Change One Thing

 

pale teal 16/2 cotton, blue 2/16 cotton

 2/16 cotton yarns with two different twists per inch in the ply

Reminder:

I use ply before count to denote ring spun yarn; count before ply for open end spun yarn, because they are very different in their natures.  When I identify them with their 'count' in this fashion, I am *also* telling you how they have been spun.

One of my 'Laura-isms' is 'change one thing and everything can change'.

The changes can be nearly 'invisible' if you don't know what to look for - and any weaver who has not taken at least an introductory class in spinning will not know about the *how* of getting fibre into yarn and why they should know the differences.

So, here I am - again - to explain why.  (Note:  I'm not a spinner, as such, but everyone should at least have an understanding of the basics so they can make 'good' choices.)

What's the difference between the two?  Significant, as it happens.

For ring spun yarn (I'm talking industrial methods here - a loose comparison would be worsted spun for handspinners - but again there are spectrums involved) the fibres are generally combed so that they are aligned parallel, then given X number of twists per inch for the single, and Y number of twists per inch for the ply.  The number of twists for a single that is intended to be plied will generally be more than the number of twists applied during the plying.

Open end spun yarns are more akin to woolen spinning with the fibres in disarray, and then given X number of twists for the singles, and Y for the plying (if the yarn is meant to be plied).

What are those X and Y numbers?  It depends.

Let's take cotton.  Fibre intended for seine twine, for example, is going to have a whole lot more twists per inch than something intended for garments.  And so on.

The spinning mill spins yarn for specific purposes.  They do not set out to make 'bad' yarn.  But weavers can, and do, make poor choices.

When the weaver looks at yarn, there are things they could ask themselves - is the yarn strong or weak?  Does it have a lot of elasticity or no?  Is it stiff or flexible?  How does it feel?  Coarse or smooth?

All of those things can be determined, right down to number of twists per inch for the ply, quite easily.  It simply takes a close look and an awareness that those things are going to have an impact on how the yarn behaves.  And how the cloth they make will behave and feel.  And why you can't necessarily make substitutions without making changes to things like density (epi/ppi).

A few weeks ago I had a question from someone about why their different brands of cotton behaved so differently.

They were using American spun and Swedish spun cotton, and a cotton/linen blend with 40% linen, and they *appeared* to be different thicknesses.

I told them that was because they were.  The US spun 8/2 cotton is open end spun, while Swedish (and Canadian) 2/8 cotton is ring spun.  Swedish 2/8 cotton is also generally spun from Egyptian cotton, while the source for the yarn spun in Canada is unknown, but quite likely the US.  

Egyptian cotton tends to have a longer staple.  The cotton from Brassard has a shorter staple.  The open end yarn (in every sample I've examined) appears to have the shortest fibre used in industry to spin yarn.  In the photo above with the two blues, the dark blue is Borgs (if memory serves) and even though it appears to have fewer twists per inch, it is very strong.  I cannot break a Swedish 2/8 cotton easily with my hands, while I can break the Brassard yarn with my hands without difficulty.

The cotton/linen blend (referred to variously as cottolin, cottlin, cotlin) is, at 40% linen, denser than 100% cotton.  Therefore, even though the yarn is spun to the same number of yards per pound (or metric measure to kilo), it will be thinner than a 100% cotton yarn of the same count.

With open end spun yarn, the fibres not being aligned and generally with fewer twists per single and ply, the yarn is loftier and weaker than the ring spun of the same count.

Knowing these things allows us to understand that if we use open end spun cotton yarn as weft in towels, for example, that will increase the absorbency of the cloth over 2/8 cotton for both warp and weft.  Using the ring spun yarn as warp will reduce breakage in the warp.  Generally I tend to use cottolin as weft only, in part because it is more expensive than 100% cotton.

In addition to these considerations, there is also the fact that 8/2 cotton will release a lot more fibre dust into the air during weaving.  Another good reason to use it only for weft (less abrasion).  Even so, I have filter fans that I use in order to suck the air from the loom away from me and remove as much of the cotton lint from the air as possible.

People who work in the cotton industry can develop 'brown lung' which is like black lung but cotton dust instead of coal dust.  It's probably fine for a small project, but if you have lung issues, I recommend getting one of those box fans and put a filter over the intake side of the fan and make sure you use it during weaving.  Then when the project is done, give your studio a good cleaning to remove any remaining dust from around the loom or your studio area.

The density consideration extends to other fibres, too.  I routinely see people assuring others that 2/8 (or 8/2) Tencel can be used at the same epi as cotton.  Unfortunately, Tencel is a very slippery fibre, PLUS it is much denser than cotton, and therefore it is thinner than cotton spun to the same count.

