These four skeins are the only ones I spun in their entirety during the Tour – I also plied some silver merino/silk and spun and plied the rest of some tussah silk.

So how about some glamour shots and stats?

Ashland Bay Merino Silk in Cranberry – 300 yards/100g of 2ply, worsted weight.

Spirit Trail silk/camel – 320 yds/4oz of 3ply (chain ply), DK weight.

Foxfire 95% cormo, 5% silk – 350 yds/4oz of 2ply, sport weight.

and one that I snuck in the last few days of the Tour – a skein of 100% cormo that I am absolutely in love with!

100% cormo, 300 yds/100g of 3ply (chain ply), sport weight.

I’m not sure what my grand total is, because of the aforementioned finishing stuff up that was already on the bobbin. But I do know that I’m feeling really re-inspired to get back to the wheel, and I’ve already started some awesome wool/angora. I’m gonna keep spinning down the stash until Rhinebeck!

CROSSFIELD SHAWL

A super light, airy square shawl reminicient of a bandana or silk scarf. Easy to knit stockinette in the round with a fun garland lace edging. Wear it folded and tied, over your shoulders or any way you’d wear a bandanna!

This shawl would also make a beautiful baby or lap blanket worked in fingering weight or heavier yarn for a larger finished size.

Technical Editing by Jaya Purswani

SIZE
One Size; 28” / 71cm square, blocked

YARN
Laceweight yarn, 815 yards / 745m.
Shown in The Woolen Rabbit Whisper in Chocolate Chambord (100% merino wool, 1700 yds/235g skein), less than 1/2 skein used.

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
US 2.5 / 3mm double pointed needles (or needles of choice for small circumferences in the round)
US 2.5 / 3mm 24-32” / 60-80cm long circular needles (change length as required as the shawl grows)
stitch markers
tapestry needle

GAUGE
26 sts and 40 rounds = 4” / 10 cm square in Stockinette Stitch

MORE INFO
Skills needed: cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, optional chart, knitting in the round.

Pattern is a 3-page PDF file with full colour photos, written and charted directions for the lace pattern, and abbreviations.

Available through Ravelry, payment through Paypal (no accounts required).

$5.00 USD

Unfortunately it’s too big for me. I made a bit of a math error and although it’s proportional and everything, it’s just about a size too big. I’ve blocked it and woven in the ends already (denying to myself the fact that it was too big) and I don’t want to rip again. So it’ll go off to a friend and I’ll work up another one. At least this time it’ll be even faster since it’ll be smaller?

In latest spinning news, I pulled out some tussah silk that I’d started spinning well over a year ago.

It’s Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks, definitely purchased at Rhinebeck – maybe the first time I went? I had spun up the first half of the fibre and it was just sitting on the bobbin all this time. I spun up the second half fairly quickly (not very evenly, really) and plied it together to get 430 yards of laceweight (2oz). Should be enough for a little shawlette! I love the colour.

I think my last bit of Tour spinning will be this silk/camel. It spins like a dream, but the pink comes off on my fingertips a bit. Super soft though! I’m planning to spin up the whole 4oz and chain ply by the end of the week.

After the Tour is over, I’m definitely going to keep spinning – it’s really given me that kick to get back to the wheel. It’s meditative, doesn’t require math (like my knitting always does) and it’s a good break from working on my knitting like I always am!

Have you achieved your Tour de Fleece goals? What are you planning to do with your spinning after it’s all over?

BELLEVUE CARDIGAN

A summery, slightly cropped cardigan with a fun lace edging, two yarn weight options and two sleeve options! Worked from the bottom up, the cap sleeve version is completely seamless while the short sleeve version has minimal seaming.

Meant to be worn open (but you can also add a button or tie). Works up quickly in a small amount of worsted or fingering weight yarn and is a perfect topper to take that short sleeved or sleeveless dress into the evening, air conditioning and autumn.

WORSTED WEIGHT BELLEVUE
Works up super quickly! I knit mine in just 3 days!

SIZES
Finished Bust 33.5” (36″, 38″, 42.5″, 44.5″, 47″, 51.5″, 53.5″, 56″) / 85 (91.5, 96.5, 108, 113, 119.5, 131, 136, 142) cm

Worsted weight Bellevue is shown in size 36” / 91.5cm with zero ease, with cap sleeves. Note that the fronts do touch, but swing back when worn.

MATERIALS
Worsted or aran weight yarn. Shown in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted (100% superwash wool, 225 yds/113g skein) in colour Manzanita, 3 skeins for size 36” / 91.5cm.

Yards: 510 (550, 580, 650, 700, 760, 820, 860, 920) for cap sleeve version.

For short sleeves, add an additional:
Yards: 60 (60, 70, 70, 70, 80, 80, 90, 90)

US 7 / 4.5mm circular needles, 32” / 80cm or longer, or size needed to obtain gauge
an additional set of US 7 / 4.5mm needles, circular or straight, if working short sleeves
waste yarn
stitch markers
tapestry needle

GAUGE
18 sts and 24 rows = 4″ / 10cm square in Stockinette Stitch

FINGERING WEIGHT BELLEVUE
Takes a little longer but is so wearable. Perfect for summer mornings and evenings.

