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| Wildpurl |
Spinning Workshop - now with picturesOn Sunday I am going to Socktopus to have my first spinning lesson with Diane Mulholland
There are two three hour sessions, one this week and one in two weeks time. After that there is the possibility of a second course to learn plying and cool stuff like that. Diane promises that we will leave the course spinning, which going by my previous efforts will be a miracle as I was pants when I tried it at the Swindon meetup. 
I'm really looking forward to it, as I've been wanting to learn to spin for a long time and I'm determined to master it. I'm saving up for a wheel but I don't want to buy one until I know what I'm doing. |
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| pictish |
Ooooh good luck!!! Sounds like it will be great fun 
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| Glynis |
I was looking at that course and considered it myself. I hope you have fun! | ||||
| franney |
I have heard great things about Diane so fingers crossed that you'll come home spinning Carol! How exciting for you
Will you be popping over to Loop in the afternoon to see Cookie? 
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| Glynis |
Although I plied the little bit of wheel-spun yarn that I made back in August, under the watchful eye of a tutor, I've only just plied my first spindle-spun "yarn" .
It's been waiting for me to have the courage to try since before Christmas, though to be fair to myself, it has been a heck of a few months, so the delay is not really surprising. Can't wait to hear how you get on Carol. |
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| ClaireUK |
Take a really good look at the spindles Dianne uses cos they are made by my DH : )
Hope you have a great time!! |
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| Wildpurl |
Well, I had a great time, and we were spinning within ten minutes of arriving I'd say! I have a little skein of my first attempt plied with itself, and I have more on the spindle and a 100g of roving to spin and ply before the next session in two weeks.
My first attempt isn't perfect by any means, but it is much better than my pevious attempt, and I think it is knittable, so I plan to knit a little square with it. Photos when there is more light. It took me a while to "get" exactly how to manage the drafting and the twisting at first, but Diane is a very good teacher and patiently showed us over and over what to do, so now I understand how it should work, I just need lots and lots of practice. Claire, I think the spindle is part of why I did better this time than previously. Diane explained she had them made specially, and they are certainly very nice to use and well balanced. We could pick which wood we wanted as all the whorls are made from different wood -I think mine is mahogany. I feel a spindle collection coming on LOL Speaking of collections, I browsed a little in Socktopus afterwards. I bought two skeins of DIC Smooshy, 2 of DIC Classy to make a Sweet Pea shawl, 3 skeins of something with sheep in the name which was in lovely earthy colours, some roving in lovely colours and a book about spinning for beginners. What???!!! I sometimes knit as many as two pairs of socks a year I'll have you know. Besides, my sock yarn stash fits in one carrier bag
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| Glynis |
I can't think why, but when I read "carrier bag" on this forum I get a mental picture of one of those big skip-sized bags you find in buiders' merchants. 
I'm so pleased that you had a good time. I may be calling on you for advice. My first plied-from-spindle yarn is a mighty curious beastie! |
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| Aknita |
I always think of carrier bags as bags for life
Carol if you mean the Sock'n'Go Sheepaints yarn I confess to having bought two skeins of that at the Cookie A workshop. The colours are wonderful. I also bought some Smooshy
I spent a whole day at a spinning workshop with Jenni from Fyberspates and was absolutely useless at it, but improved when someone allowed me to play with their Golding? spindle, so I can see how having the right tool would help. Workshop are wonderful though, aren't they. |
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| pictish |
Sounds great Carol!!! And nice purchases too
I'm ignoring all these oblique references to carrier bags tho
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| Wildpurl |
I couldn't possibly comment Glynis! I got my carrier bag from the same place pictish got her two
As for advice, I'm always happy to try and help, but advice might be a bit of a strong word for the level of expertise I have currently attained
I wonder if we might be close enough for us to be able to meet up sometime and swap spinning advice though. I'm in Surrey close to Guildford and the A3. I have thought it would be a good idea for me to go to a SW&D Guild meeting once I get going with spinning, I don't know if you go to any meet ups in the area? Joy, the Sheepaints are the one I meant. I saw them and then next thing I knew Alice was gently taking skeins of yarn from me and putting them into a Socktopus bag. They are just yummy! I'm still pretty useless at spinning btw, but I did improve during the 3 hours, and a lady who was there had been practising at home and she was significantly better, so I am reasonably sure that practice will help. I'm going to do half an hour a night, and my reward will be if I can spin all the practice roving then I can spin my coloured one next
My goal is to be able to spin enough fingering weight ish to be able to make a shawl with it. Well, maybe a very small shoulder shawl, but anyhow... |
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| Glynis |
Carol, I joined Medway Spinners Weavers and Dyers in September, but since the end of October I've been unable to get there. First I had a clash between a meeting I needed to be at and the Guild meeting, then Dad was in hospital. Since Dad died in January I'd not the energy at the end of a working day to go, but I was planning to be there this evening. And what do you know? I've been reminded of another obligation, so again I can't go 
I think my goal matches yours, and practice certainly makes all the difference. (That's what I'm hoping with regard to plying!!) |
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| Auntie Noo |
So glad you had a good time Carola, I read on Diane's twitter feed that she had "made new spinners!" so i figured all had gone well! | ||||
| Glynis |
Thinking of Guilds, there is also this one.
