Pictured is 24 grams of flax roving on the left and 22 grams of flax single yarn and 2 grams of flax roving dressed on a distaff on the right. I would like to make a two-ply yarn so have divided my roving by weight in an attempt to get similar yardage. I can spin about 2 grams on a 30 minute walk, so it will be awhile until I ply.

Flax roving is an unusual preparation. Usually flax fibers can be measured in feet, but the staple length of this preparation is 1-5 inches. That is what I get for buying through a generic sales site rather than a fiber specific store, and not knowing anything about flax spinning prior to the purchase. It is a good learning experience on many fronts, however.

For spinning flax, author Stephenie Gaustad recommends wetting the point of contact between the leader and fibers to be drafted with moistened fingers. To facilitate this, I made a sponge bracelet. I cut a rectangle of sponge, sewed on some swim suit material, and slipped it over a metal cuff-style bracelet.

Before I start spinning, I wet the sponge. My favorite spit substitute is alcohol-free lens cleaner. I usually have a spray bottle for cleaning my glasses, so it is readily available for spinning use as well. And yes, I did try actual saliva, but since this is flax roving it has many short fibers that get caught on fingers and tongue. Yuck.