welcome to my secret lair

[starfallz]

I haven't posted much about spinning since I got Philomena, but I have been spinning. I got copies of Hands on Spinning by Lee Raven and Start Spinning by Maggie Casey, plus a number of issues of Spin-off, so I've been immersing myself in learning.

When I started off this fiber, a wool and mohair blend I got at Stone's Throw Artisans, I decided it was going to be for experiments. I divided it into four amounts, which would be about one ounce each. I then tried to spin them each different ways to try to learn how I spin and different ways to do it. One key problem was finding good descriptions of different spinning and drafting techniques, so my first experiments weren't very well thought out. During the last part, I got more of a grasp on drafting methods, so everything changed between skein 3 and 4. I figure I'll continue this with the next batch of yarn I spin.



These skeins number from left to right, and with the picture below, from top to bottom.

1. I tried to spin this "woolen", without knowing what woolen really was at the time. Basically I tried to spin it without doing much controlling with the twist hand, so I wouldn't smoosh out the air. This one was pulled the original fiber into two strips lengthwise.

2. I tried this as "worsted", because I had been told by some friends that all my yarns looked like they were spun worsted. This one I actively tried to smoosh out the air with the twist hand. I pulled this fiber into two halves (instead of two strips), so it ended up very chunky.

3. I'm not sure how I drafted this one, but I tried spinning the singles on a higher ratio whorl and then plying them on the lowest whorl. I stripped this fiber lengthwise. I think this one is probably the best as a yarn at this moment.

4. This is where I started applying drafting techniques. I had done some experimentation on my spindle with drafting techniques, so I turned and applied these to the wheel. These were spun with a short forward draw and spun and plyed on the lowest whorl. The drafting and ratios may have helped this yarn be underspun, as the singles drifted apart a few times in plying. The fiber was stripped lengthwise.

Detail photo of individual strands from each skein.


So, I think this calls for more experiments. First though, I need to finish up some spindle spinning.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Maggie Casey's book seems really interesting and well designed. So far, i'm following everything. The only thing is that I don't have a wheel to practice on. -puppy-dog eyes- However, I still have matted roving galore and a boat anchor to practice on. If I can wrangle something around with that, I think I'll be fairly ready for trying to steal your wheel...I mean, borrow your wheel, after I get my bobbins. =)

[metachaos.livejournal.com]

I can't stand lurkers. Who do you think you are? XP

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

If you come to the crib while we're gone, you can use the wheel if you want. You can even use my bobbins if you free them up by the time I get back. :D

[metachaos.livejournal.com]

Ah-ha! You just want me to wind-off your bobbins for you!! =)

So, how long are you and Paul going to be gone?

-whispers- Want to go to the Michigan Fiber Fest in the middle of August?

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

Currently mine are all empty. I'm just meaning that you finish using them by the time I get back. :D We'll be gone about a week. Not currently sure I can afford fiber festival or travel outside family and medical stuff at the moment. :/

[metachaos.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, okay. Well, if you're going this weekend, it is unlikely that I will visit DM while you're gone. This weekend is Michigan, and then the following weekend is me staying in CR to let my funds recover a bit. >_<

And I totally understand. I shouldn't be trying to even think about going -anywhere-, much less to a fiber festival. It's just the inner spoiled brat. =)

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. I hope you have a good trip!

I wish I could go and visit everyone. I need to visit my gramma near Detroit sometime this year. I still have to figure out how to do that one.

[metachaos.livejournal.com]

If you go, I'll go with you and split the costs and go visit The Spinning Loft and Aegis and some friends on that side of the state. ^_^ Maybe. If you want company and I can afford it. And I can get time off.

[starfallz.livejournal.com]

For me I'm trying to figure out how to do it with taking minimal amounts of time off, as I don't really have much vacation left this year. I'd like to go to the Spinning loft and such as well. I'd probably want to spend a day or two visiting gramma and some of my other relatives in the area. There wouldn't be as much problem if I had a homebase I could work from while there.

[metachaos.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I could make inquiries with friends. I'm not sure how close we could get though. Probably Ann Arbor.