Hizzle is my frizzle homizzle biffle, fo shizzle!
Yo, yo, yo! I’m a spinner now, so I will be referring to my Blue Faced Leicester by it’s street name, Biffle. Yo Mama.
Okay, here’s the 411. The green skank is the Spring Green Biffle from Lisa Souza first seen here. Friday night was my first attempt at plying and man did I suck! I’m getting that this whole spinning thing means completely and totally fucking things up on your first few go arounds. Now that I understand, I’m down with that. The yarn (if you could call it that in places) came apart a few times (Knots. They are your friend.) I couldn’t get the two singles to freaking stay on the leader yarn. Eventually I got it all going and man was it fun! To see the little barberpoles wrapping around each other – I was so, so pumped! Once I was done I did the whole niddy noddy thing and ta da! A SKANK! A beautiful, fantastic, oh my god I made this SKANK! I wore it around my neck while I called everyone I knew to tell them that I HAD MADE THIS!!!!! (I even called Lisa Souza out in California, ostensibly to ask her advice on setting the twist, but really just to tell her I MADE YARN!!!!) Of course, when G got home from work and saw it hanging in the bathroom, because, well basically I dragged him in there to see it, he was, as usual, completely and utterly impressed. Thank you my love! Let’s look a few more pictures, shall we?
Oh my god – look how AWFUL! Half of it isn’t even plied and it’s all knotty and loose and thick and thin and isn’t it GORGEOUS?! I will never knit with this, I will wear it around my neck like a most precious jewel.
Clearly I was taken with the yarn. Ya think? So on Saturday I dove into my fiber stash and came up with some gorgeous Biffle from Amy Boogie of Spunky Eclectic in the Popsicle colorway. I’m not sure, but I think I improved A LOT.
Okay so this one is so unbelievably beautiful it made me cry. THIS YARN is exactly why I bought a wheel. I spun the singles and plied it all on Saturday – 4 oz. It’s still thick and thin but I did much better with the plying. MUCH better. And the biffle is incredibly soft. I wear this one wrapped around my neck twice like a fantabulous scarf. With all the yarn wrapped around my neck I look like some kind of ancient queen. I am royalty and I am the yarn I spin.
I was pretty funny carrying the skank still hanging on a hanger and a touch wet along with my wheel to go out for my first spin-in with Jen on Sunday. The Essex County Handspinners, eh, Club, for lack of a better word (I don’t think you can really call it a guild at all) was having a spinning demonstration at Modern Yarn in Montclair and I kidnapped Jen to give her a break. It was really nice sitting around and spinning with a bunch of like-minded ladies. Elisa, the woman who heads up the Palisades Handspinners Guild was giving the demonstration and she brought a long a bunch of samples of her own yarns. She also gave me lesson on the Charkha. Very cool. I had brought some Corriedale to spin – some of my practice fibers and I happily spun along – just like I belonged there. No one pointed at me and laughed. No one looked at my spinning and said Oh It looks WONDERFUL in that tone of voice that tells you god help you woman get a real job. And they all liked my socks. 😉 Jaywalkers. Rock Star. The Originals.
Of course it’s always wonderful to spend time with my great friend Jen. We’ve been through a lot, Jen and I, in the years (has it been two already Jen – or 18 months?) that we’ve known each other. Seriously some heavy shit. And on Sunday we had yet another bonding experience. In a scene STRAIGHT out of Hitchcock, we were attacked by killer pigeons. I SHIT YOU NOT. I parked my car on Church Street in Montclair and Jen and I got out and I went into the back seat to get out my wheel. As we were walking away I noticed all these birds flying around my car. I hate birds. They scare the shit out of me. I’ve been attacked by birds before – don’t ask, but I have. Anyway, so these birds are LANDING on my car. Yeah. With their scratchy pointy talons they’re landing on my car. I think to myself G is going to shit. So I go back to the car and lightly hit the hood and they all scatter. We start to walk away again and I’m all like what the fuck with the birds and then I see them landing on someone else’s car so I’m like okay whatever. Jen and I cross the street and we’re walking up Church to get to the yarn store when I turn back to look at my car and THE BIRDS ARE FOLLOWING US!!!! The whole freaking flock of birds is like chasing us up the street. By this time Jen and I are both picking up our steps and are like what are the birds DOING? Make them STOP! They were EVERYWHERE!!!! We were practically running and crying and saying STOP STOP STOP. Make the birds STOP! It was VERY traumatic. VERY. We finally got into the store all out of breath and completely freaked out. I don’t know what the hell the birds were thinking. I mean it’s not like I have peanut butter mixed with bird seed caked all over my body. Jen can totally back me up on this. It was really freaky scary. I hate birds. Well, not all birds I guess, just the ones that fly around outside all unrestrained and menacing like. Rats with wings I tell you.
But, hell, I’m a spinner. It’s all good.
PS – Happy Birthday sweet boy. Your Aunt Cara loves you so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so much!
You know, some very expensive yarns are thick and thin, even and uneven so consider your yarn a very beautiful, very expensive handspun. I made little mittens with my first handspun and have them hanging on one of my knitting bags to this day and everybody just loves them. I’m just saying.
With yarn so awesome that you can wear it around your neck, you don’t even need to knit it! Just wear it as is! Seriously, it looks great, and I have used thick and thin yarn before, and loved it. Kind of like watching the colors change with striping yarn, you’re watching for the changes in thickness…keeps me entertained. Maybe I’m just simple! Congrats.
ick, those birds sound nasty! i have had seagulls after me; not so nice. the yarn though – gorgeous! look at that! you made that!
Love.the.yarn.
Hate.the.birds.
You.ROCK.
I hate to gain mirth out of your unfortunate bird experience – but you are really funny!
Nice skank of yarn too.
are you sure about the peanut butter bird seed thing?
I am peeing my pants over here thinking about you and Jen and your terrible run in with …. pigeons! What a bunch of tree huggers you are – don’t you two realize you’re at the friggin top of the food chain????? you should have flashed your canines at those birds and shown them who’s boss ……
bested by pigeons – wtf?
The yarn looks great and you’ll find it gets better and better every time. Although, I seem to have hit a wall and think I might need some sort of advanced beginner lesson to get to the next improvement level. Know what I mean? Maybe the birds thought your wheel was a giant birdfeeder?
Fab spinning Cara. I have to say this post is the closest to tempting me to pull out one of my mom’s wheels. But that whole pigeon thing–what if it is related to spinning?
You’re such a nature lover. I don’t know why you’re not going to knit that yarn. Surely you jest. lol at Biffle. True that–double true! xoxo Kay
Woah. What a Hitchcockesque experience. Glad you both survived!
Your yarn looks fabulous! I’ve seen yarn that didn’t look that good selling for big bucks. 🙂
Cara, how fantabulous! Your spinning looks beautiful, don’t be so modest :). You ARE a spinner :).
Sorry about the icky pigeons, I’m glad you two got in safe!
Both the skeins look great. People pay big money for skeins exactly like those, so stop the dissing. You’ll see when you knit them up — gorgeous.
I’m going anonymous here.
I have a paranoid fear of something that other people consider normal, inocuous, and even pretty. Butterflies. I had two similar run-ins with killer butterflies that flew into my face when I was very young and to this day they freak me out.
I can completely, positively, absolutely understand, empathize, commiserate, and feel bad for you.
Very nice!! The colors are so bright and cheery! What will you make of them?
I personally HAVE paid big money for yarn that looks just like that!! Love it!! It’s what I used to make my little girl’s “Tigger” sweater with!!
And I’m about to die laughing about your pigeon episode. The only other person to do that to me is the Y.H. I can TOTALLY picture the scratchy talons on your car. I would freak out too!! Thanks for telling the story. 🙂
First of all I was going to ask if you were smoking something but I guess it’s just a spinner’s high huh?
This made me smile. And want to spin! DAMN ALL OF YOU SPINNERS!
Congratulations on achieving yarn you like! That’s the important bit…
Ah, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous yarn. What great stuff, I’m so glad you’ve finally gone over the edge. Heheheh, see you at the spring festivals…
Oh, and sure you’re not smeared with peanut butter and birdseed. I’ve heard THAT before!
Mazel Tov! on the birth of your first and second skank. You are head and shoulders above my first few skanks. Poor Sandy had to be the recipient of those. I hope she can use them someday — they were truly BAD. But I loved them anyway, and she says she does, too. You should knit ’em though. You’ll love them even more then.
Your yarn looks great, Cara. You should be so proud of yourself!!
And now I’m afraid ever to park on Church Street again . . . and it’s so hard to find spots on that street, too, but now I don’t want to anymore!
“I am royalty and I am the yarn I spin.”
I LOVE that statement. Gorgeous stuff there. I love the colors, and you did a beautiful job.
Funny about the birds. I can totally relate. I loathe pigeons. I’m just completely freaked out by them. They’re these creepy little staring dinosaurs just chock full o’germs. Birds in general give me the willies.
I had a scary experience while hiking by myself once – I had a group of crows follow me, flying from tree to tree. Every time they flew to one tree, a couple more crows would join in, until there were about 40 of them. I swear I thought they were going to kill me and peck my eyes out. I started freaking out that no one knew where I was, wondering if someone would eventually find me. I ended up running all the way to the road, about a couple of miles, all the while thinking I was crow-feed. They’re huge, too. Ugh! **shudder shudder**
Anyway, can’t wait to see what you will spin next.
yeah baby!!
Gorgeous yarn! If you weave with it, you’ll find 8 epi is a good sett for handspun. It’ll make a gorgeous scarf.
That yarn is perfect..the colors….the thickness…god it’s gorgeous…
I would be hospitalized if those birds did that to me..I feel the same way you do… if they hop around I am ok..but once they start flying and swooping around I almost drop dead.
The husband and I were practically mauled by seagulls as we came out of Target carrying pizza breadsticks. I kid you not, I was terrified for our lives. (Didn’t look as glamorous as Tippi Hedren did, though.)
