Finally with the promised spinning content, modest though it may be
“Hey, Cari!” you might say, if you were so inclined to shout at your screen. “You mentioned something about starting to spin again days and days and days ago, and then…nothing, What gives?”
Well, Thumper has only allowed me three opportunities to sit down with the spinning since my decision to get the Louet moving again. (His sleeptime is my worktime, and I haven’t yet figured out how to spin while nursing, so…) Unfortunately, he wasn’t down with the “hang out in the sling while Mom spins” thing. He will, however, sit for about ten to fifteen minutes at a time in a bouncy chair while I spin. For a boy who prefers to be cuddled up to Mom at all times, this is exceedingly generous of him. (Behind him, evidence of laundry day. I’m so glad it’s wool sock weather.)
Here’s what I’ve managed to accomplish so far.
As you can see, it’s a rather small amount of spinning. That small bit was actually done the third time Thumper let me spin. The first bobbin has been set aside for now. For some reason, I’d expected to sit back down to the wheel after several years of letting it collect dust, and just start right up again. Um…not so much. The hand and foot coordination came right back–like riding a bicycle, as you might expect–but my hands are not yet quite up to snuff. The Louet and I battled a bit. There was swearing. There was breakage. There was overspinning (something I’ve always had a problem with). Why such a struggle? Hubris, my friends. I sat back down to the wheel after that long hiatus and set about spinning laceweight. I can still, apparently, spin a pretty consistent laceweight; I just can’t keep it going anymore. Ah well. I’ll get back there, which is why I set that bobbin aside for later and started back up at this heavier weight. Don’t ask about wpi. I haven’t checked that yet…
I’m spinning Lorna’s Laces wool top in the Flames colorway. I’ve had it in the stash forever. I’m going to use it as a practice roving to get back up to speed. Shame to have let this sit for so long, no?
Here are the orphan singles that were hanging out on the bobbins for so very long:
The white is Merino from a gift from Billy, and the red is from a gift from Alison. (Details below.)
Wanna see what else has been neglected for all this time? Sure you do.
The reds are unidentified wool (feels like superwash) and the white and the blue are silk. All gifted to me ages ago by Alison. (Go see her gorgeous new baby, then come back here. I’ll wait.) The variagated red is what I used for that orphan singles.
This yummy pink stuff is a merino/silk blend. (Did I just say “yummy”? See. I need more adult contact. What did I tell you?) I think maybe I bought it two Rhinebecks ago. Any of my partners in crime that day remember if I did? No idea. Anyway, it clearly wants to be socks.
For the first anniversary of our fateful blind date, Billy came home (yeah, we were already living together. When you’re sure, you’re sure.) with three pounds of Merino roving. He had searched online for fiber suppliers, found one in Oregon (which appealed to him because he used to live in Portland), and called the shop. He explained that his girlfriend was a spinner and he wanted to get her some really good stuff. The kindly shop complied. If I hadn’t already known I wanted to marry him, this might have convinced me.
This stuff. Ugh. I bought it two Rhinebecks ago because I liked the color. I must not have felt it first, though. It’s sticky-greasy and unpleasant to handle. I’m going to have to wash it before I’ll spin it. Which means it won’t be spun for a very long time. It’s wool of an unidentified type. (I probably asked at the time. I need to start writing things down.) The colorway really is lovely in person. Think mossy forest floor. A shame I shudder when I touch it.
And finally, we have Hoshi-in-a-Box. A few months before Billy came home with the Merino (in three bags, by the way, and when he gave them to me he said, “Three bags full!” How could I not marry him?) he “adopted” a Cotswold sheep for me. The three of you (Claudia, Carolyn, and Alison, I’m guessing. My comments didn’t migrate from the original Blogspot blog, so I’m sorry if I’m forgetting any of the old-time commenters.) who have been reading this lil blog since the beginning may vaguely recall Hoshi. Here is Hoshi’s processed fleece. 
The Merino and the Cotswold are both special to me, because they were gifts from Billy, so I’m reluctant to dip into them until my spinning is good enough to use them for specific, larger projects. I’m thinking of using the Merino for an Aran, and the Cotswold for several smaller projects. Cassie tried out the Cotswold and said it would be good for a shawl. I think she’s on to something there.
