Showing posts with label spindles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spindles. Show all posts

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.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Spinning.

It's addictive.

I completely suck, and I've killed some very pretty fiber. Ironically, the largest amount of fiber I was "saving" and having started to spin it up, I don't really care for it. It's variegated. Can you say it with me? I don't like variegated things. I prefer semi-solids.

Photos when I have light. I'll show my progression from thick, bulky crap to thinner, more thick and thin junk. I haven't even thought about plying yet. But I think I'm going to need more fiber. And maybe another spindle. I'm beating this one up more than it deserves.

Anyone have any suggestions? Spinners out there?