as i mentioned previously, I’ve been spinning a lot lately – mostly inspired by my lovely gift from Knitspirations on ravelry.com – two beautiful tops – and a trip to visit charly at ixchel where i purchased a new spindle and beautiful angorino top (and have since purchased another one, plus some more tops from Ewe Give Me The Knits!!)
new spindlemaker spindle - mulga wood
I’ve been spinning undyed (which is starting to boooooore me) because it’s cheaper and i can experiment with dyeing it. And I’ve taken up the spindle to finish of the packet of sample fleece i got ages ago from sunset fibres on etsy.
So I looked up some great videos on you tube and practiced on both my spindle and wheel. I’m getting more even, but i’m still a bit thick and thin and have trouble maintaining a single any smaller than an 8ply (which means my plied yarn is very bulky)
here are some photos!
merino single, drop spindle
silky top (not sure of the exact composition - but nice long staple) spun on the wheel
my first plied yarn. 2 merino singles wheel spun
There’s another skein of this sort of weight 2 ply currently drying. I will re skein the two together and get a meterage. I’m considering making the dumpling bag from interweave knits from this for my friend – hand dyed in her favourite colours!
Things i have learnt
– how to predraft properly. in order to get an even fibre I really can’t afford to skimp on this bit.
– how to draw out the draft while i’m actually spinning – not a lot, but enough to thin out some of the ‘thick’ bits.
– i need to find a better way to guide the two singles when plying in order to get a more even twist in both singles
– i’m still over spinning a bit in some places, particularly on the wheel.
– i like having a notch on my spindle, especially when they’re as beautifully smooth as the spindlemaker!!
I really want to try navajo plying – especially with my coloured tops, in order to keep the colours even.
I have some raspberry and fuchsia merino i want to spin and then ply, in order to see what the two singles are actually doing.
i have plans to spin the more orangy of these two rovings into a skein for my friend for christmas. hence all the practicing!! Of course it’s important to remember – there ARE NO SPINNING POLICE lol.
a fibrous gift
Armed with Needles in an Uncertain World 