“Okay,” you might now say. “You’ve got quite a bit of fiber for someone who hasn’t spun in ages. What’s the plan?”
I’m so glad you asked. The goal is to spin up enough usable sockweight (and I like my sock yarn on the thinner side) for three pairs of handspun socks this winter. One pair from yarn spun and plyed on the wheel, one pair spun and plyed on spindles, and one pair of energized singles straight from a spindle.
The complication? Until the other week, I’d only spun on a spindle once. I spent twenty minutes learning on one, then went straight to the wheel and never looked back. Maybe it’s motherhood, I don’t know…but now the slowness of the drop spindle really appeals to me. Maybe not for a large project, but certainly for socks. Cassie got me going on this practice spindle. (I don’t know what that fiber is, exactly–ask the generous Juno–but it’s fun stuff.) This bag purchased from Di a while back is proving the perfect way to keep the spindle nearby for those odd moments when I get a chance to spin a quick yard or so, without the cat getting to it. When I bought the bag I had no practical purpose for it, but really really wanted it. Now I know why.
Yeah, I really have enough fiber for now, but damnit I’m buying more at Rhinebeck anyway. Specifically handdyed rovings in sock-friendly fibers. I
also want to buy a nice spindle or two. Okay, maybe three.
So no worries, folks. I won’t be fighting you for the STR.
If you see us at Rhinebeck, please come say hello!
I sure hope I do see you at Rhinebeck. It would be a thrill.
Posted by: Carole
Well you certainly have your spinning all planned out. I think it’s awesome you were able to sit down after all that time and start spinning laceweight. I had trouble getting back into the groove after taking just 2 weeks off.
I hope to run into you this weekend!
Posted by: Karen
I love the bag holding your drop spindle. You’ve got quite a yarn/fiber stash! Have fun at Rhinebeck; less than 48 hours left!
Posted by: Laina
I can’t really look at fiber when you throw distractions like Thumper into the mix. Hey: maybe that’s how you keep the competition at bay while you’re fiber shopping at Rhinebeck: use Thumper to distract them.
Posted by: regina
There are SO MUCH of those special fleeces, there would be no harm in grabbing some just to play with. In fact, its BETTER that way. Sort of like swatching.
Just sayin’.
Posted by: claudia
Hope to see you this weekend!
Posted by: Rachel H
I sure hope I do see you at Rhinebeck. It would be a thrill.
Posted by: Carole
Well you certainly have your spinning all planned out. I think it’s awesome you were able to sit down after all that time and start spinning laceweight. I had trouble getting back into the groove after taking just 2 weeks off.
I hope to run into you this weekend!
Posted by: Karen
I love the bag holding your drop spindle. You’ve got quite a yarn/fiber stash! Have fun at Rhinebeck; less than 48 hours left!
Posted by: Laina
I can’t really look at fiber when you throw distractions like Thumper into the mix. Hey: maybe that’s how you keep the competition at bay while you’re fiber shopping at Rhinebeck: use Thumper to distract them.
Posted by: regina
There are SO MUCH of those special fleeces, there would be no harm in grabbing some just to play with. In fact, its BETTER that way. Sort of like swatching.
Just sayin’.
Posted by: claudia
Hope to see you this weekend!
Posted by: Rachel H
I’ll definitely be on the lookout for you!
I think I have some of that same shudder-inducing green wool. 🙁
Posted by: Adrian
What a great stash! I’m green with envy.
Posted by: Terra
You know, I really love my drop spindle(s). I take one with me as I follow my kids around when they are playing outside. I have heard spindle spinning (in traditional cultures) refered to as “slower by the hour, faster by the week”. Instead of waiting for a block of time to sit down at the wheel, you can grab the spindle and do a bit while you are waiting for noodle water to boil, or whatever. Get yourself a beauty (or two). Kunderts are great, as are bosworths. And also, the book “Spindle Spinning from Novice to Expert” by Connie Delaney is excellent. I’m rambling. As I said, I love handspindling. Have fun!
