Just when I think I’m about to get a handle on things, something else comes up to distract me and I get behind again. When I made my last post, my head was already at The Loopy Ewe’s Spring Fling, which was last weekend. I drove up to St. Louis on Thursday, and it was like old home week. It was so great to see all the friends I’d made last year and to make some new ones this year. (This is me and Allen, the famous NummaNumma indie dyer.)
I took a design class from the amazing Wendy, and got her to sign her new book for me, “Socks From the Toe Up,” and also took a class from the genius Cookie A., and had her sign her new book for me, “Sock Innovation.” Seriously – if you don’t already have these books, go out and buy them right now. I’ll wait. They are both awesome, and very different, so you need both of them. One thing I didn’t take was many pictures at the Fling, but that’s okay.
I also took some informal spinning lessons from Adrienne, Keri, Stacy, and Lynn, and feel like I soaked up a lot more useful information than I did when I took the class a while back. It was so great to just pick their brains and get helpful hints and tips that they’ve learned from experience. Why am I so interested in spinning now? Because I finally bought a spinning wheel. I’ve been waiting for almost a year to save up the money for it, and it’s finally mine. It was so hard when others around me were getting their wheels (coughKatecough), but definitely worth the wait.
This little beauty is a Schacht Matchless Double treadle, and it’s fantastic.
I sat down on Sunday when I got home from the Fling and set it up, and started treadling to get used to it. Because I was fighting allergies or sinus infection or (please, no) the flu, I didn’t really try to spin until Monday night. This is what I came up with – It’s about 1.7 oz. of targhee and came out to be approximately 72 yards of a 2 ply, probably DK weight and/or light worsted. I don’t think it’s too bad for my first attempt.
Now my only problem is that I don’t have enough time to knit.
Big Wheel Keep on Turnin’
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Your first handspun looks awesome! Along with not having time to knit, your stash is going grow faster than it ever has before. It’s an ugly cycle, but I’ve just accepted that it is out of my control.
I agree, that’s a great job using your own wheel for the first time! I love the color as well!
Looks better than my first effort. Word of advice that Adrienne and several others gave me. Try to spin some every day…I did 30 min/day and just bumped to an hour.
Your handspun is lovely. I can’t wait to see what you make with it. Have you named your wheel yet?
Yay!! Look at you go!!!
Congrats on the wheel. Your first spinning looks awesome, too. Mine was so overspun it was almost unrecognizable. I’m impressed.
your spinning looks great – I agree with Timmie – try to do a little every day – since I’ve been home, 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes at night. Truthfully though, as long as I’m sitting in front of the wheel and the TV, it’s gone about 2 hours – I just lose track of time
I’m hoping to get that same wheel. Am going to try to learn to spin at a class this May.
I loved reading about your fiber art projects.
If you get a chance, I’d love for you to link a post to the Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival at http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com. My readers would love your blog.
Thanks for sharing!