thepaintedredstart

[thepaintedredstart]

There is a lot of information out there about weaving, crocheting and knitting, but relatively little about spinning.

Which is a shame, since spinning is really where the "resource provided by the earth" tangibly becomes "object with a use."

Aspects of spinning, such as the amount of twist and the length of the fibers, are impactful upon the thread or yarn created, but lots of fiber crafters don't get to directly play with those variables...

It is so strange how textile production is so utterly dominated by very few fibers, when so many are possible. Industry keeps coming up with new ways to transform bamboo or something into fibers, which is all well and good, but we have yet to run out of easily usable natural fibers that have worked for thousands of years.

Dogbane—Apocyonum cannabinum—was called "Indian hemp" because it was used by Native Americans for ropes, cords and textiles. It's incredibly strong, soft, and easy to collect large amounts of it. But hardly anybody uses it.

[thepaintedredstart]

Finished this lovely bison/merino/mohair spin this week! 50% bison down collected by a friend on a local bison ranch, which I cleaned and prepped myself (obviously there’s still a bit of veg matter in there but I don’t mind), and 50% a mohair/merino blend I had laying around to add a reasonable staple length. I’m so happy with the consistency I’m starting to achieve on my drop spindle!

The single before plying was so pretty

[thepaintedredstart]

Current spin in progress! Some gorgeous orange, gold, red, and brown variegated merino top

[thepaintedredstart]

snake sweater, snake sweater

[thepaintedredstart]

[thepaintedredstart]

Finished skein!

Successfully finished the first half of my first fractal spin!

This is a merino braid from a local indie dyer and was done entirely by hand. This first single is 2 ounces of a 4 oz. braid, and I think that weight pretty much maxes out this spindle! The last little bit was hard to keep consistent because of the weight of the spindle.

I am so so so excited to get the second half done and ply them together, the color gradients on this have been gorgeous all the way through and I think it’s going to be a beautiful 2-ply fractal.

[thepaintedredstart]

Finished fractal! 196 yds of merino, dyed by an indie dyer. This is my last work of Tour de Fleece and I’m so proud I got it done! This was spun on my Turkish/crossarm spindle and plied on my kick spindle

[thepaintedredstart]

Second half done! I’m going to let it rest for a day or two and then they’ll be ready for plying.

Successfully finished the first half of my first fractal spin!

This is a merino braid from a local indie dyer and was done entirely by hand. This first single is 2 ounces of a 4 oz. braid, and I think that weight pretty much maxes out this spindle! The last little bit was hard to keep consistent because of the weight of the spindle.

I am so so so excited to get the second half done and ply them together, the color gradients on this have been gorgeous all the way through and I think it’s going to be a beautiful 2-ply fractal.

[thepaintedredstart]

162 yds. of handspun merino, spun and plied on my kick spindle! We still have more work to do on consistency, but for my first spin on the kick spindle and my 5th skein ever, I’m happy!

[thepaintedredstart]

Kick spindle progress on the second half of a fractal spin!

I’m in love with this blue, and I love the kick spindle. If you don’t have the money or space for a wheel, it’s a fun in between. It’s really not *much* faster than being really good with a drop spindle, but it is faster, and you can use both hands while you spin and draft, which is nice.

It’s also easier to stop whenever you want and take a sip of coffee, which I enjoy.

[thepaintedredstart]

fuck this shit

let's make some lace yarn

200g BFL/Ramie blend that has sat in my stash for *undisclosed number of years*, dyed by me

(id in alt text)

[thepaintedredstart]

Successfully finished the first half of my first fractal spin!

This is a merino braid from a local indie dyer and was done entirely by hand. This first single is 2 ounces of a 4 oz. braid, and I think that weight pretty much maxes out this spindle! The last little bit was hard to keep consistent because of the weight of the spindle.

I am so so so excited to get the second half done and ply them together, the color gradients on this have been gorgeous all the way through and I think it’s going to be a beautiful 2-ply fractal.

[thepaintedredstart]

I’m loving this. I didn’t like this spindle for the first day and it’s quickly becoming my favorite

It’s beautiful, it’s relatively even, it’s portable, it makes pretty turtles. It’s the whole package.

Beginnings of my first fractal spin!

[thepaintedredstart]

Beginnings of my first fractal spin!

[thepaintedredstart]

Tour de Fleece update!

I’m getting more and more comfortable with my Turkish spindle and the cormo top that I’m spinning is delightful. I think this yarn will probably fluff up to a nice fluffy worsted weight when it’s plied and finished

Did I accidentally wind the turtle upside down? Sure, but it still works

[thepaintedredstart]

Atlantis dyed by Created by ElsieB. 4oz Targhee. 275 yards of 3 ply spun as a 2:4:8 fractal, with a mini skein of 2ply from leftover scraps.

It is supremely squishy!

[thepaintedredstart]

Medusa by FellviewFibres spun as singles. They’re a little overspun but I’m telling myself that gives it character so it’s ok!

Tour de Fleece is starting soon, and I wanted to get some practice in before we kick off again!