Three day weekends apparently lend themselves well to pursuits of the fiber related. Several of the bloggers I follow spent at least one of the three days hovering over a dye pot. Myself included. No pictures of the actual process, but I'm happy with the end result.
Like Rip Van Winkle, I seem to have lost some time somewhere along the way. A month apparently. I'm still stuck in the PS month of April, with orange and yellow the dominant colors in my spectrum.
I've got your spin (and spin, and spin) right here baby.
SOS to the more experienced spinners out there. Suggestions would be welcome on how to ease up on the spin. Yarn would be the goal here, not barbed wire.
I do have a plan to get all caught up on my Project Spectrum projects and knock out a KAL as well. I plan to Trek Along with Trekking XXL #71 in blue and teal. May and June covered, Trek Along with Me KAL knocked out of the park, and the blue hemp Ponchette is just a bonus, because it's fun to knit with size 7 needles after lots of sock knitting on those size 1 Addis.
Time well spent.
Comments (20)
Your dyeing looks great! I just love those bright bold colors. What kind of dyes did you end up using?
You know, your spinning looks pretty darned great to me, ESPECIALLY if you're still a beginnner.. You'll get the rhythm of slowing the feet down, and loosening your grip. just keep on playing with it. and playing is the key word there.
If your yarn is really stiff, then most likely you have a bit too much twist - try using a larger ratio on your bobbins, and see if that helps...
talk to you soon. gotta run
Posted by Teyani | May 31, 2006 8:06 AM
Posted on May 31, 2006 08:06
Great dyeing! And I also think your spinning is looking great. You might want to draw a bit thinner and treadle a bit slower and see if you're happier with the results.
Posted by Carole | May 31, 2006 8:31 AM
Posted on May 31, 2006 08:31
As Teyani said you need to slow down your wheel. Also speed up your take up. So use the largest whorl on your wheel and treadle slowly, then adjust your brake band tension until it's drawing in your yarn when it has enough twist.
Your yarn looks great!
Posted by Jessica | May 31, 2006 9:53 AM
Posted on May 31, 2006 09:53
Your dye job looks fab. It's fun and always interesting the way the colors end up. Nice work.
Posted by margene | May 31, 2006 10:00 AM
Posted on May 31, 2006 10:00
You SHOULD be pleased with the dyepot results- the colors look great! Almost as great as your little sock bags I've been seeing around. You must be in a super creative/productive mode. It's been so hot here in Indiana the past few days that my creativity and productivity have been stifled, to say the least.
Posted by Allison | May 31, 2006 10:27 AM
Posted on May 31, 2006 10:27
Pretty pretty yarn you dyed - and your spinning is beautiful to me - but I don't spin so it's all beautiful to me. :)
Posted by Laura | May 31, 2006 11:54 AM
Posted on May 31, 2006 11:54
I never moved out of April either (long live yellow and orange). You dye-job looks delish. I just love bright things.
Posted by Emily | May 31, 2006 12:33 PM
Posted on May 31, 2006 12:33
Your dyeing looks fabuloso dah-link! Ans as far as the spinning...I played around a lot and did a lot of hitting and missing until I could narrow down what I was doing correctly. I prefer a tighter spun yarn so I keep my wheel pretty well tensioned and treadle at a medium speed (aren't I scientific?). The other thing that I found really helped me is that I dedicate one night a week for spinning -- I find that when I do it periodically I get out of the habit -- and before I sit to spin, I pre-draft all of my fiber (much easier than drafting, spinning, drafting, spinning, etc.).
Posted by amanda | May 31, 2006 12:35 PM
Posted on May 31, 2006 12:35
OH my gosh everything is beautiful!! The yarn colors/the spinning the top!! BEAUTIFUL!!!
Posted by Esther | May 31, 2006 2:11 PM
Posted on May 31, 2006 14:11
I like the dyed yarn. It looks so fun to do, and your results are great.
Posted by terby | May 31, 2006 3:18 PM
Posted on May 31, 2006 15:18
What beautiful, vibrant colors. Wow!
Posted by Becky | June 1, 2006 12:34 AM
Posted on June 1, 2006 00:34
Hi Leah.
Just a little note to let you know you're tea swap gift was posted on Friday.
It has a long long way to go, halfway across the globe in fact. You should get it later this week or early next week at the latest.
I hope it gets there soon.
Posted by tea swap pal | June 1, 2006 6:50 AM
Posted on June 1, 2006 06:50
Leah, your dyed yarn looks so fabulous; god you have such a great sense for colour! Can't give any spinning advice (I am about to embark on that adventure myself - woohoo!) but I love your stuff; it looks pretty good to me. I know what you mean about PS - I got totally derailed in the pink month (LOL) and have never made it back.....
Posted by Cynthia | June 1, 2006 9:34 AM
Posted on June 1, 2006 09:34
Beautiful, vibrant colors! I like!
I'm captivated by the poncho/wrap knit at the bottom. What is it, and where can I get the pattern? Must. Knit. That.
Posted by zee | June 1, 2006 4:10 PM
Posted on June 1, 2006 16:10
I still have some projects on the needles for PS April - so I am kind of stuck in it too!
I love the blue capelet pattern! ;)
Posted by Lolly | June 2, 2006 7:18 AM
Posted on June 2, 2006 07:18
Wow! Gorgeous, BOLD colors! Great job!
Posted by Shelly | June 2, 2006 1:17 PM
Posted on June 2, 2006 13:17
Wow, your dyeing looks great! Was that your first try at it? If so, you have quite a talent for it! My favorite is the skein on the left....sooo pretty.
As for spinning tips, what worked for me is what a lot of others have already said. Treadle slowly. And keep the brake loose enough that it doesn't take up the yarn real fast. And practice, practice, practice. Like Amanda said, if I go a while without spinning, it takes a while for me to get the hang of it again. I am hoping that goes away as I get more experienced at it.
I think your yarn looks really nice though. You my dear, are being much too critical. :)
Posted by Karen | June 2, 2006 1:42 PM
Posted on June 2, 2006 13:42
Wow! What beautiful bright vibrant colors!!! Love your colorways! And the spinning looks good too, I'll second the comment that you're being too critical!
Posted by Heather | June 3, 2006 1:02 PM
Posted on June 3, 2006 13:02
Oooh, that ponchette (?) is so cool and calm-looking! And the colors you used to dye your yarn are ravishing.
Posted by katie | June 3, 2006 1:16 PM
Posted on June 3, 2006 13:16
Wow - I go away for a week and you start having all sorts of fun! (P.S. We almost went through OK, but ended up in Odessa, TX instead. Hmmm . . .)
Posted by Theresa | June 3, 2006 8:10 PM
Posted on June 3, 2006 20:10