I've been spinning.......

I think I've caught the spinning bug. Using my Phat Fiber samples, I've spun up some mini skeins. I've spun in front of the TV, I've spun in the car (as a passenger of course), heck, I've spun sitting in front of a campfire (and my yarn is infused with the smell of wood smoke).

I'm seeing some improvement in my end result. I was generally trying to spin really fine yarn in order to get more out of the samples, but I think I should abandon that tactic now and work on spinning thicker yarns well in order to get the hang of it. I think I'm making it harder for myself by trying to make the yarn thin. Anyone have any advice on that one?

Fibre sample from Polyartgirl Designs

I did spin the sample above a bit thicker than the others, and it turned out nicely. This minty skein is 100% bamboo, which has been my favourite fibre to work with so far. For some reason I get much more consistent results with this than I do with other fibre types. Although I haven't really wrapped my head around trying to achieve a yarn that works to a particular gauge, this would be the fibre I'd use to experiment with that. I'm able to produce a yarn of a uniform thickness. And I love bamboo for its delicious sheen.

The skein below is 50% bamboo, 50% merino. Again, it has a great sheen. I think it's a good combination because you also get the springiness of wool.

Fibre sample from Zebisis Designs

Fibre sample from Abstract Fiber

I totally love the fiery colours of the fibre above. It's 70% alpaca and 30% silk. The little blue skein below is 100% merino and so nice and squishy.

Fibre sample from We Love Thor

And here's a little leafy green organic wool skein.......

Fiber sample from Extreme Spinning

Finally, the fibre I gave up on. It's milk. Don't ask me but somehow it started as milk and ended up as fibre....blows my mind. Anyways, I found it impossible to spin. As you can see in the photo (below), the fibres come out in very short bits (short staple length). This made it very difficult to spin without the strand of yarn breaking at the top and the spindle falling to the floor. The fibre is lovely and soft and probably spins wonderfully with a skilled hand. And Serendipity Fiber Arts has some fabulous colourways in milk fibre. I'd love to know if anyone has any tips for spinning milk.

Fibre sample from Serendipity Fiber Arts

I think I'm going to have to try to score another Phat Fiber box to keep my habit going, they'll be going on sale very soon. Go here to find out when!

It actually resembles yarn!

I had another go with my drop spindle and the results were much more yarn-like! After the utter disaster that was my first attempt, I spent some time online looking for information that would help me figure this spinning thing out.

I found I had to look at many different resources to piece together my understanding of the process. The following were helpful:

Spinning with a Top-Whorl Drop Spindle- I found a lot of useful information in this resource, but just wasn't clear on some of the points (such as the drafting triangle and holding back the twist) because there are no diagrams. Once I'd figured out the details of spinning singles with the help of a few other resources, I did find this one quite useful in understanding plying and finishing.

Drop Spindle Spinning-although this deals with spinning with a bottom whorl spindle, and I didn't try the supported spindle technique, I did find the explanation of drafting and the drafting triangle here useful.

Spinning for the first time provides some useful guidance as well.

Laylock provides some tips for a beginner spinner and directed me here to create a 'notch' for my notchless spindle. This knitty article also shows how to use your fibre as a leader rather than a separate piece of yarn by inserting the hook into the fluffed out end of the fibre (which I did and preferred to the separate yarn leader).


I started out spinning the spindle then parking and drafting and was eventually able to give the spindle a good spin and then pinch off the twist with one hand while simultaneously drafting new fibres with the other until the spindle slowed.

So, I've made progress. My 'yarn' is still horribly variable in gauge, looks messy, and has too much twist in some places such that it twists back on itself even though it has been plied in the opposite direction (apparently this means it's 'unbalanced'). But at least I no longer want to throw the spindle out the window, put my head down and weep. In fact, I'm working on some new yarn that is a much thinner gauge than this and is actually fairly consistent.

The fibre I used for this little sample were from my April Phat Fibre box. It's superwash merino from Aurora Fibre Arts in 'Rhubarb'. After receiving a coupon for this Etsy shop along with the fibre in the Phat box, I ordered some lovely sock yarn which just arrived yesterday. Inside the package there was also a free 50 gr. skein of a worsted weight in 'Aubergine'!

FRUSTRATION!

This is the extent of my very first attempt at spinning.....
(the bit in front of the spindle is what I 'spun')


As you can see, it did not go well.

I haven't been that frustrated in a long time. I need a good rest before I pick that thing up again!

I read several tutorials, watched video tutorials, and still I just could not make it work.

I ordered this top whorl spindle from Green Bee Goods on Etsy (and it's lovely and I'm positive it is all me and my ineptitude!) and dug out some merino roving from my stash. I had grand dreams of spinning up all of the fibre samples I received in my Phat Fiber Box. But alas, it was not to be.

I will return to it. I am going to figure it out dammit! I just need to put some space between this utter failure and what I hope will be a great new hobby.

If anyone has any advice or can point me in the direction of some useful resources I would very much appreciate it!