Fiber Fool

Remember way back, in the long long ago time? I was spinning the remaining roving that was dyed when I dyed the roving for the Queen of Diamonds? I said I was going to spin the other bobbin of singles before trying my hand at Navajo plying? Well, I lied. That was back in the “before time” when I had time that was my own and I wasn’t crazy knitting and cutting and folding paper at all hours of the day and night. Since the bobbin had sat full for I’m guessing about two weeks now I finally just took some time over the weekend to ply that first bobbin. (BTW, I had some questions concerning letting the singles rest etc. that I’ll address either later this week or next week.)

This was my first attempt at the chained singles method of plying (PDF from Spin-Off) outside of a brief trial of it in a spinning class a year and half ago. You can tell if you examine it closely that I wasn’t totally consistent, but it isn’t bad and it is balanced, unlike my terribly over-plied version from class. I did take the wheel down to the lowest ratio before plying and I think that definitely helped. I’m also excited because I got true fingering weight 3-ply yarn from it. About 200 yds in 1.6 ounces!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to climb to the top of Horsetooth and shout it at the top of my lungs, LOL!

Fiber: BFL from Detta’s Spindle Summer of 2005
Preparation: Roving that was hand dyed using Kool-Aid ™ and food coloring
WPI: 16-17, fingering weight
TPI: 5-6
Yardage: ~207 yds

My only complaint (other than the slight inconsistent plying, which I’m pretty sure will be negligible once knit) is that it is pretty inelastic. Because of this I think I shall forgo the obvious choice of knitting socks with it. I have an idea in mind, but will need to get the remaining fiber spun and plied before I start the design process for that one.

These orchid photos are courtesy of Anne letting me photograph them while we visited. The sun was setting when I started photographing them. The first is just with the natural light and long exposure time (without a tripod, even!) and the second was with flash, but using the diffuser.

It has been a very busy week, not just work-wise, but also socially. It seems we have had something going on every night this week. A visit with Anne (whom we hadn’t seen in week) at her house to see the garden in the early stages, voice lessons and dinner another night, graduate student operas, and on and on. I’m exhausted. But the weekend is full too with some fun gatherings with friends we haven’t seen in a while and some of us SnB gals are getting together on Sunday. I’ll wait to share what we’re doing until next week.

Have a great weekend!

By Judith MacKenzie McCuin
Wiley Publishing, 2007. Paperbound, 208 pages, $21.99.
ISBN: 0-47009-845-7

A brand new spinning book has recently hit the market. Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning is written by frequent Spin-Off contributor and well-known spinning instructor, Judith MacKenzie McCuin. This book, geared towards the new spinner, fills a hole in currently available instruction books for spinning. It provides much more information than Spin to Knit by Shannon Oakey (my review) and is much more accessible to the newer spinner than The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning. It is also readily available from bookstores for those without access to a local shop.

Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning is made up of 11 chapters coving topics from why spin to fiber to spinning on a spindle and wheel to plying and even using your handspun. There is plenty of information to get you started spinning. McCuin provides guidance on choosing a spindle or wheel to preparing fleece and shopping for prepared fibers. If you are an experienced spinner there is also information to keep you spinning, whether you wish to explore more exotic fibers or different plying techniques. The author also shares some ideas for using your handspun. There are two appendices with sources for further information and reference, including a thorough glossary and an index which makes this book easy to use as a quick reference whenever needed.

The book lives up to its name and contains copious photographs; I don’t think there are a dozen pages outside of the reference areas that do not contain a photograph and most contain three or four. The step-by-step photographs are large and clear, making it the next best thing to seeing a technique demonstrated in person. There are also many photographs of fiber and yarns. These are not as helpful as the step-by-step photos as they are not close enough to really see the structure of the yarn or fiber. I would have preferred a close look at only a small portion of a skein of yarn rather than the whole skein. Overall, that is minor flaw in the book though.

The breadth of topics in a book of this size with the large number of photographs it contains does mean many of the topics are not covered as in depth as one may want. I did not, however, find any of the topics to be missing anything that would prevent me from being successful in my spinning. In most cases the various references listed in the back of the book will provide more depth on specific topics as needed. Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning has everything needed to be off and running with spinning and keep you plenty busy exploring different aspects.

I would highly recommend Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning by Judith MacKenzie McCuin for anyone interested in spinning or new to spinning. Those who are experienced spinners may wish to check the book out from a library to see if it will fill a hole in their spinning library before buying it. As a spinner for only two years I am glad I purchased it. I think it will serve as a great reference as my spinning skills progress.

I am guessing by now that most of you have seen Yarnival! around blog land, whether or not you have submitted anything. Well, I have the pleasure of being editor for the June 15th edition! The May submission deadline was yesterday and Laura will be posting her edition on the 15th. If you haven’t seen Yarnival! before head over to http://blogcarnival.com/bc/cprof_417.html and click on the “past posts” link to check out previous issues.

You can start submitting items for June’s issue now! Anything related to yarn and fiber is welcome, from finished objects which are knit, crocheted, woven, etc. to tutorials to essays. You can submit your own blog posts made between May 1 and May 31st, or share something worthwhile that you have read somewhere.

To submit your articles for the June issue, head to http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_417.html and fill out the info. I really look forward to putting together this issue!

In which I distract you with pictures of pretty flowers…

We had a fair bit of rain showers last week which has caused out tulips under the maple out front to actually start to bud and open for May! This is the first time since our first spring that we have had flowers actually open. So, happy May Day and happy spring to you all!

As usual, click on the image to see it larger at Flickr.