Tencel on the left, cotton on the right, both spun to 2/8 count (3360 yards per pound).  Given the thinner grist of the Tencel, *my* recommendation for Tencel would be around 24 for plain weave, more for twill.  How much more?  That will take sampling to factor in your weave structure and width, and the degree of drape you want in the cloth after wet finishing.  Remember that Tencel is a regenerated cellulose, and only after wet finishing will you see the true nature of the cloth you have woven.  (Although imho, that's true regardless of fibre!)

So!  Sample!  

Books available here

Classes available at SOS

Classes also available at Long Thread Media

Zoom presentations listed here

Step by Step

 

Not entirely sure I'm in love with this design, but I think it will do.  That centre stripe is a bit overwhelming when seen in full width, but generally I tend to fold my towels in half lengthwise, in which case the side 'stripes' then become framed with the zig-zags which would then reduce the visual 'noise' of that centre stripe.

My story, sticking to it.

I messed around with this draft after the zoom presentation on Saturday.  As usual I went 'over'.  There is just So Much to be said about, well, everything.

Sunday I took a one day workshop in spinning.  I hadn't touched my wheel in about 5 years.  For a number of reasons I got out of sync with spinning as other things claimed my time and attention.  The wheel was not forgotten, as such.  It did, in fact, live right out there in plain sight, but I've become good at ignoring things I don't want to, or can't, deal with.

As my physical body continues to decline, I have to accept the fact that some day, sooner or later, I won't be able to weave anymore, so spinning might become important to keep myself occupied and continue my explorations into textiles.

I told the instructor (as I have told other spinning instructors) that my goal in taking the workshop was to become a better weaver.  Which takes them aback, but still, if I don't know my materials, I can't truly know my cloth.  And spinning my own yarn gives me a much greater understanding of the dynamic the various permutations of yarn construction can have on cloth.

As part of the class we looked at crepe yarn.  I knew that crepe cloth was woven with yarn specially spun for that quality of cloth, but hadn't ever spun it for myself.  I've become intrigued, especially when I discovered that - like pretty much everything about textiles - the way crepe yarn is made can vary.  

Now I'm thinking this might justify a dip into that rabbit hole, but with my own particular spin (ha) on it.  I may not wind up with 'true' crepe yarn, but it might prove to be an interesting exploration.

I am also considering using a very fine 2 ply instead of my own high twist singles for the final yarn, which would likely cause such a yarn construction to not qualify as 'crepe', but it would mean I wouldn't have to spin that very fine yarn.  I could even add twist to the commercially spun yarn to have that extra twist energy.  I do, after all, have an espinner so it wouldn't take much effort to run that 2 ply through and add twist to it.

Having had a taste of what it takes to deal with some high twist yarns, I have a better handle on what I would do if I were to take on such an exploration.  

It may all come to naught, but who knows?  Another unexpected rabbit warren to dive into, it seems. 

PS - I am taking zoom bookings for 2024 but still have room on my calendar for the later months of this year.  My topics are posted on http://laurafry.com  Plus, of course, there are two new classes being launched this year for School of Sweet Georgia.  

Misty

 

Last night I started making more blending board 'rolags'.  There are three 'layers' to them.  I begin with an even covering of the grey, then do a layer of the hand dyed braid (primarily cyan and magenta) and then finish with a final layer of the grey.

The colours are bleeding through the layer of grey, and I'm interested to see how it will spin up - if the yarn will match my internal vision of what will happen as the fibres twist their way into yarn.

I'm hoping for a tweedy, heathery, effect but it may barberpole because I'm not blending the colours into a unified mass.

It looks like there is enough of the braid to make rolags to fill the little bin I store them in, which should then result in about four bobbins of single.  Those will then get plyed with a commercially spun yarn - to be determined.  I don't want to have the ply barberpole as well, so I'm thinking of using a grey rayon about the same grist as a 2/8 cotton (not quite, but close to).  The grey ply yarn will 'hide' in the grey bits, and may cause a barberpole stripe when there is cyan or magenta.  But I think that will look okay.  What I will do with it is anyone's guess at this point - I'm just playing.

In a way it's another form of 'sampling'.  Just doing stuff to see what happens, and then figuring out what to do with it based on the results.

The challenge will be to knit something that doesn't 'fight' visually with the effects of the colour in the yarn.  So probably something simple, no fancy stitches.  And right now?  That suits me to a T.  Knitting is my end of the day or stitch n bitch activity - not something I want to concentrate on.  Whatever focus I have is reserved for writing/developing the Power Point presentations for teaching or weaving. 

