Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Getting ready for the Tour

With the Tour de Fleece starting on June 29, I've been working on getting my spindles cleared of WIP. No that I had several projects going at once; I tend to work on one thing at a time. My "one thing" for awhile now has been the homegrown light grey Shetland I drum carded while teaching the Textiles 101 class for the homeschool co-op. Yesterday I finished plying it:
That's 76g of two-ply on my 35g Jenkins Myrtlewood Swan
The spindle is removed, but the yarn is still in a cute round ball; I have yet to skein it and measure yardage.

My HansenCrafts miniSpinner has been sitting idle for awhile now, but I plan to utilize it as well as my spindles during the Tour. The roving I had made from Browning's 2012 fleece should finally be on its way to me, and I've set the ambitious (for me) goal of spinning it all on the mS during the Tour.

That means I'll probably spin small, colorful bites of fiber on these beauties, dessert if you will:
My flock of Jenkins Turkish spindles
I've signed up for four TdF teams this year; one for miniSpinner users (with the apropos name of Footloose), one for Jenkins spindle users, one called My Favorite Sheep (hence the choice of Browning's roving), and one called Spin Your Stash. Since the following rovings just arrived this week, they probably don't qualify as "stash:"
1 oz. of Jacob roving
2 oz of Corridale/Merino/silk roving
These fiber goodies were left in Sara's booth at the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival. When no one claimed them, Maisie told her mama to send them to me. ;-)

On the other hand, now that they are here, they are part of my stash – right?

That's it for today from . . .

13 comments:

Sheila said...

Isn't nice to have stash :)

Tombstone Livestock said...

I don't think there is a time/date stamp for stash, LOL, think it's just something you have on hand. I am so jealous of the way your yarn looks on your spindles, I am a catastophe with a drop spindle, finally progessed enough on the wheel to feel like plying (and unplying), I was tired of buying more bobbins because mine were all full. Wish you lived closer would love to watch you with your spindles. There are several in fibre group that use a variety of drop and assist spindles but none like yours.

If I disappear one of these days .... I got the big dreaded blue screen today. Hope no one gets strange messages from me.

Thirteen Sheep (Or More) said...

Stash includes anything that lives at your house, no matter how long. What is still on the sheep is also considered stash. (just don't try to spin from that stash)
I keep looking at Turkish spindles and think I might have to try one.

thecrazysheeplady said...

That's an ambitious Tour you've got planned there! I haven't figured out my goal yet. Head stuck in sand as it's SURELY not the middle of June already...right?

Deb W said...

Your spindles are gorgeous, and goodness knows I'm a sucker for beautifully turned wood, but I saw one of the Jenkins spindles 'live' for the first time at The Woolery last week, and they are tiny! I had not realized how small they are. Surely lace and fingering weight yarn only from them? I have not heard of the miniSpinner, so I'm off to look for a photo on the Internet. :-)


Susan said...

Beautiful spindles! Can't wait to see the final results - you certainly have some ambitious plans! That bonus roving is lovely! How did you get an "in" with sweet Maisie... :)

Michelle said...

Fiber security is a good thing! ;-)

Michelle said...

Oh no, not the blue screen of death! (May I suggest a Mac? ;-)

Come on up and play with my spindles and enjoy the cooler weather, Audrey!

Michelle said...

I can't recommend the Jenkins' spindles highly enough. Beautiful tools made by wonderful people. :-)

Michelle said...

Sara, it worries me when YOU think my plan is ambitious, since you are a much more productive spinner than I! =:-O

Michelle said...

Deb, I don't even own their smallest model, the Kuchulu, which is definitely a lace weight spindle. All the others are capable of pretty much anything! Did you find the miniSpinner yet? Another gorgeous tool; I'm just glad I got mine before the price increased!

Michelle said...

I put the cutest words in her mouth.... ;-)

Unknown said...

I've not done any spinning for ages. I bet mine will break as soon as I try now, I am so out of practice. Planning on buying more stash next week at Woolfest, which is a massive event here in the UK.