http://www.onlineguildwsd.org.uk/ |
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| franney |
Sounds lovely Carol, what a fun day out! I'm looking forward to seeing your spinning progress too, i'm ashamed to say i have given up and put my fluff and spindle away in the loft, i just don't get it
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| Wildpurl |
Here is a photo of the yarn I spun on the day:
Even though it's quite slubby it still looks like recognisable yarn. And I've been practising tonight - I'm still pants but improving - here's my spindle full of yarn 
and a close up 
It's quite addictive... |
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| Fi |
I would love to have a go at spinning one day. | ||||
| CJ |
Go Carol. have you ordered a wheel yet? 
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| Glynis |
It's looking good 
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| franney |
That looks fabulous Carol, you must be really pleased that you have the hang of it? | ||||
| Wildpurl |
I am pleased Franney, even though I still need to practise lots and am far from being perfect, I have got the hang of what I am supposed to be doing IYSWIM.
LOL @ CJ, we are looking and trying out wheels at the next session, after that I would really like to buy a wheel.
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| pictish |
That's amazing progress!!!!! Well done 
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| Jobo |
Well done Carol - your yarn looks lovely - I especially like the twisty one at the top that looks like its made of two different colours
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| modelwidow |
That looks really good Carola, I should think you were justifiably pleased with yourself.
(I do wish I would find out about these wonderful workshops before they happened  ).
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| Purplegem |
Hi Carola, glad you're enjoying learning to spin - looking good
I'm also hoping to get a drop spindle this year and have a go, just waiting to go to one of those fairs at Ardingly to have a try at one first. I shouldn't get into any more hobbies really - I could do with using up all the yarn I have now without making more! But it looks such fun
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| Wildpurl |
Today I went back to Socktopus for the second part of my spinning workshop. We had all improved our spinning since the first lesson and were confident with the spindle.
Diane had brought little bags of different fibre in various preparations for each of us. We had combed silk, loose alpaca, polwarth locks, mohair locks, wensleydale and merino. She taught us to hand card and make rolags, and to flick card the polwarth and other locks. We practised spinning from the carded wool afterwards, which was quite different from the combed tops we started on. I also had a go at spinning the Polwarth into a very fine yarn, using a smaller spindle I borrowed from Diane, and achieved a tiny length of plied yarn which looked a lot like laceweight.
I thought that carding would be difficult and boring but actually it was easy and fun, and I like the idea of spinning from wool I have carded myself. We also tried spinning with a wheel, using Diane's Ashford Joy. I loved it, and am definitely going to get a wheel now. I can't recommend this class too highly, Diane is very knowledgeable and the class was well constructed and has introduced a lot of basic techniques for us to experiment with. She made it exciting and inspiring! There is a Superspin 2 which will run in June/July and I have already decided to book up for that. I should have my wheel by then and we will look at spinning more different fibres and also at other plying techniques and different types of draw. |
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| CJ |
I'm hoping to get a travel wheel then go on one of Diane's courses, as my parents live a 40 min train ride from London. Not sure when though, I'll need to save up after splashing out on a second wheel which I'm hoping to get at the end of this month.
sounds a fab course, I quite like carding too, it's fun. I only tend to do it in the summer though when I can sit outdoors as it makes a right old mess.
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| Glynis |
So which wheels will you have in house then?? |
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| franney |
It sounds like you have learnt a lot today Carol and your post just sounds so enthusiastic and cheery!! So glad you've enjoyed it and got a lot from it and i am really looking forward to seeing all your results
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| Willow |
I also put my spindle away as i just couldn't do it once i came away from swindon.
The class sounded good maybe one day i will try something like that as i will be getting the fleese from my name sack at my friends farm next spring. Your spindle looks lovely too, i like the little grove so you can sit the spun yarn as it winds round the spindle. |
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| FatCat |
LOL at you just slipping in the phrase "I should have my wheel by then". You're hooked then? It does sound like a brilliant course, and I've only heard good things about Diane. Well done too on spinning some laceweight  Just looked back on this thread (no pun intended ) and your yarn pics from the first part of the course look great
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| CJ |
just a majacraft suzie pro at the moment, but I'm hoping to get a lendrum DT when P&M get them in stock.
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| pictish |
Two of the nicest wheels I think The waiting time for lendrums is an age isn't it. I remember waiting forever for mine and thinking it wasn't going to arrive in time for Christmas and it suddenly turned up on Christmas Eve
ETA sorry Carol I meant to say the workshops sound absolutely amazing!!! I would love to have had that sort of tuition!! |
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| CJ |
well, I only put my name down for it at the beginning of April and hopefully the shipment arriving the end of this month (fingers crossed, cos mr lendrum keeps changing things - I guess he has a load of other stockists to send to as well!! ) if Martin gets enough to cover all his list.