SIZES
Finished Bust: 32.5″ (35.5″, 38.5″, 41.5″, 44.5″, 48″, 51″, 54″, 57″) / 82.5 (90, 98, 105.5, 113, 122, 129.5, 137, 145) cm

Fingering weight Bellevue is shown in size 35.5” / 90cm with 0.5”/1.25cm negative ease and short sleeves. Note that the fronts do touch, but swing back when worn.

MATERIALS
Fingering weight (4ply/sock) yarn. Shown in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock (80% superwash wool, 20% nylon; 215 yds/67g skein) in colour Douglas Fir, 4 skeins for size 35.5” / 90cm.

Yards: 580 (640, 700, 760, 820, 880, 950, 1020, 1090) for cap sleeve version.

For short sleeves, add an additional:
Yards: 40 (50, 50, 50, 50, 60, 60, 60, 60)

US 2.5 / 3mm circular needles, 32” / 80cm or longer, or size needed to obtain gauge
an additional set of US 2.5 / 3mm needles, circular or straight, if working short sleeves
waste yarn
stitch markers
tapestry needle

GAUGE
26 sts and 32 rows = 4″ / 10cm square in Stockinette Stitch.

MORE INFO
Skills needed: cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, optional chart, seaming for short sleeve version only.

Each pattern is a 5-page PDF file with full colour photos, with written and charted directions for the lace pattern, schematics and abbreviations.

You get BOTH the Worsted and Fingering weight versions when you buy! A great value! Sorry, these patterns are not available separately.

Available through Ravelry, payment through Paypal (no accounts required).

$8.00

Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.

CASTLEGAR CARDIGAN
A lightweight cardigan for breezy spring days, overzealous air conditioning, or autumn layering. Warm enough for the breeze but light enough for sunshine!

The fingering weight gauge takes a bit of time to knit up, but it’s worth it for this classic, wearable everyday cardigan. Knit seamlessly from the bottom up, with a fun circular yoke and twisted rib details.

Castlegar is knit seamlessly from the bottom up, with a circular yoke. The lower body is knit flat in one piece while each sleeve is knit in the round. This sweater does not have waist shaping.

There is only one length across all sizes for the body and sleeves; feel free to lengthen as needed at points given throughout the pattern.

This pattern is split into two files (available together only).
Each is a 6-page PDF file in full colour with schematics.

YARN
Fingering weight yarn, approximately 175-200 yds / 50g. Shown in Koigu KPPPM, 8 skeins for size 37″.

Sizes 31-45 inches / 78.5-114cm
Contains sizes: 31 (33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45)” / 78.5 (84, 89, 94, 99, 104, 109, 114) cm
Yardage required: 1180 (1250, 1340, 1400, 1485, 1560, 1660, 1750)

Sizes 47-59 inches / 119.5-150cm
Contains sizes: 47 (49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59)” / 119.5 (124.5, 129.5, 134.5, 140, 145, 150) cm
Yardage required: 1820 (1895, 1990, 2050, 2140, 2220, 2295)

Shown in size 37 in / 94cm with zero ease. Zero to 2 in / 5cm of ease is suggested.

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
– US 2 / 2.75 mm needles, 32 inches / 80cm or longer, depending on the size you’re making
- US 2 / 2.75 mm double pointed needles or needles of your choice for small circumferences in the round
- stitch markers
- eight 5/8 in / 1.5cm buttons
- tapestry needle
- smooth waste yarn

GAUGE
28 sts and 40 rows = 4″ / 10cm square in stockinette stitch.

HOW TO BUY

This PDF file contains fill-in forms, so you can fill in the number for your size right on the computer! Then you can save the file so that your numbers are all set for the next time you open it, or print with the neat typed entries. Just click on the space to type!

Available through Ravelry (no account needed), payment by Paypal.

$7.00 USD

Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.

MASSEY WRAP

This lacy wrap in fingering weight yarn scrunches up as a scarf or expands to be a stole. Versatile and easy to wear, Massey is knit on the bias in an easy lace pattern that looks great on both sides! One side features a geometric diamond pattern while the reverse is a wide and lacy rib. The knit-as-you-go I-cord edges are neat and pretty – a perfectly lovely piece for spring layering.

The stitch pattern used in this piece was inspired by “Another Lacy Rib” from Lynne Barr’s mindbending book Reversible Knitting. Technical Editing by Jaya Purswani.

SIZE
One Size: 13 inches / 33cm wide by 80 inches / 203cm long, blocked

MATERIALS
Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock (80% superwash wool, 20% nylon; 215 yds / 195m per 2 oz / 57 g skein)
4 skeins in Cranberry
or 860 yards / 780 m of fingering weight yarn

US 6 / 4mm needles (circular or straight)
tapestry needle
stitch markers (optional)

GAUGE
5 repeats of lace pattern = 3.5 inches / 9cm square, blocked
Approximately 24 sts = 4 inches / 10cm across in Stockinette Stitch

Gauge is very flexible for this pattern – use a needle size that will get you a fabric that you like.

Skills needed: knit, purl, increase, decrease, chart reading. This pattern is suitable for beginner lace knitters.

3-page PDF includes charted lace patterns only – no row-by-row instructions.

Available through Ravelry (no account needed), payment by Paypal.

$5.00 USD

Note: As of July 5, 2010, sales tax will be added to this price for all Canadian residents only. The rates are: British Columbia 12%; Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador 13%; Nova Scotia 15%; and everywhere else in Canada 5% GST. Tax will be added in the Paypal payment process.