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June 19, 2006
Wow!
I had the absolute best time at Estes Park. The spinning class was beyond fabulous and I met so many wonderful people that it kind of boggles the mind. I think I'm going to have to take a couple of days to tell you all about the trip, so I thought I'd start at the beginning. The Spinning Class. Wow. I adore Maggie Cassey (does she have a fan club because I want to join). She is a fabulous teacher and I learned so, so much. There were 14 of us in the class and we talked about everything from selecting a fleece to washing and carding (we didn't touch on combing) and then we spun.
She brought a corriedale cross fleece (the whole thing - see that pile on the floor) that we carded and made into rolags. I learned how to do a long draw and learned how to draft with the twist between my hands. Very cool stuff. Afer we'd spun 2 bobbins worth of woolen yarn, we plied. Maggie taught me how to hold the two singles so that I can get a nicely plied yarn and it turns out it isn't too difficult. Who knew? I actually managed to spin and ply some relatively even, balanced yarn.
After the hand prepared fiber, we moved to some merino top and I learned all about worsted yarn and the different drafting methods. I even spun some over the fold! And I ended up with some fairly even singles. Finally, she let us play around with some merino/silk top.
I really feel like the class improved my spinning skills by 100%, but I'm really glad I went to the class with the basics. I think I got a lot more out of it than I would have if I'd never touched a wheel before. When I got home Saturday night I spun an ounce of one of my Spunky Eclectic sample rovings to go with the ounce that Carole spun on Lennie at Estes. And then I plied it. I realized I underspun my single because quite a bit of twist came out when I plied, but it's too pretty to care.
Yesterday I spun a bobbin of the corriedale top to ply with the merino top I spun in class and I am very pleased with how even it looks because I think the worsted draw is kind of hard, but I've gotten pretty good at keeping the twist out of the drafting zone. I probably won't have time to ply it until tomorrow or Wednesday night, but I'm anxious to see how it turns out. That's it for my spinning adventures. Tomorrow I'll tell you all about the great bloggers I met and the stuff I bought (including the, um, the fleece).
Comments
Fantastic! It's all looks great! Funny that you say the worsted draw is harder - I think that's the only one I know how to do. I'm definitely not doing the long draw - worsted is when you keep one hand behind to stop the spin and one hand to guide the spin? Yes? No? Glad you had such a great time!
Posted by: Cara at June 19, 2006 9:58 AM
Sounds like a great class! I don't understand half of what I just finished reading, but I know that your yarn is sure pretty. And that's all that really matters, right? ;)
Posted by: Cyndi at June 19, 2006 10:04 AM
yeah, ok, i have no idea what you're talking about, but i'm glad you had a good time and your spinning looks absolutely fab to me!
Posted by: kris at June 19, 2006 10:09 AM
I have faith that one day I will understand most of what you just wrote--I'm starting to figure out the drop spindle I bought in Estes.
It was such a pleasure meeting you, and though our time was short it was really amazing to make so many new friends in really only a few hours. I thought of you as we drove through L on our way home. Next time you come through SLC make sure it's a Tuesday so you can come to our S'nB and meet the rest of the grrls!
Laurie
Posted by: green-eyed grrl at June 19, 2006 10:15 AM
Wow, that all went over my head, but it looks like you had a blast and learned a lot!
Posted by: Angela at June 19, 2006 10:26 AM
Excuse me....what did I read you bought? For all of you readers, Stephanie is not to buy any more yarn of any kind for awhile. Her specific instructions to me were to remind her not to buy any more yarn until she uses up some of what she has. She said she was going to put it in her blog but as you can tell she has not let all of you know yet.
Posted by: Stacey at June 19, 2006 10:30 AM
Wow looks like you had a fabulous time. Your spinning looks phenomenol (of course I can't spell that word and am annoyed at the dictionary currently).
Can't wait to hear more!
Posted by: Rebekah at June 19, 2006 10:45 AM
Wonderful spinning!! So glad the class was good, sounds very fruitful.
Posted by: PumpkinMama at June 19, 2006 10:52 AM
Wow, that sounds like quite an adventure. I'm glad you had such a great time. And you bought a fleece??? Don't keep us in suspense! :)
Posted by: Carolyn at June 19, 2006 10:56 AM
your yarn looks so great! I wish I knew what you were talking about :P I'm sure we'll be talking wheels soon though.
can't wait to hear more about your weekend
Posted by: yahaira at June 19, 2006 11:04 AM
Sometimes it's so helpful to go back to the beginning and have it all make sense again. Glad it was successful.