After what feels like months of grey dreary days we have had nearly a week of blue skies and sun and I have been walking.  (I took the weekend 'off'.)  Progress can be measured in inches, but progress IS happening, so there is lots of incentive to keep going.  OTOH, I have a pile of library books to read, so the strategy is to keep rotating through things, getting a little of this and a little of that done every day.  The old 'eating the elephant' kind of thing.

Reading Sharon Kay Penman's last book is bittersweet.  I think I've read every book she wrote - large sweeping historical fiction, based on facts, made 'human' - because 'fiction'.  I'm sorry she won't be around to write more books.  However, there are lots more books in the world and I'm quite sure my problem will not be too little to read, but too much.

Two Bins Full

 

Yesterday I was able to get a filling replaced but it meant a very early morning and I felt tired and dragged all day.  I did manage to get two towels woven, and I poked about in my spinning fibre stash and finally found the bump of the pale grey I knew I had...somewhere.

A local guild member has been having fun dyeing roving and I've accumulated quite a few braids so my intention is to use the braids to make 'heathers' (of a sort) by spicing up solid colours with the variegated braids.  

The braid in the middle of the picture has quite a pale value and I kept thinking it would work nicely with the pale grey, so that is where I will begin.  Hand dyed braids are also more expensive than solids, so using them for special effects seems like a good (financial) strategy to me.  This approach also gives me unique looking yarn.  I further customize my yarns by plying them with different commercially spun yarns.

Now, I know you are wondering: what is she going to weave with that? 

Thing is, I'm not.  These yarns are intended for knitting, in part because trying to weave with handspun means an enormous investment of time and I'd rather work with purpose bought yarns for weaving.  

I had - for a time - completely given up spinning but then the universe kept delivering me spinning wheels so eventually I started spinning again.  I use it as a more portable craft I can bring to demo days, but also allows me to knit small(er) items and gives me another portable craft for stitch n bitch or knitting in public days.  Knitting with my own handspun is very satisfying.

On the other hand, I've managed to spin up way more yarn than I have managed to knit, while also accumulating buckets full of shawls, so now I'm looking for something else I can knit with my handspun.

When I learned to spin, back in 1974 or so, the primary method of spinning (here) was supported long draw.  Roving was expensive, so I mostly either hand carded or used a drum carder and spun that way.  It is a process/method that I still enjoy and prefer to use.  

Since one of my stated goals is to use up my stash, that means fibre stash as well.  So far I've spun up two large plus two small bins of rolags made about 3 years ago(!).  One batch has been wet finished and another just needs to be done.  Then I can wind the skeins into balls and eventually figure out what I'm going to knit with it.

Over the past few days I've made more rolags/blending board worms and filled two of the small bins ready to go.  But since making them takes up the entire dining room table, I'd like to fill more of the bins so I can then put it away and bring out the spinning wheel.  Since my spaces do multiple tasks, I don't like to just do a little bit of something, put it all away, over and over again.  Once I get into my stride of the task, it just feels right to keep doing it until I have a stash, like the bins full of prepared fibres.

We woke to a nice sunny day again, although it stays a bit chilly.  However it's lovely to see the blue skies and sun, and I'm making good progress walking so the incentive is high to keep going.  I'm determined to reclaim at least some of my fitness.

Three more towels and then I can cut off the first half, wet finish and then there will be more hemming to do.  I am, as they say, spoiled for choice!

Now Toy - er, Tool!

 

Yesterday Doug got the Ashford spinner put together and last night I fiddled with it to make sure I could make it work.  It took longer than I had hoped because I forgot to anchor the leader string so that it would actually wind onto the flyer, but in the end I got there and even managed to spin a rolag of fibre.  Now that it is set up the goal is to fill a bobbin nightly.  

I bought extra bobbins for it.  Not the smaller plastic ones - those belong to my other espinner, which in the end I'm not happy with for reasons.  And naturally those bobbins don't fit the Ashford.  Sigh.

I struggled with the decision to replace the (very expensive) espinner I purchased a few years ago.  I hadn't used it for two years, in part because I was just overwhelmed with other things.  In part because it wasn't behaving well.  Did I really want to spend a big chunk of change replacing that one with another?

I waffled back and forth - sell off my fibre stash or buy a new spinner and spin it.  Why was I spinning in the first place?  What was I going to do with the yarn?  I had been knitting shawls with my handspun made on the other espinner but I had bags of shawls, I really didn't need more.

So I waffled.  When I talked to Doug about the espinner I wasn't liking much he eventually took it apart to see if he could fix it.  (The maker appears to have gone AWOL, not answering emails or messages.) Then he talked to not one but several local people about electronics/electrics, took it to a couple of places, bought parts to see if individual components were faulty.  It all felt like I was tossing good money after bad by that point.

