Hey I Can Spin!

I just completed a 5 week spinning class, taught by my friend Nancy. Nancy is a wonderful and generous teacher. Each week we went home with wonderful fiber to spin.



At the end of class, she let me borrow her Ashford Joy wheel (I just love this wheel) and took me to Purlscence so I could buy fiber.


I bought theses; Louet 80/20 merino & silk in pink and blue, Chasing Rainbows silk. I also bought a bag of Louet Corridale top. Saturday, the dog was at the groomer and DH was out flying his plane so I sat down for several hours of spinning.


Here is the Corridale all prepared to spin.

This is the first time I've sat and spun for several hours using the same fiber. I had several ah haas! The most important thing I learned was I can't draft and spin at the same time. Just too much going on. But if I prepared the yarn before spinning, then when I spin all I need to control is the amount of twist. Using this method, I was able to produce fairly consistent yarn most of the time, which goes between DK and worsted weight (not bad for a beginning). When I try to draft and spin, I create bulky and lace weight yarn. I'm sure if I continue to practice, I'll be able to draft and spin at the same time - just not right now.



Here is my first full bobbin of spun yarn.

And here is my first ball of bulk 2-ply yarn.

I haven't figured out what to make with it. I tried several things and frogged all of them. I really don't like bulky yarn, so I'm having trouble coming up with anything I can make that I would wear. I don't want to felt it because I what to be able to see my first yarn in detail. Maybe hand warmers.