Sigh…it’s just plain gorgeous! You really did a great job for your first skanks. Why not knit a striped hat for the cute nephew?
I love birds. They are so fun to watch and to hear them sing in the spring is one of my favorite sounds. A starling once tried to dive bomb me while I was walking the boyz. You’d think it was because I was near a nest but we were in a freaking open field! Starlings are rats with wings.
Jaywalker update: Chaotic Black Purl Jaywalkers were finished last night, in 13 days (probably a personal record for socks).
I think that you’ve done an incredible job of your first spinning. It looks great, and I can see improvement from the first to the second skein. I still spin thick and thin – don’t worry, just think of it as designer yarn!
Those are some mighty fine skanks there…
Those birds were freaking SCARY. I mean, your post does convey how menacing they were, but seriously I think we were only moments from death. I grew up near Bodega Bay, CA, where the Hitchcock film was made – and these pigeons were out. of. control.!
Thank you for the afternoon off. 🙂
Being able to make yarn that looks like that is why I want to learn to spin! Gorgeous colors!
I’ve been attacked by birds, too. I was 4 and feeding the ducks at Elm Park. Apparently these particular birds preferred my little yellow raincoat and were pulling on the coat (with me in it) and squawking at me the whole time they were trying to steal my coat. A nice man came running in and scooped me up and got me away from them since they started chasing my mom too. To this day those big white ducks creep me out whenever I see them.
woo hoo you are a spinner!!! The yarn looks great and you really can tell with the blue how you had improved from the green. I love me some biffle….spinning it is a dream! Sorry about the birds sounds really freaky.
LOL!…I’m sorry Cara (to laugh at your terrible bird experience)…but you are so funny! And the fo shizzle had me cracking up!
As for the yarn…BEAUTIFUL! And I thought the same thing as Joan. I have paid a lot of money for yarn that’s thick & thin. Yours is wonderful. I’m so jealous (of the whole spinning thing).
Beautiful.
Your yarn is beautiful, I especially like the Green.
And, I FINISHED my Jaywalkers! http://knittogether.blogspot.com/2006/01/im-jaywalking.html
There you go, cracking me up with the skanks again!
Now, I hate, HATE to say I told ya so, but see? If you stick with it? Yarn. And if you stick with it even more? Yarn you will love! (Even though I personally love the unloved skanks!)
xo
The birds. Shudder
Your yarn looks great!
I have one tip to help you out the next time one of your yarns break when you are trying to ply. Instead of knotting your yarn just open up the two ply that you just made and place the broken yarn end between the two ply and let the twist run back and capture the yarn end. Now start plying again. You will have a three ply for a little bit but, to me, that is preferable to a knot. If this isn’t clear email me and I will explain further.
Again good job and keep spinning!
Shall we? SHALL WE? You crack me up. Of course we shall always look at more pretty pictures of your pretty yarn, your pretty socks, your pretty shawls and sweaters and flowers and artichokes.
Nice job, Cara. Very, very nice. YOU rock.
24. I watched last night. I could not knit. I think there will be 20 more hours on Monday nights over the next few months that I will definitely not be knitting (unless I want to be doing some ripping – ask Norma).
The bird thing is freaky. That’s happened to me. I’ve also been shit on by birds — twice — I can’t believe it because it doesn’t even happen ONCE to most people, and it just goes to show that they’re a threat and can sneak up on you in the trees. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that birds, bees, butterflies, ladybugs, caterpillars, ants, spiders, pretty much anything that moves and/or gathers in numbers and/or gets in my face and/or on my body (or attacks my car) — ICK! Totally creeps me out. It doesn’t matter if they’re pretty and fluffy — they just make a pretty and fluffy MOB.
Gorgeous skanks!
Mmm, love those skanks! Really, Cara, I am awed by the phat skillz you possess…your first yarn looks 100 times better than my pathetic attempts at spinning. I would love to see some of it knit up 🙂
BTW, I can totally relate to the fear and panic of being chased by birds. I was attacked by our “pet”–a killer rooster–when I was about 10 years old. After that traumatic experience, my family had to carry a large stick in our car to beat him off every time we drove in the driveway. I still remember how we would see him sprinting over the hill, feathers ruffled and wings flapping, to come and attack us whenever we returned home. Thankfully, my grandfather was a country man and wasn’t above killing and eating our sweet pet. Some birds are completely psycho! ::shudder::
Your post was great! Congratualtions on the beautiful yarn…It turned out great and definitely, I see improvement even! I’d say bronze the first skank, but then I guess it would lose it’s color. Way to go girl!
oh my golly, that is some GORGEOUS yarn! Wowers.
BTW, I finished my Rainbow Brite Jaywalkers. Take a gander when you get the chance. I know hoy busy you are these days. So whenever is fine. 🙂
Life is so busy!! I love your yarn it is beautiful! I am totally serious too, they together would make a beautiful scarf in garter st. Just imagine it!!!!!
Faaaaaaabulous spinning. You SHOULD be proud and look how far you came from the spring green to the next skeins. You are THERE, Miss Thang.