And still I waffled.

I started looked at other brands of espinners but all of them are made outside of Canada.  I didn't want to pay a premium on the exchange rate and expensive shipping.  Some of the 3D printed ones looked interesting, but I don't know enough about spinning to be able to tell if they were a good buy or not.  And again, international border/exchange rates.  If something went wrong (again) trying to get it fixed would become a gigantic issue.

In the end I turned to a brand I knew and trusted.  Ashford.  I had been an Ashford dealer but had given up the dealership when I retired.  I looked to see if there was a local dealer listed.  There was not.

So I scrolled through the list of BC dealers and spotted someone I knew and decided that IF I was going to purchase, I would purchase from her.  She's a spinner and knew that if I ran into problems, I could talk to her.

In the meantime, the other espinner went to a shop that specialized in small electric motors and he discovered some 'poor' wiring connections.  In the end we gave permission to fix those (for an additional $200 investment for the diagnosis and repairs) and when it came home I tried it again.

It still behaved poorly.  It was 'better' but not great.  One of the reasons I had bought that one was for the battery pack which would allow me to take it out and do public demos without needing to worry about a plug in.  It would do that that, but I still found it irritating to spin on because it wasn't running consistently.

So I bought the Ashford.

So, what do I like about the Ashford so far?  It seems to be a sturdy build.  It's small.  The spinner and two bobbins with lazy kate fit into a small carry bag not much larger than a big shoe box.

I find the controls to be a bit awkward, but the foot switch makes that inconvenience minor.  The bobbins are large - jumbo sized - and the orifice large enough that I can spin chunky without having the draw in impeded.

The controls are clearly labelled S or Z so you can easily see which way to flip the switch to spin/ply.

That's about as far as I have gotten so far.  But these are my first impressions.  It feels like a good fit - so far.  And I will keep the other for doing public demos.

In the end I decided that since every time I tried to get rid of spinning from my life it would come back to me in another way.  The plan is to knit - something - with the yarn I spin.  Not sure what, yet.  Sometimes it is enough to simply do, without thinking too hard about what comes next.  And if all I get out of the spinning is the tactile experience of feeling the fibres transform into yarn?  That might just be enough.

Getting to Know You

Questionable Origins is the business run by Abby Franquemont's husband Chad Tudor and between the two of them they have come up with an electric spinner that was developed to meet the needs of the 21st century hand spinner.

While there are other e-spinners on the market, this one has a feature that suited me - on board batteries. 

When I go demo-ing, I usually like something portable.  Weaving is not that thing.  The Device fits into a fairly small case, has a foot switch, a revolution counter, bobbins that fold down into flat packs.  But most of all, those batteries!  It means I can fold the spinner up into a fairly small, not terribly heavy case, and take it to the park, or the fall fair, or where ever, and not have to worry about a plug in.

I intend to bring it with me to Fibres West where I know there will not be a handy plug in.  (Must remember to bring the battery re-charger, though!)

After being dragged kicking and screaming (so to speak) into the spinning room and then falling down the rabbit hole of weaving, I set aside spinning for a good number of years.  I even sold my favourite wheel, a wheel built on a Norwegian design that I really loved.  But I simply wasn't using it.

Then a few years ago wheels began showing up in my life.  When I wound up with three(!) I decided I really did need to get back to spinning if the universe was going to be that insistent by providing me with wheels.

But none of them were juuuuuuust right.

After discussing what I wanted to do with a local guild member, she suggested a Canadian Production Wheel.  I bought one and really liked it, but...it was old (a true antique), large (didn't fit into my house) and fragile (see true antique above).

It was not a wheel that could easily be transported or set up for demonstrations.  Too many little fingers wanting to get into the spinning bits.

Then a couple of years ago, The Device became available.  It was more than I wanted to pay (although not as much as some other brands - prices seems to range quite widely), not all had the same features, not all came in a case.

So about this time last year I placed an order for one.

Well, it took a while to receive because Life Happened Big Time for Chad and Abby but I now have it and have been getting to know it first by plying some singles I already had spun up.

Those skeins are now done and soaking in the sink in preparation to wet finishing.  Next up?  Spinning singles.  Which might be more of a challenge.  But I'm also looking forward to giving it a go.

Changes

There is a meme going round Facebook that says something to the effect that "I don't mind getting old, but my body is taking it badly."

So it is with me.

I actually like the age I am - my years of experience, the things I have managed to do during those years.  Oh, not all of them were wonderful, of course, but that's life, right?

