After picture
Just to refresh your memory, this is the before picture of the cotton that took forever and an hour to spin. It’s 3 ply green organic cotton. And to develop the green color it needs to be in an alkaline solution with some heat. Ready? This is the after picture of the same yarn. I [...]
Before picture
I have soaked, simmered and developed the cotton, still waiting for it to dry. After all my work, all that time sitting and treadling until I thought I’d go insane, seeing the yarn skeined off was rather satisfying. For once I had enough foresight to take a before picture. It’s hard to see yarn that [...]
yarn! yarn, do you hear me? yarn!
I finished the third bobbin of cotton singles. I now have a much smaller pile of unspun cotton, small enough to shove all of it in a sandwich bag and put it back in the stash. Three plies on three bobbins. Three glorious bobbins. And I’m plying the yarn now. Yay! Yay for me! It’s [...]
Why spin yarn?
Since I am spinning the endless cotton I have had lots of time to contemplate this question. At first it was because I knew I could purchase raw and processed fiber cheaper than finished yarn, and because I knew that I could spin yarn. Having more time than money, it seemed like a good idea. [...]
what? still spinning cotton
Yes. Cotton. Cotton and more cotton. Spinning it. I have steeled myself, decided that I want these fibers out of my way for a little while and the best way of doing that is to spin it all up, ply it, put it in skeins and hang it with my other yarns. Not all my [...]
Alpaca, lawn care, and marriage
I set aside the cotton spinning for a while and returned to the forlorn looking spindle of lace weight alpaca. Ah, spindling where have you been? This is the same red/brown baby alpaca that I was spinning. It so lovely and soft. It’s weird how wire hard singles can turn into the loftiest softest yarn [...]
Cotton yarn, again
I’ve come to the conclusion that cotton fibers are smarter than I am. I know that I’m spinning a fine yarn and it does take longer to spin fine yarns than fat yarns. On the logic level I’m covered. It will take longer to spin this yarn than it would to spin yarn out of [...]
Spinning cotton
Spinning cotton is one of those experiences that you either learn to love, or continue to hate. I’m all about the love at this moment. I’ve not learned to love it yet, but I’m trying. I have 8 ounces of this stuff so I’ve plenty of time to figure out where to find the love. [...]
Yarn!
Oh wonders will never cease. I actually have a project full of soft and lovely yarnage to report on. I started this shawl the evening before the house broke. It’s out of lace weight handspun gray alpaca and the pattern has been spawned from my tiny aching brains. I spent way too much time staring [...]
Hits and a miss
The hits: I’m spinning Blue Faced Leicester, and wondering “Where has this stuff been all my life?” I have three 8 ounce bags; one each of white, sienna and black BFL. It’s fabulous, very similar in handle to Shetland although I tend to want to add more twist to it. I like the rich dark [...]
