Spinning for Feral Beginners

Monday, December 21, 2009

Still spinning...

In between design work, I've been playing with my drop spindle. Found a lone hank of Way Over the Rainbow that I didn't know existed. Joy of joys -- I am now wanting to make a larger project with the yarn I've already spun, so now, no excuses.

Ok, so what to knit with the WOtR yarn? I'm going to have to do some serious doodling to get that right. Hmmmmm.

Friend V has lost this hank:


The missing hank of green loveliness


V's fibre that became the green loveliness

I am hoping that by posting these photos, the yarn pixies who have stolen her hank will return it to the correct cupboard in her house. Good yarn karma... Don't fret V! If it doesn't turn up, I shall paint more for you. Now that I look at it again, it was a quite fetching batch...

Friday, December 11, 2009

Way Over the Rainbow Handspun


Way Over the Rainbow Handpun



Tah-rah! Finally plied some of these singles I had on the spindles. Wound the singles onto bobbins to even out the twist and then plied them on a new wooden spindle I picked up at Finger Lakes Fiber Fest. I'm totally happy with it so far. I like my handspun tightly plied and thin, so this was a challenge. The red matched up nicely tone on tone, but the green went a little feral on me and had a mind of its own. I like the result. Looking forward to plying the rest of the lot.

Now, to decide on what to make with it!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Finally -- the spindle gets used


Way Over the Rainbow Merino Spinning Fibre (carded)



From the Bendigo 2009 stash -- here's what I did with the 50gm of Australian wool fibre that was a showbag gift to my spinning customers at BSWS 2009.

I divided the fibre down the middle to spin a 2ply for a lace project. I wanted to spin to singles in the same manner to do a colour-segmented yarn. Used a very short draw and lots of twist.


Howlite Gemstone Spindle with laceweight single

I've had this on display at the Port Markets and have been getting lots of comments like, "wow, that yarn doesn't look like the fibre." Yup, the red is blending nicely with the blue to get a really nice dark burgundy and a lighter red (gold with red). The greens are dominated by the reds the way I've spun this section.

Next installment -- the first hank with detail on plying process.