Spoiler: Cat brains! I messed up the pattern a bit but I only think it’s really noticeable on the misaligned bastard and I’m pretty proud of it overall.
It WAS gorgeous spun up, but I was too excited about the final goal project that I only got a quick snapshot of the last little curl of yarn as I finished the knitting. With 14g of rolags, I got about 16yd of DK-ish weight yarn, which was just enough to make an icord juuuust barely long enough for a Carrick Bend Mat! This was an incredibly satisfying small project, and I can't wait to do more! And to do bigger projects - I spent the past couple of evenings blending up a much larger volume of rolags from two of the fibers in this blend (the green polwarth and the camel/silk top I have), and I'll spin those probably into yarn for a scarf.
Spoiler: AUX DON'T LOOK suggestions on where to find cheap(ish, because I know it's unlikely) spinning wheels? and/or what a good starting spinning wheel would be/cost? we're looking into joining a spinners and weavers guild and would be able to rent from them but if it would be more cost effective to eventually pick up our own, it might not be a bad route to go...
Spoiler do you have a strong preference for a spinning wheel over an electric spinner? I'm pulling up some links for options now :) as I have spent a lot of time looking for decent inexpensive wheels
Spoiler: spoiler! ebay, craigslist, occasionally etsy! new spinning wheels are RIDICulously expensive, but there was an ashford i was eyeing on craigslist awhile back, 175+shipping (unfortunately, it is sold now, or i would link it). i've also heard going to flea markets is good, and i saw a spinning wheel at an antique place (200ish v 1200$ new). they've always been out of range for me, because i have a particular idea of what spinning wheel i want (pros of taking a class and having used some), and they're usually in the 200-500$ range
Spoiler: more "aux no" The wheel I'm saving for is a Spinolution Pollywog - it's very small, which is good for my tiny apartment and for my ability to wrangle it by myself, but some people struggle with the spin height. I'm also excited about Infinity Wheels finally being in production again! Finally, if an espinner is something you're interested in, the newest Electric Eel Wheel design is coming out this fall - the Electric Eel Wheel Nano, which is SUPER tiny and also super affordable, and I've heard very good things! Also like @idiomie said, buying used can absolutely get you a steal! I would super recommend only buying something where you can confirm, in person or with detailed photos, that it's not missing any parts you can't replace. There's a good video about used wheel shopping (esp antique wheels) here!
Spoiler: STILL AUX NO! Oooooh thank you thank you thank you!! we're gonna hit up an antique/flea market pretty soon @_@ I think we're looking for spinning wheel, partially because aux is v tactile? and it's a "keep busy" kind of thing so it's less about convenience and more about Do The Thing thank you so much @paladinkit @idiomie!!!!
Spoiler: continued if you're interested in making one check out the dodek! i'm working on making one right now, it's small and lightweight and can be made for well under $100 drop spindles might also be an option when getting started, and i have a whole host of recommendations for that if you're interested, a very good portable stim
Spoiler: MORE hmmm this might be good! problem is we're not great at non-fiber-making-things so it's hit or miss there aux........has one. and does not use it. at all. too much effort/too hard on her shoulders, also just Not As Fun according to her thank you for the offer, though!! (she's used it maybe three times since we bought it a few months ago)
GUESS WHO SCORED AT THE ANTIQUE MALL it's not an "antique" antique, it's an Ashford Traveler, probs a mk2! It is in remarkably good condition, and only needs easily findable & inexpensive replacement parts (drive band, brake band & springs, conrod/footman & joint), and it was $150!!!!!!!! I have a wheel!!!!! what the fuck!!!! this was not what I was expecting to happen!!!!!!!!!
oh dang, that's one of the favorite workhorses of the spinning world, for an amazing price! luckyyyy!
I know! I wasn't even at the antique mall originally, one of my friends was, and he saw it and started sending me pics and videos of parts moving and details, and then he held it for me until I could get there. I have the best friends <3
I have sooooo much fiber stuff that I have been slacking on posting. First, got waaaaay too much roving from Paradise Spoiler: 1 lbs of roving, I'ma mad man. If that wasn't enough, I caved and impulse bought some of that Mandala yarn I've been coveting for more than a year now when I was at Walmart, then grabbed some super bulky to go with it because I've been wanting to make a cowl for a while now Spoiler: Still giggling at Thick & Quick I'm actually doing the Adirondack wrap pictured in the back and it's huge. It's supposed to be one ball per triangle and three triangles stitched together, but I ran out of the first ball and said fuck it because it's already going to be a good 24 inches wide, and that's after sizing the hook down slightly from the pattern. So it's stopped at 30 rows instead of 38 which I think works out just fine. It's going to be nice to have a wrap at the office because the A/C is just Too Much sometimes but it's like 90 outside in the summer which makes bringing a sweater or jacket not super feasible.
How do y'all store your yarn/fiber? I moved recently and just sorta dumped my stash on the floor in a corner for want of storage furniture and spoons to figure out a real solution. Just found a spider has taken up residence between a bag of stuffing and the wall, a couple weeks ago I stopped a house centipede from getting into the yarn pile, so now I'm in a lowkey phobia freakout about crawlies getting all up in my stuff. A friend suggested burning a sage stick bc arachnids will try to escape burning herbs, which I may try to ease my anxiety since it's not exactly reasonable to pull all my skeins apart looking for bugs, but I still need an actual good way to store the stuff going forward. I was gonna just stack it in a little shelving unit but now I'm thinking of getting plastic containers where the lid seals, but googling says yarn needs air to not mold so now I'm just Overwhelm with solution tradeoffs. I am also probably overthinking this wildly bc again, phobia freakout.
@Astrodynamicist my mom stores her yarn in sealed but not airtight plastic tubs with cloth bags filled with cedar chips to keep mothes away. She hasn't had any get moldy or had to deal with other bugs as far as i know.
I keep lavender sachets in with my fiber bins to help keep crawlies out. I personally have most of my stuff in those cloth cube storage bins (but some is just up on a shelf). I've heard of people storing in airtight bins or vacuum bags before - mold concerns are mostly if there's too much moisture sealed in with the fiber, so maybe having like those little dessicsnt packs would help? I'm just spit balling at this point though.
i use those plastic tubs you can get at target or wherever, mostly the shoebox size. as for spiders, they don't want to be inside the yarn, there's no dindins there. they're not trying to get into your stash. the only buggies you need to worry about are clothes moths, and then only with wool. i would suggest giving each skein a good shaking, possibly outside, before putting it away, just to make sure, and if you see any moths or moth eggs you'll have to take further steps. any sachet that covers the smell of yummy wool will make it harder for moths to find the stuff. i just use tea bags.
we have a giant wooden heriloom chest, but that's not reasonable for most people :P otherwise we got a couple felt boxes that hold active projects and such