Back to spinning, that is. My right thumb problem turned out to be arthritis. But I modified my spinning technique and did a little practice, and now I’m back to shop-worthy spinning.
I just finished this gradient (about sport/DK weight, 285 yards, 5 ounces, merino and nylon) and I’m working on its twin, as I have another braid of this colorway. They’ll be in the shop soon, along with a few yarns I spun before my thumb started bothering me.
A commission client asked me to show pics of how the spinning process goes. I thought I would share with everyone. Please pardon my carpet — this particular fiber got everywhere while I was spinning it.
First off: I spin a singles. Not a typo, the word is plural even when it means a singular thing.
The singles is drafted from the fiber, which I hold in my left hand.
In a two-ply yarn, there are two singles plied together.
The bobbins containing the singles are on the floor to my left, held by a lazy kate.
Once the singles have been plied together, the yarn is done. Here it is on the bobbin.
Then I wind it onto the skeinwinder…
Once it’s wound, I tie it off.
And it’s ready to be washed! Wet-finishing sets the twist and makes the yarn complete. Once it’s dry, it’s off to the client.
This particular commission was for eight pounds of worsted weight yarn. I can’t wait to see what the client makes with it! If you’d like to book a commission, contact me. I charge by the ounce, and cost depends on your desired yarn thickness.
I’ve been spinning a lot lately, and now it’s almost all up in the shop! (I’m working on more, too.) I hope you like the new goodies.
And more….
Sorry for vanishing for so long. Depression sucks. I’m back to spinning and will have some new products up soon! Here’s a preview.
I set my Etsy store back up, since some people prefer to shop there. Same handspun, same prices. I haven’t copied over the other stuff in the shop yet, but I will.
Also, you now get FREE shipping on domestic purchases. Thanks for shopping!
I’ve been working on something big. I’ve found an indie dyer to help me create Pride Packs: collections of handspun mini-skeins in the colors of every LGBTQIA+ pride flag I’ve come across. Each pack will contain roughly four ounces of yarn, split up into equal mini-skeins. For example, the Asexual Pride flag will be split into one-ounce skeins, because the flag has four colors. The regular rainbow flag, with six colors, will have 0.66-ounce skeins. Of course, I’ll standardize the amount of yardage in each pack so you know how much you’re getting of each color.
Cool, huh? But I need your help. While I have ordered wool to make at least one Pack of every flag listed in the poll below, I want to get an idea as to which Pride Packs my customers are interested in so I can make more of those. I want everyone to be able to get yarn in their flag of choice!
So please fill out the form below, if you’re interested in the Packs. Submitting the form in no way obligates you to buy anything; I’m just trying to gauge interest. You don’t even have to leave your email address, although if you do I’ll put you on the notification list for when Packs are available.
Thanks for your time!
I finished my latest spinning commission. Both came out at 500+ yards of fingering weight, and I’m wishing I had extra for myself!
I’m currently spinning up two different bits of fiber for a client. These two bobbins, of a superwash wool/sparkle nylon blend, will be plied (twisted) together. You can’t tell from the photo, but the yarn goes from blue to green to blue again repeatedly.
And this is the first bobbin of a rainbow gradient. I’m spinning it very fine, at the client’s request.
I have two weaving commissions coming up next — fabric for a tote bag, and then a scarf with a custom design on it. As always, if you’re interested in my custom work, contact me!
I just finished spinning the six skeins someone ordered for a shawl.
They chose the colors and had the wool send to me from the vendors. I spun it up and sent them photos as I went. I think all six skeins came out lovely.
One of the things I, and most other spinners, strive for in spinning is consistency. I’m pretty good at it. Proof: each of these bobbins once held about 220 yards. When I finished plying them together, this is how much was leftover:
The yarn I was making was navy blue. The other colors you see are the leader yarns, which remain on the bobbins permanently.
The bobbin on the left emptied first. The middle one had perhaps 6 inches left on it, and the one on the right about 1.5 feet. I wind up with this much fairly regularly. On the rare occasions I wind up with more left over, it’s usually because I didn’t divide the fiber evenly enough.
(Yes, I’m bragging a little. But it is a pretty impressive skill to have, so I think I’ve earned it!)
I have seven new yarns up in the shop! Here’s a preview:
