Comfort spinning

This is yarn I spun before I knew how to spin.

In typical Etherknitter fashion, I'm overstating the point to make the point.  These yarns were lovely comfort spins.  I didn't plan a drafting technique, a yarn grist or an end purpose before I sat down at the wheel.  My internal goal was to create a yarn with enough twist in the singles to give me a two or three-ply yarn.  I want all my handspun to be seductive objects of desire that will make a knitter weep with joy and envy.  Then I sit down, and something else entirely different often materializes on my bobbins.

Blue is Colonial wool.  It was spun in 2007, plyed in 2008.  A center pull ball was doubled around a felt ball, then twist was added by running the doubled singles through the wheel.  It is 228 yards of 2-ply.

The green is Ashland Bay merino 80%/mohair 20%, repackaged by Carolina Homespun.  I have struggled with mohair blends in the past.  The mo does not draft evenly, so I produce rustic yarn.  After deciding that this roving would be whatever it would be, the drafting was effortless, and the yarn was smooth.  (I know there is nothing wrong with rustic yarn, but I like smooth better.)  It was another lesson that Ashland Bay products are of excellent quality.   Mohair prep comes in various consistencies.  I've been blaming my drafting technique for problems created by poor preparation of roving blends.  This was Navajo plyed (3ply).  My records have failed me, so I cannot discuss yardage.  It is probably in the 200+ yard range, also.  (Ten centimes Euro coin in photo for scale.  It is similar in size to a US nickel.)  It was spun and plyed summer, 2008.

I'm working on the JMM post.  I've also committed to spinning with my dominant hand as my orifice hand for one week. 

At the Gathering this weekend just past, I took 9 hours of classes with Carol Rhoades.  She is an excellent spinner and teacher.  The classes covered blending with wool and exotic fibers, and spinning for Arans and FairIsles.  That, too, will be a separate post.

Comments

[Lynn]

I do hope you realize those skeins are rather nicely spun, whether your brain knew what you were doing or not.

[margene]

If this spinner weeps with envy is that enough? They are both beautiful. You underestimate yourself.

[Anne]

Perhaps the best lesson is not to try to spin even and thin with crap-ola roving? Yours certainly came out just fine!

[Mel]

Huh, my dominant hand is always my orifice hand.

[Mel]

Um, that sounded totally wrong.

[Carrie]

Your orifice hand?

[minnie]

when i first learned to spin, i taught myself to switch off hands because the dominant one would cramp. i'm generally ambidextrous, so it wasn't hard. have fun!

[PumpkinMama]

I can't wait to see what you spin now that you "know how". Those are gorgeous yarns. Waiting to hear/see results of your hand switch experiment.

[Marcia]

Yeah, I wish I "didn't know how to spin" as well as you don't. I've never come up with anything like either of those. Love the colors, too. Can't wait for the JMM and CR posts....what does Carol say about aran?

[Carole]

Somehow I think you've always known how.

[Caroline M]

Lovely yarn, if you get where you want to be does it matter the route you take? I tried switching hands this week, just to see if I could, there would need to be a serious reason to make me do it.

[vanessa]

what marcia said. i'm hoping to get into jmm's classes at madrona :-)

[moiraeknittoo]

I love those skeins! Actually, looking at both of them is quite soothing. The color in the blue really pops, and the green is just very comforting. I love both of these!

[lynne s of oz]

Oooh, you learned how to *really* spin? I'll look forward to seeing the difference! I'm working on making laceweight, well more cobweb, at present.

[Kim]

I am looking forward to your report on switching hands for spinning next week. Unfortunately with my big wheel, that is not an option for me.

[claudia]

I remember your very first day of spinning. Now look at you!

[Kathy]

I'm trying to switch my hands, but am finding it a challenge.

[Lucia]

That's what you get when you DON'T know what you're doing? I am not worthy to wash your fleece.

[Ruth]

You were born to spin.

[gayle]

I'm a self-taught spinner - I just naturally used my dominant hand at the orifice. Is it supposed to be the other way around?
Your spinning looks glorious to me!

[Sylvia]

Just as I have multiple knitting projects in different styles (lace, stockinette, cable...) and gauges on the ndls all the time so I can switch back and forth to relax my hands, I make a point of doing some comfort spinning between goal-oriented batches. Keeps the wrists and shoulders from seizing up. Pardon the poor syntax -- in a rush today.