Bertram*
'allo mate!
Saturday I was feeling a bit lurgey, so I figured a little spinning was just what I needed to perk me up. Turns out I was wrong about the perking, but I now have 2 more skeins of yarn and a little more spinning experience under my belt!
The Deets: 100g Wensleydale from Gwenyth Glynn Wensleydales, Navajo plied. A little unbalanced, but aren't we all?
How this is better than the last yarn
- I split the fiber in half before prepping it so I'd have two 50g skeins (so much more satisfying than my normal big skein and little skein).
- I used better-quality fiber. Funny how that makes a difference.
Wensleydale?:
Up until recently, I thought that Wensleydale was a variety of cheese, but it turns out that wherever in Britain it is they must make a few sheep too. My inexpert opinion of the Wensleydale wool is that it's nice and foofy. I'd say it scores about a 8 on a scale from scratch-tastic to soft. Definitely knitable.
Speaking of Spinning...
Does anybody have any recommendations for good websites or books that can instruct me in the ways of plying? I seem to have the basic single down, but plying gives me hives.
In other news
We're doing a little maintenance around the blog these days. Seems things need a little spiffing up. Rae, you'll be pleased to hear that I've updated and straightened out my categories. Hopefully you can find stuff now.
*Continuing in the tradition of naming my handspun, beginning at the beginning of the alphabet. I haven't gotten too far yet, have I?
Comments
Have you been to joyofhandspinning.com yet? I found the videos there to be helpful. I've also poked around YouTube to find spinning videos.
Posted by: Sarah | October 20, 2008 10:00 PM
Your spinning looks great. I learnt navajo plying from you tube, it was really helpful. The spin off magazines are great for info too.
Posted by: Lin | October 21, 2008 3:01 AM
If you can find a copy of the Spinner's Companion, I'd recommend snatching that up. The Beginning Spinners group on Ravelry also has a good list of resources.
And hello, Bertram, you are quite lovely :)
Posted by: wen wen | October 21, 2008 6:47 AM
Bertram is quite handsome.
Check SpinOff magazines website for plying possibilities.
DO feel better, dear!
Posted by: greta | October 21, 2008 7:14 AM
I like Bertam, the yarn and the name, actually.
You are making me want to spin now...
Posted by: nova | October 21, 2008 10:43 AM
Your spinning looks great. I have a wheel but know very little how to use it. I definitely can't give you recs about plying. Sorry.
Posted by: Cassy | October 21, 2008 11:02 AM
Bertram is the perfect English name for something so utterly proper as Wensleydale! Why I think your skeins would be Gromit's dream yarn (from Wallace & Gromit).
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 21, 2008 1:08 PM
Hee hee! I like that your yarn speaks cockney. Wensleydale is in Yorkhire (in, funnily enough, the Yorkshire Dales), so Bertram would probably say '" 'ellor"!
Hope you're feeling better xxx
Posted by: Philippa | October 22, 2008 3:19 AM
Hurrah for spinning and blog organization!
I'm glad to hear that E didn't decommission your spinning wheel with his baby-treatments.
Posted by: Rae | October 22, 2008 9:09 PM
Welcome to the world of the unbalanced, Bertram. You'll fit right in!
(He's lovely.)
Posted by: Lee Ann | October 23, 2008 10:23 PM
It's beautiful - and I'm the opposite - navajo plying gives me the hives! I learned to ply from a center pull ball - you might want to give that a try sometime.
Posted by: chris | October 25, 2008 8:38 AM
wensleydale is indeed in north yorkshire, where i am from ... many many sheepy things ... more likely to say 'ayup' than hello!
Posted by: sulkycat | October 26, 2008 4:17 AM