DROP SPINDLE DILEMAS 101: FINISHING YARN

Well now you've had plenty of time to get into a tangle but lets hope the end result was yarn! You're not quite done yet...If you remove the yarn now and try to use it, it will unwind after all that spinning! The twist has to be set.

Assuming you have a cone of yarn at the end of your spindle or perhaps you wound it off into a ball to so you could spin more (yay!), you need to either use a kniddy knoddy to wind your yarn onto or wind it around the back of a chair so you have a big loop. Take some scrap yarn or string and pick a spot on your big loop of yarn and tie the scrap around that spot in a figure "8". In other words separate the spot slightly and put the scrap through and around the outside of that spot in a figure "8" and tie it off. Do this in 3 other spots on you big loop of handspun yarn so you have 4 spots tied off in all and make it sort of spaced evenly around the loop. This prevents the yarn from getting tangled for the next step.

Now, fill the sink or a large dishpan with hot water from the tap ( I like to add 1/2 cup white vinegar for softness but is not necessary), submerge your yarn into the bath and make sure it is all wet down but don't rub or agitate it or you will wind up with a felted mess. Just let it sit there for 15-20 minutes. This sets the twist in the yarn. Remove and press some water out gently but do not wring it or it will felt. Now, either place on a large terry towel and roll gently to remove the water or what I do is place it in my empty washing machine and put it on spin for about 30 seconds (again not agitate just spin), this remove most of the water. Hang your loop of yarn some where to dry. If you have very tightly spun kinks in your yarn from over spinning, tie a weight to the bottom of the yarn while it dries and it will help straighten it out. I attach an "s" hook to one of the ties on the yarn and hang a coffee cup off it! When dry in a day, clip the 4 scrap yarns and wind your new handspun into a ball. You can start using your yarn to knit or crochett! Whew, a lot of work! They didn't have it easy in the old days either.
Next time we will tackle problems (ahem! not that you would have any!).

Well ciao for now!
Arlyne

DROP SPINDLE DILEMAS 101-LEADING & SPINNING!

So now you are all hooked up to spin....well almost. Attaching the fiber to the leader can be a bit of a challenge and not just for newbie spinners (but there are ways around it!). The leader should extend a few inches beyond the hook. Make an opening about an inch from the end ( see picture) an insert about 1/4" wide (or less) piece of the wool roving.


Leader Loop


Pinch join with left hand and give spindle a clockwise twist from the top of the shaft with your right hand. Bring the right hand up to the join and allow the twist to enter by slowly releasing pressure with your left hand. The left hand continues to hold unspun wool and moves along, drawing the fibers apart with right hand to desired thickness (drafting).

The spindle will slow down so with your right hand give it another spin. Then reach up and pull down more fibers from your left hand. The fibers being pulled down form a triangle (draft zone). Pull on the spun yarn below this triangle to draw down (see fig. below). Continue doing this so you have made a few draws downward. If you need to join more fiber, tease out the ends and overlap and hold them together between left thumb and forefinger, spin spindle and let twist join them and continue spinning yarn.

WINDING ON: When spindle hits the floor, separate your arms, maintaining tension on the spun yarn and wrap this length around your left palm. When you reach the spindle undo yarn from hook and rotate the spindle to wind on yarn clockwise into a cone shape just above the whorl. Leave about 15 “ each time so you have enough yarn to spiral up the shaft onto the hook and repeat spinning.

Leader Loopy Issues: If you can't seem to make the roving stay in the loop (sometimes I can't either!) so you can start spinning, here's a cheat :o). Take the end of your piece of roving and place your hands about 6" apart and gently pull the fibers to thin it out. Then place that thinner end on the top of your leg (yes I said leg) and gently roll it back and forth until you have made a string (your 1st yarn) and then tie the darn thing to the end of the leader and start spinning as mentioned above.

Well, this should keep you busy until next time when I will discuss finishing your yarn and problems you might meet up with. Feel free to contact me with any questions. I want all you folks to make your 1st yarn! Soooooo....

Spin, spin,spin,

Arlyne

DROP SPINDLE DILEMAS 101- GETTING STARTED

Bear with me these days. Remember I told you we were juried in that wonderful shop? Well it's opening this weekend and I'm trying to keep some bit of my sanity!
On to drop spindle spinning. Now that you've made your spindle choice, it's time to set up your spindle to make some yarn. The first yarns you make will most likely be thick and thin and everything in between. To some spinners this is considered designer yarn! Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder....this is no bad yarn. Having said that, let's move on. Whether you have a top or bottom whorl, you must attach a leader. This is any old piece of yarn you have laying around...it can even be (horrors) store bought yarn. It should be at least 18" long. Take one end and tie it around the shaft just under the whorl and tie a tight knot. Top whorlers bring the leader over the top of the whorl and catch it under the hook like this:

Bottom whorlers wind the leader yarn in a spiral up the shaft and catch it under the hook and make sure there is at least 6-8 " of leader above the hook like this:

Next segment we will learn to attach the fibers to the leader and spin! Woohoo!