Posted by: aimee
Have fun at Rhinebeck…I hope sometime I will be able to go too 😉
Posted by: Lía
I have recently re-discovered the drop spindle and I’m loving it. It seems like it’s easier to pick up and spin with on short notice, rather than all the fussing and adjusting you have to do with the wheel. I tend to save the wheel for longer stretches of spinning. (My daughter is 7 and the stretches are still not that long….)
Ah, motherhood. I called my daughter’s early years “Life, Interrupted.” She too liked to be held and she spent many an hour in the backpack that I might cook dinner, vacuum, even rake the yard. Thank goodness she was tiny! For her, no johnny-jump up, no exer-saucer, no other hyphenated baby entertainment and certainly no playpen. Mom or nothing.
It slows a girl down.
(BTW, gorgeous fleeces, romantic husband, and holy crap that’s a lot of stash in the first picture, for someone who purged a lot not too long ago….)
Posted by: jessie
I think “yummy” is a perfectly appropriate and very mature word. 😉 It certainly applies to this context!
Posted by: Sneaksleep
I’ll definitely be on the lookout for you!
I think I have some of that same shudder-inducing green wool. 🙁
Posted by: Adrian
What a great stash! I’m green with envy.
Posted by: Terra
You know, I really love my drop spindle(s). I take one with me as I follow my kids around when they are playing outside. I have heard spindle spinning (in traditional cultures) refered to as “slower by the hour, faster by the week”. Instead of waiting for a block of time to sit down at the wheel, you can grab the spindle and do a bit while you are waiting for noodle water to boil, or whatever. Get yourself a beauty (or two). Kunderts are great, as are bosworths. And also, the book “Spindle Spinning from Novice to Expert” by Connie Delaney is excellent. I’m rambling. As I said, I love handspindling. Have fun!
Posted by: aimee
Have fun at Rhinebeck…I hope sometime I will be able to go too 😉
Posted by: Lía
I have recently re-discovered the drop spindle and I’m loving it. It seems like it’s easier to pick up and spin with on short notice, rather than all the fussing and adjusting you have to do with the wheel. I tend to save the wheel for longer stretches of spinning. (My daughter is 7 and the stretches are still not that long….)
Ah, motherhood. I called my daughter’s early years “Life, Interrupted.” She too liked to be held and she spent many an hour in the backpack that I might cook dinner, vacuum, even rake the yard. Thank goodness she was tiny! For her, no johnny-jump up, no exer-saucer, no other hyphenated baby entertainment and certainly no playpen. Mom or nothing.
It slows a girl down.
(BTW, gorgeous fleeces, romantic husband, and holy crap that’s a lot of stash in the first picture, for someone who purged a lot not too long ago….)
Posted by: jessie
I think “yummy” is a perfectly appropriate and very mature word. 😉 It certainly applies to this context!
Posted by: Sneaksleep
It’s hard to believe you had a stash sale not so long ago! Look at all that yarn int he background. I don’t know how to spin but the big blobs and bags of roving(? correct term? not hip with the spinning lingo) make me want to creat a giant haystack and jump right in. Hope to run into you at Rhinebeck.
Posted by: Kim P
Have a blast at Rhinebeck! LOVE the stash flash!
Maybe if you put something colorful on the wheel (the side Thumper sees) while your’re spinning, it may buy you and extra few minutes of spinning! Just sayin’
Posted by: Carol
Is that a darling little spit bubble? (And seconding the Jessie comments – my husband came home to find me crying over the vacuum cleaner with our 3 month old in the backpack. I was crying because she had her tiny fists locked in the short hairs on the back of my neck, and she was pulling them and crying, too. It’s funny now.)
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
Geekpixie sent me this link. Pink! I love that Pink!
Posted by: Johanna
I hope to see you at Rhinebeck. I just finished pinning down a Traveling Vines scarf to block. I’ll be wearing it at Rhinebeck. so I’ll have to show it to you if I get the opportunity. It’s such a great pattern.
