Spin, Spin and some more spinning

Thanks to my new spindle. Oh by the way in my excitement in my last post about it The Fox, I called it the wrong name. It is actually The Hound. As stated in my post about this spindle I would have pictures. Well here it is!!! I love this spindle and I love the surprise I got when I started spinning the two singles you see beside it. I got the fibers in a sample pack at my lys. I believe it is alpaca, I will verify when I go to the lys again. It is so much fun to spin this. I think it is time to try a lighter weight spindle. I have improved greatly on my drafting and feel that I can handle spinning finer yarns. The pictures are a little dark, but I hope you enjoy. I plan on Andean plying the cream and brown color single together tonight. I can't wait to see how good they look together. The yarn on the fartherest left is called Blackberry. The colors do not show up very well in this picture. It has some reds, purples and suttle grays.

Spinning Roving Swap

I joined a swap this month. It is called the www.SpinningRovingSwap.blogspot.com. You have two choices Virgin Spindler or Rebel Rover. The Virgin Spindlers will swap a spindle and roving with thier partner and the Rebel Rovers swap roving and a pattern with their partner. By the way, we need more Virgin Spindlers. This is my first swap and I am anxious to see what I will get in the swap. Below are my responses to the questions for my swap partner.

How long have you been spinning?

About 3 months

Are you a beginner, novice, or experienced spinner?

Definately a beginner

Do you spin on a spindle or wheel, or both?

On a spindle, I have not experienced a wheel yet.

What types and weights of spindles (or what type of spinning wheel(s) ) do you currently own?

My spindles are between 1.7 oz and 2 oz.

What type of fibers have you spun with before?

Not certain of exact name of fiber

What fibers do you prefer to spin with?

Something soft and easy to spin.

What fibers do you dislike?

Scratchy hard to spin fibers.

Do you prefer natural colored fibers, or handpainted/dyed fiber?

Either is fine

Would you prefer all one type of roving or smaller amounts of different types to sample?

All one, with multiple colors or a solid color.

What are you favorite colors?

Pinks, purples, and greens.

What colors do you dislike?

None that I know of at this time.

What would you like to do with your handspun yarn, or what do you plan to do with it?

Look at it for a little bit and then make a hat or small purse.

What are your other favorite hobbies?

Reading, music, knitting of course.

Do you have any allergies (pet, smoke, food, fiber,etc...)?

Smoke

The Fox

I was on www.Knittinghelp.com a couple of weeks ago and they were talking about meeting at a new lys in Atlanta. So I decided to go check it out. It is located in Virgina Highlands which is a very quaint and unique area. I called the shop on my way there and the owner was very helpful in giving me directions to get there. I have another lys that I go to that is much closer, but I saw on the website for www.knitchknitting.com, that they had spindles and fibers for spinning. There are no other places in Atl. that you can find these things. I had to order my first spindle on Ebay and was not having the best time at getting it to work right. Well when I got there the atmosephere was very comfortable and the people were very nice and helpful. It is not overwhelming like some yarn stores can be. The layout is open and you can walk around comfortable. They have all kinds of yarn and fiber. The yarn is both the commercially spun and handspun yarn. I asked one on the employees about their spindles, which they have a nice selection, and she took one off the shelf and grabbed some fiber and started spindling. I had never seen it done in person and was in awe. This encouraged me that I could do this someday! Then she preceded to hand it to me and said you draft and I will spin the spindle. Needles to say she had a sure sale of a spindle. I bought The Fox which is made by Greensleeves Spindles. It is beautiful! I will add pictures. I went back this weekend to show Judy my spun singles and she showed me how to ply them using the Andean knot and my spindle. Now I have plyed yarn. Wow I just feel so accomplished.