44 posts tagged “spinning”

Now that we are not going to be building a new home anytime soon, the question becomes "Where do you Spin?"

Right now, I have a small set-up in a small bedroom, approximately 100 sq ft, that still has a bed in it.  It's a pain, because I can not have everything set up all at once.  I would like to be able to leave my sewing machine up, all of my wheels set out and ready and also have a space for my circular sock knitting machine and a place to do dyeing. 

Ideally, a studio should have a wet and dry area.  A large work table, plenty of light and storage capacity.  Right now, I have  none of these.  If I want to spin, I must put everything else somewhere else.  If I want to sew, I have to find a table to set the machine on.  Even trying to keep track of all of my fleeces and different yarns is a drag.  I did get info on a knitter's project sheet, but even that seems to much to think about.

So, spinners, where do you spin?  Do you make do, or do you have a space that is dedicated only to spinning?

I went a little crazy this week.  I was looking at our local Craigslist ads and I found a listing for a spinning wheel for $50.  How could I not look??  What I found was a Canadian Production Wheel.

Cpw

Autoknitter

This is my other purchase this week.  A complete Auto Knitter made in Canada.  It has two cylinders and two ribbers, plus the bobbins and bobbin winder!  I am really excited about this find.  I have been wanting one for a while now.  There are quite a few good youtube videos on this and I can't wait to receive it.  I found it on ebay and I think I paid an okay price for it.  I have seen these go for over $1000 and this one has all of it's parts, including it's original wood shipping crate. 

Time is counting down for Level 5 of the Master Spinners Class.  I will need to have over 300 yards of a cellulose yarn for dyeing during class.  I have done some linen and some hemp.  But I think the winner will be cotton.  You get to see the colors of the dye a bit more clearly.  I am looking forward to this class.  One step closer to my Master's Certificate!  After this, just one more level to go.

I am done.  I have just finished my Level 4 workbook for  the Master Spinner course.  Very intensive spinning workbook.  A 150 hour project that turned out to be 220+ hours and a bit of research.  Thank goodness I am a book buyer.  Most of the information I needed was right on my book shelf. 

One thing I didn't count on was losing my notebook.  You know, the one with the notes that aren't in the handouts.  Thank goodness for wonderful people like Mad Knitter.  She came through for me with the notes I needed. 

Here is a list of the work that had to be done.
Wool

Use wool from the same fleece for requirements 1-7 in order to
Compare the best method of preparing and spinning of that particular fleece.
  
Prepare wool by elongating wool locks and prepare a plied semi worsted yarn.
   
Prepare wool by flick carding locks and spin a plied semi worsted yarn
 
Card wool the woollen way and spin a plied yarn the woollen way.
 
Card wool the woollen way and spin a plied yarn the worsted way.
 
Card wool the worsted way and spin a plied yarn the worsted way.
 
Card wool the worsted way and spin a plied yarn the worsted way.  (Reversed on bobbins before plying.)
 
Prepare wool by combing and spin a plied true worsted yarn (25 yards.)  reversed on bobbins before plying **
    
Spin a plied wool/mohair blend yarn.  Provide percentage of blend, characteristics and suitable use of this yarn.
   
Spin a 2 ply cotton yarn on a support spindle.  Provide note of suitable use for this yarn.
    
Spin a 2 ply cotton yarn on a spinning wheel.  Provide note of suitable use for this yarn.    

Bison   

Spin a plied yarn using bison    fulled **   
   
Spin a plied yarn using bison blended with another fibre of your choice provide a brief note why you chose that blend.  Provide percentage of blend, characteristics ad a suitable use for this yarn.  
   
Spin a plied yarn using camel hair.  
   
Spin a plied yarn suing camel down.
    
Spin a plied yarn using 25% camel down and 75% silk.   
   
Spin a plied yarn using 50% camel down and 50% silk.   
   
Spin a plied yarn using 75% camel down and 25% silk.   
  
   
Spin a plied yarn using cashmere.   
   
Spin a plied yarn using cashmere/wool.  Provide a brief note why you chose that blend.  Provide percentage of blend, characteristics and a suitable use for the yarn.
  
  Reel several silk cocoons at the same time.  Mount reeled silk.
     
Spin a plied yarn using 25% silk/75% wool.   
   
Spin a plied yarn using 50% silk/50% wool.   
   
Spin a plied yarn using 75% silk/25% wool.   
   
Spin a plied yarn using a tow flax/wool blend.   

Spin 4 yarns (of 6 yards each) using line flax by using the 4 methods (muff, damp towel, Estonian, comb or board).      

Spin a plied yarn using line flax from a distaff.   
   
Spin a plied yarn using natural tow flax.       

Spin a plied yarn using bleached tow flax.    

Spin a blied yarn using natural flax.  Bleach the yarn and note the recipe for bleaching of flax.
    
Research and describe the processes of Bettling, Calendaring, Mercierizing, Sizing, Wrinkle resisting.  Describe the effect of these processes on finished linen textiles.
    
Spin a lopi yarn using Icelandic Fleece.    