As my physical limitations narrow I find myself less able to do the things I used to do without blinking.  My hours at the loom are fewer because I just can't do what I used to do.  I try not to mourn the shrinking circle of my physical capabilities but it is a fact:  between the two Big C's I live with, I also have growing issues with the Big A - Arthritis.  

The latest episode of fringe twisting made it clear that my thumbs are not happy with the firm pinching that is required and I may have to seriously think about getting rid of that huge stash of rayon chenille.  Because I don't want to wreck my thumbs doing that when I could be doing, oh, spinning?

I have recently re-discovered spinning and knitting.  Both are low impact activities and they have been bringing me a great deal of satisfaction.  Not to mention the universe kept gifting me with spinning wheels - none of which were 'right' for me.  So I bought a Canadian Production Wheel and a blending board and have been happily spinning my own blended rolag/punis.

But it wasn't 'right' for me either.  It was simply too large and too fragile for what I wanted to do.  I wanted something smaller, that would actually fit into my house instead of living in the guild room, and I wanted something portable.

So I ordered an espinner from http://questionableorigin.com/  Chad is Abby Franquemont's husband/partner and between the two of them they developed The Device - an espinner that fits into a small box, has an on board battery for when there is no power, and other features that seemed to make this the Device for me.

I sold my Canadian Production Wheel, returned the espinner I had borrowed to use at home and am looking forward to receiving my Device next month.

Because I have all this fibre that needs to be spun up...

A Day 'Off'

I have been working hard for a few weeks now, weaving pretty much every day, at least two sessions, three if I can.  

Today I gave myself a day 'off'.  

The picture shows some of my hand spun, most of it spun this summer in the evenings at the guild, then plyed.  I use it for knitting.  Spinning and knitting are my hobbies.  I don't sell either - rather I make scarves and shawls and donate them to causes that are raising money.  Or they get given as gifts.  My poor southern friends, freezing in the chilliness that is Alberta in June each got one.

Right now my spinning stash overflows into my dining room and I want to put it all away while I am busy in the autumn and will have very little time to actually do any spinning.  So today I dug into the plying, finishing the blue I'd begun yesterday, plus doing five spools of a rich red.  I have five more spools of a slightly different singles red to ply and I think I will use the same extremely fine tram silk to ply that as well as the one in the photo above, which is actually more red and less rust.  I doubt I will get the bin of rust rolags spun up before I go away, but I might.

Mostly I'm tired of looking at that heap of spinning fibre and just want to clear some of the clutter out of my living space.  So the bags of fibre will go back down to the studio until I'm ready to make more rolags and begin spinning again.  Hopefully when I get my Questionable Origins e-spinner.  

Currently reading L. E. Modesitt, The One-Eyed Man.  I've not read him before and am only in the first few pages, so I will see if I go looking for one of his series.  Because I'm running 'low' on fav authors!

Invested

I'm waiting for an important delivery today, so instead of being at the loom where I might not hear the doorbell, I've been sitting plying the next yarn.  And thinking.  Lots of time to think when plying.

I started thinking about how we 'invest' in our lives.  So many ways to invest our time, our energy, our talents.

For me the investment for the past 40+ years has been primarily in weaving.  To that end I have invested some time in learning more about spinning.  But I'm not 'invested' in spinning the way I am in weaving.

Learning more about spinning, how yarns are created, is more about learning how to become a better weaver, understanding my materials at a deeper level.  I'm not invested in actually becoming an expert spinner, all I'm doing is playing, really.  My understanding of spinning is much more on an intellectual level, not a practical or skilled level.  And my play time feeds into my hobby of knitting.  Creating unique blends/yarns is a colour study in and of itself, watching how those blends spin up and then knitting with them is all grist for the creative mill.

Yesterday I was talking to a (much) younger friend and I commented that I had no clue when I chose weaving the experiences I would have, the people I would meet.  With all the challenges of being a self-employed artisan, trying to design, make and sell my textiles, this career has brought enrichment I never dreamed of.  Or only dreamed of.

In my secret thoughts I wanted to write.  Weaving has allowed me to do that.  In my secret thoughts I wanted respect.  I think I have earned that.  I certainly have an amazing circle of friends who support and encourage me when I falter, paralyzed by...fear.

As a teacher I am not so much interested in making mini-me's who will do exactly as I do but urge students to think for themselves.  "Become your own expert" I tell them.  And I mean it.

So when I mark the Olds homework, I am not looking for people to do the exercises by rote.  I am looking to see what lessons they have learned, what challenges they may have overcome.  I am looking to see if they are exhibiting critical thinking skills, increasing their physical skills (as shown in their samples), understand for themselves where they are weakest and need to invest their time.

