Usually, the moment I start knitting a garment, I can pretty much plough through it (except for socks - those sit in a different category). However, knitting monogamy goes out the window in the summer time. And I say summer because California has seen some 80 to 90 degree weather recently. Like, WTF? I have the attention span of a 3-year-old and every shiny new pattern or yarn makes me want to drop whatever I’m doing now to start playing. On a fateful ravelry-browsing day, I stumbled into the spindlers’ group, and that was the beginning of the end.
Armed with a new spinning book, a Schacht Hi-Lo 1.1 oz spindle and some BFL, I sat down to learn a new skill. Two days later……
This spinning thing is hard and I don’t know what I’m doing. The spindle doesn’t spin long enough for me, I have a hard time drafting while spinning (even after this supposed pre-drafting thingamajig), and my yarn is fat and lumpy. Apparently, I have no coordination.
I am in WAY over my head, people. Does anyone know where I can take spinning classes in Orange County?
May 21st, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Hello,
Are you talking about Orange county NY? I can show you if you want. My knit night is Thursday night from about 7 to 10 currently at the Muddy Cup in Beacon, NY.
Let me know if you want to stop by and I’ll bring my spindle and I can show you how to do it. It’s pretty easy when you get the hang of it. Really you’re not doing bad at all for your first time.
Rose
May 21st, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Well, I guess I answered my question by reading a little slower. Orange county California is not anywhere near me. You are doing great though!
May 21st, 2008 at 6:33 pm
oh, good luck with the spindle. I tried using a spindle once and quickly gave up. One time at Julia’s, just after I started on the spindle, MJ introduced me to her wheel. Its been all wheel for me since then.
Maybe there’s something about it on Ravelry but I thought that there was a spinning knit at the Yarn Lady on mondays — but I could be wrong because it doesn’t seem plausible. There is also a place on 16th called Denwar, which may have instruction (never been there personally). Is there a spinner’s guild in the OC? I know that the SnB group in Orange (wednesday nights) has a bunch of spinners (yahoo group name All Things String) who might know something.
Mary Heather is the spindle queen. You should get a lesson from her!
good luck!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
Well, there are classes in LA if you wanted to make the trek up (at A Mano Yarn - they have a website I think) which is where I learned to spindle. I had problems for a long time, but it just took more practice (and regular practice) for me to get the hang of it. One important thing I learned was to make sure my lower hand (closer to the spindle) was pinched tight so the twist didn’t travel beyond it - otherwise you can’t draft (the woman and Village Spinning and Weaving in Solvang was VERY helpful in giving me pointers. I told her I was having problems and she whipped out a spindle and had me show her). And pre-drafting helps alot.
What you may want to try is separating the motions - roll the spindle on your leg to generate twist, then pinch and slide to let the twist travel up. Once you get the hang of that motion, you can try to do it while the spindle is spinning.
Hope that helps!
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Wow. I didn’t even know those things existed. At least they are portable. Maybe the link below can help you.
http://www.handspinning.com/lollipops/spininst.htm
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:13 am
Laurie in San Juan Capistrano. San Juan Capistrano fiber arts. I am tempted too.
May 24th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Oh, I can definitely relate! I started spinning with a spindle a couple of months ago…and I still feel pretty clueless. Good luck!
May 26th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Well lookie here, she started spinning!
Don’t get too discouraged- it takes time to get the hang of it. And it’s totally natural for your handspun to be lumpy at first- you should see mine! I wish I could offer to teach you, but I actually need more practice myself. Julia taught me how to spin a couple years ago, and I enjoy it, but unfortunately, I’ve never done it consistently enough to become proficient. Um, I don’t know about the OC, but I know A Mano has classes (although I know that’s far for you). I think the key really is practice…good luck! 
June 4th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I second Laurie in San Juan Capistrano. She makes beautiful colors on fiber, so she must be a great spindler. I’d also check to see if there is a guild down there. We will definitely help you out if you make it to the shower (which is intended as a totally crafty event - no eating baby food at chez Hoolia). My advice is to pre-draft as much as possible. If the spindle is a good one (and a Schacht should be), it will stop spinning if the yarn you are making is too thick. Try to spin thinner yarn - it will probably help. I love Maggie Casey - that should be a great starter book. I want a copy myself!