Author Topic: Just been to spinning class (Read 19781 times)

renee · « **Reply #45 on:** May 18, 2014, 03:44:52 pm »

Same here

Putting up sheep fences is a necessity, spinning a luxury. Next month the summer markets will begin -then I have time to spin again

madcat · « **Reply #46 on:** May 20, 2014, 09:16:46 am »

Mad Goatwoman of Madely , just out of curiosity is your Traveller double drive ? I believe a few are.

Greenerlife I'm interested to hear how you get on with the Zwartbles fleece, I have ordered one direct from the farmer.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #47 on:** May 20, 2014, 09:24:31 am »

All Travellers are now double drive, and will do scotch tension too. But a lot of the earlier ones were scotch tension only.

Greenerlife · « **Reply #48 on:** May 20, 2014, 01:32:07 pm »

Quote from: madcat on May 20, 2014, 09:16:46 am

Greenerlife I'm interested to hear how you get on with the Zwartbles fleece, I have ordered one direct from the farmer.

I bought mine direct too (£6.50 - what a bargain). I am, as you can see a complete novice, but the fleece is massively different from the Southdown I have been spinning. No doubt I am learning a lot. The Zwartbles is really crimpy and much much more coarse, but also it does make carding much easier and the actual spinning is good on a drop spindle. I can't imagine it would be easy to spin a fine wool, but that is good, because ideally I would prefer something a bit chunky. I'll let you know when I have done some on my new Joy - I have it now - but it's still packed in its box! (I really want open it now, but I have to go get feed and wash my chickens bottoms!

)

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #49 on:** May 20, 2014, 04:41:14 pm »

Quote from: madcat on May 20, 2014, 09:16:46 am

Mad Goatwoman of Madely , just out of curiosity is your Traveller double drive ? I believe a few are.

It's Scotch tension. I've never used a double drive wheel. What difference does it make?

Greenerlife · « **Reply #50 on:** May 22, 2014, 10:05:44 am »

Well - my Joy has arrived just as my other half is away for a couple of days. Spent hours and hours spinning my new Zwartbles fleece last night...I may not get away with that again...

Bionic · « **Reply #51 on:** May 22, 2014, 11:00:18 am »

So I take it you are getting joy from your Joy

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #52 on:** May 22, 2014, 08:27:30 pm »

Greenerlife

Greenerlife · « **Reply #53 on:** May 22, 2014, 08:50:21 pm »

Quote from: Bionic on May 22, 2014, 11:00:18 am

So I take it you are getting joy from your Joy

Weird because I wrote a reply and it has disappeared?

Anyway the answer is yes - it has improved since the one I borrowed! it has weird spring loops rather than hooks which are much easier to manage on the flywheel, but I think I understand it.

Greenerlife · « **Reply #54 on:** May 25, 2014, 11:05:16 pm »

Ok - got my first skein of washed, carded, spun wool, which I have just plied. Should I now be washing it again to 'set' the ply before knitting? (Really excited now - really, really really happy with how the Zwartbles has turned out)

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #55 on:** May 25, 2014, 11:29:33 pm »

Quote from: Greenerlife on May 25, 2014, 11:05:16 pm

Ok - got my first skein of washed, carded, spun wool, which I have just plied. Should I now be washing it again to 'set' the ply before knitting? (Really excited now - really, really really happy with how the Zwartbles has turned out)

Glad you've enjoyed yourself and are happy with your yarn

Yes you should wash it now to set the twist.

Wash and rinse, gently squeeze the water out ; you can roll it in a towel and walk on that but do not wring, and/or spin it in a spin-dryer or salad spinner to assist drying. I put the skein over my two arms and snap my arms apart very sharply a few times, then rotate it by 90 degrees and repeat. Sometimes I thwack the skein against the wall.

Then hang it up to dry.

Bionic · « **Reply #56 on:** May 26, 2014, 07:23:30 am »

Some people weight their skeins when they are hanging up to dry. I never used to but have tried it recently and think I got a better yarn.

I weighted it with a bottle of kitchen/bathroom cleaner. One of those with a trigger gun as the trigger just fits nicely over the yarn.

Greenerlife · « **Reply #57 on:** May 26, 2014, 11:15:20 am »

AndynJ - I do both types of spinning!

Many thanks Bionic - fingers crossed I am getting a niddy-noddy for my birthday next week - my skein is a bit short as I used my elbow to wind it! I would wash it today, but it is tipping down with rain here today (and tomorrow

)

Bionic · « **Reply #58 on:** May 26, 2014, 11:20:35 am »

Quote from: Greenerlife on May 26, 2014, 11:15:20 am

AndynJ - I do both types of spinning!

Many thanks Bionic - fingers crossed I am getting a niddy-noddy for my birthday next week - my skein is a bit short as I used my elbow to wind it! I would wash it today, but it is tipping down with rain here today (and tomorrow )

If you are desperate to wash it (I always am too) wash it then put it in a salad spinner if you have one. I then put it on a hanger over the bath. It doesn't take too long to dry.

Louise Gaunt · « **Reply #59 on:** May 26, 2014, 11:45:29 am »

I usually roll the skein in a big towel and then squeeze by standing on it, then hang on the airer, and it drys quite quickly.

Just been to spinning class - The Accidental Smallholder