I Love Spinning!

Today I got to see my friend Donna again!
Here we all are at Luna Cafe!


The Knitting Gang: Donna (Brown in back), Tanya, Kara (Black in front on left), Viki (Green in front on right), Em (if you can't pick me out well...) and Zoe (in the back with the Green on) Brittany is not pictured because she went to work before we remembered to get a photo.

The new idea is for us to go from Coffee House to Coffee House discovering new places in good old Green Bay (and the surrounding areas) to knit. Love the idea. Need a good reason to get up on Saturday and go knitting.


So I have to thank Ms. Tracey S for getting me hooked on spinning!



Last year I got this beautiful spindle and soft alpaca(?) yarn. After Zoe, aka my friend who looks like me, but is so much more talented than me, showed me how to start, I've been spinning like crazy! My new love went underground during the Christmas Season and Winter Break but it now makes a return.



I got some roaving (YES IT IS INTERLACEMENTS) yarn to work on. Since Tracey is a spinner, I decided to take my spinning to work on while I was in California.



I did more spinning than actual knitting (probably because I didn't want to look at that beaded scarf after a day of demos...) I found myself having a hard time keeping the yarn on the hook unless I twisted the yarn around the hook a few times. I discovered that I twist my yarn quite a few times before I add it underneath.


I am pretty proud how I am able to connect two strands of Rovan together. I have no idea how I do it, but everytime I do it, it looks better. My first attempt there was an obvious clump. The photo above is my latest attempt (please note photos could be taken with higher quality if I wasn't so lazy). I'm loving how it is looking more and more natural as I spin with the yarn. My goal is to make the yarn consistent, regardless of the size.

Sadly, my spindle did not last for the entire trip. I make pretty bulky yarn. I don't like spinning really small yarns. Perhaps because I am impatient when it comes to drafting.


I have a few goals for myself for spinning this year:

1. Spin on a spinning machine. Not sure where to find one of those, but I'd like to give the spinning on a wheel a chance.
2. Purchase a new Spindle. No problems with that. I'm planning on getting one from this website: Dawning Dreams. I love the spindles and the owner seems extremely dedicated to making high quality spindles. (I need to get paid first though...)
3. Know how to do the next step in spinning. Zoe bought me a Knitty Knack Thingy for me at Stitches West. I haven't gotten it back yet, but when I do, I'd like to know what to do with it.
4. Actually make something with the yarn that I made. Maybe a pair of mittens? Ha.Ha. Probably not. Maybe a headband. Something small but something I will wear a lot!
5. Spin thinner yarn. I love the bulky, but spinning to make thinner yarn would be a new adventure I would love to test out.
   

Will I make my goals? Let us hope so!

E