasuring, which is to spin in the quiet, early mornings for a small amount of time.
* The deadline was self-imposed due to a travel commitment our family has this holiday season.
© Rachel Smith /
SweetGeorgia Yarns 2015
This contemplative time was completely consumed by these colours this month. I found myself thinking of nothing else but the colours of the baubles my parents used to have on our Christmas tree when growing up. I’m dating myself (and them) but remember the glass baubles that were quite primary in colour with the metal hooks to fasten onto the tree? They reflected the light in a way that our new plastic baubles will never be able to because the glass almost took on an iridescent quality. We had red, blue, green and yellow baubles if my memory is correct. My brother and I used to watch the dancing lights on the tree for hours throughout December. We would actually lie underneath the tree and look up into the tree to watch the lights. It all seemed completely magical.
As my family prepares to travel this Christmas, I am looking forward to watching our kids begin to take in the magic of the season. I hope I can protect them for as long as I can from the harried feelings many of us experience at this time of year. This particular braid will always hold a special place in my heart for the sheer enjoyment of remembering my childhood Christmases while spinning in those quiet moments.
© Rachel Smith /
SweetGeorgia Yarns 2015
I spun a simple two-ply this month by dividing the braid in half horizontally and spinning each strip to a separate bobbin. I actually over-twisted my first bobbin by accident. After I’d run it through the wheel again to take some of the twist out – this is achieved by increasing the tension significantly and letting your singles onto the bobbin in the opposite way that they were originally spun – and then re-wound them onto a storage bobbin. I performed this extra step to ensure the colours would match up as closely as possible, which worked beautifully. In total, I have about 242 yards for 113 grams, which will be perfect for a toque and matching mittens I think.
Have you started your braid this month? How do you avoid the holiday stress? Please share over in the Ravelry group’s Spoilers Thread – we’d love to see how you’re spinning your club fibre!
Happy New Year!
