Spinning & Spin-Off magazine

What are you spinning right now?

AmyCM — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:57:03 GMT

I'd love to see your current project--what are you spinning right now?

This is what I'm spinning--BFL fiber in the Frankenstein colorway from Dragonfibers.etsy.com.

Best Portable Wheel

Denise Jackson — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:51:55 GMT

I've asked Guild members here.

I'll ask you all. What do you think is the best portable wheel out there?

I'd like to know the reasoning why.

The Mennonite Track Wheel

barbara m — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:55:12 GMT

Hello, I'm Barbara and one of the volunteers who translate Spin-Off into German. This time, one of my translations for the Spring 2009 issue was the article on the "Iowa Mennonite Track Wheel".Each translation has its special challenge -- this one in particular with all the technical details of how the mechanics of this wheel works.

But when I read about how to spin with this wheel, I had to think of something. I wonder: This 'track wheel' may look to someone inexperienced like a spinning mule (Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_mule), which was the successor of the famous Spinning Jenny that started the industrial revolution in England in the late 1700s. And conspicuously, the Mennonite Track Wheel was even called 'Travelling Jenny'. I wonder if one of the technophobic Mennonites took this principle of using wheels and pulleys to speed the drafting process from this early spinning machine and re-applied it back to a manual spinning wheel. But one would have to see both at work to make a judgement about how much the one has inherited from the other.

Greetings to everyone!

Single Ply vs. Double Ply

CarolynM@3 — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:41:47 GMT

I have a question: I have been led to understand that you must knit or crochet with a plied yarn. Is there any reason I can knit or crochet with a single ply? I have 20 balls of single spun yarn that I spun. Should I go ahead and ply these balls? They were spun with the S twist. I am fairly new to spinning so I don't know all the terms. I am also not sure how many twists to the inch in my yarn.

Article suggestion for Spin-off

Denise Jackson — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:38:09 GMT

Could you folks do an article or series on natural plant and dyes from the Rocky Mountains?

Are there books you would recommend?

New spinner

Bobie — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:05:59 GMT

I love to knit, crochet and do many other forms of fiber arts. I've been interested in spinning for a while now and my husband bought me my first spinning wheel for the holidays. It's a Baynes, made by the Bebbington family. Has anyone ever heard of it? Pros / Cons? It is the castle style which is perfect for me as our living room is not large so it fits in nicely; it's light-weight to carry to knitting groups and guild meetings (even though it doesn't fold or fit inside a case) and it's pretty. Now I'm struggling to get started with it as I'm teaching myself. It's a single treadle, not a problem. I'm a klutz so I'm having a bit of a problem learning to feed the yarn, twist it, and keep the wheel going all at the same time. Any hints?

Bobie

Your Yarn

CrystalJ — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:34:38 GMT

I was wondering if anyone else here is entering the next 'your yarn' challenge for spindle spinning.

I'm entering some super fine blue yarn that I spun. Dark and light blue with purple wool roving, 2 ply is 24 wpi.

My mom was published in the spinning cotton your yarn challenge a few years ago. So I'm really hoping to get published, I think it would be really neat for both of us to be published.

Hitchhiker Spinning Wheel

Denise Jackson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:52:53 GMT

I'm curious about the Hitchhiker Spinning Wheel. I'm looking for a portable spinning wheel for classes and spin-ins.

Does it work as well as people say it does? Any opinions out there? Any other recomendations?

New Spinner

Lois2037 — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:12:13 GMT

Actually, I guess I'm a pre-new spinner, hoping to get into an early morning hand spindle class at the Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival tomorrow. I know that if I really want to work with all those amazing luxury yarns, the best and most interesting way to do that is to spin my own. I'm also attracted to the idea of spinning to relieve stress and relax. That would be wonderful! Any advice for this rank beginner?

making pencil roving machine

AmyCM — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:43:30 GMT

A Spin-Off reader called me wanting to know if I knew of a machine (affordable and not just for industry) for making pencil roving–she said hand-cranked would be fine. I haven’t heard of one–but thought I’d ask you knowledgeable people–perhaps you know of one. Or could invent one.

