Oh, That Felt Good

Saturday was a spinner's guild day.  I belong to three guilds, so it would seem there would be many such days.  But fiber season comes along and that generally  means I miss a few guild meetings.  Yesterday was Nutmeg Spinners and the program was all about plying, presented by a Ellen Rodzen, blogless long time guild member.  Very good program, both informative and hands on.  I didn't spin.  Didn't even bring a wheel with me because I had a vendor table instead.  But.  That gave me an opportunity to corrupt addict teach a newbie.  Nancy started spinning one week ago, and said she was struggling with making a continuous yarn.  The plying program was really beyond her at this point.  I tucked her in behind my table and offered her some pointers and Ooo.  She's a natural spinner!  The drafting triangle is clearly her zone.  She had with her several bits of roings, some of it wool of dubious repute, some of it  alpaca.  Nancy spun them each, but none of them were really helpful for the learning process.  While she was spinning, I scouted out a few other vendors for newbie friendly top.  Along the way, I discovered someone had a Majacraft Rose for sale.  Nancy and I had already talked about finding the right wheel for her, as the one she was borrowing with option to buy really is too small for her.  She got to try out the Rose and at least one other wheel.  And bought a wonderfully colorful Mystery Bump from Still River Mill.  The fiber is, I think, merino and alpaca, with assorted color palettes that change from the outside to the inside.  You get a hint of what the color is on the inside but don't know for sure until you spin it.  Fun!  Of course, in my scouting expedition, I happened upon things I really did not need to know were there.  Like a booth full of alpaca fleeces.  Nice alpaca fleeces.  Alpaca fleeces my fiber processor approved.  Alpaca fleeces at a good price.  I excercised restraint: only 2 of them came home with me.  What else came home with me?  Those lovely cormo fleeces I bought at CTSW and turned over to Deirdre for washing.  Sooo convenient having your fiber processor at spinning guild!  Now I have to pick some colors and figure out blend percentages. Obviously, one roving will be a cormo angora alpaca blend, but there will also be another colorway of cormo, angora, silk roving but no pinks this time.  Possibly fall type reds and greens. But first I have to clip some bunnies. 

Next weekend?  It's a two fiber guilds weekend, one of them with a felt program.  According to the newsletter, the felt process will be different from the approach I use.  That will be fun!

Comments

[Leslie]

You fiber enabler you! Sounds like a wonderful day! And some nice blends coming along, too. I talked to some people from Connecticut yesterday and they were amazed at how many spinners there are in my area. They were doubly amazed when I told them about Nutmeg spinners!

[Marcia]

We need to have another guild downstate....you're lucky to have three more in your area!

[Karen]

It really was a good program. I am so glad I joined.
I'm sure Nancy will do great with your tips. I know they worked pretty good for me! :)

[diane]

It was a pretty good mtg this time:) I got a lot done too.