The past while has been challenging for me on a personal level.  Trying to also write a book is proving to be one challenge too many right at the minute.  And so I am going to take a little more time before diving back into it, explore some options (I hear you when you say you want a 'real' - as in paper - book), think about the content I have generated so far and what I need to add.  I have not given up on it entirely.  I just want to stop and check I am on the right path before I invest more of my (and my friends) time in it.

Light Duties

Even though I'm feeling ok - just a little sensitive on the left side of my face - it was recommended that I stick with 'light' duties today.  So I am.  

I got a rather long email crafted earlier - needed a lot of thought before I finally hit 'send' but neither did I want to forget to do it while things were still fresh in my mind.  Plus I contacted another potential teacher for our conference.  I kept forgetting - too many things on my mind.

In between I started plying this brick red (mostly) singles I spun up last week.  It may be a gift for someone - if she likes it - otherwise there should be enough for a shawl.  The light bits are angora in a white/grey.

I have a busy day tomorrow with errands but I'm hoping to get the next tea towel warp into the loom so that I can start weaving again on Thursday.

All this...maintenance...is a bit of a pain, but I am going to be very happy to finally get my mouth fixed.  

April Spools

Following in Meg's footsteps, it is April Spool's Day.

Since my surgery just over two years ago I have been spinning with more regularity.  Therefore today I share with you my spools of hand spun singles.  These have been made from a braid of Corriedale hand dyed by Birthe, blended with some yak/silk dyed by Lynne Anderson and a wee bit of Corriedale and green Firestar.  

I don't weave with these yarns.  They are, primarily, therapy.  I don't sell the shawls etc., I knit from my hand spun yarn but donate them to 'worthy' causes or gift them to friends.

So right now, if someone is looking for a donation from me, they are most likely to get something that I have knit from my hand spun yarn.  

Like many 'creative' people I seem to have a streak of obsessive/compulsive behaviour.  I don't know how long I will spin and knit, but for now?  I find spinning and knitting quite soothing and satisfying.  And I've been hanging out with some (mostly) much younger people during knitting drop in.

Nothing like dandling a new baby, talking with people in their 20's and 30's to keep me 'young' (and remind me exactly how old I really am!)

Everything Old

is new again...

Some of you may know that I began this textile journey by spinning and dyeing.  Then I got sucked into the warped side and simply didn't have the time or energy to spin and set that aside.  Except a few years ago, spinning wheels kept showing up in my life.  Unfortunately they weren't the 'right' wheel for me and I kept trying and not enjoying it much.

After talking to a couple of people, I decided I needed a wheel with a much higher ratio to accommodate my supported long draw style of spinning and got a Canadian Production Wheel.

Unfortunately Larry (after the maker) is old, a true antique.  As such he's a bit - shall we say - testy, at times.  He is also not conveniently portable so I tend to leave him at the guild room and only spin up there.  Which is not exactly convenient for the guild room, storing a rather large delicate piece of equipment.

After my surgery, though, I got started on spinning more seriously and find myself thoroughly enjoying coming back to this craft.  It is fun to create truly one of a kind yarns.  Buying a blending board means I can make the rolags I prefer to spin from and I can make unique blends.  

I don't weave with my hand spun yarns.  Spinning has become a true 'hobby' - an activity that I do just for the pleasure of it.  I knit with it, then give those items away to friends or for donations to worthy causes.  There is far too much labour in hand spinning and knitting to have many people willing to pay a price that acknowledges that and rather than sell these items for pennies, I'd rather they just be gifts.

With the restrictions on using Larry, though, I have been looking around for something with a high ratio/speed plus a level of portability that would make it possible to say, spin at the fall fair or other public demonstrations.

Recently I had a bit of a windfall and I contacted Questionable Origins to inquire after their new electric spinning wheel.  I had heard about it last fall and - considering spinning is a hobby, not my business - hesitated to invest that much money into a new wheel.  Except that when I checked around, 'regular' spinning wheels were not that much cheaper and did not provide the aspect of portability I was looking for.  While there are other electric spinning wheels, this one came with some features that I felt would be helpful.  Since I had almost the exact purchase price burning a hole in my Paypal account, I tossed caution to the wind and ordered a Device (as they call it).

In the meantime I have borrowed an electric wheel on which I ply my singles and one day when I'm feeling brave I will try to actually spin singles on it.  Because my Device should be here in June.  

Curiosity

Because I don't have enough yarn.  Or things to do.  Or knowledge.

