Cotton Sampler Finished!

Since I had a couple of unplanned days off, I managed to finish up the cotton sampler I started during Ravelry's Tour de Fleece. The main objective was to weave a scarf using singles spun from my home-grown cotton on the Bosworth book charkha. When I started, I was not very encouraged that I would ever get this project off the loom! I was throwing away as much, if not more, cotton than I was spinning. The charkha definitely had a BIG learning curve! I'm normally pretty confident in my spinning, but this was a real challenge. After a lesson from Susan at Yarnorama in Paige, I was finally getting the hang of it with only a little waste. As I neared the end, I could spin and weave an entire bobbin in an afternoon. The singles are pretty "rustic" (ie, thick and thin) but they make for an interesting scarf. At least that's what it is for the moment. I may cut it up and make coasters out of it.

In the photos below, the navy warp really sets off the colored cotton. The white came from seeds that I got when doing a spinning demo at the Burton Cotton Gin Festival. The brown seeds came from my friend Carolyn. And the green seeds I bought online for the exorbitant price of $12.75 for 10 seeds!

Kay's "Yarn Shop"

Despite the crummy wet weather today, I had a wonderful time with friends Roddie and Kay at her house in the middle of the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. I thought for a moment that I probably should have taken the truck, but the dingy made it just fine. Kay has a great craft room set-up over the garage with loads of room for her yarn and knitting machines. The funny thing about yarn is its ability to multiply. It kind of expands to fill every nook and cranny no matter how large the space. That's why mine is currently contained by a storage unit!







While there, Roddie and I got to take one of the knitting machines for a spin. This would be a real timesaver for those boring stretches of stockinette. Kay is able to make them knit some beautiful fair isle and lace, but I don't think I'm ready to dive into more equipment - yet.







While down there, we had lunch at the Marlin Marina. Great burgers and fantastic homemade potato chips!! It was definitely worth blowing my diet! I don't think any of us left a single crumb.