Monday, July 9, 2007

100th post!!!

You have been a great group of posters. It's fun to see what others are spinning and to learn as people post their knowledge and experiences.

This is the 100th post. Does this call for a spindle drawing? :-)

Ed recently purchased a Louet Victoria S95, the small traveling one. I've been having fun learning to use it. (I really like it!) I have spun two ounces of corriedale pencil roving on it. The first ounce spun into such a nice thin lace weight I decided this was the perfect opportunity to try chain plying. To make a three ply yarn for socks.

Unfortunately this weekend I took the second ounce with me to a weekend demo at the nearby Silver Creek Falls Park. I didn't get much uninterrupted spinning done on the wheel. Lots of people continually streaming into the log cabin where the demos were held. I had a blast teaching dozens of people how to use a turkish spindle. By the sixth person I had a system down that allowed me to totally focus on one person at a time. We started with one yard length of corriedale roving which I had them thin then showed them how fibers and twist interact then the mechanics of spinnng. They spun the length into a single then the person grasped the center of the single while I took the free end and doubled it back to the slip knot with which I'd anchored the roving to the spindle (it's much quicker, and more efficient than using a piece of yarn). I had them spin the spindle counterclockwise and viola a piece of yarn long enough to wrap around the wrist. Happy spinners one and all. :-)

Back to the green roving. I didn't spin the second ounce at all even like the first due to a number of factors mostly having to do with lack of concentration. I was the only spinner there and when I briefly left to grab some lunch provided for the volunteers I just left everything as it was since there were other demonstrators baking dutch oven biscuits, weaving baskets, tin punching, and butter churning. When I returned after Sunday's lunch it was immediately clear that someone had tried spinning with the wheel and a couple of the spindles. I was not very happy but tried to rectify the spun bits.I chain plyed the singles last evening. It took awhile to figure out how to do it but once my hands and fingers picked up the rhythm it wasn't hard, except some areas are way over twisted. Since the second ounce was much thicker I should have used a centerpull, then wound onto a felt ball then double plyed the yarn. It would have been much more uniform. From high hopes of having enough yarn for a pair of anklets to discouragement as it measured only 117yds and is just not consistent enough for socks.

This spool was the first spun ounce. I so wish I hadn't tried to continue spinning the second ounce at the cabin.

8 comments:

cyndy said...

100? Wow! Spindle Drawing?? Yes, Yes!!

Your demo sounds like it went very well- great system you worked out with the Turkish spindle...I hope you planted many seeds!

But what a shame that someone "helped themselves" to the wheel and spindles while you were at lunch. At least nothing was broken. A good friend of my is currently having the treadle on her antique wheel repaired, after someone broke it whilst she was taking a bathroom break at a demo.

Me thinks I will make a "Do Not Touch" sign the next time I go a demo-ing...

Somehow, I love the yarn that is created at demos, it always has lots of variation and energy-(a timeline of the day!) but you are right, it hardly ever is consistent!

Manise said...

Yes, to the spindle drawing!

Very pretty roving- it took me a little while to Navajo ply initially. Once my rhythm was established it was fine. Counting treadles helps with the uniformity for me. Using an un-tensioned kate makes it interesting, though I've compensated for it using a few tricks. Maybe something for a future post.

Anonymous said...

That spun up roving looks GORGEOUS!!! Such a pretty green.

It's horrible that someone would touch your wheel when you left the room! What's with people not respecting personal property?!

Fiberjoy said...

Ed suggests that I offer TWO prizes; a spindle and a circular knitting needle. I will spell out details in my next post.

I will definitely put a sign on my stuff in the future and specifically ask the other demonstrators to keep watch.

natalie said...

Well I can vouch for Ed's Turkish spindles, I am lucky enough to have one right here and it is wonderful to use. I like my wheel well enough, but I started on spindle and there's something beautiful about doing spinning the way it's been done for centuries.
All this spinning is making me think about another wheel.....

Donna B said...

congrats on the 100th! :-)

Artis-Anne said...

Again I have to say I do like the look of that Louet Victoria dn sounds like you are pleased with it also. Defo a do not touch sign next time you do a demo

plumbum said...

Thank you for inviting me in to this blog!

I've noted your remarks about leaving the wheel unattended - my groups is giving a demo in August and I'll suggest some sensible precautions.

I must say that green is absolutely heavenly!