A Confession

I have a confession. . . this is my Ashford Joy which hasn't seen the light of day in about a year.  *sob*  Why? You ask?  Well, I bought the wheel early last spring, set it up & started trying to spin.  It didn't happen.  I couldn't get the hang of it.  I don't think I had ever really seen a spinning wheel in action and I didn't even know where to start.  Now I had gotten pretty good at using a drop spindle, so I said forget this wheel thing!  I'm going back to my spindle!

A year passed.  The Joy sat in my room in it's carrying case -- untouched & unloved.  Then I went to MS&W.  There was so much fiber!  And I wanted to take home a huge bag, but I thought to myself -- how will you ever get that spun on your spindle?  Oh yeah!  I have a wheel!  Maybe I should take it out again and give it another try.

I finally had a bit of free time yesterday, so I sat down with some lovely Cormo/Silk roving that I got from Foxhill Farm (at the Cormo booth at MS&W) and gave it a go.  After a few mis-starts, I got in the groove and made this little skein. . .

Still a bit uneven (isn't that the whole point of handspinning though?), but much better.  Here are a few things that helped me to love my wheel. . .

• Go slow!  At first I was treadling like there was no tomorrow.  I found that a nice slow pace was just what I needed.  About one treadle (is that the right terminology?) per second was working for me yesterday.
• Learn about ratios!  I was trying to spin this super fine Cormo & tussah silk blend at a low ratio.  This meant fewer twists per inch (TPI) which would explain why the "yarn" I was producing wasn't holding together.  When I switched to 16:1, it got much easier!  Here's a page I found that explains a lot of different wheel terminology.
• Use a white towel!  Use a what?  You can see the white hand towel in my first photo, but maybe you were thinking it was just lying on the floor because I'm messy.  Not so!  I lay this on my lap so that I can see my drafting triangle more clearly.  I was wearing a denim skirt and couldn't see how much I was drafting which resulted in very uneven yarn.  The roving showed up beautifully against the white towel and my singles started to look much better.
• Use a leader that isn't smooth!  Okay, this should have been a no-brainer, but I let myself get totally frustrated before figuring it out.  The leader that I attached to my bobbin at first was a scrap of extra sock yarn.  It was smooth, it had no "grip" and I couldn't get my fiber started.  Ugh!  I nearly tore out my hair trying to get this to work.  Then the light went on in my noggin.  I attached a piece of handspun for a leader and I was off!

So there's my confession.  I'm glad I got past this and I'm learning to love my wheel.  Last night I predrafted the rest of the Cormo/Silk and today I'm ready to spin:

After all, practice makes perfect!

Comments

[Stephanie]

Spinning is really something I'd like to try. I've been hinting to my husband that I'd like a wheel for my birthday. Then I just have to find someone to teach me!

[Deb]

Woo hoo! I think it's LUCKY that I haven't been to a Sheep & Wool festival yet, really, since I've gotten into enough trouble with roving over the internet. Spinning is fun! I just have to actually get around to, you know, knitting with some of my handspun one of these days....

[michele]

Good for you....I know nothing about it, but it looks like fun to spin your own yarn and then knit it...your first try looks fabulous!

[Katy]

I think the yarn looks great!
And I just got my Ashford Kiwi out of hibernation after six years of non-use due to moving, renovating, and birthing/caring for 2 young children. Still haven't found much spinning time, but I'm working on it.

[Vicki]

That's so happy! I mean, if you didn't get the hang of it, you could have donated the wheel to me... But I'm glad it's getting some use now :)

[Emma.]

There you go.You've cracked it ! There'll be no looking back now. ;-]

[Heidi]

Great looking yarn! I like to let my Ashford Joy run around in the backyard when I don't have time to take her for a spin. Otherwise she gets antsy and I'll find her in odd places trying to trip me up.

[Norma]

Ahem. You're killing me over here. I'm still waiting for some light to go off, I think. But I'm glad (really!) you're enjoying it. Maybe that means there's hope for me. I'm starting to wonder if it's that I got the wrong wheel. We haven't bonded....or something.

[Pat]

WooHoo - practice makes permanent! Let us know when you come up for air from the arms of the spinning Norns.

[Theresa]

You are too fast for me, girlfriend! I barely, just barely get that spindle stuff down and you're mastering that wheel. You know you can't get out of taking lessons at the Fold with me that easily ;-)

[Sarah]

Your spun yarn is so beautiful! It seems like everyone is taking up spinning too...I barely have enough time for my knitting! Your work is gorgeous!

[Nik]

I'm trying to teach myself to use a drop spindle and it's driving me up a wall. Do you have any tips for me?

[Anne]

Oooh, I'm jealous. I'm lusting after an Ashford Joy, frankly, and I keep having to remind myself that I'm a law student with heavy debt and no income, which certainly doesn't add up to me being able to buy a wheel!! By the way, your link about spinning terms isn't linked and I'd like to see the page!

[lauray]

Very interesting..:)

[Tracy]

I love my Joy and my DH has said it can stay next to the fire which is just by my knitting spot! What a constant reminder to get spinning? I'm with you on the treadling, I have to remind myself that I'm not a hamster on its wheel and that you can spin slowly. And most of all, even practice is fun.

[HibiscuitsGirl]

I love spinning on my spindle but I am so ready for a wheel. Too bad I don't have a few hundred bucks just laying around. I'm sure when I do get one that I'll spend a lot of time making a mess of things and swearing. It'd be great!

That roving is just gorgeous! And that yarn is lovely.

[Judy]

I'd say you've got the hang of it!! Lookin' good!