OK, enough teasing about next year's handspun adventure. 2012 will be my year of the Handspun Blanket. Specifically something like this.

I slurped this photo from the pattern page as it shows the structure really well. This blanket uses brightly colored Noro to make each square. I do not want something quite so loud, this is going to be a blanket for the bed and calming hues are preferable.

This is more like what I am after, but I am OK with a little more color variation in each square. This version uses handspun. Can you imagine how great it looks spread across a bed? It would call to you from the other room, "I am so beautiful, come lay with me."
The trick has been finding the right spinning technique to make it work. After five test spins and four test knits, I think I finally have it.

Here is the test knit using fat singles. I spun this without breaking up the braid at all and while the yarn is lovely, the color runs are too long. The fabric is drapey and airy.

The second test knit. For this I broke a 4 ounce braid into two legnthwaise strips and then plied those singles together. I did not think it was going to work, but I kept an open mind as I cast on. I love the color in the beginning, once the marling starts I am not so enamoured, but I pressed on. In the end I think it would work. The fabric is dense and fairly stiff.

For the third test knit I split the braid into four strips and then n-plied. I like the way the n-ply keeps the colors together, but the color repeats are too short.

Lastly, a braid spun in one piece, n-plied. I think this is the best choice. It is going to hold up better than singles, and it is going to be Warm, capitol W warm. I am at that age where I do not always want any blankets at night, even in the middle of winter, but when I do want to burrow under the covers, I need all the warmth I can find.
I have not decided what color to make my borders. I think I will knit up all of the squares, decide on a color and then go back and add borders. I want fat borders like those in the second picture. That will be the boring part, one color, round and round all those squares.
Who is with me? Anyone else up for The Year Of The Handspun Blanket?