So the infamous Carole and I went spinning a couple of Saturdays ago at
Gemini Fibres. Unassuming little building on a road in the middle of nowhere - fibre palace inside.
Oh my God! I was practically hyperventilating when we stepped in the doors. Book collection like I have never seen (and while I haven't travelled all over the world I have been in a few yarn and book stores and for those of you who know me I do know how to shop!) - I really wanted them to delay the class so I could just have a quick peruse, just a little one.
And I was smart this time; I left the credit card at home and they don't use interact so I had to use cash. Thank God!!
So the books are fantasmagoric (I made a list I tell you) and then there is the fibre and the equipment
in the store. Oh my God!
Crap it was good.
So there was actually a class (although I admit I had trouble focusing because it would be like a chocaholic in the best chocolate factory) on drop spindles. I was a little anxious because I am just not that coordinated, and this involves some brain functioning.
Thought I might be a little fucked because I went into the class tired, not feeling well and with my CFS flaring. And there were a lot of technical terms and some cranial stuff that needed to be discussed. I could feel myself checking out; I was so tired.
We did some spinning in the morning. Eventually I sort of got it.
Took an early lunch break(so I could buy rovings, books and a spindle - see all around you) and then I had to drive to the nearest town, find the one bank machine which, thankfully was working and then hustle back!
Carole rode shotgun. She knows I am obsessed but I probably scared her.
Bought my stuff and then we had the afternoon. We wound our spinning around our hand (okay I clearly don't remember all the technical terms, those of you who know may
laugh out loud) and then twisted the spun fibre.
After that we made two ply yarn.
I am so freaking impressed with the fact that a bunch of wool can be made into something so amazing. Okay now I am not suggesting mine is impressive by any, any stretch of the imagination; my first skein is pretty sad although our instructor Wendy Whelan was kind and said it was the most even but it is pretty sad.
And it appears that I suffer from not enough twist in the original spinning and too much twist in the second.
But I have to say
I LOVE IT!!!
I LOVE IT!!!
I bought a Tom Forrester Spindle (I can honestly say that before I walked in there I had no clue who he was but I do now!).
Better yet
I have ordered a Canadian Lendrum double treadle spinning wheel (thank you
Amanda for all your fantastic advice) which should be arriving anytime between September and November (like that is how busy this guy is - apparently making most of them for customers in the States! LOL). I am so very very excited!
As you can see I made some bloody great purchases and I am excited about this new stage of my knitting.
Here is my very first skein of spindle handspun. Woo hoo!
It is pretty bad but I can only get better.....
So the infamous Carole and I went spinning a couple of Saturdays ago at Gemini Fibres. Unassuming little building on a road in the middle of nowhere - fibre palace inside.
Oh my God! I was practically hyperventilating when we stepped in the doors. Book collection like I have never seen (and while I haven't travelled all over the world I have been in a few yarn and book stores and for those of you who know me I do know how to shop!) - I really wanted them to delay the class so I could just have a quick peruse, just a little one.
And I was smart this time; I left the credit card at home and they don't use interact so I had to use cash. Thank God!!
So the books are fantasmagoric (I made a list I tell you) and then there is the fibre and the equipment
in the store. Oh my God!
Crap it was good.
So there was actually a class (although I admit I had trouble focusing because it would be like a chocaholic in the best chocolate factory) on drop spindles. I was a little anxious because I am just not that coordinated, and this involves some brain functioning.
Thought I might be a little fucked because I went into the class tired, not feeling well and with my CFS flaring. And there were a lot of technical terms and some cranial stuff that needed to be discussed. I could feel myself checking out; I was so tired.
We did some spinning in the morning. Eventually I sort of got it.
Took an early lunch break(so I could buy rovings, books and a spindle - see all around you) and then I had to drive to the nearest town, find the one bank machine which, thankfully was working and then hustle back!
Carole rode shotgun. She knows I am obsessed but I probably scared her.
Bought my stuff and then we had the afternoon. We wound our spinning around our hand (okay I clearly don't remember all the technical terms, those of you who know may laugh out loud) and then twisted the spun fibre.
After that we made two ply yarn.
I am so freaking impressed with the fact that a bunch of wool can be made into something so amazing. Okay now I am not suggesting mine is impressive by any, any stretch of the imagination; my first skein is pretty sad although our instructor Wendy Whelan was kind and said it was the most even but it is pretty sad.
And it appears that I suffer from not enough twist in the original spinning and too much twist in the second. 
But I have to say I LOVE IT!!! I LOVE IT!!!
I bought a Tom Forrester Spindle (I can honestly say that before I walked in there I had no clue who he was but I do now!).
Better yet I have ordered a Canadian Lendrum double treadle spinning wheel (thank you Amanda for all your fantastic advice) which should be arriving anytime between September and November (like that is how busy this guy is - apparently making most of them for customers in the States! LOL). I am so very very excited!
As you can see I made some bloody great purchases and I am excited about this new stage of my knitting.
Here is my very first skein of spindle handspun. Woo hoo!
It is pretty bad but I can only get better.....
16 comments:
What a great time you had!
The rovings remind me of challah bread.
That sounds incredible!
Hey - your first skein looks like a skein to me. So cool. That is the thing about handspun right? It is the fact that there are no two like them - that and the satisfaction of doing it all yourself.
K well - I am going to sit in my backyard and try and catch my breath - haven't recovered from Grey's finale yet. Have to ready myself for 24.
It all looks fab!
Congrats on the wheel! You'll be a pro in no time!
Ooh, fleece artist has such beautiful yarn, that roving is going to be something tdf! :)
sounds like you have a great time. what beautiful fibre!
Great job on your first skein - looks much better than my first did! I really like the fiber you bought - beautiful! And congrats on your wheel...I just bought the same one and love it.
Your first skein really does look good for a first. My first (and second, and sixth) was lumpy and bumpy and overspun and underspun and just purely pathetic. And I was learning on a wheel.
Warning warning warning: buying roving is even more addictive than buying yarn.
I am sending you three blue squares this morning.
Your first skein looks better than my 15th. But I DID learn on my own and I am sure that there are a hundred things that a teacher could teach. I love spinning and am thinking about purchasing a wheel soon. The big question is "Which one?"
And another one bites the dust . . . congratulations!
It looks good enough to make a knitted felted sheep ... perfect!
I just KNOW i would love to spin so I have PURPosely StaYed away from AnY roving or spinner. They tRy to hook me in and spin me into their spell. I'm nOt falliNg for tHat trick. Not me, not me, nOt mE. .... noooooooooo
Hooray for you! You sound so very excited! :) Have fun.
Cool! Your going to have to get another plastic bin for hand spun AND one for roving! I'm glad that you like spinning - it really is a hoot!
Hey Girlfriend,
That looks fantastic. You guys have to teach me sometime.
I have to wonder about the credit card at home thing when you have access to a computer and the net!!!!!
It looks like you've been bitten by the spinning bug! Your first skein of yarn is wonderful. My first attempt at spinning didn't resemble yarn. You chose some beautiful fibers.
A Lendrum - I'm jealous! I've been thinking about getting one of those for myself. I've got a Hitchhiker right now. Your first skein looks great!
Actually, your first skein looks much better than my first did. That said, I still have the first skein, because it was my first. Keep it up and enjoy the ride!
Post a Comment