Posted by: chrissie
Hi Cari,
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now. I’m a transplanted Brooklynite (Berkeley bet 6th & 7th), now living in Dusseldorf, Germany. I just wanted to tell you that I loved the post where you told your husband that you lived in Brooklyn NOW, so why would you want to move to Portland, which is just like B’klyn??? I know exactly what you meant. Your baby is beautiful – congrats on all.
Allegra
Posted by: Allegra
It’s hard to believe you had a stash sale not so long ago! Look at all that yarn int he background. I don’t know how to spin but the big blobs and bags of roving(? correct term? not hip with the spinning lingo) make me want to creat a giant haystack and jump right in. Hope to run into you at Rhinebeck.
Posted by: Kim P
Have a blast at Rhinebeck! LOVE the stash flash!
Maybe if you put something colorful on the wheel (the side Thumper sees) while your’re spinning, it may buy you and extra few minutes of spinning! Just sayin’
Posted by: Carol
Is that a darling little spit bubble? (And seconding the Jessie comments – my husband came home to find me crying over the vacuum cleaner with our 3 month old in the backpack. I was crying because she had her tiny fists locked in the short hairs on the back of my neck, and she was pulling them and crying, too. It’s funny now.)
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
Geekpixie sent me this link. Pink! I love that Pink!
Posted by: Johanna
I hope to see you at Rhinebeck. I just finished pinning down a Traveling Vines scarf to block. I’ll be wearing it at Rhinebeck. so I’ll have to show it to you if I get the opportunity. It’s such a great pattern.
Posted by: chrissie
Hi Cari,
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now. I’m a transplanted Brooklynite (Berkeley bet 6th & 7th), now living in Dusseldorf, Germany. I just wanted to tell you that I loved the post where you told your husband that you lived in Brooklyn NOW, so why would you want to move to Portland, which is just like B’klyn??? I know exactly what you meant. Your baby is beautiful – congrats on all.
Allegra
Posted by: Allegra
I have fallen in love with the handspindle–it is made for spinning with lots of distractions. Have fun at the fiberfest!
Posted by: spaazlicious
What a spintastic post! Wow! I’m sorry that one lot feels so nasty- the color is gorgeous! Can’t wait to see how this all spins up for you!
Posted by: Annie
What a spintastic post! Wow! I’m sorry that one lot feels so nasty- the color is gorgeous! Can’t wait to see how this all spins up for you!
Posted by: Annie
I’ve been lurking for a while, since I met your cousin at Knitty City’s spinning workshop last month and figured I would finally comment. Sorry to have missed you and Thumper at Rhinebeck yesterday – I heard (via Too Much Wool Cass) that you hit the same construction coming out of Brooklyn as my friend Jordana and I did. We left my place in Windsor Terrace at 9:30, and with one tiny pit stop in Fishkill, we didn’t get to Rhinebeck until 1:15. Crazy.
I just started spinning (with a drop spindle) and spent yesterday picking up various types of fiber to try out and eyeing up the wheels…somehow they seem so much less work than a spindle. Any wheel recommendations?
Posted by: Julie
I have fallen in love with the handspindle–it is made for spinning with lots of distractions. Have fun at the fiberfest!
Posted by: spaazlicious
What a spintastic post! Wow! I’m sorry that one lot feels so nasty- the color is gorgeous! Can’t wait to see how this all spins up for you!
Posted by: Annie
What a spintastic post! Wow! I’m sorry that one lot feels so nasty- the color is gorgeous! Can’t wait to see how this all spins up for you!
Posted by: Annie
I’ve been lurking for a while, since I met your cousin at Knitty City’s spinning workshop last month and figured I would finally comment. Sorry to have missed you and Thumper at Rhinebeck yesterday – I heard (via Too Much Wool Cass) that you hit the same construction coming out of Brooklyn as my friend Jordana and I did. We left my place in Windsor Terrace at 9:30, and with one tiny pit stop in Fishkill, we didn’t get to Rhinebeck until 1:15. Crazy.
I just started spinning (with a drop spindle) and spent yesterday picking up various types of fiber to try out and eyeing up the wheels…somehow they seem so much less work than a spindle. Any wheel recommendations?
Posted by: Julie