Tag: spinning

Working up the test yarn

On By CarynIn Craft

As I was contemplating what to make with the mini balls of test alpaca that I spun, my youngest announced that her other doll needed a new jacket. Ok, that can be done. I chose to nålbind (because I like it best) and used a Finish 2 + 2 stitch with an F2 connection. Because the three skeins were different colors, I decided to put the darkest in the center. I also tried a different construction technique, working in vertical rounds, rather than horizontal. Making the neck and front slit was just a matter of chaining along, rather than connecting, as long as I needed.

Doll vest before cutting

Once I had the sides of the vest even, I cut the bottom, pulled out the loose threads, and tightened and wove in the attached ends. I then sewed up a section of each side to form the arm holes but leave side slits.

Bottom edge neatened (I like the scallops), and sides sewn
Back of doll vest showing all three preparations of yarn

Really there was no difference in the three preparations of fiber after the initial single spinning. Even the finished fabric just has color variations, but is otherwise consistent in texture.

Front of doll vest

This was an excellent test. The alpaca yarn combined with this stitch made a very dense fabric. I think a human-sized version would be quite heavy.

Time to wash

On By CarynIn Craft

I had a panic moment. My spinning and walking is going well, and my speed is improving, and I realized that once I was done with the current preparation of fiber I didn’t have anything ready to spin. The horror!!

So I washed up some more alpaca fiber, this time using the utility sink and some netting, rather than bowls and towels. Since alpaca does not have heavy lanolin to scour away, I was not concerned about the wash water going down the drain. It was much like washing a dog. To keep the fibers out of the drain, I used a section of netting, which also helped squeeze out the water gently to avoid felting the fleece. I used Amway LOC liquid soap and rinsed each section three times. So much dirt. I laid each section out to dry on my hanging circular trays. There is still some vegetable matter (VM) in the fleece, but I am planning on picking and carding most of that out. I figure the evening activity will be carding and then I can spin in the morning.

Part of Aimee’s fleece after rinsing

I washed the last of Donna Bella’s fleece, and about half each of Sugar Plum’s and Aimee’s. I have five trays full of fiber. That should get me through the summer! Maybe longer.

Washed fleece set to dry on a drying rack

Rabbit holes

On By CarynIn Craft

I love Spin-off magazine, but it does send me down rabbit holes! After reading an article, I usually look up the author’s blog, which is almost always full of more interesting things. Melvenea Hodges of traditionsincloth.com had a lovely shawl pattern in the magazine, then in her blog talked about spinning cotton directly onto little wooden spools. Well, of course I had to try. I did not have any spools that fit my tahkli spindle (yet), so I took an empty spool and used rubber bands to hold it in place on the button whorl (reaching new Frankenstein levels here). I’m not spinning gorgeously prepared cotton sliver (as far as I can tell, cotton sliver is similar in appearance to wool roving, anyway, it is prepped fiber ready to spin), in fact, I’m spinning cotton packaging from vitamin bottles, but the spool idea is fabulous. Enough so, that obtaining some prepped cotton and making some proper spools is tempting. Maybe after practicing some more with the bonus stuff.

Using a thread spool to hold the spun cotton singles (not my idea)

Nålbinding Plarn

On By CarynIn Craft

I finished the plarn bag! Or maybe it is a basket. It can stand on its own, but is still flexible. Hm.

Nålbound bag made from plastic grocery bags

I changed connection stitches mid-bag (we’ll just call it a bag, yes?) because I was aiming for the tight braided look I’ve seen produced with the Finnish 2+2 stitch. I figured out my tension at the 2/3rd mark, and the stitches finally achieved the look I wanted, so I decided to also try some decorative work (since it is an experimental object anyway).

Woven bottom of the nålbound bag

It turned out quite functional and sturdy. The handles with the three rounds are comfortable, and I made it to be large enough to hold my longest spindle. I can tell where I changed connections (from M1 F1 to F2, note to self), and where I achieved even tension, but I’m going to claim them as design choices.

Nålbound bag made of plarn

Whether the finished project is considered a bag or a basket, it is done!

P.S. This took me three weeks to complete, working in bits and pieces. The magic of the blogosphere made it seem like a few days, but it wasn’t!

P.P.S. This bag used the plastic from approximately 43 grocery bags. (And it drives me crazy when I hit “publish” instead of “save as draft” on a post.)

Spinning up scenery

On By CarynIn Craft
Spinning green roving nearly the color of the trees

I have started a new spinning project for my morning walks. I succumbed to color a few months ago and purchased a hand-dyed Bluefaced Leicester (a type of sheep) and silk blend roving because the colors were amazing. The color way is called “Balsam”. I think if I lived in a coniferous forest full of balsam the colors would be spot on, as it is, I noticed as I spun that it was a fair match to the greenery around me. It is joy to be spinning up essence of the trees. Mostly. I am typically not a fan of dyed fibers, not because I don’t like color, but because I like the color to stay put. I’ve noticed the top of my spindle has taken on a green hue, and when I get home my fingers are tinted. It washes away, but I will have to be very careful in the treatment of the spun yarn and final project so that it doesn’t ever lay next to something light in color. Now the conditions of my spinning are not typical, since I am outside taking exercise and the fibers are exposed to more moisture than I imagine would happen spinning inside on a wheel. The walking and spinning is teaching me to be light with my fiber hand, as pressure, heat, and water together felt wool, and all those factors can be present in the palm of my hand.