Spin a lopi yarn using mohair/ wool.  Mohair, wool, camel hair**      

Spin a 3 ply spiral yarn.  Provide description on how the yarn was created and how to use this yarn in a project.
    
Spin a tufted yarn.  Provide description on how this yarn was created and to use this yarn in a project.
      
Spin a 3 ply bouclé yarn.  Provide description on how this yarn was created and how to use this yarn in a project.  

Blend and spin nine wool skeins using the percentage of weight system to produce colours from black to white with seven shades of grey in between.  The white and black wool have to be blended by hand carding.
   
Use two colours of wool top on hackles to produce a homogeneous blend.  Spin that blend into a plied yarn.  Include a sample of the blend.
 
Use 3 colours of wool top on hackles to produce a multicoloured blend.  Spin that blend into a plied yarn.  Include sample of blend.
   
Specific End Use
150 hour project
The 150 hour project will be marked on the following (the total 150 marks will be distributed as follows):

 Appropriate fibre used.
 Handle of finished poject.
 Spinning technique appropriate to end use.
 If dyed, include recipe.
 If blending fibre or colours (are they well blended?)
 Spinning consistency of yarn.
 Design.

Include a skein of each of the yarns being used in the project together with the finished project.

Also include a chart of time spent on each task.
   
Perform a burn test on protein fibres.  Resent the results of the burn test in a table.    5   

Chemical Dyeing on Protein Yarns   

Dye 12 wool skeins for a colour wheel using the three primary colours:  blue, red and yellow.  Mount the 12 colours as a colour wheel.  Provide recipe and calculations for each colour.
   
Dye 6 skeins using the Ombre dyeing technique (as described in module C10).  Make an 8” x 8” swqtch using these dyed yarns.
   
Dye 2 skeins using the injection dyeing technique.  Describe a project for each skein or for both skeins in one project.
   
Dye wool fleece by using the rainbow dyeing method.  Include a sample of the dyed fleece plus a spun skein in your workbook.
 
Dye 8 skeins using different percentage of dye stock solutions either for different hues of one colour or different colours on the colour wheel.  Make a small project from these 8 skeins or they can be used in the 150 hour project  (the marks will be added to the 150 hour project.)
     
Compile a bibliography showing all the reference materials that were used to complete the assignments for level 4.

Not a small list.  But I am done.  Now, to get ready for Level 5 that starts at the end of June!!!
       

Today I am finished with my 150 Hour project for Level 4 of the Master Spinners Program.  I created a needlepoint project that features over 60 different yarn colors.  I used the percentage method of blending the 3 primary colors into tints and shades, from 10% to 90% with black and white and the 3 primaries.  I was going to originally use the secondary colors as well but after doing the first bit and estimating the length of time, it would have probably taken 500 hours to complete and be massive as well.  As it stands, there are 19 different tints and shades of red yellow and blue.  I used a 14 to the inch needle point canvas and the finished work is 24" by 36".  For the design I used a variation of my initials: VMH and mirrored and flipped original design to create a 4 repeat. 

This process was very instructive.  All colors were blended on a hackle and then pulled off through a diz.  I started out with 10 grams total of fiber for each yarn.  The blending process created a lot of waste and some yarns were not long enough to complete the project so I would reblend and spin up another 5 grams to make up the shortage.

Blending colors is something that I have a great deal of experience with.  I have painted for longer than I can remember so the blending of fibers to create different colors wasn't that intimidating.  What caused problems is the physics of blending fibers this way.  Of course the fibers have to be prepped ahead of time.  I used commercial rovings for my project so all I really needed to do was weigh out the wool.  I have a triple beam scale to do that.  The biggest problems occur when the fiber lengths aren't the same.  This was especially true for blending the blue shades.  The blue fibers were a bit longer than the black and the colors would sometimes pool.  It took some concentrated effort to make the blends thorough. 

I did enjoy watching the whole thing take shape.  The subtle differences in the colors are enhanced in a bargello design. 

I am so glad it's done.  But now that it is I have to refocus on the remaining work.  Some work with silk and cashmere blends and a bunch more linen work.  But now that the "elephant" is done, I can really get cranking on the rest of the workbook. 

Here are some shots of my recent visit to Olds, Alberta for my Level 4 Master Spinners Class.  #1 is my distaff dressed with flax.  #2 is Karly R and Arlene C working at the dye pot.  # 3 is our bundles of yarn for our color wheel, dyed with a percentage dye method.  #4 is a class picture, #5 show some lovely bromeliads blooming in the buildings atrium, #6 is the result of crockpot rainbow dyeing, and #6 shows the result of some burn tests.

I am back from my level 4 master spinners course in Olds, Alberta.  What a beautiful place.  Exactly what you'd expect a grass prairie to look like.  Amazing!!  Sky for miles and off to the west the Rockies jump off the horizon like so many jagged teeth.

The class went really well.  Our instructor made a very welcoming and wonderful learning environment for all 8 of us students.  I am the only one from my original class but Mary L and Angela S from last year at Gibson's made it to this class.  Lovely women in the class.  Everyone a delight.  But I have to say, by Wednesday my brain was full!!

