Two-timing...
I have a confession to make. I’ve been unfaithful. On Tuesday I went to a different group.
Before you start judging me, can we backtrack a little?
On Sunday I was at a Christening party where I met the baby’s (very cute baby – totally grown out of this now) aunt, who casually let the phrase “doing some spinning” drop into conversation… I don’t believe I actually yelped “Ooh, oooh, oooooh, – SPINNING?!!!??!!!”, but the upshot is that I’ve discovered the Thriplow Spinning Club. Unfortunately they meet on Tuesdays, which clashes with KTog – hence the infidelity. Now I think I can be involved with two knitting (or spinning-and-knitting) groups at once? I generally only make it to KTog once a month anyway (when I can cycle), so I can go to spinning the other 3 Tuesdays. Mind you, the spinners are very persuasive – not only do they spin, but they take along their knitting, and they make cakes. And when I tried to weasel my way out of the cake bit by apologising that I’m Coeliac – at least 3 of them piped up that they will make gluten-free cakes for me!
But KTog knitters, I promise I haven’t forgotten you – although as ever I’ve lost track of when we’re meeting where – if I don’t turn up to the Grad Pad, it’s confusion and incompetence, nothing more sinister.
Sooo… spinning… I was all “I’m very much a beginner, I need help” and they were rather “You seem to be doing fine – what do you think you need help with?” – and then my spindle crashed to the floor – very embarrassing! But I did get to have a tiny go on Eleanor’s wheel (an Ashford Joy), and I’m hoping that next week I’ll get another go, and a go on Sarah’s wheel too (a Victoria? I think… )
But I have more spinning to show – after posting a question on the Spindlers Yahoo Group I realised that all my ideas about how to get balanced yarn when I’m plying were completely wrong. The latest efforts are much better:
And because yet again I forgot to include anything for scaling – here is an update on Kiri – I’m using 4mm needles (new Addi lace circs 
) so you can get some idea of the weight of the yarn (click for a larger version).
There’s no way in which I’m going to be able to keep the yarn consistent as I spin it up, but I think the shawl, although not technically brilliant, will still be beautiful, and I will love it.
Oh, and I’ve worked out that this:
is not the way to go when trying to get a centre pull ball…
Oh, and some concern was expressed at felting John’s slippers separately – but the second one came out fine (the advantage of doing it when John was home – it went straight on his foot as it came out of the machine )
five comments:
Whew! Glad the slippers turned out – the look great. Lucky you, finding another fiber group.Chris () (link) - 07 June '07 - 14:18
Oh wow, a spinning group as well as a knitting group! That sounds cool!And the lace looks awesome…
Daisy () (link) - 07 June '07 - 21:33
Well, that yarn is absolutely beautiful. It’s exactly the sort of thing that I’m looking for to make the perfect cardigan. Can you do me some in red? Seriously, where did you learn to do that? My spindled yarn is more of a swindle. Did you use a book to teach you how to ply or a website or what? What I want to know is, when you’ve got a skein of one ply, all twisted still, and another one to ply it with, how do you get a long space to ply them together? I’ve tried tying them to things and walking backwards twisting them together, like a mad ropewalk, but there’s this sneaking feeling that I am doing it totally wrong. And you most definitely aren’t!The shawl looks lovely – I actually really like the texture of unblocked lace. I’ve never made a lace shawl and it must be great fun to block it out but it’s also beautiful in its bud stage.
Fiona () (link) - 07 June '07 - 21:55
Oh, you fickle thing you. And gluten free cakes as bribes? Well, how are you to resist that? Switching between sounds like fun!Carrie K () (link) - 07 June '07 - 23:09
strumpet! I’ve emailed you some KTog dates in the hope that we might actually lure you back now and then. Hmm, perhaps I shuold start offering cake…rosie () (link) - 08 June '07 - 19:48
