Claire’s Stitching Adventures

Every term my son’s school has a ‘theme week’ where each child is supposed to work on a project with their family on a particular theme. This week it’s ‘Rainbow Week’ so my son’s project was ‘Spinning a Rainbow’ – helping mummy spin yarn of course!

First we took some wool dyed in rainbow colours (from the Rainbow Room):

 We had to pull off little strips ready to twist into yarn – red, yellow, pink, green, orange, purple and blue.

Then we spun the wool using a drop spindle – you spin the spindle like a spinning top and it twists the wool tightly into yarn that you can knit with.

Once all the wool was spun we wound it off the spindle onto the back of a chair to take all the kinks out – can you see the rainbow? 

♫ Red and Yellow and Pink and Green, Orange and Purple and Blue, I can spin a rainbow…♫

 Then we had to soak it in cold water to set the twist

And hang it up to dry before twisting it into a hank ready to use.

 My son was so proud taking his wool into school today – and I’m sure he’s the only one taking in hand spun as his project!

The time since Christmas has flown by. Being housebound due to snow and family instructions not to step outside in case I slip over as my pregnant belly has knocked my balance a bit wasn’t fun. Finger’s crossed the snow has gone now – though it tried to snow again last night.

I’m now 3 weeks off my due date and the nesting instinct has kicked in big time. With my 5 year old I didn’t knit anything but this time I have finished a pair of booties and 2 hats, I’m halfway through a pram blanket and I have crocheted lots of bunny snugglies – so much so that I’ve added one to my etsy shop.

I’m still wondering how I can convince my husband to name our son/daughter after yarn – Rowan is perfect isn’t it?