I know I said I was going to work on Short Rows, but really, that’s about weaving in ends so any distraction is welcome. Luckily, procrastination projects are close at hand as this is the first day of
the brain child of superfantastic librarian/historian extraordinaire, Lolly. As soon as I heard about Lolly’s idea to concentrate on certain colors during each month, I KNEW it would be about spinning for me. One of the main reasons I got into spinning was because of all the color possibilities – mixing colors in fibers, making my own barberpole yarns, dyeing even, maybe?
Last night I got out the old wheel. (Yeah, yeah. I know it’s brand spanking new. Don’t think that its lily whiteness doesn’t remind of my newbie status at every turn. I’m a dink-ass nub.) I’ve missed the ol’ girl. I took her up to Boston, but she got barely a workout.
Enough, though, that Claudia was able to give me some excellent advice which I incorporated into my spinning routine right away. She noticed that I was spinning, but I wasn’t actually making yarn. Which, in retrospect, I knew all along. She suggested that I move the drive band lower on the Mother of All so that I could treadle at the same speed, but have the wheel make more revolutions. Yes?
Things were a bit funky at first, but the beauty of spinning is that the more yarn you make, the faster it covers up the icky stuff with lovely, evenly spun yarn.
I know it’s not pink or red, but I love the yarn. And as I mentioned yesterday, Jan sent me more of this great Lisa Souza Biffle (Mardi Gras colorway) which I plan on diving into later today. Have I told you lately that I LOVE spinning? It’s been a while since I sat down at the wheel for some extended spinning and last night I spun up around 4 oz. and it was heavenly. The best part – G loves when I spin too. He loves to watch my feet treadle and he loves the whir the wheel makes as it goes round and round. He’s been pretty crazy at work, so it’s a nice break for him and me. Perfect!
Back to Project Spectrum. As I said, my goal is to spin yarn in the colors assigned to the month. I was behind in figuring things out fiber wise – I want to try some Grafton Fiber batts because I hear so much about their goodness, but they won’t get here in time so that will have to be for next month. In the meantime, my friend Tina is special dyeing some Biffle for me! Yay! I can hardly wait for the pink and red goodness.
So that I can start the month off right, here are a couple of pink and red pictures. (I know – the sky picture’s been getting a workout lately, but I just love it so much!) Enjoy!
A perfect idea to help you improve your spinning! Love it! How fun that you are now making yarn.
The rose picture is breath taking. I need some of your skills to rub off on me.
The pink rose and red sky are beautiful and the Mardi Gras does have a lot of red in it. I think you’ve got PS covered.
Wait – your spinning has pink and red in it…or am I totally off?
And those sunset pictures get me every time. They’re awesome.
The pictures are gorgeous! I just noticed *duh* recently that your header keeps changing…every one is so pretty!
OK, I’m going to go get my wheel right now. Even if I do have a zillion projects going already.
I love pink and red. And roses and skies. I have always been open about my elemental chickiness.
Congratulations, your yarn looks great! So perfectly even. And I love the distribution of color, no barberpoles. Cheezits, I’m jealous, Cara! 🙂
Your spinning is gorgeous. I absolutely love the colors. I see plenty of pink and red.
I see plenty of pink and red in that yarn you’re spinning up – which is completely lovely.
Your spun yarn looks like candy.
Mmmm…candy…
Small correction: you moved the drive belt to a smaller whorl on the flyer. On a Lendrum, the mother of all is the whole upper piece. It contains the flyer, the bobbin and the structures that support them.
lovely cara! you’re truly coming along with the spinning! 🙂
When I first looked at the pink rose photo, and until I clicked on it to see the larger version, I thought it was a Georgia O’Keefe painting. Wow.
Oh, and I like the yarn, too 🙂
Gorgeous. I’m getting a wheel like that! And soon I hope.
it looks great – you have really improved!
I love the yarn, Cara! It is beautiful and sooo even. 🙂 Oh, and I do see pink and red in there.
Since going pirate with the right eye my vision is still blurry so I’ve been doing my fair share of spinning too. I was ready to pick up the sticks again but now the left eye demanded it’s turn to be pirate-like so the pain meds are on board and as soon as the kiddos hit the bed I’ll be spinning.
I’m like you– Project Spectrum is all about spinning. Can’t wait to see what you do over the next few months!
Excellent job spinning! Go, you!
I actually bought two colours from Grafton Fibers that I would never in a million years have considered before, just to stretch my brain colour-wise. You see, I have a fear that What Not To Wear is going to come get me and purge my wardrobe of black…
That really is some beautiful spinning. But I really like the photo of the wheel strapped into the back seat like a little child. Priceless!
I think you should send that yarn to me and start working on something red and/or pink right away.
What a great thing to focus on for your project spectrum project. The consistency of the same project across the months will be interesting to see. Your colors are beautiful so far.
Love the Mardi Gras colors!! The pictures (as always!!) are so beautiful. I love your new, ever-changing header, too.
oh, this is going to be fun to watch! your spinning is so good! i’m always having to stick my fingers in my ears and go “lalalalala” every time you post something, because you always make it look so good.
beautiful everything, as usual.
I love to hear about your plans for Project Spectrum, Cara! That kind of focus is going to open up so much creativity – I can barely wait to see all of the lovely yarny creations you come up with! Amazing! Thanks for inspiring me, and being a part of all of this 😉
Cara, that is some GORGEOUS yarn. It reminds me of a Manos colorway, but is better, because *you* made it. Well, and it’s not incredibly thick-and-thin. It’s awesome!