Earlier this year, Maurice surprised me with something I had been dreaming about for a long time - an Ashford e‑Spinner 3. This little gem is a modern twist on the traditional spinning wheel. There’s no treadling involved; just press the foot controller to start, adjust the speed and tension to your liking, and press again to stop. It arrived from New Zealand unassembled, but the instructions were flawless and putting it together was a breeze. It even came with a sleek Ashford storage bag, perfect for spinning gatherings with my fiber‑loving friends.
From Drop Spindle to Big Ambitions
Although I’ve been spinning with a drop spindle for many years, the largest project I had ever made from my handspun yarn was a shawlette (you can find it in my Ravelry projects). This year, I felt ready for the next step - spinning enough yarn for a cozy handspun sweater.
Preparing the Fiber
To make sure I had plenty of yarn, I purchased two 1‑lb bags of gray roving... 100% natural wool grown and processed in Canada by Custom Woolen Mills in Carstairs, AB. The tightly packed roving needed a good fluffing before spinning. It’s amazing how a compact bag can bloom into a basket overflowing with fiber goodness.
Four Months of Spinning Joy
I started spinning in early March, and four months later, I had finished the entire 2‑lb pile... spinning in the evenings and during spare moments. The speed of this tiny machine is astonishing compared to my drop spindles. Plying from two giant bobbins was both easy and exciting, watching the yarn come together in real time. Afterward came washing, setting the twist, and a few days of drying.
In total, I ended up with five jumbo hanks and one baby hank—885 g / 1900 m of handspun yarn, roughly a Sport (2) weight with a lovely woolen texture and a gauge of 21 sts per 4". And of course, Walter supervised every step with his usual curiosity. He truly is my partner in crime when it comes to yarn.
Casting On the Sweater
I could hardly wait to start knitting. I chose the Autumn in the Air Cardigan by DROPS Designs, which features beautiful cable raglan lines. After trying on the yoke, I realized it needed more shaping at the back of the neck... the original design didn’t raise the back, and I wanted a better fit.
So I decided to modify the construction by adding extra rows to the back before dividing for the sleeves and body. To keep the cables aligned, I unraveled the yoke back to the ribbing and restarted the cables in an offset pattern so they would match perfectly at the dividing point.
The result? Beautifully aligned cables under the arms. I did end up with extra stitches when picking up for the sleeves, but I simply decreased gradually to reach the pattern’s stitch count.
The Sweetest Finishing Touches
And the buttons... oh my goodness!! When someone says “cute as a button,” these are exactly what I picture... precious, woolly, and utterly charming.
I blocked the finished cardigan in September, just over six months after I began spinning the yarn. For wet blocking, I love using Eucalan, an eco‑friendly, no‑rinse delicate wash made in Canada.
A Sweater Full of Meaning
There is something incredibly satisfying about wearing a sweater made entirely by hand... from fluff to finished garment. When someone asks, “Did you make it?” I get to smile and say, “Yes… and I spun the yarn too.”
I used only half of my handspun for this cardigan, so I still have enough for another sweater... or maybe I’ll dye the remaining yarn for a new adventure. I’m so pleased with how this project turned out and grateful I took on the challenge.
Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. - Joshua J. Marine
