In addition to all of the fun Cookie and I have been having helping out at Purlescence, there have been lots of other pieces of fibery goodness this week, including our regular BobaKnit this evening and some spinning on other days ...
On Sunday, Margit and I went and picked out her new spinning wheel at Carolina Homespun. It seems to be a thing with spinning wheels that you go in with one thing in mind and end up sitting down at one and it just wants to go home with you. The Majacraft Little Gem wanted to go home with Margit. So home with her it went, along with a bit of fiber. I, of course, took home a bit of fiber myself, but it's white merino and not much to look at ... yet. Margit and I have some plans to dye the fiber though.
I did some spinning on Tuesday night and last night, Margit and I got together and did a little spinning:
Ok, my posture is really bad in that pic. I think I need a spinning stool. :) When I see my wheel next to Margit's wheel, I just keep thinking of my wheel is "Big Daddy". It's so much bigger than hers!
And here's my progress on the Sheep 2 Shoe kit:
So how many of you all spin? What are your favorite fibers (why?)? What fibers would you not want to spin again (why?)?
I spin...not much, because all I have is a drop spindle so far, but there's this wheel I've been eyeing...
As for fibers...I love combed merino, especially when it's many different colors that all blend together. And soy silk is so unbelievably soft...and pretty. Don't forget the pretty.
Posted by: G. Knerd at October 13, 2006 12:13 AMOn an entirely different note, this is the second time I've been first poster in this blog in something like two days. Are you as much of a night owl as I am?
Posted by: G. Knerd at October 13, 2006 12:23 AMWow, the sheep to shoe kit looks even better than I thought it would! [My kid just came up the the monitor and saw the pic of your bobbin-- "niiice!" No joke! {its 345 am here, we're the nightowls!)]
I spin (somewhat!) :) ... I've only spun wool, and my favorite is the merino superwash from Henry's Attic (did you want to try some? lmk, i'm drowning in it!) since its so soft and fast and superwash. Need to get some dying in here this weekend, maybe!
Posted by: Aija at October 13, 2006 3:49 AMI don't spin, but I've been wanting to learn since I first saw women demonstrating it at an agricultural show when I was 8. One day, I will live somewhere where it is not impossible to buy a wheel/spindle/roving etc.
Posted by: Ruth at October 13, 2006 4:47 AMI so envy the two of you. My knitting is a solitary adventure. I do not know anyone else who knits. I tried to enable some others by offering to teach at work. We just are too busy and could not find a time that would work.
Love the yarn, can't wait to see what it becomes.
Posted by: Peggy at October 13, 2006 5:05 AMLove your spinning. I have a Lendrum as well and I am a beginner spinner so I wouldn't say I have any preferences right now - not yet anyway!
Posted by: Cynthia at October 13, 2006 5:42 AMThe Sheep 2 Shoe looks fantastic. I love the colors and am admiring how even your spinning is. Beautiful!
Posted by: Janice at October 13, 2006 6:47 AMI have an Ashford Traditional, and am a fairly newbie spinner. The favorite fiber I have spun so far has been the handpainted llama I purchased at our local fiber fair. I got it back in the spring and loved it. I went back last month and found the same fab ladies and bought a bunch more. She's working on some red for me so I can't wait for that to come.
I use a straight-back kitchen chair for spinning. Keeps me from slouching.
Love your single, can't wait to see the finished product.
Posted by: Dana at October 13, 2006 8:03 AMWow, that "Sheep to Shoe" looks great! I may have to try one of those kits (if I can find one online...)
That said - yup, I spin too! I started on a handspindle, and acquired a Kromski Minsterel this past summer. So far I've spun merino, superwash merino (and I've handdyed both) corriedale, BFL, and alpaca, and I have some merino-silk and pure silk waiting in the wings for when I get the nerve to spin them...
That's looking really fabulous - you're definitely not allowed to call yourself a beginner anymore. How will you ply it?
Favourite fiber so far is superwash merino, though I may yet develop an expensive addiction to silks and cashmere.
I would like to say I dislike spinning cotton, but I suspect it's only because it's difficult and I haven't kept at it enough yet, so that's unfair. I'll go with rough, poorly carded fibers that are a constant battle. Dog hair is pretty low on my list as well, though I still have high hopes for Portuguese Water Dog.
