Monday, June 9, 2008

Spinning like mad


Basket of goodies.


I hate to say this, but I have one of those obsessive compulsive personalities. I usually get completely and totally obsessed with something, can't get enough of it, and eventually crash and burn out on it, sometimes I completely abandoned it and never look back (rubberstamping anyone?). Sometimes something else waves itself in front of my face and tempts me away from my current fascination. Well, something waved itself in front of my face and I hate to say it, but I can't seem to stop playing around with my new found toy. I am now spinning with my drop spindle like a mad woman!

First off, I have been completely obsessed with figuring out how to use my drop spindle. There was just something about it that fascinated me to no end. I love the idea of being able to bring my spinning with me whereever I want to go (can't do that with a wheel). Thanks to Nancy, I finally know how!

Second, I needed to know how to wash my alpaca fleece. I was terrified of ruining the best stuff (I ruined some the first attempt I made at washing a batch). Thanks to Teresa, I now know how! I filmed her prepping a fleece and washing it. I will be making that into a DVD soon (I just need to get through some of my fleece first since I have lots of it now).

I needed to know how to use my hand carders to make rollags, and thanks to good old Ravelry.com and youtube.com I soon had a basket of goodies ready to spin!

Using the easy to follow directions in my copy of Spin It, I even made my stepdaughters drop spindles using old cds, rubber grommets, a dowels and an eye hooks. They each picked out a photo to make it their own.



We all sat around spinning most of the day. We almost forgot to eat! My youngest reminded us in a hurry that it was well past meal time!

I've even managed to go from super duper bulky to worsted weight in less than a week! I am aiming for DK or sport weight so I can make a pair of alpaca socks!

Until next time!

1 comments:

Bethany @ Gettin' It Pegged! said...

That's very cool, Karen! What a satisfying feeling to be able to create something so lovingly by hand from your animals. You've got a bust-the-boredom-summer-away from-school activity built in!