Posted by: Theresa at June 19, 2006 11:35 AM
Oh, oh OH! The yarn looks phenomenal. And I'm so jealous of your class - looks like a blast.
Posted by: eunny at June 19, 2006 11:50 AM
Your handspun looks great, but the sight of all those wheels still makes me giggle a little.... I guess spinning wheels are just funny to me. =)
Posted by: Zarah at June 19, 2006 12:24 PM
That's quite a sight - all of you guys with wheels together!
Posted by: jillian at June 19, 2006 12:48 PM
I'm so glad you found Maggie to be as excellent of a spinning teacher as I did. Your yarns look great! It was sooooo much fun to meet you in person!
Posted by: Kristi aka Fiber Fool at June 19, 2006 12:49 PM
The first photo of the spinning class is great. It looks like you're all playing instruments in an orchestra!
Posted by: Becky at June 19, 2006 1:07 PM
I was eagerly awaiting the first account of Estes Park, and I think yours is it! (at least of the blogs I read!) I love the picture with the spinners and all of the wheels ;)
So glad you had a good time, and I can't wait to see more, Steph!
Posted by: Lolly at June 19, 2006 1:22 PM
It was wonderful to spend some time with you! The yarn you've made is looking good and in no time you'll be spinning perfect yarn. Hope we can meet again soon.
Posted by: margene at June 19, 2006 2:04 PM
Your class sounds like so much fun! I can't even begin to imagine all that stuff but by the looks of your yarn you are already a pro! I look forward to reading about the rest of the weekend.
Posted by: Stephanie at June 19, 2006 2:34 PM
I'm glad you had so much fun in Maggie's class...but I've never heard of anyone not. I know Shuttles is a bit of drive (in Boulder, CO) but if you ever have a chance to take a class from her there I highly recommend it. I think she usually only teaches the beginning class at Estes but at her shop she offers other topics as well. The silk spinning class I took from her last summer was so informative and fun.
Posted by: Amanda at June 19, 2006 3:42 PM
Yay!! So much fun!! I'm going to have to get in gear and dye you some fiber.
Posted by: Purly Whites at June 19, 2006 3:57 PM
Well, I am just so proud of you I could burst! That is some very professional yarn there, Missy!!
I've been trying to identify the wheels...what is the one on the far left in the second class photo, do you know? To the right are Lendrum, Kromski (Minstrel) and Louet...but I can't figure that one.
Posted by: Marcia at June 19, 2006 7:00 PM
great job steph!! i love that grey yarn.
Posted by: gleek at June 19, 2006 8:00 PM
Those look great! A big improvement from your initial hanks.
Posted by: quenna at June 19, 2006 9:17 PM
The plied yarn looks great! Thanks again for letting me spin a bit with Lennie. And you! I'm still sad that you had to leave on Saturday!
Posted by: Carole at June 19, 2006 10:32 PM
You know all the spinning lingo now! Your yarns look great. I saw someone plying yarn this weekend, and it looked like fun...
Posted by: Diana at June 20, 2006 8:30 AM
wow, sounds like you're totally into spinning now. so glad to know you had fun.
Posted by: blossom at June 20, 2006 11:13 AM
JUST gorgeous! I'm very excited for you. How fun to learn new stuff that compliments your other hobbies?! COOL - It looks awesome =)*)
Posted by: April at June 20, 2006 1:44 PM
Stephanie, I just had the most fun getting to meet you, and your yarn is wonderful (I can't believe it but I understood almost all your post, and probably should quit dragging my feet, get the wheel fixed and take a similar class so I can make yarn like yours).
Posted by: Birdsong at June 20, 2006 3:05 PM
Wow! That's a big group of spinners! I love to see a group of fiber people of all ages. Your corridale x is beautiflly spun! Very even. Nice!
Posted by: Julia at June 21, 2006 9:00 AM
It all looks great to me - but then again, what do I know?
Thanks for encouraging me to get the wheel - hope I'll be as good as you someday!
Posted by: michaele at June 21, 2006 9:48 AM
Look at all that beautiful handspun! I'm betting I see you at MDS&W one of these days.
Posted by: claudia at June 21, 2006 10:07 AM
