Tag Archives: spinning

Okay, But More Singles

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Happy Labor Day to those that observe.

I did some noodling and decided that I am going to combine my SSK 2024 fiber minis with my SSK2025 fiber minis. This would give me 12 ounces of fiber in total to work with. I am thinking considering a three ply or possibly a 2 ply that alternates which bobbing I am pulling from.

This second bag of eight ounces, I did a wee bit more planning. I laid the minis out and sorted them into basically warm and cool color families. It was not a perfect system as I did have to do some mixing to get the ounces to be two equal four ounce portions.

Now to get these started on my wheel! Happy Spinning!!

Four Ounces Of Singles

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I was stuck in a four hour public meeting on Zoom and I decided to focus on the SSK2024 singles that are on my Sparrow e-wheel.

I filled the bobbin without really managing the color thinking too hard. I didn’t put any of the same colors back to back was my only rule.

And I love these 3D printed bobbins bc I can see all the layers of the singles like a little cake all laid out. Safe to say that four ounces fits easily on one of these bobbins but not much more. I need to do some noodling what do next with these singles, I just kinda started spinning with no plan and now all of the singles are on one bobbin….

Happy Spinning!!

Inaugural E-Spin

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I made a pretty big leap/purchase at SSK that wasn’t fiber or yarn related. I have been saving my mad money for the past year and I decided to take a leap into an electric wheel. SSK had a “try it” room for tools and wheels as well. I was able to try several brands and versions of e-wheels and I landed on a very nice starter wheel.

This is a Daedalus Sparrow electric spinning wheel. It’s 3D printed and very compact and light. I am excited to see what this does to my spinning output. In my current phase of life I have so many kid events and our house does not have a dedicated craft space for me that I find I don’t get my Ashford Kiwi spinning wheel out very much. I have to take it out and put it away almost every time I use it. Which is a barrier to use for me.

I am hoping that this e-wheel is more portable and accessible for more day to day to use. I have it set up in my office right now so I can drop in and spin as I feel the whim. I am starting with the Fiber Pool fiber mix from SSK 2024. It’s a lot of mix of different types of fiber so I will get to “test” a lot on this new wheel.

Let’s see what I can spin now! Happy Spinning!!

SSK Fiber Pool Fun!

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One of the kick off events at SSK is the Fiber Mini Pool. Everyone brings fibers and breaks into small pieces and fills a swim pool. Then you shake and stir vigorously to make fiber stew.

Then you line up and get an equal amount of ounces out as you put in. Just with a little bit of everyone combined. There are all fiber types and colors so it’s definitely patchwork. But it makes great memories.

Very happy with the mix I got this year! I don’t have any immediate plans to spin this. To be fair, I still have last year’s bag as well. Perhaps I could combine them!?

Happy Spinning!!

Spinning Clouds

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I have been lacking craft motivation lately. I haven’t felt like doing much now that we can be outside again. To break up my doldrums, I pulled some cashmere cloud from my spinning stash to put on the wheel.

This is the Cumulus fiber from Oink Pigments that I picked up at SSK 2024. It’s 80% merino and 20% cashmere so its BUTTER soft. I split the fiber in 1/2 and I will make a 2-ply. I want something drapey and soft to make a cowl of sorts?

The fiber is spinning quite lovely. Some parts are coming out solid colors and others are marled depending on how I draft the fiber. My muscles are out of shape so I am only spinning 20 minutes at a time to get back in shape and reduce the strain on my hands. I did my default short forward draw so my hands are getting a workout.

Happy Spinning!!

Half Of My Advent Skeins

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I decided not to wait until to spin the last half of the 2024 advent spinning calendar to ply the first half. I call it spinners prerogative.

I chain plied these singles to maintain the colors. I think overall I got a heavy worsted that is mostly uniform with some thick/thin spots. I was worried about the colors being too crazy but I think they came our mostly rainbow, in a good way.

My singles were just a tiny bit overspun and a bath washed that right out. The finished skein was 181 grams and 212 yards of yarn. I am going to tuck this into the spinning bag where my other half of the fiber for motivation to finish the rest!

Happy Spinning!!

Spun Through Twelve

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I finally carved out time to work on my 2024 advent fiber. I am all the way through the first 12 fiber nubs.

These latest few days were a mix of pinks, whites and even some purples and teals. I am unsure how close my singles are to when they started. I should get a control card and take better notes. As opposed to just winging it like I do.

I am going to stop this bobbin here and then start the last 12 fiber nuggets on a second bobbin. I know all 24 will not fit on my standard bobbin.

I am currently torn. Do I chain ply these to make a hodge podge stripey yarn? Or do I spin the second bobbin and then ply them together to make a crazy barber pole? I can’t decide. I am tempted to do the chain ply. The barber pole might make a muddled yarn….

Happy Spinning!!

12 Days Of Christmas – Spinning Style

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In late fall, I was deep in the feels and I purchased a 12 days of Christmas fiber package from Knit Spin Farms. I knew based on my performance with the other fiber advent calendar I knew I couldn’t manage to keep up with this either. So I saved for the doldrums of winter!

They did the best job wrapping and organizing the whole thing. I opened the full box in one shot. I got some great saturated colors and a variety of fiber content, including two bags of stellina to add to other fiber.

I have so many other spinning goals that all of this went into the VERY full fiber bin after it was logged in Ravelry. They will be pretties for another day even though I hear other spinners RAVE about Joanna’s fiber. Perhaps I will use spinning some of this as a reward for making other other goals?

Happy Spinning!!

Finishing Up Advent Fiber

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I have opened every single day in my 2024 Knits and Pearls fiber advent calendar!

These last few days included some neon, speckles and definitely stellina. I am worried that day 22 is a little compacted and felted. I will have to see how it spins. The final braid came with an ornament and has a RAINBOW of colors. It does a really great job of incorporating a lot of the colors from the other 24 days.

I am stating my intention to finish this spin in February 2025. I need my wheel to be able to start spinning some of stash down. I pulled some of the fiber I purchased at SSK 2024 to start working on because I AM GOING AGAIN IN 2025 and I am very excited.

Happy Crafting!!

Catching Up Advent Fiber

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I completely flamed out on my 2024 advent spinning. But I did finally open up the rest of the days to see all the pretties!

There were a lot of purples and greens in this run. And one mini had a teeny Christmas light stitch marker. I don’t trust my memory so I put these back in the numbered bags for when I finally get around to spinning. I think finishing this spin will be one of my February craft goals?

Tomorrow I will wrap up this calendar and show the full braid that came for day 25! Happy Spinning!!