Flax, bison, reeling silk, percentage and timed dyeing, cotton and the dreaded long draw were skills to work on.  Flax is a wondrous fiber to spin and then we went to the other extreme in length with cotton.  Burn tests were done.  A good way to identify fibers.  One of the nice things about this class was that I finally feel that I am turning into a competent spinner.  Not great by any means, but a solid handle on things. 

I also bought a beautiful black shetland lamb fleece that was part of the wool show.  Nearly jet black and so pretty.  I will post pix in the near future.

When a LARGE animal dies at one's home the question of what to do with the beast arises.  In our case, with really hot weather approaching (100 degrees F +) we simply could not wait.  We called the renderer, now the company calls itself &*^% Commodities.  I don't want to use their real name.  They do a much needed service to the community and the guy who drives the truck couldn't be nicer.  But, COMMODITIES?????  I guess it's better than the old Monty Python "Bring out yer dead, bring out yer dead!".  So we said our final goodbyes to our dear Sassie.  What a waste.  She was a beautiful animal with a personality to match her name.  Our last ride together we seemed to start to have that horse/rider connection.  It was wonderful.  I will miss her.

In other news, spinning course level 4 is coming up next week.  I get to travel to Beautiful Alberta.  From looking at Google Maps the place I am going to appears to be all mountains and valleys.  It looks lovely and I love this time of year.  Days are long enough to see what's what after classes so there should be some sight seeing going on.  I have never been to Calgary so I'm excited to go.  Also, friends from last year will be there.  I will meet up with Angela at the airport and Mary will be there as well.  Spinning flax this year as well as using commercial dyes.  Dyeing up your yarn is always fun.  Watching white turn all sorts of lovely shades.  We also have to give a 15 minute mini lesson suitable for beginning spinners.  I haven't quite decided yet what I'm going to talk about.  I think I will talk about carding from washed locks to rolags or rovings.  I guess I need to pack some Romney.  I am taking my wheel, a distaff (made from an old music stand) my lazy kate, a ball winder, carders, combs and an assortment of other oddments one needs to spin. 

By the way, did anyone read the editorial in the last Spin Off?  It was by Abby Franquemont and she has described exactly how I feel about spinning.  It's hard to imagine that spinning, knitting, weaving etc were once something done in almost every household.  Imagine a life without twisted fibers.  Just think about how societies were 'enmeshed' in the trading of everything from wool, silk, cotton etc.  Wars fought, monies made.   Do read it if you can.

There seems to be some sort of charity walk-a-thon going on over at the middle  school behind our house.  Our southwest corner is at the northeast corner of the football field and it is covered in tents and chairs and someone has set up a sound system.  I wouldn't mind so much if they would play something decent.  But alas, it is a jumble of country, easy listening, 80's rock guh.  I suppose it's easy to walk to, and it has a nice beat.  I give it a 67.  I don't know how many of you used to watch Dick Clark's Bandstand on Saturdays.  We did.  Like what happened in the musical "Hairspray".  All those polished faces and smiling and everyone dressed up.  Then the British invaded.  Thank goodness.  No more Neil Sedaka.  Yikes.  Well, time to pack a few more things.  Maybe make up some cheat sheets for my 'lesson'  Hope everyone has a good week end.

Lazy Kate that is.  I just finished a prototype of what I am calling a "traveling" lazy kate.  I need one that will hold at least four bobbins and lay flat in my suitcase.  Here it is

Spinning 001

Right now it is hanging on the wall, nice for keeping it out of the way.  To use, I place it on the floor.  It has notches for the dowels that hold the bobbins and fixed dowels below each to help with tensioning.  I will be adding a scotch tension set up next.  Here's a close up of the notch.

Spinning 002

This is only 3" deep without bobbins.  It is 8" wide and 24" long.  This one is made of poplar but once I get the bugs worked out of the design, I think I will make it in oak.  It really is just a take off on the old shoe box type of lazy kate.  I know that there are kates like this on the market, but I just like doing things myself.  I guess that's why I spin!!

As those who know me will tell you, I am ultra organized about some things, totally unorganized about most things.  This can be a problem.  My house is usually a wreck, but I can usually put my hand on things that are important.  Now, I can put my hands on my sample skeins for Level 3 with no problem.  They are neat and tidy, and are even alphabetized.  I tend to go overboard on things.  For instance, for this project I started out with 3' x3" plastic bobbins that I was going to attach to 5" by 8" index cards along with all pertinent information.  Way too bulky.  Then I decided to try using 3" x 3" little plastic zippy bags on the cards and then using small format binders to hold every thing.  Too bulky and the bags were too small.  So, I hit on using 4" x 4" zippy bags, which I got at our local Craftwarehouse, and used double sided tape (I couldn't have done my library job without it!) to tape the bags to the cards.  Then into the wonderful filebox with these great plastic dividers.  Whew!  A bit of effort, but well worth it.  Let's take a look. . .  .

Index box

Index card

I learned my score for my level 3 workbook the other day.  I was not prepared.  I earned a 97%!!