Smooth, even and perfect
Wednesday night was the start of my new “Spinning & Dyeing” class at Place Des Arts. There’s quite range of experience in the class from people who have never seen a wheel or spindle before to those who are spinning and plying silks and wools. I assume this is because it’s kind of a continuous class…
But for this first class, Irene passed out some batts of washed and drum carded Romney wool — some of us started spinning right away while others learned to pick, tease, and card the wool with hand carders. The beginners then tried some drop spindles and by the end of the class were practicing treadling on big bulky spinners. To those of us that were spinning already, she encouraged us to spin “smooth, even and perfect” yarns — for now — because it is the jump point for learning to spin more experimental or novelty yarns.
In the same vein, I just received my copy of Pluckyfluff’s (Lexi Boeger) book “Handspun Revolution”. If you haven’t seen her yarns yet, take a peek — they are fun and inspired! (I love one skein that she made a while ago called “Koi Pond” that had orangey-red nubs spun into a turquoise base single yarn — it looked just like little goldfish in a stream!) It’s easy to pass this off as “bad” spinning — a lot of it is overtwisted, uneven, kinky or even felted — so I was delighted to read at the start of her book, “Challenge yourself to spin perfectly straight, even and balanced yarns. This is the only route to truly creative spinning. You have to understand the rules before you break them.”
She also encourages all spinners to do all their own fibre prep — learn to wash raw fleece, pick, tease, and card it yourself. This is to appreciate not only “what yarn is, but what it was“. The idea that if you only explore the narrow window of commercially and perfectly prepared top, you are missing out!
I also love her concept of how using handspun is a collaborative project or play between spinner and knitter. It seems so very… organic. But it also empowers spinners to make their yarns creative projects in their own right, rather than spinning soley to match commercially prepared yarns for use in knitted projects. Anyhow, I quite like this book (slim as it may be — although Mabel Ross’s “The Essentials of Handspinning” is even skinnier) and it gives new respect to cult spinning!
Here’s some of my own, not so cultish, spinning from this week:
And here’s some merino/tencel blend that I dyed up — this stuff spins up so shiny!
Happy Friday everybody!
I find your fiber photos soothing.
I love Pluckyfluff!!! I just recently got the book as well and her stuff is so funky and fun. I have a tendency to be overly cautious with my dyeing and spinning, and her stuff makes me want to “break all the rules”.
the braided fiber photo is gorgeous!!
I love the candy yarn !!!! Bravo !
ah, your pictures are amazing. how can anyone resist spinning with pictures like these?!
Your spinning and dyeing are so inspiring. Just so pretty.
You continue to inspire me! I have started to get more serious with my hand spinning (better drafting control) so that I can move onto a spinning wheel. Your FOs are fantastic and I hope to be as 1/2 as agood as you are! Thanks.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love the skein, fun colors! I love the colors of the braided fibers, very soothing colors.
Great post. I’m really interested in spinning and I love coming over here to see what you’re up to. Beautiful colors and nice thoughts about learning and breaking the rules - it applies to so much in life.
You make it look like candy! Amazing! I was spinning last night and I really am trying to keep it neat and even and “tidy” but I am realizing the roving I am using is sorta crappy! But it’s good practice!
you should totally wear a jayne hat to the opening… i’m hoping to spot other knitters at the opening this way
I love pluckyfluff’s yarns. Koi pond has always been one of my favorites… I tried to make one like it myself once, but I only got the colors right, not the technique.. ah well. I should get the book one of these days!
Hi - thanks for the comment on my new socks! I am such a fan of your color combinations - good luck with your class
Your yarn looks beautiful.
Ok. I could faint. This stuff is gorgeous.
I love that new yarn! I wish I could have more time to spin, but life keeps me so busy as is. I love how you use all those spinning textures and mix it with the beautiful colors you create
Know what you mean about those long waits at AirMiles. At least you were productive, Li
I absolutely adore your yarn! The colour combinations are fantastic! LOVE the beige and blue! I always hurry to your blog every morning to see what’s new! =)
I must spend the evening looking around my house for things to Ebay in the name of buying a spinning wheel. Can you sell your spouse on Ebay?