Sometimes I see or hear comments about not using hand spun for weaving.  Or, you can use it, but only plyed.  Which is completely contradictory to the historical record.

I have used both commercially and hand spun yarns for warp and weft.  Some yarns are more tender than others and may require sizing to add strength.  But yes, you can weave with hand spun singles.

After extensive consultation with a master spinner and multiple samples, I now have the yarn to make 'something' - in this case three scarves - one for the dyer, one for the spinner, one for me.  

The spinner and I drew on our respective personal database of knowledge, consulted extensively, then she set about making samples of the hand spun singles which I then wove.  Because that is how you find out if your extrapolations are correct - you sample.  Change one thing and everything can change.

People sometimes ask me if I sample any more.   The answer is, as so often, it depends.  I now have an extensive pool of knowledge to draw upon, and frequently I will not make a sample when I am working with known yarns using a known weave structure.

But when I get a new-to-me yarn, yes, I sample.  That is how I find out the limitations of the yarn, and the hidden beauty that may be revealed in the process...including wet finishing.

Working with other fibre workers with complementary skills means that we all benefit.  I don't have the technical skills to make such a consistent yarn (in thickness, in twists per inch), and she doesn't (yet) have my weaving skills.  The dyer contributed by making yarn colours to our taste and that means that all three scarves are different colours, not all natural white.  By working together we learn a lot more, a lot faster, than if we had each tried to do this exploration from beginning to end.

Curiosity.  Love it!

Practicing

Not a great photo but here is some yarn I originally spun a few months ago, still singles on the back spool, now plied with fine bamboo on the front spool.

I'm not entirely happy with the degree of plying but I was using a borrowed wheel (the guild Lendrum), the chair at the Fair was too low and very uncomfortable, and the bobbin had a whole lot more yarn on it than I expected.  It wasn't a particularly happy experience.  I had intended to ply both bobbins during my demo shift today but I opted out of more fighting with the wheel and wove instead.  But not too much - I didn't want to use up too much of the demo warp on the second day!

I will ply the other spool on my own wheel and see if I can match the one I did today.  There should be enough yarn to make *something* with.  The singles is a wool/cashmere blend, the other yarn is the Silk City bambu 12 - about the same grist as 2/16 cotton but of course very loosely plied and very flexible.

Not sure if I will knit with it myself, use it for scarf weft (probably not enough) or gift it to someone.  It's not the smoothest yarn in the world, it's definitely 'beginner' level spinning, but useful for something for someone.

Time to go thread the small loom.  I'm too tired to attempt to weave on the AVL - that will wait for another day.

More Wheel Pics

Flyer - wheel only came with one bobbin, which I understand is pretty typical

Tension system - tilt tension with what looks like a hand made wing nut

Typical metal treadle

Mother of All

Happy camper...'Larry' and moi

New Toy!

Only had a few minutes to try her out but what can I say?  I'm smitten!  This may very well be the wheel of my dreams.  It is an antique - likely made sometime around the turn of the century - and I don't mean this one...late 1800's to early 1900's.  I was told it is a Laurence Canadian Production Wheel.  The drive wheel is huge - I didn't measure it but apparently 30 to 32" is common.

I joined a group on Ravelry devoted to this type of wheel and I've been learning more about the typical characteristics of this type of wheel - the spokes are 'three bead' - I think you can just make out the three bumps on the spokes.

This picture isn't great - cell phone camera, after all.

The wheel will reside at the guild room for the time being.  It really is a very large wheel and there isn't room in my living room for it right now.

Spinning Workshop with Kim McKenna

Imitation: the Sincerest Form of Flattery September  20/21 in Prince George, BC

Technological advances over the last few decades have rekindled our interest in the innovative fibres of the mid-twentieth century. Industry can now successfully manipulate a fibre’s surface texture, longitudinal shape, crimp, staple length, tensile strength and cross-sectional shape. But has it truly been able to imitate the drape and lustre of silk as envisioned by English naturalist Sir Robert Hooke, English chemist Joseph Swan, Swiss chemist Audemars or Louis Pasteur’s student Count Hiliaire de Chardonnet? You be the judge; as we explore fibres with exotic names such as: Bamboo Silk, Corn Silk, SeaCell, Silk Latte, Soy Silk, etc. With this, albeit brief, hand-on study you will come to appreciate and understand these ‘new’ fibres’ strengths, their weaknesses, their positive contributions and their negative impacts/drawbacks. This in turn puts us in a better position to make our fibre choices in an intelligent and mindful manner. 
Kim McKenna http://www.claddaghfibrearts.com

Materials fee is $50, class is $150 for a total of $200. We are asking for $50 deposit to hold a spot. Guild members can send deposit to the treasurer, Birthe Miller. If you aren’t a member and would like to become one, email me laura at laurafry dot com and I will put you in touch with our membership person for details on cost.

