Friday, March 21, 2008

You spin me round round

Handspun1-3.JPG
So this was my first attempt at spinning. It's a thick single, which I don't plan on plying, ever. I'm reasonably happy with this, even though it's not as even as would be idea. Considering how confused I was trying to use the spindle, I don't think this is terrible, although if I told you it was underspun, I'd be lying through my teeth.
And yes, I lost the information on this, but I bought it from the Three Fates Collective, at SAFF, which includes Sanguine Gryphon, Dragonfly Yarns, and another woman (I'm sorry my mind is failing me!) Really pretty stuff, and nice folks too.

Handspun2-1.JPG
Take 2 is really just more of the same, but a different color. I figured a few things out since then, but I would like to remember what I did to the roving so that I could spin this. It's just as overspun as the green stuff, but I washed and weighted the green yarn in order to try to set the twist. The blue still needs the same treatment. Also from SAFF, and I can't find my card. Big lovely balls of carded top, I think. Soft and lovely, and I wish I had purchased a lot more.

Now on the spindle is this:
Handspun3-1.JPG
Handspun3-2.JPG
Thinner, but you can see that I still get a lot of variation in the thickness. This stuff is BFL, and I can find the label, but it's not next to me.

Bought a copy of Spin to Knit last time I was at the bookstore, as I couldn't find any other books on spinning and I wanted a reference NOW. I'm understanding that a lot of spinning is really about the fiber preparation, and that's making this make much more sense. At some point in the nearish future, I'll buy more fiber to play with. I would like to be able to spin enough wool to knit a pair of socks. I just think it would be fun.

Speaking of which, still knitting. Green sock is incrementally closer to being done, but at the stage where it feels like you're knitting the foot forever. And suddenly, it's 9:15 and I'm exhausted from my day. At least it's a good weekend for knitting.

3 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Oh, you're being way too hard on yourself. First of all, they ALL look like yarn, which is more than most of us can say about our first efforts. Secondly, your third effort is looking like damn fine spinning.

http://www.paradisefibers.net/
Order a half a pound of something from these guys. Look in the bargain bin.

BTW, I think a hat is the perfect first spinning project. You can make it out of all sorts of wild yarn, you only need to make one, it doesn't have to take much fiber.

Jessica said...

Your first spinning is beautiful! Great job!! It takes a while to get the hang of it. It's all about the drafting. Once you figure that out, the rest is pie. :)

Gryphon said...

I'm honoured that your first yarn should be fiber from our booth! Looks like it's either some of Kate's corriedale or my merino. Is it really squooshy or a tiny bit hairy? I'm pretty sure it's not Sarah's (the third Fate, who wasn't actually with us at SAFF) as her roving at that show was mostly pastel.