It all started here.
Photo courtesy of Three Waters Farm.
A braid of ramboulliet fiber landed on my doorstep in late December, my January installment of the Top of the Month Club from Three Waters Farm. I had no idea exactly what to do with it, but I ordered an extra braid and then two of the coordinating braids as well. I just had a feeling about it. A couple months passed and somewhere in there I gifted the coordinating braids — a deliciously deep tonal green — to a friend who just got a wheel because I knew she’d love them. I stared at my 8oz of “Birds in the Holly” and wondered what I should do with it.
It was in late March or early April when I was corresponding with a friend who had woven an incredible scarf with the colorway, that I admitted that I kind of didn’t know where to start. I loved the colors, but I had no clear vision for it. She essentially said, “You just have to go for it.”
So I did. I prepped it into about a zillion little 1-3gram nests…
And I just started spinning.
It was gorgeous, really, every step of the way and the ramboulliet spun like a dream.
Within a couple of weeks I’d finished my singles, all 8oz of them.
And then they sat for about a month until I finally got to plying them.
And you know, like the steps of the process before, I just knew this was special.
The plying took more than a week (which is a long time for me).
And when I finally wound it into a skein, I realized why…
It was over 1100yards!
With so much yardage — I don’t think I’d ever done something quite on this scale with my spinning, I knew it just had to be a sweater. BUT, I was just a smidge shy on the yardage I wanted, so I asked around in the Three Waters Farm Ravelry group to see if anyone in the club would be interested in destashing a braid to me.
And someone very graciously did!
I spun up the third 4oz braid during the Tour de Fleece.
And then finally in October, I added it to my 1+1+1 list and found a window to cast-on and it happened.
My first ever handspun sweater was really & truly happening!
Maybe it was the thrill of seeing my handspun knit up so beautifully, or just the excitement of making this project happen, but I took this fingering weight sweater and I knit it in just over a month.
And every stitch, it was just pure love.
I knit the sleeves 2aat — still using the 1100yard original skein, unsure if it would hold out, but just going for it.
And you know what? It held out. Despite the fact that I extended the body to hit at my hip and made long sleeves instead of 3/4 length. When I made it to the cuffs, it was the first time I felt truly confident that I finish this project with enough yarn (even though I bought an extra 2braids of Birds in the Holly along the way just in case).
I used the extra skein for the neckband which I made the full & generous 3.5″ called for in the pattern.
Are you ready to see the final result?
Maybe?
I suppose I can also add that I made the neckband in garter instead of stockinette stitch so it would lay flat instead of curl.
And for all my bound-off edges I used Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off. I’m mildly concerned it’ll stretch too much, but I’d honestly have it too stretchy than not stretchy enough. I love the way the edges turned out.
Who am I kidding? I love the way the entire sweater turned out.
I honestly cannot believe that this started as fiber in my hands. It seems a little impossible.
And yet here it is…
With a proper fit and everything.
It was a labor of love from the first spin of my wheel to the last bound off stitch. And honestly, friends, I have no more words for this one.
❤
Gorgeous, simply stunning!
Thank you!
WOW, WOW, WOW! I feel like I’ve just been with you, giving birth! This has been such a fun project to watch and so very gratifying to see it go from fiber to sweater. It turned out beautifully and I’m so happy and proud for you. You rock!
Thank you! It’s been what – a year in the making?! Thanks so much for sticking with me on the journey!
It’s gorgeous! Making a sweater out of your own handspun is such an accomplishment – you’ll treasure it above all the others, at least until you make the next one because it’s a little addictive, too.
I hear you on that count! And thank you very much for the kind words!
Absolutely beautiful. Your pattern really shows off the yarn. I’m dying of envy. 🙂
Aw, thank you!
Awesome! The yarn is gorgeous, the sweater is even prettier and it fits you like a dream! Congratulations!
Thank you! It’s so nice when a project really comes together like this!
That is amazing and has to be so satisfying to have done all of the labor yourself. Truly beautiful
It is! Indeed! Thank you!
This sweater is beautiful. I don’t spin, just knit, but it is so inspiring to imagine creating this from right after the yarn was cleaned. Awesome!
I’m very lucky to have access to such well treated & dyed fibers. The fantastic starting point makes all the difference!
it is so pretty, Sarah! I lvoeit more every time I see it. An amazing feat. And now that I have knit a bit of my own ramboulliet, I can only imagine how nice and soft that garment is. A treasure. now, DO NOT let your daughter claim this one! 🙂
She will definitely NOT get this one. At least not until it fits her… I think if we wind up the same size when she’s fully grown I will never be short of knitting projects.
You are probably right – of course, as I recall, she will be farming and raising fiber animals for you, and I am sure she will be spinning and weaving, so maybe you will be off the hook a bot?
Beautiful, really gorgeous. I am just spinning for my first jumper. I hope it turns out as nice as yours!
Thank you & best of luck to you!
It is absolutely lovely and so very special that you did it from fiber to finish!
Thank you! And yes! I still am a little in shock that it all came together!
I can’t believe you got that yardage in the first place… and how beautiful it turned out!!!!❤️❤️❤️😍😍
Thank you! It’s all kind of a WOW still for me, too. 😉
Bravo! It is gorgeous. I have loved most all of the fiber you spun and posted about over the last few months and this is no exception. Congratulations!
Aw, this is such a wonderful compliment! Thank you!
This is just so so pretty. Great blog about it too. Very inspiring!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed! I really do like telling the whole story of a project. I think there is something very interesting in seeing how things take shape from their starting point onward.
I’m a little speechless too. Congratulations! It’s beautiful!
I am, too! 🙂 Thank you!
What a wonderful sweater! Great job!
Thank you!!!