The Sheep 2 Shoe is looking great! Can't wait to see the final product. Lately, I've been spinning on a loaner wheel, and carded up some Romney with a bit of alpaca. That was interesting to spin with. The colors aren't really pretty per say, it is "practice fiber" after all, but the texture was definitely fun to play with.
Posted by: CJ at October 13, 2006 8:28 AMThat Little Gem is adorable, I don't think I'v eever actually seen one. It's just calling to me. But I don't use my traditional enough to justify a second wheel.
Looks like you guys had a great time.
Posted by: Rebekah at October 13, 2006 9:28 AMI love spinning on my Schacht Matchless DT. I usually spin merino because it is so soft. My other favorite fibers are blue-faced leicester, wensleydale (love it for socks!), corriedale, polwarth, mohair, alpaca, llama, romney, lincoln, silk, wool/tencel blends, wool/bamboo or soy silk blends, . . . I guess I like most animal fibers and blends. I don't have much experience with cotton and linen. I struggle with short fibers in general. I have successfully spun yak, but only in a wool blend.
The Sheep 2 Shoe is looking great. Are you going to Navajo ply it?
Posted by: [no author] at October 13, 2006 9:30 AMI've been spinning a little over a year. I have a Majacraft Little Gem II which I absolutely love. I also own an Ashford Traditional but I've lent it to my daughter as she is also learning to spin.
My favorite fiber to spin (so far) has been a 50/50 camel/silk blend. It looked like spun gold thread. I haven't yet met a fiber I wouldn't spin again although cotyon and linen don't appeal to me and I haven't tried them yet. Quivet....that is one I would LOVE to try.
Posted by: Marlene at October 13, 2006 2:18 PMI don't spin yet, though I'm going to call the local spinners guild today about lessons!! I know there must be a wheel out there somewhere with my name on it, 'cause I've been hearing it call me for quite some time now...
Posted by: Pink Dandelion at October 13, 2006 2:57 PMI love the dog feetz in the picture!! He's all, "Dont' mind me sleeping here."
I bought a little spindle two years ago at MDS&W and had no success whatsoever. Granted, I only tried it twice. But I have so much that I want to knit, I know if I start another hobby I'll get sucked in.
Posted by: Laura at October 13, 2006 3:02 PMI learned how to spin a couple of years ago on a rented wheel; one of the nice things about Green Valley Weaves in Colorado Springs is that they can rent a wheel to you. Since I can't afford one, I haven't spun since. I really want a drop spindle this Christmas. Of course, if any of you aren't using a spindle, we could always arrange a trade!
Posted by: stephania at October 13, 2006 9:13 PMNice shot of the Sheep 2 Shoe. I like the penny for scale. The first time I saw it, I thought it was much thicker so when I saw it in person I was surprised at how thin it is. But then again, to 3-ply sock yarn, it'd have to be pretty thin! Can't wait to spin again soon!
Posted by: Margit at October 14, 2006 12:18 PMI have the same wheel as you, and love it. I sit in a kitchen chair when I spin, and it helps me keep my back comfortably straight. (Tried to spin on the couch a few times and ended up with a terrible back ache!)
My favorite fiber so far is Blue Faced Liecester or BFL (handpainted from Spunky Eclectic -- very nice!), which is easy to spin and has a wonderful drape to it when spun thinly.
The easiest thing I've ever spun is Tussah silk, also from Spunky E. The fibers are so long (staple length about 10 inches!) that it's almost impossible not to be able to spin it up nicely. After spinning up 2 ounces of that, I found that I had become better at the long draw and could spin pretty much anything well.
Posted by: Faith at October 15, 2006 1:22 AMCan you spin, like, dog hair? Like from a bichon frise? Or is that just too weird? 'Cause I don't mind weird, as long as it's doable.
I've never spun, but I'm thinking about taking lessons...If my mom lets me...
Posted by: [no author] at October 17, 2006 4:27 AMokay i know i'm going ot sound like a total dork, and no i don't expect you to respond... but i'm very curious to start spinning...
do you recommend me starting by hand or taking a class to learn a wheel???
Posted by: eca at October 20, 2006 12:59 PM