Comments on: In Over My Head http://shihknits.com/2008/05/21/in-over-my-head/ knit. blog. rinse and repeat. Wed, 27 Oct 2010 03:06:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Julia http://shihknits.com/2008/05/21/in-over-my-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1241 Julia Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:21:26 +0000 http://shihknits.com/?p=122#comment-1241 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! 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!

]]> By: Nonnahs http://shihknits.com/2008/05/21/in-over-my-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1229 Nonnahs Tue, 27 May 2008 03:57:40 +0000 http://shihknits.com/?p=122#comment-1229 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! :) 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! :)

]]> By: whitney http://shihknits.com/2008/05/21/in-over-my-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1225 whitney Sat, 24 May 2008 23:35:38 +0000 http://shihknits.com/?p=122#comment-1225 Oh, I can definitely relate! I started spinning with a spindle a couple of months ago...and I still feel pretty clueless. Good luck! Oh, I can definitely relate! I started spinning with a spindle a couple of months ago…and I still feel pretty clueless. Good luck!

]]> By: Bettymo http://shihknits.com/2008/05/21/in-over-my-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1224 Bettymo Fri, 23 May 2008 11:13:27 +0000 http://shihknits.com/?p=122#comment-1224 Laurie in San Juan Capistrano. San Juan Capistrano fiber arts. I am tempted too. Laurie in San Juan Capistrano. San Juan Capistrano fiber arts. I am tempted too.

]]> By: kathy http://shihknits.com/2008/05/21/in-over-my-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1223 kathy Thu, 22 May 2008 21:43:12 +0000 http://shihknits.com/?p=122#comment-1223 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 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

]]> By: Kate http://shihknits.com/2008/05/21/in-over-my-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1222 Kate Thu, 22 May 2008 17:51:46 +0000 http://shihknits.com/?p=122#comment-1222 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! 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!

]]> By: loriz http://shihknits.com/2008/05/21/in-over-my-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1221 loriz Thu, 22 May 2008 01:33:38 +0000 http://shihknits.com/?p=122#comment-1221 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! 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!

]]> By: Rose http://shihknits.com/2008/05/21/in-over-my-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1220 Rose Thu, 22 May 2008 00:48:32 +0000 http://shihknits.com/?p=122#comment-1220 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! 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!

]]> By: Rose http://shihknits.com/2008/05/21/in-over-my-head/comment-page-1/#comment-1219 Rose Thu, 22 May 2008 00:45:34 +0000 http://shihknits.com/?p=122#comment-1219 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 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

]]>