Until then get your rovings ready,

Arlyne

DROP SPINDLE DILEMAS 101-TOP OR BOTTOM ?

This is the 1st in a series of drop spindle dilemas, tips and help for those who are having difficulty learning to use a drop spindle. Newbies are never sure whether to start with a top whorl or bottom whorl spindle. Well here's the story:
1) A bottom whorl has the whorl weight at the bottom of the shaft and spins slower which is good for heavier yarns which need less twist in them. A top whorl has the weight at the top of the shaft and spins faster which is good for thinner yarns and fine fibers such as angora, alpaca, etc. But, you can spin thin yarn & fine fibers on a bottom whorl but you have to spin it harder as well as you can spin heavier yarn on a top whorl but need to spin it slower. Sometimes, new spinners like the faster top whorl because it spins longer and gives more time to pull the fibers into the twist. I personally prefer a bottom whorl because I find it doesn't wobble as much since the weight is on the bottom. Basically,they both spin yarn the same way and it is a matter of preference.

Bottom Top




Spindles come in low, medium and heavy weights. A 0.7 or 0.8 oz is a small, low weight used for very fine spinning like lace weight or for fine fibers spun very thin like angora, alpaca, etc.
1.5 to 1.7 oz is better for fingering weight, sport weight and just barely can be used for worsted weight and good for any fiber.
2.5 to 3 oz is for your bulky & super bulky but can do worsted also but becase of the heavy weight, you would want to spin it a little slower so you don't get too much twist and curly cues in your worsted weight.

Now you've chosen you spindle (stop by our shop for a spindle kit at http://www.mainewoodsyarn.com/). Now What? Well tune in next time and we'll get started!
Bye for now,
Arlyne

I'm Back, I'm Back! Got Juried For a New Shop!

An unexpected request to get juried for the Maine Artisan's Collective coop in Lincoln Beach , Maine! Our work was seen online and I was emailed to consider becoming a memeber and having our work juried at their next meeting, April 12th! Well, I didn't need to be asked twice. The Artisan's coop is right across the street from quaint but beautiful Linclonville Beach on Coastal Rte.1 here in Maine. The big issue was that you must bring you items to be juried at their meeting, not photos! So, we scurried around for 2 weeks getting it all together and that is why no blog inputs. The bottom line....our work was accepted and now we must now scurry to decorate our sales space and bring enough merchandise to sell, by May 17 when the shop opens for the season. Once or twice a month, we must donate 1 or 2 days to help at the shop. It is a very busy tourist spot. So, if you are on vacation in Maine, stop by and see what our local artists have to offer. Then, run across the street and dip your toes in the ocean and have lunch at the Lobster Pound. Here's a picture of the shop:

Did You Know? - Wool is a natural, renewable Source and naturally fire resistant! Also, acrylic yarns are made from oil products. Go Green and use real wool.

I will be doing a series on this blog to help you drop spindle users.

Keep tuned,

Arlyne

NO MORE BLACK...COLOR IS BACK!

I was watching a show on fashion trends and we all know bright colors are in, but I even saw jeans in colors! Red, green, purple...etc. How cool is that with some coordinated bright knits to top them. No more wearing so much black, like everyone is going to a funeral. Black pants or skirt are nice to set off bright colors though. I was always a person of color. I just had to wait for the trend to catch up with me!

Don't be afraid of color. The whole world is made up of color...blue skies, green trees, bright flowers....etc.

TIP: For super soft yarns and rovings, add a cup of white vinegar to your final rinse water...it is a natural fabric softner!

Until Later,

Arlyne

New Knitting Row Marker Bracelets!

Believe it or not is it snowing out again as I write this! But, I'm excited to share another new item with you. Our new row markers beaded bracelet keeps your knitting markers handy right on your wrist! Pretty enough to wear even when you're not knitting! It is a wire spring style bracelet which fits any size wrist.




There are 5 markers on a bracelet which are remove easily with a spring clasp.
There is nothing handier than stitch markers when you are knitting a pattern into your piece, keeping track of your sock yarn rows or knitting in the round.
Visit our shop on Etsy to see more about them at :www.etsy.com/mainewoodsyarn

Wait until you see our new Lighthouse Locker Hooking kit coming soon!
Talk to you soon,
Arlyne