Lincoln, Soy, Bamboo and Knitting
This is the back of a piece of felt I made from Lincoln wool tops:
I love the way the characteristics of the different breeds reappear with felting, when they’re not very evident from the wool tops. And you get such gorgeous edges with the curly breeds. On the front, I used a blend of Soy top and black bamboo tops. I just blended the tops by hand and laid them on the top:
The shape, texture and colours reminded me of finding oyster shells on the beach. This is the bottom left corner:
This is a close up of the texture:
And a close up of the back:
I still haven’t had chance to even look at the wool I ordered from Wollknoll because I’ve had builders in … for fibre addicts in the UK who don’t already know, the Euro is really low against the Pound at the moment (about 73p to €1) so have a look at their site, 100g of wool is starting around 72p… don’t be alarmed at their prices though, they’re usually given per kilo! I did manage to sneak a ball of rainbow Merino out of the box though and do a little bit of spinning, I also used the tufts I’d used for my colour wheel a while ago. I left it on the spindle for a couple of days then knitted a square from it:
Here’s a close up
And because I love them, a supermacro:
I’m not convinced I’m casting off properly though, all my squares look like they’re one stitch too short!
19 thoughts on “Lincoln, Soy, Bamboo and Knitting”
Lovely colours. I like the wavy edge too. Are you knitting the last stitch before fastening of? Also squares are best knitted by increasing from one cast on stitch at each end and then decreasing in the same way from the middle!
Thanks Cathy 🙂
I only started to learn knitting a couple of weeks ago. I can cast on, knit and cast off. I knit two stitches, then loop the second one over the first and off the needle, then knit another, loop over/off etc. I feel like I need to cast on an extra one just before the end.
The edges are pretty – I much prefer the organic look to felt edges and these are particularly good.
The knitting is lovely – in some stitches I can see four different colours! Have you considered knitting and fulling?
Thanks, Lyn 🙂
I did put one of my squares in the washer last week, it’s a slubbed wool of unknown breed, which felts kind of softly/loosely: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zedster01/6242774115/
I spun some of that, knitted it from the spindle and then washed it, but it doesn’t look much different. It smells nice though 🙂
I will try some others though.
The yarn you have spun is amazing, such gorgeous colours! I hadn’t realised what difference the curly wool made, it has so much more depth. I’ve got a birthday this week so maybe there will be a bit of money I could get a spindle with. I did do a bit of spinning at school, but haven’t done any since! Sharon. x
Thanks, Sharon 🙂
I liked the yarn too, it got a bit dull towards the end with the blend of tufts though. I made my spindles with a bit of dowelling, cup hook and wooden discs from ebay (like you’d get for a toy wooden car) but you can make one with cd and some elaccy bands 🙂
Okay, thanks for that. I think possibly the boys made the school ones in woodwork. I’ll have to sweet talk Hubby!! X
Zed – the Lincoln felt piece is gorgeous. I can see why it reminded you of oysters. I do love the curly wools, always such nice texture. Can’t help you on the knitting bit as I’m clueless. But I think your square looks good 🙂 Better than mine would be.
Thanks, Ruth 🙂
I must admit, I am impressed with how the knitting keeps turning out, I keep waiting for myself to mess it up. I suppose once you learn something properly it helps 🙂
I love the organic edges on the Lincoln. The textures are great it’s interesting the back and front are different. And your stitches in the knit square are perfect just like your blanket stitches!
Thanks, Marilyn 🙂
I’m so glad I found those knitting videos, I’d wanted to learn for years.
Both pieces are great – love the curls and all the colors
Thanks, Frances 🙂
Lovely texture on the Lincoln sample! Love to see the macro photos. Your knitting square looks terrific and the colors so bright and cheerful.
Thanks, Cathy 🙂
Great sample and nice spinning and knitting. There are lots of different way so to cast off. My mom uses one that leaves the edge really stretchy. She learned it so sock tops would be really stretchy.
Thanks, Ann 🙂
I’ll look up some other tutorials for ideas.
Zed, that rainbow square is amazing! What lovely colours 🙂 As for the casting off problem, it’s probably because you’re casting off a bit too tightly (it always feels too tight anyway, when you try to do it loosely) so I’d advise you to try binding off next time with needles a size larger than the actual project.
Thanks, Leonor 🙂
i wondered if it was too tight too. I’ll try the bigger needles tip, thanks.