I Get It!
Sorry I don't have any brilliant pictures to share....but I doubt my camera could handle what I would need for this post!
Tonight was my weekly Mommy's Night Off, and as usual I packed a ridiculous amount of knitting and spinning for a very long sojourn to Starbucks. One of the things I wanted to do while there was to sample some fiber with my wee Tsunami drop spindle. It's the teeniest of my spindles - intended for fine laceweights - and I'd been itching to try it.
First I pulled out some suri alpaca. As suspected, the preparation isn't such to lend itself to laceweight...but I did discover it wasn't as bad as I'd feared, coming from the farm that's provided me with both my best and worst experiences with alpaca.
Moving on, I pulled out some bamboo. As a new-to-me fiber, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.
It took all of two minutes for me to discover what most laceweight spinners already know.
It is easier - a lot easier - to spin fine threads on drop spindles than with a wheel.
I was absolutely entranced by the fine, even thread I was able to produce, and was even further delighted to discover how quickly I could produce each length of the gossamer stuff. It was like magic! I spun long enough to discover that the only trick I really needed was a background that gave me a high contrast to the thread so that I could see what I was doing.
Finally, I understand why it is that so many of the lace knitters whom I admire so much spin their yarns exclusively on drop spindles. I get it. I REALLY get it.
And I am in love.
Tonight was my weekly Mommy's Night Off, and as usual I packed a ridiculous amount of knitting and spinning for a very long sojourn to Starbucks. One of the things I wanted to do while there was to sample some fiber with my wee Tsunami drop spindle. It's the teeniest of my spindles - intended for fine laceweights - and I'd been itching to try it.
First I pulled out some suri alpaca. As suspected, the preparation isn't such to lend itself to laceweight...but I did discover it wasn't as bad as I'd feared, coming from the farm that's provided me with both my best and worst experiences with alpaca.
Moving on, I pulled out some bamboo. As a new-to-me fiber, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.
It took all of two minutes for me to discover what most laceweight spinners already know.
It is easier - a lot easier - to spin fine threads on drop spindles than with a wheel.
I was absolutely entranced by the fine, even thread I was able to produce, and was even further delighted to discover how quickly I could produce each length of the gossamer stuff. It was like magic! I spun long enough to discover that the only trick I really needed was a background that gave me a high contrast to the thread so that I could see what I was doing.
Finally, I understand why it is that so many of the lace knitters whom I admire so much spin their yarns exclusively on drop spindles. I get it. I REALLY get it.
And I am in love.
Comments
Is it a Golding Tsunami? What weight? Valentine's Day is Sunday! Who needs diamonds!
kelley_petkun@craftsamericana.com