Category: Craft

Spinning hemp

On By CarynIn Craft

I am delving into the fiber samples my sister gave me, starting with hemp. I tried spinning the hemp as I would wool, with a drop spindle and dry. The fly aways were epic. Since I had luck spinning flax roving using a bit of moisture from a sponge, I tried that method with the hemp. It meant I had to transfer what I had spun to a long shaft drop spindle (wrapping the yarn along the shaft at a low angle reduces the stress on the fibers).

Moving the spinning operation from a single spindle to a spindle and distaff setup

Rather than spinning directly from the roving, I separated bits of roving and laid them on a rectangle of fabric (all those old masks came in handy), taking care to lay them in the same orientation. I then rolled the fabric around the distaff and tied it loosely with some cord.

Dressing the distaff with hemp by laying down the fiber on a cloth
Sponge bracelet, dressed distaff, top whorl drop spindle

As I spin, I wet my fingers on the sponge before gripping the fibers to draft. It helped tame the fly aways and gave me a smoother spin.

Spinning progressing

Nearing the end of the rainbow

On By CarynIn Craft
Rainbow colored yarn

I’ve been slowly progressing on my brioche rainbow scarf project. I’ve made it down to where the colored yarns need to be rewound because as I pulled from the center, the yarn was getting tangled. Since this is a waiting-in-the-car project, I rolled up a park map to use as a nostepinne to rewind each color then pop it back in the split pool noodle (which really works well to hold all the colors). I still have many hours of work left, but the end is nearing. It is funny how I used to consider scarves quick and easy projects.

Spinning flax roving

On By CarynIn Craft

I have finally finished spinning the flax singles from my flax roving. Flax prepared as a roving is not the traditional form, but I didn’t know this when I made the purchase. It has been a challenge to spin, but I’ve learned new techniques and have produced a yarn.

Dressed distaff and drop spindle

I wound off my singles nostepinne style into two center pull balls.

Center pull balls of flax singles

I plied the two balls together to even out the thickness differences. Despite weighing out the roving, the balls were different weights, but I solved the excess issue by doubling up the leftover. I plied using my spinning wheel. Flax when spun is called linen. I suppose I should use that term for my yarn!

Two-ply linen on a spinning wheel bobbin

I wound off the two-ply yarn onto a niddy noddy, to make a skein.

Two-ply linen skein

My book tells me that the next step is to boil the skein. I’m going to have to work up my courage for that, so I will share in a future post.

Nod to fiber arts

On By CarynIn Craft

I put together a 60s themed outfit with a nod to the fiber arts. I crocheted a duster vest and flower garland, wove a band and added bell sleeves to a tie-dyed t-shirt (I did not dye the shirt, dye and I are still not on speaking terms), and assembled some felted wool ball earrings! (My mom made and gave me the felted beads.)

Bell sleeves made from t-shirt material
Felted ball earrings
60s Outfit (minus bell-bottom jeans)

When I do bell sleeves next, I will make them longer and without the off-set center hole. These look great on the hanger, but were awkward when worn, except when doing jazz hands, then they worked. Since I can’t do jazz hands all the time (although that would be quite the arm workout), I picked out the seams for the added sleeves after the debut. I can see peasant blouses with woven trim and bell sleeves on my crafting horizon.