Kay Anderson, Spinning in Scotland

Check out this great 9 minute video on uTube, of a woman demonstrating spinning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOM7YvzGl3Y&feature=related

It's rich with information - it shows her choosing a fleece, carding, and demonstrating a couple of different methods of using a spinning wheel, like the long draw. She even uses the word "rolag" - go ahead, look it up, you know you want to!

Note: I had problems with the video sound volume, so I had to turn up my speakers. You may too.

YARN!

So this is finished product - the brown and white I spun and plied myself. It's mostly wool with some silk. The brown was wool, and the white fiber was a blend of wool and silk. I am thinking about using it for a hat or a scarf. The other photo is also yarn I spun myself. It's not plied, so it's referred to as singles.

End Result...

I tried two of the fibers I have, to figure out whether there was a right end and wrong end to draft from. That is, whether one end would be easier, therefore the correct end to draft from. My humble opinion, um, not really any difference. This is likely to be highly dependent on how the fiber was prepared. So I plan to keep the principle in mind. When I am working with a new fiber, I think it's a good idea to pre-draft a bit from each end, and if one proves easier, draft and spin from that end.

Right End and Wrong End

I read in a book that there was a right end and a wrong end to fiber - an end you should draft from and the, well, the other end. I haven't found the book reference (perhaps I will find and post the title later), but I did find a reference on the Web. Check out http://www.rollinghillsalpacas.com/fiberspinning.html
Some great information on alpacas, and the site references The Joy of Handspinning. With drum carded or commercially processed fiber, you should draft from the end that pulls out more easily - that simple! At least it seems to be...I've got fiber to practice with, and I'll post my experience trying to detect a difference.

Welcome

Welcome to Twist & Shout, the journey of a new spinner. I was introduced to spinning through knitting, and I hope I can inspire you by sharing some of my experiences and insights. I'm dedicating this blog to Sue H., who inspired me to spin!