What I've Been Up To - Part 2 - Spinning

I had some questions in my previous post about spinning. I am a brand new spinner. I took a beginner's class in August 2006 at Cloverhill Yarn Shop. My purpose for taking the class was to give spinning a try. Since I don't know anyone personally who spins, I figured this was my only way to try it out. I discovered in the class that spinning is a lot harder than it looks, but it was something I wanted to pursue. I also got to try out a few different types of wheels. So, I started saving my money to buy a wheel. I had my heart set on a wheel that is a little more expensive than others out there, so I knew it would take some time. In February, I placed my order and the wait begain. I got very lucky and my wheel arrived just before my long 4-day weekend at Easter.

I spent several hours over that long weekend getting acquainted with my wheel (knitting during the day and spinning in the evening). I purchased 2 - 4 oz bundles of roving when I picked up my wheel. They are both a Corriedale Cross, one in brown and the other in white. I decided to start with the brown. My first bobbin of singles was lumpy and bumpy. My second bobbin was much more consistent (although a little overspun in some places). I had taken pictures of both bobbins before I plyed them together, but the pictures didn't turn out (and stupid me didn't check to see if they came out before I started plying). Plying went ok (I think). I finally pulled the yarn off the bobbin this past weekend and washed it. I really need to get a niddy noddy because winding the yarn around my arm, makes for a very small skein. (I'll try to get a pic of the yarn when the light is better.)

And, naturally, now that I have a wheel, I've been consumed with purchasing fiber. The only good thing about that is that I'm not buying more sock yarn. I made my first fiber purchase a few days before I was notified that my wheel had arrived. I joined the Funky Carolina Fiber Club. It was totally an impulse buy because I had told myself I wasn't going to buy any fiber until I had my wheel. But I'm so glad that I signed up. The April roving arrived Easter weekend and I love it!


Merino in April Showers colorway

Over the course of the long weekend, I made several purchases. Some more Corriedale roving in solid colors from The Sanguine Gryphon and some Merino from pippikneesocks.


Corriedale in red and pumpkin


Merino in Hester colorway

Then I got the notice about the Hello Yarn Fiber Club. I was tempted but thought, I'm already in one Fiber Club and Sheep & Wool is only a month away, I don't need this. So, I turned my back on the computer and went on to other things, but less than 24 hours later, I was back at the computer, creating an account and securing my spot in the club.

That's all for now. Hopefully, I will be back sooner (rather than later) with another update.