Bradford Count

joydidit — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:01:15 GMT

The bradford count for fleeces is the number of 560 yard skeins that can (theoretically) be spun from a pound of wool top. My question: is the count for plyed or single skeins?

I am curious as I was going to attempt to see if I can match a count for a fleece (just for giggles).

Joy

What's best for sweaters

Denise Jackson — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:38:14 GMT

What is the best ply for sweaters? I've been told (and at times chided) 3-ply.

Somebody please explain the pros and cons of 3-ply vs. 2-ply other than wear.

Spinning and Weaving Week and Spin-Off Contest Results!

AmyCM — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:50:14 GMT

Happy Spinning and Weaving Week! Whoo! Hoo!

I'm posting this from SOAR (Spin-Off Autumn Retreat) and we're having a great time celebrating everything fibery.

Thanks so much for joining our forums! It's been fun to see how many of you have joined in the spinning conversations ever since we announced the contest in the Fall 2008 issue of Spin-Off. But wait--you want to know who the winners are--well, let's have a little drum roll, please!

And the winners are:

Patty Saul

Traci Morrison

Jennifer Church

Natalie Hall

Laura Arena

Each won an "All About Cotton Kit" from Cotton Clouds.

Stacie Dolin

Won a fiber gift basket from Louet.

Elizabeth Wild

Won a pair of Signature Needles.

And Angelica Veitch won the Louet S 17 spinning wheel from Louet!

Don't worry if you missed this contest--we'll have more!

Best wishes,

Amy Clarke Moore

editor of Spin-Off magazine

How many people crochet with their handspun? And what?

KimberlyK — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:10:57 GMT

I am an avid crocheter. Don't do well with knitting. (Probably related to my Photoshop vs. Illustrator problems.) I'd like to see who is crocheting what they are spinning and what they are making. You can check out some of my projects at http://www.flickr.com/photos/campkim/ .

Show me your handspun Baby Surprise Jackets!

AmyCM — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:05:10 GMT

Have you made the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann out of your own handspun yarn? I'd love to see your photos of your jackets.

Who's excited about SOAR?

AmyCM — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:54:30 GMT

We're getting excited here in the office--just wondered if the same was going out there. We're making signs, trying to get rooms freed up for Friday night, making the program booklet, checking our lists twice, confirming menus, trying to get rooms freed up for Friday night, finishing up the magazine . . . .

Introduction

Charlie Mac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:24:55 GMT

Hola, I am Charlie Mac a new member of this group and forum. I have been married to Mary for 51+ years. We both spin and knit. Hey, if you cant beat'em, join'em! Mary is the expert in both venues. I just spin and knit for fun. We do demos at shops, museums, and fiber farms. Mostly I talk about the processes and history and Mary spins. One of these days we are going to have to begin charging, at least for gas money.

We currently have 3 wheels, a Lendrum folding (I am not allowed), a Kromski Sonata, and my favorite work horse, a Louet S51 DT. Just this year I was allowed to accompany Mary to the January Spin-Inn in Destin, FL. So I suppose you could say i am coming up in the world?

I currently am carding a prime Alpaca blanket we received by helping Fairhope Alpacas shear 83 animals in 7 hours. Whew, us old folks were tired. Charlie Mac

Did you attend the Estes Park Wool Festival?

Rebecca S — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:12:58 GMT

Just curious what other people found and bought at the Estes Park Wool festival. Besides buying lots of beautiful fiber to feed my spinning wheel, I came home with an English Angora bunny (much to my husband's surprise) and my friend scored a used Ashford Traditional Wheel for a steal. I also bought a set of Louet combs for over 40% off retail.

What fun things did you come home with?