All that inclement weather, the past two weeks, kept me looking for indoor projects.  One of which, I had been thinking about for a long time.  Several years ago I bought a pink quartz ‘whorl’, thinking I’d make a little spindle with it.  If I didn’t like the way it spun, I’d turn it into a necklace.  Then, a few weeks ago, Cathy sent me a beautiful little spindle with a jasper whorl.  That got me moving.  I spent some time testing it out, spinning and then Andean plying the singles.  I had to look up the instructions for the Andean Ply.  Seems like I just can’t keep that technique in my head.  It is a slick little twisted wrap around your hand that unwraps easily, like a center pull ball if you’ve executed the wrap correctly.  Luckily it worked like a charm after reading and rereading this tutorial.  The spindle works great, looks great, and is small enough to keep in my bag.  Just in case, you know, I need to sample something.  Just. in. case.
Perhaps I’ll need it this weekend at the MA S&W. Who knows. 

I leave you with wishes for a great weekend and a picture of Adagio..my "mess o’ shawl". 

I am knitting, and knitting, the Adagio.  Instead of more pictures of rumpled silk, I give you these.  Overcast skies give great even light.

Hey, Ruby… those samples, with the tencel and wool… I can’t get them out of my head.  Really, beautiful and exciting stuff!! 

The Russian Join has been the subject of several very good tutorials elsewhere.  But, as I was ready to join another ball of slipery silk yarn to my Adagio, I thought that I would record my version of this technique.  It is very simple, very easy and with the right size needle and a pair of magnifying glasses, sort of fun.  Here goes…

repeat, threading the needle this time with the yarn you are joining

clip ends, and you’re done!

Weather update…. still raining, still freezing (well almost, what do you call the 30’s) and the wood stove is STILL cranking!