First Handspun

I'm completely in awe.

Can you believe this yarn?

I thought my first handspun would be just horrible. Now, it's not perfect in any sense of the word other than it is what it is-- a rustic and wonderful mass of spiraling color that ranges in thickness from dk to hvy worsted. Expectations were a lumpy, bumpy nasty mess of unuseable yarn.

Honestly, I would actually buy this yarn from someone else! The skein moves from warm to cool tones. Plying was a great deal of fun. Watching the colors come together was absolutely magical.

Spinning your own yarn is great. I highly recommend giving it a try. It's relaxing & meditative (for the most part). I loved just about every moment of it.

A few minor problems: 1. One bobbin came undone (the end cap literally popped off) 2. I had a heck of a time maintaining appropriate tension with both the scotch break and driveband. Yesterday I tried out a lovely double drive wheel. It was lovely! 3. I didn't understand what my mentor said when she told me to "turn the wheel counterclockwise to ply". I thought she meant to physically move the wheel. Insead, you have the wheel spin in the opposite direction. The singles are spun clockwise, and the yarn is plyed together counter-clockwise. Approximately 1/2 of the twist on each of the singles goes away.

Nearly all of the pigtail twists are now gone. This is what I meant by 'enthusiastic' singles in the previous post.

Many thanks, Marge.

Now, onto that Potato Cannon...