Working away on my COE-Spinning skeins these days. I haven't done much spindling, and NO Navaho spindling for 25+ years. So I took out the Navaho spindle I'd purchased from a woodworker in Memphis, tried working with it and realized that I'd bought just that--a woodworkers spindle. NOT a spinners spindle! It was just too heavy and wouldn't hold a spin at all. Live and learn! I did a little research and decided on an Al Snipes Navaho spindle, available from Hillcreek Fiber Studio.
I started working with it in earnest yesterday and by last night had settled on the best technique and the best wool to use for this skein. This morning I finished most of the skein (had to break for lunch and a cup of coffee). I have to say, this spindle is just "the bees knees"! Lightweight, removeable whorl, easy to get spinning and holds a spin just as long as I need it to! I'm just lovin' this tool, and may have to make it one of my airline travel spindles (if the shaft will fit in my carry-on). It would be wonderful for spinning up some chunky (chunky for me is worsted weight--LOL) yarn or for plying yarn spun on another spindle.
Back to the studio before my coffee gets cold!
Showing posts with label COE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label COE. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Return of the prodigal
I've recently been reminded by a few folks that I've not posted anything for several months. Sorry about that but I needed to crawl into a cocoon for a bit. Having lost my mother-in-law/close friend, my favorite cat, my favorite brother, and my oldest brother within 9 months was overwhelming for me. I'm the sort of person who needs to draw inward when in trauma and that's where I've been--working around the yard, knitting, spinning and just being quiet so the internal upset would have a chance to settle.
I've also been moving forward on my COE-Spinning and now have several skeins and quite a bit of the written work finished. I try to work on it 20 hours a week but it's difficult to spin to regulation or work with equipment I don't enjoy when there's all those pretty colors of wool calling my name. I keep reminding myself that nothing worth having is easy to obtain. Heck, it took me 30 years to earn my Bachelors Degree!
I washed some skeins of handspun last night that had been hanging around my desk for a month. The red yarn which always bleeds slightly managed to bleed A LOT this time, and the nice sage/mint/beige/turquoise handspun now has permanent pink spots. There was no reason for this dye to adhere to the fiber, other than the heat of the water. Despite having done everything that I know to remove the dye, there's still pink on the wool. Any suggestions?
I've also been moving forward on my COE-Spinning and now have several skeins and quite a bit of the written work finished. I try to work on it 20 hours a week but it's difficult to spin to regulation or work with equipment I don't enjoy when there's all those pretty colors of wool calling my name. I keep reminding myself that nothing worth having is easy to obtain. Heck, it took me 30 years to earn my Bachelors Degree!
I washed some skeins of handspun last night that had been hanging around my desk for a month. The red yarn which always bleeds slightly managed to bleed A LOT this time, and the nice sage/mint/beige/turquoise handspun now has permanent pink spots. There was no reason for this dye to adhere to the fiber, other than the heat of the water. Despite having done everything that I know to remove the dye, there's still pink on the wool. Any suggestions?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Sweater finished! Another COE skein done
After almost a year of work in fits and starts, I've finally finished hubsters sweater. This was a Filati Mens Special #6 that I purchased last November while living in Holland. I bought the yarn from Webs and had it shipped home so I could start knitting as soon as I landed home again. We thought the company had English translations, but when the shop owner called Lana Grossa he was told that issue #5 was the last to have an English translation. Drat! My friend Anke stepped forward and translated the pattern so that I was able to start knitting some time in late March/early April. Knitting was halted during the hot summer and finished min-January. I caught this photo right after hubster scraped the car at 5am so I could drive him to the airport for an early flight. He looks good, he likes it and I'm finished with the darn thing--just too many stitches in the same pattern stitch for me. I like a little change-up in my sweater-knitting.
And I'm halfway through the Fine Textured Cotton skein for the COE. Made lots of little punis for this skein and they are SO fun to spin. I may just have to get more of this cotton from the southern plantation that grew it. Especially since I don't think they use those nasty exfoliants since they're growing a "tourist patch" and not harvesting for the cotton market. Photo shows the basket of punis and two bolls of cotton sitting in front. Too bad there's no real use for all those cotton seeds I plucked out....
And I'm halfway through the Fine Textured Cotton skein for the COE. Made lots of little punis for this skein and they are SO fun to spin. I may just have to get more of this cotton from the southern plantation that grew it. Especially since I don't think they use those nasty exfoliants since they're growing a "tourist patch" and not harvesting for the cotton market. Photo shows the basket of punis and two bolls of cotton sitting in front. Too bad there's no real use for all those cotton seeds I plucked out....