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| pictish |
Oh well that's not too bad - hope you get one!!! | ||||
| CJ |
fingers crossed.
Carol, do you have any more photos we can see.
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| Wildpurl |
LOL I might
I've got a spindleful of bfl dyed in green and yellow shades, but it only seems to be about a quarter of the fibre in the bag  . My plan is to spin half and then wind it off onto a temporary bobbin and then spin the other half and then ply them together. I ordered a Lazy Kate today to assist with this. But I've got to spin it all first.
My Polwarth from Southern Cross Fibres arrived today as well, it's gorgeous! And I've got all my samples to spin from the class. I'll see what I can come up with at the weekend
ETA Hang on, I have got a couple of new ones. This is a skein of my first practice spinning after the class, about 30g of bfl plied on itself. It is drying here: 
and ready for storage 
My spinning improved drastically while I was doing this, and it is much more even and consistent than that now. |
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| pictish |
That's fantastic!!!! It looks gorgeously squishy
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| Aknita |
Goodness I AM impressed. I can quite honestly say that I didn't achieve anything like that on my workshop ( nor am I likely to I might add )
I like Diane very much, she has such an unfussy and commom sense approach which I am sure really helps when she is teaching. |
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| FatCat |
Wow, that looks absolutely fantastic!  But you say it's more consistent than that now? I really like the squishiness of it though, it looks lovely
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| CJ |
That looks lovely Carol.
I may have a bit of David's polwarth in my stash myself. er, like 300g of it.
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| Wildpurl |
Thanks guys! If I'm honest I am quite proud of it
FC, yes my spinning is much more even and consistent than that now, and I am manging to spin much finer too. But once I'd got the hang of it then practice has really improved my technique. I'll post a piccie of my current bfl on the spindle when I get a moment - with the obligatory coin under it for scale LOL - and you'll see what I mean. It's not perfect by any means, but there is much less variation. I'm really looking forward to plying it.
CJ - I managed to grap one lot at the last shop update. It's a bit of a scramble - I decided to grab the first polwarth I saw, bung it in the basket and check out, and it seemd to work. Now I've got it I shall deffo be getting more, it's yummy. I think it could be spun laceweight and made into a shawl, what do you reckon? |
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| CJ |
polwarth does seem to bloom quite a bit when you wash and whack it, so make sure you spin plenty thin enough in the first place.
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| FatCat |
ooh, looking forward to seeing your pics!
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| Wildpurl |
OK, here's what I'm working on at the moment:
BFL combed top 
On the spindle 
Close-up 
The spindle is pretty well full, so I need to wind the yarn off onto something and start the next lot. I plan to make a two ply fingering weight yarn with it to be used for socks. |
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| KnittingLadybird |
Oh my that's gonna be gorgeous socks! | ||||
| pictish |
Blimey!!! Aren't you good!!!! Gorgeous stuff there
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| Wildpurl |
Thanks! | ||||
| Glynis |
It looks amazing Carol, you're a natural! | ||||
| FatCat |
oh wow, Carola! That's brilliant - it looks so even and fine! Go you! I want to get that good so I can make socks with my yarn, got a while to go yet though
the colours are gorgeous, is that fibre part of your Wildcraft splurge? |
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| Wildpurl |
Thank you! I think it's just practice, honestly. You'll be spinning like that or better in a few weeks at most, I reckon. It seems to me that once you have "got" drafting then it all comes together.
Btw, there is a great thread on the Southern Cross Fibre Group on Ravelry, it is called Then and Now, and it is loads of spinners showing their first ever spun yarn and their current yarn. Everyone starts off with uneven thick and thin, some worse than others, and everyone ends up with even fine yarn. I found it really encouraging to see how the experienced spinners started out and what they can do now.
And er...no...that fibre was my Socktopus splurge, before the Wildcraft splurge, the Warratah fibres splurge and the Southern cross Fibres splurge.
Ahem |
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| Aknita |
There is a lady who quilts on another forum that I belong to, and she regularly teaches students.
She kept the first quilt she ever made and shows it to her students to show them that she didn't start where she is now
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| Glynis |
It's so true isn't it? We sometimes need reminders that we got where we are by sticking at it.
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| franney |
That's looking fab Carol
Do you find yourself spinning more than knitting or crocheting now? |
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| Wildpurl |
So far I think I'm spinning mostly at times when I would have watched TV or done other stuff - as it's daylight later atm it's easier. I'm also sewing! My knitting has perhaps slowed down a bit though. | ||||
| franney |
That's good then, i mean, although it's slowed down it's bound to cos that's what happens when you take up a new hobby isn't it, at least you haven't stopped completely though
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| Wildpurl |
LOL not much chance of that! | ||||