Introducing my newest time suck

 

As hard as I resisted getting sucked into it in the beginning, it has finally completely beaten me. I admit it - I'm a spinner.

 

She doesn't have a name yet, but I'm convinced the wheel needs one (as convinced as I am that it's a she)

 

In addition to missing a name, she's also missing a few other things, which I'm already looking into

 

The drive band was an easy fix, and I made one myself with some spare dishcloth cotton. Once I found out it was one long loop wrapped in a figure eight, and not two separate loops I was good to go.

This is my first time spinning on a wheel, so I figure I'm allowed a few dumb mistakes. Right?

 

Other easy fixes were the tie to the treadle being loose, along with the legs.

I kind of wanted to put a dab of glue in the legs, but in the back of my mind I as thinking someone had said that's not good to do...I can't remember who said it or why, but it's enough to make me hold off. I just push them together if they get separated while I'm moving it around.

 

There are six flyer hooks missing, and they will stay missing until I get out of town to Home Depot or Lowes. The local hardware store only had giant hooks or those safety cup hooks that have the latch.

I've managed to spin without them, but it would be much easier to fill a bobbin evenly without those hooks missing.

 

Speaking of the bobbin, I only have one. That is a shame, because unless I want to spend big bucks having one custom made (And even if I had them to spend, I don't!) Unfortunately it's got a couple of cracks too, but luckily BF can take care of that with some wood putty if I'll just stop spinning long enough to let him at it.

I'm kind of out of luck getting more of the oddly shaped things, so I'm thinking I'll just have to make do.

Tip from a fellow Raveller was to buy some plastic weaving bobbins, and use them and a drill to get the yarn off the wheel bobbin. It'll fit a Lazy Kate, and so I'll be able to ply. They're on my list for sure.

 

I really need to finish cleaning the wheel, but that falls under the whole making myself stop using it problem. Basically I cleaned most of the top half really well, but the legs and underside are still showing the layers of dust that comes from spending a few decades in the corner.

 

I know absolutely nothing about the maker of this wheel, or the age. I've taken pictures from different angles, and I'm going to post here and on some forum boards to see if anyone can give me a clue.

 

It had been purchased in 1979 as a decoration (that is the name and date on the bottom) which is why no one has any practical info on it. Soon after that she decided to go modern instead, and from then on the wheel was stored at her friend's house. BF saw it there when he was working, and knowing that I wanted a wheel (but am soooo far from having saved enough for the new ones I like) he made a deal and came home with it for me. (He's such a good guy!)

It might not have all the bells and whistles, but it works. I'm enjoying learning how to use it and the wheel should keep me occupied for a long time.

Since I haven't managed a single picture without some wool on it, that should give a clue about how much I like it :D

I spun small amounts with the different kinds of fluff I have stashed away, but the biggest amount was the Shetland wool I had dyed with onion skins

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, not too bad on the thick and thin. Even though the color might be a little on the yellow side, it is peachy enough that I think I should be able to get a nice looking small doll out of it.

 

I'm about 3/4 of the way done with my latest Sherlock blanket square, so I'm back at that and then I'll be spinning again. Maybe by then I'll have what I need to be able to try plying on the wheel.

 

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Adventures in Dyeing

I spent a good portion of the Tour de Fleece watching my teammates turn out so many awesome hand-dyed fibers and seeing how beautifully they spun up. While I did think my purchased fibers were beautiful, I still felt like I was missing out on the fun of making my own colors. Not going to lie, I was a little jealous. Not in the angry spiteful way, but in the way that made me know I just had to try it for myself.
Sometimes peer pressure is a very good thing!

I ended up finding a killer deal on some undyed Shetland wool, and now it's my turn to play. I have some Koolaid on standby, but first some natural dyeing.

I looked at tons sources beforehand and pestered (and post stalked) my fellow Ravelers for hints and advice first. One of them was the person who linked me the blog with instructions for dyeing with blueberries and dyeing with tea. My info on fiber prep came from this Knitty article

Since I am practically allergic to following directions, I decided to document my whole process, so I would know what worked (and what to avoid) for future adventures. And since I was going to do all that, why not share it will anyone stumbling onto here?

Week in review and my Tour De Fleece finish-line!

The Tour de Fleece ended yesterday, and so I held over this week's review until today so I could include my 'finish line' photo.

Last week I had almost finished spinning my second single of the merino blend, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

I ended up with 47 yards, and with the first single I should have plenty to knit that cup cozy I wanted.

It took me through Sunday, but I finished my 2ply Corriedale also. I mixed silver and eggplant colored fibers together in each ply, so the yarn varies from solid to heathered to a barberpole twist throughout. I like the look, but had one small grrrrrr-moment. I wasn't paying enough attention and somehow broke the yarn during plying. So instead of one smooshy skeinlette, I have two. One is 27.5 yards and the other is 15.5 yards. It's still pretty though -

And that brings me to the end of The Tour. It took me 23 days (well, Saturday I missed. So 22?)to spin just over 137 yards between the three fibers. 

I admit I'm not a fast spinner, but I met all three of my goals. 

I made it to the end without quitting, even had just one rest day instead of two. I just tweaked the day I took to fit my schedule. 

I spun yarn that is knitable, and I think it's pretty awesome looking personally!

I tried plying. In fact, over half of the yarn I spun I ended up plying and the only disaster was the yarn breaking that one time.

All in all, I'm calling my experience a success, and I plan on participating next year too. I've gotten to like spinning so much more than I thought I would. Now I'm campaigning hardcore to get a trindle for my birthday this year, and before the end of the year maybe have a DODEC wheel. Maybe!

This week wasn't just spinning-

I finally finished knitting my mystery toy KAL. 
Introducing Benny the Cat (designer named, but I like it so Benny he stays)

He was meant to have whiskers, but they just didn't look right. I decided he was cuter without. I love how he is the floppy rag doll equivalent of a kitty, and I think this toy will be a keeper instead of a gift.

And my rescheduled rest day from spinning? One of my friends 6yo daughter was over for the day, and we played with Sculpey. She really got into it, and went home with a collection of spiral snakes, beads, marbles and a handful of magnets and other random bits she thought were pretty.
She even made this magnet of BF and I for us to keep, she's so sweet

I had to play with the clay a bit too. Along with a few random magnets, I also made myself a Hedgie (of course!), a mini one for her to take home, and a bowtied penguin (bow ties are cool)

Slightly on the ugly side, but what do you expect when I haven't played with this stuff in YEARS.

Aaaaaaaaand that was the past week. 
This next week with be 
-Trying to finish the sock monkey for BFs nephew. He has his mouth and one arm knit, but not stuffed or attached. Most of his other arm and his tail still need knit. I'm going to try and have this finished before the Games start.
-Which brings me to Ravelympic *cough* I mean Ravellenic prep. Gathering yarn, needles and patterns together to make sure nothing is missing.
-And last (but not least!) a little fiber dyeing. This I've actually started for today, and is why this post is so late. 
I know it's crazy to start another thing right now, but watching all the fun my Tour teammates had with their dye projects made me want to try for myself. One of them pointed me towards a blog with instructions for blueberry dyeing, and as luck would have it there was a bowl with blueberries that were past good eating, but hadn't molded. What better time to try? There was also a post there for using tea, so half the fiber will be trying that too. 
If this works, I'll have about an ounce of each to play around with when I'm done. 

But no more spinning until after the games!! Must stay focused if i'm going to have a hope in hell of finishing all three projects I have planned!