Spinning Class Redux!
Well, last night’s class wasn’t quite so frustrating. My wheel doesn’t like to work in Maggie’s force field though (really, it’s more like my performance anxiety I think). But, I have graduated to the next higher wheel ratio as I’m drafting faster after using my drop spindle so much.
Last night, the focus was on types of drafting and ways to measure twist. We even drafted one inch of fiber per treadle and measured the resulting to twist to see how the wheel ratio converts to twist/inch. We didn’t cover anything I hadn’t read before. But, the class is making me practice what I’ve read and apply it. That is great!
Of course, what is also great is getting to try other tangential spinning equipment. Last week we got to use combs on a pollworth/lincoln cross (that’s the right fleece isn’t it Amanda?) and pull it through a diz and spin it. I’m not much for combed top at this point. Though the hand combed was much easier for me to spin than the commercially combed top. I do have a little of both still and will be giving them both another try at the higher wheel ratio. I suspect it’ll go better than last week. Of course, working with combed top we covered worsted spinning (short forward draw with no twist between hands).
This week we covered different drafting techniques for wool spinning, concentrating on long draw and double draw as most of us in the class naturally tended toward some variation of a short draw. However, what is funny is that when I was first spinning I was using what would probably be considered a modified long draw. But, having done that it made the long draw relatively easy for me and did see how even for roughly the same WPI how the long draw results in a slightly less consistent yarn than the short draw. With practice I’m sure that would become more consistent, but I think the nature of that method will not ever be quite as precise as a short draw of some variety. The double draw was tricky! I got a few drafts that worked and that technique really does result in some *very* elastic yarn. It’s amazing how the drafting method impacts the finished product!
This week, in addition to measuring bumps per inch on freshly spun singles that were allowed to twist back on itself and learning how to measure twist angle we did some carding. We used hand cards to card some of that same fleece that we combed last week. I have to say the long draw worked quite well on those rolags! I loved how lofty and airy they were too. I didn’t quite have the proper combination of rocking and pulling down, but I think my third rolag was better. I think hand carders will be in my not too distant future…
Sounds like this is a really interesting class. As you said, you’re getting to apply many thing you have already read which is always a good thing.
I almost always spin in the Worsted method becuase those are the types of yarns I enjoy using most in my knitting.
Comment by Lizzy B — 8/15/2005 @ 7:07 am