In this episode, a personal journal of CAT’s spinning experiences since Rhinebeck and a few demonstrations along the way.
Our Book Review: Shannon Okey’s Spin to Knit: The Knitters guide to making yarn
What’s on the set:
- Bosworth Spindle
- Hat and ball of yarn spun from Gaywool Merino/Silk top
- Royale Hare Ball Bearing support spindle which you can buy online at TheWoolery.com
- Purple/Green Silk Blend Singles (on spindle)
- Drafting with Miss Lime’s Springtime fiber which I bought on Etsy
- Spinning with Raspberry Colonial Top
- 3 Ply yarn made from Cherry Tree Hill Watercolors Potluck Roving
What am I wearing:
- Diagonal Lace Scarf knitted with my homespun 2ply fingering yarn from Cherry Tree Hill Pastels Potluck Roving
As I mentioned last episode in the comments – I will not allow myself to spin – maybe after all the boys are grown. But I love, love, love understanding the concept! Thank you! I can’t wait for the next episode!!
Thank you for the great episode, a friend from my knitting group bought a spinning wheel the other day, and I’m really looking foward to see her spin. I can’t wait for the next episode, thanks again.
What a great cast! I was laughing at your need to spin faster. . . I’ll be looking forward to the next post.
One thing I have noticed about the spinning community is there doesn’t seem to be as much of a web presence as with knitting. Hopefully that is changing.
SQUEE! You used our fiber!
Ahem. 🙂
And I’d never seen one of those support spindles before — now I’m going to have to find one to take on the road with me when the wheel just isn’t practical. Like I NEED one more spindle….but oooh, that thing is COOL.
*sigh* Addiction. It’s such a lovely thing. 🙂
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to teach myself to spin on a drop spindle. I’ve got a few books, but was having a hard time understanding the technique. I was given a demonstration once, but have a hard time remembering exactly what the spinner did. So I’m very excited to have your video-cast to refer back to as I try and try again until I finally get the hang of it. Your point about the problems with the cheap beginner spindle was a good one also. My husband (an engineer) tried to tell me the same thing, but I didn’t think he knew what he was talking about. Looks like he was right this time – I may need to invest in a better spindle.
Great Episode on Spinning. I can’t wait to see the next one.
I laughed because I resisted Spinning until I put my hands in an Alpaca fleece, and decided I needed to try spinning after all. I now have more yarn spun up than I will ever use, but I keep spinning because it is so relaxing. There is just some sort of zen about the wheel going round.
Thanks for all your hard work. The videos are all wonderful.
Cat, I could give you a thousand hugs for that epsiode. I have ordered a beginner’s spindle three weeks ago, did a little of spinning on it *hmm*…and now an episode for beginners. Perfect timing! I have not seen the episode yet but I will love it as I enjoy all your episodes.
What a fun way to spend Saturday morning! Thank you for the lesson in spinning. With my “carpal tunneled” hands and wrists I’m looking forward to the next episode to see what helps you spin with a little less stress on my already overtaxed digits. Thank you again and keep on creating!
Thanks for your spinning episode. I’ve only drop spindled just recently and I’m looking forward to your next spinning episode. Is that an electric spinner I see coming next week? I sure hope so as I’ve been intrigued by them and would love to know more about them.
Cat, I loved your spinning tutorial. I tried to learn on my own a couple of years ago. It didn’t turn out to well. But, your video makes me want to dust off my spindle and try again. Looking forward to the next episode.
A friend sent me a link to this entry. Thanks for linking to my pattern, and for knitting & wearing my Diaganol Lace Scarf!
Uh oh…………me thinks a spinning baby has been born. Can’t wait to see the next podcast! Aren’t you enjoying the process???
I am amazed that you already spun enough to make something with Kat. You should be very proud of yourself!!
Wheee! LOVE that spindle. Thank you so much for that one – I need it! Can’t wait to see your next episode!
Hey Cat… liked this episode a lot, mainly because I love the drop spindle. That Ball bearing one seems really cool… Two thoughts for you
You can start without a leader on a spindle. Start by gently inserting the hook into the bottom of the fiber and twisting it until it’s about 5 inches and then spin it up long enough to wrap it aronud the shaft
The reason I love using my drop spindle is because I can take it anywhere and I do… Like my knitting, I love to take my craft(toys) out in public with me. I don’t know how that nifty ball bearing spindle would fair on a subway.
