Spinning Roundabout

[Roundabout Exit 151, it seems everything telcom-related has been taking turns malfunctioning: telephone, ISP, email, browser, blog host, photo host. A thousand apologies for the radio silence – I'm doing my best to chase down the asymptote and catch up.]

Yesterday was the last spin class with Stacey at Modern Yarn. Naturally, we had Paige take a class photo. I'm camera shy.



Spin class has been one of the best fibery classes I've ever taken. In four sessions I've gone from clew-less to mini skeins of yarn, thanks to an excellent instructor and a go-for-it class. [Rah, Stacey! Rah, class!] As an experienced knitter, I've especially appreciated learning more about fiber and how it becomes yarn. There's a very high satisfaction factor in going from mass o' roving to balanced skein. Incidentally, this does not violate the laws of thermodynamics – at the same time, dishes and other chores have piled up and my house has become covered with clinging fibery friends.

I've noticed spinning has a steep slippery slope. Although its dynamic nature makes it somewhat daunting to learn from books, I've found that once attempted, the basics are easier to pick up than knitting. The big hurdle is trusting the fiber enough to let the spindle drop. But I think the deep secret is drafting and pre-drafting – put another way, developing a finger sense for what the fiber wants to do.

Then there's the matter of the growing stash. My class roving was a nondescript Ashland Bay blend, but Karen generously shared some light brown Cormo and some ecru Romney [thanks, Karen]. Oenophiles aren't the only connoisseurs who can debate the merits of blends versus varietals! I now own two dropspindles, my learner's spindle and this little Golden Leaf beauty from Stacey's Made by Ewe site. And it would seem I'm destined for a Bossie (we're on familiar terms now), if online quizzes are any guide.

You're A Bosworth!

You are a lean, mean spindling machine!
Which Spindle Are You?

Some in the class are already talking about wheel acquisition. I'm not quite there yet, but I'm delighted and boggled by the directions for a DIY cigar-box charkha. Imagine, four weeks ago my vocabulary was so impoverished that I had no idea what a charkha is.

Last week, Stacey brought Gossamer, her English Angora rabbit, to class. I'm allergic to rabbit angora, but the cute factor is irresistable.



Gossamer was very mellow with the horde of strangers. Stacey demonstrated bunny-to-yarn, gently pulling bits of loose fluff off his back and spinning them into fine singles. Amazing to relate, Gossamer's fluff is nearly half his visual mass. Its loft is astonishing – were it shorn, it would likely weigh all of a whopping two ounces (56.6 g). Pity I couldn't cuddle him; other class members seemed to enjoy doing so.

Spinning along, my secret plan to spin my own laceweight got a big boost when I discovered that Knitterguy spins. I already knew he knits on a higher plane of existence, but fine spinning, too? I can only bless all teachers and watch and learn.



It should come as no surprise that Spinnning in Public is not far behind. Cara of January One is holding Spin On Spin In Spin Out in NYC Central Park on Saturday, June 24. If the meet-up weren't enough, she's also fundraising for Heifer International, one of my all-time favorite charities, with great prizes (including a Majacraft wheel!). Do be sure to check out her registry page.

Coming full circle, I've tagged my very first micro skein with date and comments and plan to save it for reference. I think the rest might like to be a cap, perhaps with a Greek labyrinth motif for Ariadne, an accomplished spindler, and her clew.

Categories: {Spindling}

First Yarn

Midway into the four-week spin class at Modern Yarn taught by Stacey, I have pencil roving, a beginner's top whorl drop spindle full of newbie singles, a wound ball of newbie singles, and my first micro skein of 2-ply yarn. It's overspun – and yet it actually looks like yarn!



Spin class is great. Stacey is a wonderful teacher – well-prepared, enthusiastic, diplomatic, and a font of spinning knowledge. The other students add to the excellent esprit. Some have spun before; I'm a complete newbie and have managed to commit just about every newbie blunder, not least wearing black to the first class and deciding to spin ecru roving. (We won't even mention the silk coccoons that stuck to my unexfoliated fingers briefly, then flew off in an unknown trajectory.)

As my ambition 'way outstrips my ability, the learning curve has been an exercise in patience. I spent the first class struggling with drafting and parking and also was not-so-covertly coveting all the beautiful spindles that others brought, particularly the Goldings and Bosworths and Woodchucks. Because surely it's the spindle. Alas, my first purchase after class was a distinct anti-climax.



