Spinathon

While everyone else is out fighting the traffic and the crowds, carrying their heavy coats and heavy packages around the overheated mall, and getting head- and feet- and backaches, or stressing out about baking or what else they need to buy and what else they need to make, who's not going to be happy with their presents, or putting up their trees and fighting with lights, I choose to do something else. So this weekend was brought to me by the letters S.P.I.N.

Counterclockwise, from top left:

1. With the help of David, I finished plying the remaining Jacob that had gotten a bit tangled in the last attempt.  44 yards.

2. My first handspun merino, spun from some wonderful Sheep Shed roving I got in Rhinebeck 2004. It's been sitting on a bobbin for quite a while now. I decided to put it into a center-pull ball and ply it up. My spinning has improved enough that any new singles I do from the remaining roving will be quite different from this, so I figure I can use this for one thing, and the rest for something else. Even with its imperfections, it is absolutely scrumptious. The colors are to die for, and it's soooo soft and smooth. If I can make the rest match this in terms of the resulting yarn, I envision an Irish Hiking Scarf.  About 90 yards.

3. A tiny bit of remaining red Portland. It was left over from the last plying I did.  I decided to ply it up to free the bobbin for something else.

4. Oh, yummmmmm!  Coopworth, a gift from Carole.  Dyed in madder root exhaust bath to an incredible warm light brown. This turned out so light and soft. So very happy with this. (and there's still more to spin!)  108 yards here. Thank you, thank you, Carole! This is going into some mittens for some very cool friends.* (see below) It was a bit hard for me to control at times,(also see below) but I'm very happy with the finished result.

5. And lastly, one of the best surprises yet. From a big bag (I don't know how much it weighed initially) of mixed-British- breed sheep pencil roving that I bought on eBay way before I knew anything about anything roving-related. Holy COW. This stuff practically spins itself. I ended up with worsted-to-aran-weight gorgeous stuff that is practically indistinguishable from Cascade 220. So. Soft. So. Lovely. There's lots more of this, and I will very much be looking forward to spinning it. It may also go into the mittens. I have a plan for his-and-her mittens for two dear friends with whom we get together every January. She knits - always has - since way before I ever knew her (which has been 20+ years), but she doesn't spin. He's a retired history professor. I always have a challenge about what to get them for gifts. (we have a gift exchange at our get-together) I just know that handspun, handknit thrummed mittens will be "just the thing" for this couple. This is one of the few couples who will "get it." Big time. And I'm therefore wicked excited about this project.

This weekend I also figured out the problem with my wheel:  It was the old bobbins that came with the wheel. The person I bought it from had carpenter-glued the old bobbin pieces together when they had separated. It finally dawned on me that when I was struggling to spin, or when the wheel made a lot of noise, or the spinning was crappy, it was when I was using the old bobbins. Duh! Hit me over the head with a board. Of course, those globs of glue were slowing everything down, getting hung up on everything. So out they went. Now I need an infusion of new bobbins. But what a revelation, and what a difference it has made. (Of course I didn't discover this until most of the Coopworth was all spun up, so it's more uneven than it needed to be, but it's still going to knit up beautifully.)

Now I have a little bit of transcript work to do. That's my weekend roundup so far. How's yours?

Comments

[naomi]

One of the things I love about living in a city is that I can do all of my holiday shopping without setting foot in a mall (and without ordering stuff online). I had a lovely afternoon yesterday of walking around to various uncrowded stores. And enjoying the weather, which was perfect and crisp.

[naomi]

(Also, that merino is lovely.)

[Carole]

Awesome spinning, Norma. My weekend has consisted of the stuff you described that everyone else is doing - making candy, shopping (done!!), making glugg, wrapping gifts. But I did finish my Jaywalker socks and also branching out. And I finally felted that flamingo from last summer. No wonder I'm tired!

[--Deb]

Ooh, that is definitely a good way to spend a weekend! I feel like I spent most of mine in the kitchen (and, well, except for sleeping, I guess I really did!). I did manage some knitting, but haven't touched my wheel in days. Beautiful, Norma!

[Aarlene]

Oh what fun it is to spin, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh duhhhhh...
[--Dashing thru the snow, etc.--]

[Kim]

great spinning!! The best way I can think of to spend a weekend ;-).

Hmm...can you emailme your address again ;-)

[margene]

You are so smart to spend the weekend spinning on your wheel instead of spinning your wheels in the mall. Nice stuff you made there, grrlfriend.

[JoVE]

I've been spinning instead of concentrating on the impending holiday, too. I did get around to wrapping the gifts for the folks here today. And an 8 year old wanted to learn to spin last night and be reminded how to knit this morning (not my daughter but her friend) so how could I refuse. I've spun up some of that orange stuff and will try navajo plying it tomorrow.

[S.Kate]

Hey, nice spinnin' dere, Normi - Cheers!

[Dave Daniels]

It's a lot more fun to spin when you have the good bobbins on there, huh? Glad you figured that out. Of the 6 bobbins that I have, 3 are a little out of whack, so they make a clickty clack sound. I've marked those with a little "x", so I know to save them for plying, which goes fairly quickly.
And you're smart to skip the malls. Spinning is far better for the soul. Wait'll you see what I've been doing.

[Chelle]

I so admire your spinning! I haven't been bitten by that bug that (thank goodness) cuz I live in a small house that is already overcrowded with store-bought yarn and what would I do with MORE knitting-related stuff? But anyhow, I can admire vicariously through you and others who do spin such lovely stuff!

It must be very nice having some special yarn you handspun yourself. Speaking of which, did you handspin those beautiful red mittens? If not, what yarn is that? What pattern etc? Have a good week. Chelle

[Cathy]

Good on ya, Normie. The best holiday gift I could get from anyone is watching someone else learn how to spin... this is the first time in 20 yrs I have had this pleasure. And it's been so much fun watching you figure things out. :-)

[Cathy]

Ummm. I bet you hate being called Normie. If so, I apologize. If not, maybe I started a trend. Umm. Maybe not.

[Lee Ann]

I'm struggling with the camelid thing. Your spinning is gawgeous and I love that you say "wicked excited." It's the only way to be ;-)

I've actually spun through all of Cate's black llama now, and neckwarmer is nearly done. It has a few...uh...design features...thanks to the unevenness and VM in the fibre. Oh well. Next spinning project on the wheel is definitely merino. I need something that will make me feel like I'm good at this...

[Sue]

Wow, you were busy this weekend! The yarn is lovely. I had the same problem with the bobbins on my new-to-me wheel. The wood glue made them wonky, and also the holes through the middle had worn unevenly. New bobbins made a world of difference.