Samples, samples and more samples

I've been spinning my way through the remaining fibre sample packs I'd bought from Wingham Wool Work ages ago with varying degrees of success.  It's been a really useful exercise.  I've found out which fibres I like (basically this means I find them easy to handle and control), and which ones I don't! 

When I started spinning, I had in mind spinning yarn for weaving rugs.  I've now changed tack - don't know for how long - with the aim of spinning softer yarn with more bounce for scarves, throws and blankets.

I loved spinning:

• Brown grey Bluefaced Leicester & silk tops
• Black Shetland tops
• Black Welsh & silk tops
• Grey Shetland tops
• Grey Welsh tops
• Texcel tops (I didn't spin these very well as you can see in the photo - white skein at the top - I wanted it thick but not that thick or uneven!)

Although you can't see it, trust me, the Shetland tops on the bobbin are a beautiful combination of colours - I have a knitted sampler Afghan pattern in mind as a project.

Best of a bad job

The last thing I remember doing on the spinning front before my "sabbatical" was carding fleece and making some rolags.  I wasn't really getting on with carding (I haven't met many people who do) and the rolags were, frankly, horrible with lots of bobbly bits in them and all slightly greasy. 

Every time I went into my loom room I'd see this sitting accusingly by the door:

 This week I've just spun the lot of it with the following result:

It's not very good but it's been quite a cathartic exercise in a funny kind of way. I know that two years ago I couldn't have spun the rolags at all, let along persisted until they were all used up.  I definitely know that I now want to spin colourful and attractive yarn!

The trick with this stuff, however, is to try and weave or knit something vaguely nice out of it.

Time to scour the books and magazines or even venture on to Ravelry for inspiration. 

Learn, practise and play

Well, I reckon the mini-spin course was a great success.   I got to grips with my wheel - a Louet S10 - learnt to 'roll and pull' whilst drafting, and more or less mastered the art of the long draw (it's all about doing it with 'panache' apparently).  Along the way, there was lots of inspiration as everyone tried out new techniques and had fun in what was basically a fibre-lover's playground. 

We re-visited carding... hand carders (meh) but wow, how I want an Ashford wild drum carder - just stuff whatever you like in one end, turn the handle and produce a lovely batt for spinning fancy yarns.

When I originally started spinning, plying was something I got the hang of straight away.  It was funny this time as I tied myself up in knots, literally, attempting Navaho and Andean plying.  I have to say it's not easy experimenting and falling flat on your face with others looking on!

Naturally, I couldn't resist spending money in the shop. So as well as plenty of tips, notes and exercises to do, I now have even more lovely fibre to practise and play with. These are Merino/Silk rainbow blends.

I was thrilled to end up spinning some boucle yarn... great fun and I see lots of this in my future!

Rooting around in my loom room I've found a basketful of assorted, neglected rolags which in theory should now be a piece of cake to spin - let's see!

Looking forward

I first started weaving in January 2002, thanks to my partner John who gave me a course of 10 lessons as a birthday present. One of the best presents ever!  My teacher was Colin Squire and I learnt a fantastic amount.  A few years later, I was introduced to a local spinning group by one of my weaving friends and was amazed at the sheer expertise and creativity of the women I met each week.

Sadly, in May 2008 I started full-time work and had to give up my precious Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  I continued to do a little bit of weaving and spinning for a while but eventually work sucked me in and I stopped doing anything at all.

But here we are mid way through 2010 and enough is enough.  I've abandoned my looms and wheel for far too long.  I've allowed any semblance of a work-life balance to disappear completely.  I've ended up doing almost all work and no play... and I'm boring myself.

So, a few weeks ago I booked myself on a two-day spinning course at Wingham Wool Work which starts next week.  I'm also on holiday at the moment so the idea is the course will rekindle my enthusiasm and kick-start me into doing something creative again.

Why spinning first rather than weaving?   It's quicker to get back into than weaving... it's easier to pick up and drop as the demands of work and running a home intrude.  I can knit the yarn quicker than I can weave it and have more chance of producing something wearable.

I'm pinning a lot of hopes and dreams onto two days... here's hoping it'll work.