Even though I'm not really a spinner, I'm looking forward to this workshop in order to find out a lot more about the new fibres available to spinners (and weavers).

People from out of town are welcome to participate - there are 3 spots left - and we will try to find billets with local guild members for anyone who wants one.

Kim has gotten very busy with her teaching lately and will be at Knit City in Vancouver in October.  We are very pleased that she was able to fit us into her schedule.

Piling Up

As warned my energy levels are dipping lower and taking longer to come back after each cycle, but I'm officially 3/4's of the way through this challenge and the end is in sight, espcially since there will be no more delays.  I've got the vials from the pharmacy and I begin the injections on Sunday to stimulate the production of white cells.  One or another of my friends (both nurses) will oversee the first time and make sure I'm doing it right.

This week has been stressful but a number of issues have been either dealt with, or at least progress has been made.  My mother's surgery will take place sometime in October, she has a health management team in place, co-incidentally the same team as Doug's step-mother, and they have been great to us knowing everything that has been going on.  Along with all my friends I feel very supported and able to continue on this journey to achieve a positive result.  So many have contacted me to share their success stories - it has meant a lot to hear about them.

While I have not been able to weave nearly as much as previously I have managed to weave a scarf a day most days and the end of the silk warp is also in sight.  It looks like 3 yards left with #9 just begun so I ought to be able to finish that warp off tomorrow.

With the next warp a fairly complex threading it will be a very good idea to get the loom set up again before the next cycle on the 21st.

I've also managed to make a further dent in my fibre stash and have a few more skeins spun up.  There is a little bit of the green/purple pencil roving left so I'm going to try to finish that off tonight and then prepare the skeins for sale and get them mailed on Monday.   The pencil roving has been really nice to spin - I'm thinking I might need to get some more, but the only supplier I know is in WA state. I do, however, have friends there who could likely get some for me.  :)

The first sale of the fall season began today.  I'm hoping that people are going to be open to buying things, but one never knows until the show is done. 

We are enjoying a very tardy bit of 'summer' weather here.  The weather website says the current temperature is 26 C and the a/c has been running this afternoon.  The sunshine is very welcome although the changing colours of the leaves on the trees prevent us from believing it will last very long.

As I look back to mid-February this year has been a mixed bag.  But the hope is that once this challenge is done I will be better than ever and healthy enough to help my mother with her health issues and that we'll both begin the new year in a much better situation.

Speaking of hope, I've learned - this time for real - to take each day as it comes.  To not worry too much about goals or expectations that put demands on me I can't meet.  To stay focused on hope - that things will be better.  That health will be the result.  That there will be many more years of weaving, doing it, teaching it, writing about it. 

After all, it's a beautiful life.

Getting Ready

I've spent a couple of quiet days, resting and working on getting some inventory ready to ship for the show in September.  There is now a box of hand dyed silk gimp yarn ready to go and this bucket of hand spun is on it's way.  I spent much of the afternoon weighing the skeins, counting how many strands in each and will calculate approximate yardage and then write it all out on the hang tags.

I've also got enough shawls (two different designs) ready to pack up as well.  Once those boxes are out the door I need to concentrate on some writing projects - an article promised for a magazine, and of course, Magic files. 

While I'd hoped to have more handspun ready by now there is more on the wheel and I can always mail another box later in the month.  The show goes on for 17 days so not everything needs to be there for opening day.  :)

The last day of steroids is tomorrow and my energy should start to pick up again although all the warnings given about energy flagging appear to be true.  But I'm 5/8's the way through now - only 3 more cycles left and then - look out world, here I come!  :D

Currently reading Dead in the Water by Aline Templeton

Lace Bookmark

It's been months since I've done much bobbin lace.  A couple of weeks ago I got a simple Torchon bookmark started and today I finished it off. 

We'll meet again the end of August - perhaps I'll get another bookmark started before then, although I have rather a lot of items on my to-do list. 

For today I decided to take a day 'off' from weaving. The two prototype samples are ready to go into the washing machine and I'll press them tomorrow.  Looks like I probably won't get any weaving done on Monday or Tuesday as both days are loaded up with commitments. 

Today instead of weaving I've been spinning more of the roving from my stash I'd forgotten I had.  Plus I found a bunch of singles I had spun up a few years ago.  I think I'll wind those skeins onto spools and ply them.  Once those are plied I'll have a pretty good selection of skeins to offer for sale in September.  And hopefully some of it will go to new homes and be gone from my stash?