Core Spinning Tutorial with Locks!

Grab some popcorn, a soda and some wool! The tutorial is here!

Follow this link to the video or click on "Tutorials" in my menu bar.

Samplings and Techniques

With my first ever Phat Fiber box, I decided to try some new techniques with all the little samples. Here's a review of what I've tried so far:

From Mama Jude's sample:

She had some great fibers in a cone sleeve just like a Christmas tree! And she added twinkle lights for us to play with. Play I did, but my technique is seriously lacking. I spun her fiber thick/thin and then plyed it with some smooth Corriedale/Alpaca I made.

I tried spinning in the lights, and to my credit they are technically in there and not coming out, but they dangle. They're not suppose to dangle. I need to work on my spinning add ins! I think I need to actually get out the book for that one!

I also need to get a flyer that is a little more appropriate for large add ins!

For my second technique try, I decided to follow Jacie Bogg's tutorial from the Winter 09 issue of Spin Off for making coils (or beehives). Here's how it went:

 

 The fiber is from Sky Loom Weavers and titled "Harvest." It's 100% Merino, which is the perfect fiber for coils! It drafted beautifully and was quite the pleasure to spin!

The yarn that is plied with it is from Rocky Mountain Dyeworks and was a 3-ply yarn that I separated into 1 ply for an almost cobweb weight. The colorway is called "Northern Lights" and matched "Harvest" wonderfully!!

I'm giving myself a break from being too critical of my attempt, because even Jacie Boggs says it takes a few trys.

Also, when the thick sections were too thick, they were catching on my flyer and hooks, so maybe my husband needs to make me a new flyer for specialty yarns! (He built my spinning wheel, so he's my only shot at a larger flyer!)

Here are my good coils:

Here are my bad coils:

I'd say it's about 50/50 for the good to bad ratio. And it's very over-spun. I think a few more practice runs and I'll have it down. Now . . . what to knit with beehive yarn? Any suggestions?

Art Batt Spinning

Update: These yarns are now up and for sale at Inspiration Fibers on Esty.

I had a lovely time this weekend spinning up some of my art batts, and was so excited about the end results, I thought I needed to share!

Art Yarn #1 will be called "Leaves" when it goes up in the shop later today.

It was made from a batt that I had for sale, called "Buffy" and another smooth, BFL batt in the shop called "Cozy Teal." I spun Buffy thick/thin and then plied it with the smooth Cozy Teal.

BuffyCozy TealThey came together well, didn't they?

This next batt I made specifically for spinning, and was never available on the shop. But it was also plied with Cozy Teal.

It will be called "The Life Aquatic" in the shop later today!

Hope everyone enjoys the gratuitous pics!!