It’s been one week since I had my first and only spinning lesson. (I took my lessons from Detta!) I purchased some mill end wool at my lesson. It’s from the Brown Sheep company, so it’s similar to Lamb’s Pride. Here’s my first attempt at spinning and plying..
Besides the fact that I really detest thick and thin yarn, I hated the color. So, now I have this.
Aren’t they sophisticated colors? I used this!
My kids had never had Kool-Aid because I think it’s nasty. Superblond made some and they love it. I still think it’s nasty, but it sure makes ugly wool look a bit better!
Now I have icky yarn in great colors.
My second attempt was to just spin singles. I knit this.
The whole time I was knitting this thick and thin awful stuff, I was thinking about all the gorgeous yarn in my stash that I could be knitting with. Oh, well! And…while I’m playing true confessions, the buttons aren’t sewn on yet!
Yesterday, after a day off of disappointing spinning (I’m supposed to be instantly good at this, you know!) I spun more of the same wool, plied it, and I have this!
Ahh!!! Much better. It’s not perfect, but it wouldn’t kill me to knit with it. I don’t know what I have for yardage, because I can’t count at 2 AM! More true confessions…this yarn is still wet from its bath.
So, my model has the first and third rounds of yarn on her. HUGE improvement! I think there’s hope.
And up close…
Just so social services doesn’t come after me for neglecting my children, I did make them dinner last night!
I think I’ll go eat some leftovers!
Passing Down Crazy 
October 19, 2010 at 11:47 am
See, I TOLD you it’d get better quickly! Nice job.
October 19, 2010 at 11:56 am
I think your colors are lovely and your spinning is right nice. Stay with it. I’m sure you will, as you appear to be a tenacious sort. 🙂
I like Wilton gel food coloring to dye wool and have done lots and lots of it. Once I bought a “bump” of natural merino roving from Brown Sheep. That’s a lot of roving. I have had a ball dyeing it, spinning it, felting it. It gave me the opportunity to practice my spinning skills without worrying about ruining a “special” roving purchase that someone more artistic than I had dyed. I have ventured into Cushing dyes which give a lot more color options, but still like to use the Wilton on occasion, as it is non-toxic and I can pop a bowl of wool into the microwave for 10 minutes and I’m done.
I don’t know if you have a project in mind for your spinning, but it would make some nice mittens. If you have a loom, it would weave up into a warm scarf.
Congrats on the new skill!
October 19, 2010 at 12:01 pm
I just got a new microwave and realize that 10 minutes may have been okay for a 1982 model, but is an excessive amount of time for a microwave that works as it should. I haven’t used the new one for Wilton dyeing yet and will need to experiment.
October 19, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Hey Maria! Love the spinning wheel, a client of mine here in town has one! I believe she has alot of experience with it…if you need some encouragement! Dinner looked delicious!
October 19, 2010 at 3:29 pm
You are doing fantastic!!! Keep going and just think soon it will be silk that you’re spinning! I have a confession too. I haven’t knit anything with yarn that I’ve spun…I’m waiting for it to get better…funny, I never thought of myself as a perfectionist.
October 19, 2010 at 6:11 pm
You’re doing really well! Exceptional even as you seem to be getting the hang of it rather quickly.
October 19, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Glad you’re not making it look too easy – this is another one of those things I’ve put off trying ’cause I was afraid I’d like it too well!
Your pidge is great – did you make up the pattern along with the yarn?
October 20, 2010 at 5:27 am
Oh OH. Now I suppose there may be a loom in your future? The last yarn looks like it would fit right in in a yarn store bin.
October 20, 2010 at 7:50 am
I knew you would be good at it. And nice fall colors!
October 20, 2010 at 9:36 am
The Kool-Aid colors are actually nice! I like the nubby yarn – makes me think of cable knit sweaters and bowls of steaming clam chowder on a cold winter day in front of a fire. I bet your yarn smells like sheep who’ve been eating Skittles, huh?
October 20, 2010 at 9:16 pm
You really catch on quickly-your yarn is beautiful!
My son and DIL never give their kids Kool-Aid, but for some reason they got some and gave it to the kids. They sucked it down like there was no tomorrow! Stuff must be addictive!
October 23, 2010 at 10:30 am
I agree, when I started spinning I hated the thick and thin yarn I made. I am not a fan of thick and thin in general though. However, I am glad I kept my first little skein. I dyed mine also with kool-aid. My best color completely made by accident.
Your yarn looks lovely knit up in the button cowl! Love the colors.