Fiber Fool

I think I have learned a valuable lesson. Keep the wheel within easy reach. I had moved it down to the basement soon after replacing the shaft as it was starting to get a bit warm upstairs and I enjoy spinning while watching TV. However, it has gotten hot enough now that I try to stay out of the basement until just before bed so I don’t heat it up down there and we can retreat there before bed to cool off. With the wheel sitting down there and my trying to stay out of the basement it just was gathering dust.

On Friday I *finally* finished up the first 2 ounces of the merino that Margene gave me for my birthday which is the tulips colorway from Wooly Wonka. I’m quite happy with the singles, but I was having one heck of a time keeping that twist out of my drafting triangle. So much so that I was getting cramps in my forward hand after spinning for only about 15 minutes. I’ve decide to not fight with it right now and the other two ounces will wait for a bit.

After wrapping up that first bobbin of merino I finally got to put the lace flyer on. Kirsten finally wore me down and I have signed up for Spun Stitches. She got me with her comment about the solar dyed batts I made a while back being perfect for a shawl. That is what is on the wheel right now. I’m loving it. it just flows onto the bobbin nearly effortlessly. I do have some neps in the fiber, but they are pretty easy to pick out. I’ve got about an ounce on there so I’m just a bit over half done with the first batt.

I did turn the batt into roving first by splitting it vertically, but not all the way through and then turning the corner. Then I predrafted slightly and rolled it into a ball. It is working quite well and I think is giving me pretty even color blending as well. The plan at this stage is to ply two of the batts from the original three together and then ply the third with another batt I intend to make with the same base colors but with a bit of a dark green in it. Then I’ll do a skein of two of the darker batts as well. That way I can do a coordinated color progression on the shawl. I’ve only planned out as far as the yarn though. I have no ideas for patterns just yet.

Over the weekend we picked up an outdoor rug and put that on the patio underneath the patio set. We had found we were sinking a bit too much as the rock wasn’t settled yet. Having a rug out there has made it that much easier for me to spin outside though. I don’t have to take my own rug out in addition to the wheel and fiber. The largest portion of the patio is on the west side of the house so it stays nice and cool out there until about 11 - 11:30 am and I can look out over a lot of our garden area and watch birds and such as I spin. It is very nice! Speaking of that, I think my wheel is calling!