I'm finding I frequently end up with a small ring of fiber encircling the roving. An error in drafting technique, I assume. These little fiber friends are almost as bad as Tribbles in their ability to multiply and get into unlikely places.

For all that, after two classes there's been noticeable improvement. Spinning speed is up, bad words are down, singles are becoming more uniform and finer. Maybe my secret plan to spin my own 2-ply laceweight will succeed after all. Now if only I could get DH to stop singing improvised lyrics to Rawhide: Roving, roving, roving, git those spindles moving, etc ad naus.

Categories: {Spindling}

A Post Modern Yarn

This is not a postmodern yarn. [Ceci n'est pas une histoire postmoderne.]

To round out the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, yesterday I attended a class at Modern Yarn in Montclair (roundabout Exit 148) on combination knitting led by designer and author Annie Modesitt of South Orange (roundabout Exit 144).

(Incredible to relate, there are three new high-end LYS in Montclair within three blocks of each other and a fourth long-established shop. Modern Yarn is in the Church Street pedestrian mall at 32a Church Street. Partners Kristen Carlberg and Paige Sato hospitably keep their sleek shop well-stocked with desirable indulgences and choice necessities. There's plenty of parking for cars in back in the new Crescent Parking Deck; bicycles can continue to chain up in front.)

Here's my class swatch and Annie's book, Confessions of a Knitting Heretic. The class included long tail cast on with one or two colors, combination technique p, combination technique k, on the needle blocking, k2p2 ribbing, k inc (right slanted), p inc (left slanted), cabling without a needle (both front and back cross), and k2tog bind off.



And here's Annie and class members (minus three, plus I'm shy) holding their swatches. The level of knitting experience and expertise in the group varied widely: Christina is one of the fastest, most precise knitters I've ever seen (and she has a pattern in September 2005 MagKnits); there were one or two very new knitters.



Annie is a generous, hands on teacher with a positive message – there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way to knit – and the crucial ability to verbalize knitting actions in memorable ways. A wealth of contextual anecdote is also provided. The class is accessible for beginners with a firm grasp of the basics of stitch formation and an inclination toward technique, but I think it could be frustrating for some others. More advanced knitters will pick up combination knitting very quickly.

A large selection of yarn was thoughtfully provided for student use – as tempting as it was to play with some fabulous variegated thing, I chose a solid wool four-ply to focus on technique. I found that combination knitting affected my tension and gauge, as well as the appearance of the stitches and the hand of the fabric. The difference in tension and gauge is obvious; I doubt the difference in look or hand would be immediately discernable to many besides me, but of course I know my own knitting. (For an exaggerated illustration of what I mean, see the photos in the excellent Knitty article by Michele Lock on ply types and knit stitches.) Overall, combination knitting is an interesting addition to the technique toolkit.

The self-published book was not used in class; it contains many more intriguing techniques. Its illustrations remind me of one of my favorite classics, Mary Thomas's Knitting Book – they're admirably clear and very plain.

If that weren't enough knitterly goodness to last the week, when I got home this afternoon another artful package from my excellent SP6 pal, Pepe the Prawn, was waiting for me on the doorstep.

Needless to add, I investigated at once. Inside was a humorous card with a great hand-drawn bicycle on the envelope (love the horn!), a portrait of the artist as a young prawn, and the admonition to have some cake; a hank of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock (yummy) in colorway Jungle Stripe (Wimbledon colors gone wild), sufficient for a pair of anklets or lace socks (maybe Vine Lace would be apropos); and a tin of Ginger Chews (also yummy).



Thank you, Pepe! After surfing the SP6 participants' list, I think I've figured out who you are – your writerly voice is very distinctive. But I'll wait for the official reveal at the end of the week, OK?

As for the advice, a bit of cake would be nice, especially as I've been muttering, "Let them eat pie" all weekend. Pie-making was a bit of a bust this year – the crust just didn't want to come together (unsurprisingly, it shrank a lot and ended up tough as hardtack) and the pumpkin custard developed a strange thick skin. That suggests the oven was too hot, regardless of what the thermometer said. Oh well, it happens some years. That didn't stop the loyal fans from taking a piece or two before I could take a picture for the blog.