Friday, January 16, 2009
COE Handspinning progress report 1
This was the week I started in earnest on spinning the 40+ small skeins required for my submission. I had originally planned to post photos and give in-depth details of the process, but then realized that my identity is supposed to be anonymous for my submission. While I can talk in generalizations, I won't be posting pix of the skeins at this time.
It took me 2 days to finish the skein of Fine Woolen yarn from a raw fleece. I'd forgotten how much work is involved in cleaning, carding and finishing wool--and now I'm glad that I now longer have to do it this way. "Back in the day" when we didn't have access to many mill-prepared fibers, if you wanted to spin you bought a fleece and prepared it yourself. And spinning a fine and truly woolen yarn was something I'd never done. I've used long draw and I've spun woolen yarn (especially good for the kids mittens when they were little), but not so fine as required for this skein. I've got over 300 yards in a 1.4 oz. skein!
Have started prepping the cotton bolls for spinning, teasing the cotton off the seeds and carding it into punis. I've also gotten some Rambouillet lambs fleece from Wild Rose Farm washed up and ready for combing. Hopefully, I'll get some spinning time this Saturday either before or after I teach on Saturday. Sunday is, of course, reserved for watching the Steeler game--Luv Ya, Black 'n Gold! Go Steelers!
It took me 2 days to finish the skein of Fine Woolen yarn from a raw fleece. I'd forgotten how much work is involved in cleaning, carding and finishing wool--and now I'm glad that I now longer have to do it this way. "Back in the day" when we didn't have access to many mill-prepared fibers, if you wanted to spin you bought a fleece and prepared it yourself. And spinning a fine and truly woolen yarn was something I'd never done. I've used long draw and I've spun woolen yarn (especially good for the kids mittens when they were little), but not so fine as required for this skein. I've got over 300 yards in a 1.4 oz. skein!
Have started prepping the cotton bolls for spinning, teasing the cotton off the seeds and carding it into punis. I've also gotten some Rambouillet lambs fleece from Wild Rose Farm washed up and ready for combing. Hopefully, I'll get some spinning time this Saturday either before or after I teach on Saturday. Sunday is, of course, reserved for watching the Steeler game--Luv Ya, Black 'n Gold! Go Steelers!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Turning the page
The holidays are a few days away and I'm pushing myself to finish knitting the gifts I want to give friends and family. Obviously I can't post photos as that would be giving away the surprise, but I promise to try to get them up after Christmas.
Last month, I decided that I really needed to concentrate my efforts if I was going to complete the COE-Handspinning work for Level I. While in the Netherlands last year I did much of the research, but still have several in-depth research presentations to finish. Although I've done some of the spinning, I really need to start producing finished sample skeins to complete the 40 that are required. These are not projects that I can pick up and work on for 20-30 minutes but need my full attention. And all of it needs to be packaged in a certain way and sent off for the examination in October 2009. So this is my New Years resolution--I'll be devoting much less time to my Etsy shop and saleable items and spending several hours each day finishing up the research and samples for the examination. I'll still be teaching at the shop because I so enjoy enabling others, but I need to buckle down and get this done. I've already learned so much and refreshed my memory of spinning basics by doing the research. I'll be blogging about the work as it gets done and putting up photos, because I think this learning experience could benefit many of the spinners I know.
For those who observe the holiday (and those who don't, too!), I wish for you lots of yarn and fiber in your stocking, many happy hours of knitting, good health, and the love of those around you.
Last month, I decided that I really needed to concentrate my efforts if I was going to complete the COE-Handspinning work for Level I. While in the Netherlands last year I did much of the research, but still have several in-depth research presentations to finish. Although I've done some of the spinning, I really need to start producing finished sample skeins to complete the 40 that are required. These are not projects that I can pick up and work on for 20-30 minutes but need my full attention. And all of it needs to be packaged in a certain way and sent off for the examination in October 2009. So this is my New Years resolution--I'll be devoting much less time to my Etsy shop and saleable items and spending several hours each day finishing up the research and samples for the examination. I'll still be teaching at the shop because I so enjoy enabling others, but I need to buckle down and get this done. I've already learned so much and refreshed my memory of spinning basics by doing the research. I'll be blogging about the work as it gets done and putting up photos, because I think this learning experience could benefit many of the spinners I know.
For those who observe the holiday (and those who don't, too!), I wish for you lots of yarn and fiber in your stocking, many happy hours of knitting, good health, and the love of those around you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)