Thursday 8 March 2012

I think I will share after all...



Still a few days to enter the Give-Away, here in case you have missed it.



Tomorrow is Friday...Friday is the day I enjoy browsing the blogs that post to Natural Suburbia for Creative Friday and the ones that post to Wisdom Begins in Wonder for Fiber Arts Friday.  When I have something interesting (to me) going on...I join in and post as well.

And this week, I was not going to bore you all with my sad sad attempts at learning to spin (yarn, not pottery) and then I realized that is exactly what I posted about on my Monday post of keeping it real.  So here we go...my attempt at spinning this week.
This is 1 ply right now.  Still lumpy and bumpy, but I have learned a few things.

I have learned that I would much rather spin with roving that is long and skinny and wound into a kind of a ball than with roving that is a few colours layered onto each other in a kind of a flat slab.

I have learned that a lot of those coil areas come out when I take the yarn off the watcha-ma-callit that it gets wound onto while spinning (you know, like a bobbin) because I only have one of them and I have to wind the yarn off each time.  

I have learned that I better go back and get that library book that showed me how to spin in the first place and learn the proper names for the parts rather than watchamacallits and "slabs" of roving.  Ha ha ha...I entertain myself at least.

I learned that even though I am still learning this new skill, and quite frankly, it's gonna take me a while...that I really enjoy the process itself and it is so quiet and soothing.  No clackity clack of my ancient sewing machine. Just a whooz whooz whooz kind of noise that is kind of mesmerizing.
So here is what I have so far...2 sad sad balls and one not so bad ball now that it is off the spool/bobbin/watchamadooly (I know that I know the name...I just have forgotten it tonight, my apologies).
The test for next week will be to spin these together and see what happens...I am excited.

Now, I am off to get some proper inspiration from everyone else's blog.  Thanks for putting up with this post.

9 comments:

  1. Gosh, I envy you - even the yarn you aren't happy with. I am so desperate to learn to spin. I may have to give in and start with a drop spindle. I figure that when we can afford to buy a brand new wheel or find a really great deal on a used one, it'll be the universe telling me that it is time. Until then, I'll stick to drooling over the work of others - except.. not literally. (:

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hooray for learning to spin. Those overspun coiled areas will slowly start to go away as you slow down and get a better rhythm with your drafting. Your yarns are looking great!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, I think your yarn looks great!!
    Still fighting with my drop spindle, it is still in the time out corner, waiting for me to get soft and try again! :-(

    x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh I think your yarn looks great! Very even size strand. You're just distracted by the irregular way the yarn wound onto your bobbin, but guess what, that's what everyone's bobbin looks like in the beginning! We're so busy concentrating on spinning, we forget to move the yarn guide or switch to a new hook on the flier. Lovin it, keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think your spinning is looking great too!

    I prefer to spin from roving as well. Pencil roving is my favorite (the skinny kind).

    I like batts too, but their not my favorite. It helps to split them (length-wise) into narrower sections.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well I hope my first spinning attempts look that good. You're definitely on the right track, so keep at it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your spinning is looking just fine-it take practice, practice, practice!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Enjoy the process. Take your time and spin a little every day. Your hands and feet will get used to the motions and it will be come easier as time passes. Looks like you're off to a great start. Those are nice colors together. My favorite method of spinning is to spin Jacob that I've combed, right off the combs. It's hard on my hands but gives me a beautiful single. Relax and have fun.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your first attempt looks lovely to me. I like the process of learning something new. Keep at it... should work out great!

    ReplyDelete