Great show, I am always astounded by the great production value you and your husband put into the show.
Hi Cat,
Your video podcast is wonderful! I watched your spinning episode and got very, very tempted to get myself a drop spindle.
Well, I am already a slow knitter, hardly find time for my knitting blog, want to improve my sewing skills and am trying to refresh my crocheting knowledge. I realized that getting a drop spindle and to start spinning would actually not be a good idea at this point of time…but I am looking very much forward to your next episode to learn more about spinning wheels.
Greetings from Munich,
Bettina
Hi Cat
I saw you last night at FIT, but by the time I realized it was you, you were no where to be seen – hopefully one of these times I’ll get to say hello to you – I love watching your podcasts and am looking forward to the next one
Karen
I love your podcast about spinning! I never knew how it was done. You made it look so simple and fun. I took a knitting lesson a few weeks ago and it took me a LOT of practice to learn to knit correctly, so I assume it will take just as much to learn to spin. I would love to try it!
I have to wait for my carpal tunnel surgery to heal, then I’ll wait for your next podcast to learn more.
After that?….Who knows? I may be a spinner!
Thank you so much for the great video.
Yours in stitches,
tink
Yeah!! I’m so glad to see the spinning bug has gotten you too. Sorry, but it’s amazing, isn’t it? I love your support spindle, I had never seen one before. That’s a great tool to take on vacation.
Thanks for another great show!
Wow! I was sooo! glad to see your video spinning with a supported spindle. I can use that one for breaks at work! Thank You Cat!
I was just looking for a video on how one spins with the Royal Hare Support Spindle — thanks for sharing that! I got a chance to handle one at The Woolery a few months ago, and was amazed at how fast it spins and how well engineered it seemed, but couldn’t conceptualize how to spin with it. It’s so helpful to see it in action. I don’t normally use a leader with my top whorl spindles, but it looks like it’s pretty much mandatory with this one.
Thanks again!
-Mary
Pingback: Jayne Hat for Leo Laporte at Lets Knit2gether
Hello Cat,
I have been enjoying your video podcast for a couple of days now. The episodes are great and are full of such useful and interesting information. I’m also inspired by your projects and techniques.
Today I was watching episode 12 where you discuss drop spindling. I was offended by your description of the result of your first drop spindling attempts; you described the yarn you created as “an ugly mass of dreadlocks.” I was so disturbed that I had to stop watching and immediately write to you because dreadlocks are not “an ugle mass.” I think they’re quite beautiful and meaningful. Therefore, should not be used as part of a derogatory description EVER.
Dreadlocks have been worn throughout history. They may be worn strictly as a hairstyle preference or for many other reasons including, but not limited to: spiritual, religious, ethnic or political. So, dreadlocks are much more than just a hairstyle.
Dreadlocks date back to ancient times and were worn by the Greeks, Nazarites of Judaism, monks, Europeans, Sufis, Hindus, Egyptians, Senegalese followers of Islam, etc; I can go on. Some of the groups I listed still wear locks today and include the Rastafari, the Maasai and many other African tribal groups, many holy men and women of India, and people of all cultures and skin colors and hair textures, across the U.S. and around the world, for various reasons.
I hope, that as I continue to watch, I’ll find your episodes to be a bit more PC as the first 11 were. As I mentioned before, I really do enjoy your video podcast and this is the only portion of any episode thus far, that I’ve taken exception to. I’ve only began watching two days ago, so I hope that as I continue to watch, I’ll continue to enjoy them. Please remember to be culturally aware; you have a wide variety of viewers from many different cultures and locations.
Peace and Blessings!
Ayesha
I’m afraid you’ve misinterpreted what I said in episode 12. “Ugly” refers to the yarn I am holding and “dredlocks” simply describes what the yarn looks like. There are no judgments made as to the beauty or ugliness of any particular hairstyle.
Hope you are able to enjoy the rest of our episodes.
CAT
Hi, really Great article!
Turkey 😀 Thank you for post thank you for admin
my name is emeltiryaki
I am from Turkey
Ankara oto ve araç kiralamada kampanya ve özel indirimler. Ankara esenbo?a havaalani transferi ve araç kiralama konusunda f?rsatlar? kaç?rmay?n.
hey thanks for letting me in. Btw if you are interested in cellphone news i have blog on the topic http://www.cellphonedic.com, i hope its useful for you guys..