Category Archives: spinning

Shetland Spinning

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I have had this ball of Shetland fiber from my Summer Spin In prize just sitting on my desk. I decided that since my wheel was empty I would throw this on here.

This fiber is very nicely prepped into skinny roving like bands. I am finding it spinning very fine and with very little vegetable matter. Just spinning on a whim and all this fiber will go straight onto one bobbin. I may wind it off into two bobbins and 2-ply or I may chain ply into a 3-ply. That is a future Rachelle problem!

For now I am just relaxing and letting the fiber do the things it wants to do. I don’t fully feel the spinning mojo back but it is nice to do something different than knit or crochet.

Happy Spinning!!

A Prize Winning Day

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Awhile back I participated in the Two Ewes Podcast Summer Spin In. And I won a prize!

My prize packaged arrived this week and it was full of goodies. The main attraction was a some Shetland wool in a natural beige. I haven’t weighed it yet but its close to 3-ish ounces. It also came with some podcast swag and a super lovely note from the ladies.

I’m leaving this fiber out on my desk in hopes it spurs some spinning mojo. But it hasn’t worked yet….maybe tomorrow?

Happy Spinning!!

Rosy Singles

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I finally got myself to focus a wee bit and therefore finished the first half of the singles for my Frosted Roses handspun.

This is 2 ounces of singles that vary WIDLY from lace to fingering weight. I did not control this spin super well. But there were days and weeks between spinning sessions so that it bound to happen.

Now I should get the second 2 ounces started so I don’t get second bobbin syndrome! And perhaps a manicure as I see how badly my nails need TLC right now, lol.

Happy Spinning!!

An Evening of Crafting

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Some days you just have to LET IT GO. My pupper is resolved to destroy the nice dog bed we got him. It’s just happening now. So I grabbed a glass of wine and my spinning to wind down the evening.

Still working on the first half of Frosty Roses singles. I am a little out of the muscle memory sweet spot so these singles are not super consistent. But I’m just happy with the process. I have like two chairs that are comfortable but not easily accessible. So I am experimenting how I can augment other sitting surfaces for ergonomic spinning places. I’ll keep you posted….results are mixed thus far.

Happy Spinning!!

Zoom Knit Night Spinning

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My life has been all about the crochet lately, but I had a KnitGirllls Zoom this past week and I felt like spinning.

I have four ounces of a Polwarth/silk blend on the wheel from a fiber club. It’s the color of very pretty roses. I’m happy to report that my puppy is no longer interested (knock on wood) in my wheel so it is easier to spin.

It’s also getting warmer so I envision lots more spinning on the patio with the kids. I am still on the first half of the fiber. I am going for a easy two ply that looks barber poled. This fiber is just going to do what it wants to do and I’m going to let it.

Happy Spinning!!

Dusting Off The Wheel

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Finally getting back to my spinning wheel after months long hiatus. My last spin was some Spotted Circus and so I am going back to some of the 4 ounce fiber I had from a club.

This is some WoolFiend fiber in a 85/15 Polwarth and Silk blend. It’s name is called Lovin’ Feeling but I am calling it Frosty Roses as it looks like lovely red roses and it’s currently colder than a witches elbow.

    I split my braid in half and I am spinning half on on bobbin and I’ll take the second half and flip the other way and spin. Then take both halves and ply for a lovely barber pole. Again, I’m not a trained spinner. I just do what my fingers and body know how to do and I take the yarn as it comes.

    I was a little rusty at first, but the muscle memory came back quickly. I just need my blanket fever to subside so I have time for all my crafts!

    Happy Spinning!!

    Finished Spotted Circus

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    My Spotted Circus spin is complete!

    The larger skein is my 2-ply intended spin. I got 255 yards to 100 grams so I’m likely in the light worsted arena. I think this was 12 (ish) wraps per inch but I forgot to write it down. Based on the singles I was hoping for a finer yarn but it really plumped during washing. Probably should have suspected based on the alpaca and nylon content. This yarn came out barber poled/marled and its lovely

    The smaller skein was the singles I had leftover chain plied back to them selves. This skein was 18 yards over 17 grams so a worsted/bulky. It’s finish is more self striping since the colors folded back in on themselves.

    These are off to a nice nap in my handspun bin while I plan my next spinning project! Happy Friday!

    Plying and Puppy

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    The singles from my Spotted Circus singles are finished and thoughtfully rested several days. So I sat down a perfectly cold beer and Welcome to Wrexham and got to plying last night.

    The puppy is now half grown and FULL teenager phase. Spinning requires tiring him out before hand and making sure lots of toys are on hand.

    The finished bobbin is resting and I hope to find some time later tonight to wash and whack it. It is a fairly fine 2-ply and has a nice marl in places. There was some more singles left on one bobbin so I chain plied a little mini skein of a 3-ply. But its a wee baby of a skein. I haven’t done any measurements on the 2-ply so I am ballpark guessing at heavy DK?

    I need to pick my next fiber to spin so I don’t lose steam! Happy Spinning!!

    Spotted Circus Finished Bobbin

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    I’m slowly getting back to my spinning. It’s not been as enticing as the knitting. I did manage to finish my first bobbin of singles for my Spotted Circus 2-ply.

    These ended up spinning VERY fine and thin. So this could be very interesting when I ply together. This project I did design to be a 2-ply. All of that depends on me finishing the second bobbin of course.

    For now, I am just going to delight in the pretty!! Happy Spinning!!

    Spinning Sunshine

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    The oppressive heat has finally broke for a brief minute here in Kansas so I broke out my dusty AF wheel. I still have my Spotted Circus fiber on the wheel from this past June.

    I got several hours of peaceful spinning in whilst watching PB splash about and throw reusable water balloons. We literally had to drag her in for bath and bedtime at the end of the day. I managed to get almost all of the first bobbin spun up.

    Duke even got in on the action and got VERY wet by getting too close to PB’s splash zone.

    Nothing beats the last rays of sunshine in the day and some simple family fun. Happy Spinning!!