Final spinning class

And here is my creation! It's 36 yards of 50/50 merino and tencel. It is super luminous and super soft. I decided to go with this over the bamboo since I am still a bit scared of the slipperiness of it. The merino/tencel seemed to be a good meeting point between a plant based fiber and a wool. But I really like how this came out, I can obviously tell I have gotten better but still have a long way to go. I was really excited too because we were shown how to Navajo ply. It always looked so complicated when I saw it online but really it so easy! I can't wait to try it the next time I spin!

I highly suggest anyone in the metro area interested in spinning or plant dying to take a class with Virginia Parent. She is a staple in the MN Weaver's Guild and offers classes both through them and The Fiber Studio. Not only is she a extremely patient teacher, she knows her stuff so backward and forward - she is a walking dictionary of fiber.

More yarn from spinning class

Not much to write on this one, not super jazzed on how the spinning part went (my yarn kept breaking, so sad!). But I do like the colors and texture. It's all my own fault too for it breaking, I went in over my head a little and started getting crazy with my mixing of fiber. But all I need is practice, practice, practice!!

But for my next class, I think I am going to try bamboo (talk about getting in over your head with spinning). I REALLY love how bamboo looks when it is spun up (as seen in this beautiful example from traditions fiber arts). Plus of course all the good things like it is a vegan yarn, has natural anti-bacterial properties, etc. But after this weekend, I do need to take my spinning hat off and put on my craftin' hat so I can start gearing up for No Coast!

Yarn and No Coast

I am so enthralled with my wheel spinning class! Last week we practiced with some Bluefaced Leicester. It was just speaking to be dyed with grape kool-aid and to be crocheted into a scarf-let. The charming buttons were taken off an old anthropologie sweater that had become too big. I like spinning with the Leicester, it is softer than corridale and was easier to spin than merino (at least for now, I totally need to get better at spinning merino, it is sooooo soft).


Also, I found out over the weekend that I was accepted into No Coast Craft-o-Rama again this year!! I had such a great time last year that I am honored to be picked again to participate in this year's show. The only down side is that I am now going to be crazy busy for the next five weeks. But if this year is even as half as successful as it was last year for me, I will have more than enough to buy a wheel, whoohoooooo!!!

My first yarn from wheel spinning!

Is it pretty? No. Do I love it anyway? Yes.

I don't know why, but I decided a couple weeks ago that I needed to take a spinning class. I have been enjoying my drop spindle but I feel like I have hit a wall with how slow it takes me to spin up any decent amount of yarn. There is a great little fiber shop relatively close to us and they were offering a comprehensive introduction to spinning. Considering that life is short, I figured why not do it?

Well this is my yarn from our first class last night. 90 yards of corridale spun up in about 2 hours. It took a bit to get the hang of using a wheel - there is just so freaking much you have to do all at once! But holy sh*t. When you get the hang of it, it's so fantastic!

I am obviously not a master spinner but I was really proud of what I was able to leave with. And it goes so fast! It would take me 8+ hours to spin 90 yards on my drop spindle. And the zen-like feeling you get when you're in the zone is just great. Although the class is only 2 hours once a week, the owner of the store is letting us come in any time she is open to practice - if I wasn't so busy with the beaner I would be there everyday.

So now I just need to save up $550 for a wheel. Um, yeah - maybe I can win the lottery this weekend?

Fiber Friday - Mustard and Grape Sandwich

Hooray! I have had this roving for a bit but didn't quite know what I wanted to do with it. Finally I figured I needed a new, funky, colorful scarf to give my new black dress a bit of je ne sais quoi.

80 yards of merino. This is just the first half of the total roving. It's twin will have more purple and taupe, less chartreuse. The purple and taupe also have firestar in the mix so they has this beautiful sheen.

arrrggg yaaarrrnnnn

I bought a big, beautiful pound of wool from maryjanesattic.etsy.com last week after going a bit nuts spinning last month. I am getting better, I can just feel it when I am spinning. But still have a long way to go.

Anyhoo, I got bit by the kool aid bug again and decided to dye it after spinning up 60 yards.

Here it is soaking before taking it's bath with the dye:


Whoops, should have worn gloves!


All cozy in its bath, probably a little too cozy:


The aftermath:



In hindsight, I should have let it roam around a little more freely in the dye bath, but I just get too darn worried about it felting if I touch it too much. I do still like it, just not what I had envisioned when starting out. I will have to wait to see how it looks crocheted up before making my final judgment.

Why can't I stop?

I seriously need to join crafters anonymous. I just can't stop picking up new things to make and do. Never mind that I already have an arsenal of craft supplies, I always just need one more thing. This month's adventure is in the form of spinning.

My third yarn, merino wool, about 35 yards:


My fourth yarn but first one I dyed (using kool-aid):



Totally mesmerized by handmade yarns I have seen at stores and craft shows, I just couldn't help wanting to learn. So as a mother's day present to myself, I got a drop spindle kit from etsy and I am totally addicted!

Ack! When will the craft compulsion end!?!?