Not just any swatch, but one I made from my first ever spindle spinning!

I was given a huge bag of raw fleece that is so dirty I'm washing it in small batches in the bath tub. Each time it takes 5 washes and 4 rinses to get the fleece reasonably clean.

Then it takes 4 or 5 or 6 days to dry thorougly. In the photo the fleece is in a pillow case hanging on the clothes line.

Then it must be carded. Since the staple is quite short, the carding takes hours. I card enough to spin about 20 meters at a time. It's a very long process!

For this swatch I transfered the spun yarn from the spindle to two cardboard tubes that once help toilet tissue. I then plied them together onto the spindle, then wound the plied yarn back onto another empty tube.

Finally I was ready to knit the swatch. After knitting I used some Easter egg dye to dye it in the microwave.

What a learning experience! In the coming years I hope to be a much better spinner because I've found that I really love doing it. :-)

My version of the Balikum socks made with 2 ply wool that I dyed with a mixture of red, blue & purple Easter eye coloring.

You can find a German version of the pattern here:

http://wollkistchens-musterseite.blogspot.com/2005/07/baltikum-socken.html

and a photo of the socks here:
http://wollkistchens-musterseite.blogspot.com/2005/07/baltikumsocken.html

UPDATE: Colour Stranding Lesson

I decided to try this sock again when the first attempt was way too tight to slip on over my heel.

The difference is obvious and the second sock fits perfectly!

The answer: KNIT LOOSE when colour stranding.

Another great thing about these socks is that they don't creep down at all.

They stay high up on my leg exactly where they should be. :-)