whackadoodle coconut

my husband and I met up with some friends this weekend and they has asked about spinzilla and wanted to know how it all works.  I had briefly explained how it all works and figured that since I was likely to start from nothing on this journey it might be helpful to know how this all works. Step one: Sheep.  if you want to spin yarn, you will need to source some fiber.  but, where does it come from?  the easy answer is from sheep.  however, living in a non-spinning centered (or sheep herd centric) city, I choose to purchase prepared fiber.  I used to have a shop near by to purchase fiber from, now I order from an online vendor. the possibility also exists to find locks from sheep to prepare and then spin. like these. Step two: Prepare your fiber. I have several methods to choose from.  I own a pair of carders and a pair of combs.  I will either card or comb my fiber until it is the way I want to spin and then I'll spin.  I don...

it's that time of the year again ...Spinzilla!  Very excited about this year because I have a better plan for prepping my fiber and my goal is within reach of last year's final yardage. UPDATED: here are some pics of what I began (and finished) for the pre spin to ensure that my wheel is working properly and I remember how to spin.  I opted for finishing the fiber that I had already began to spin, but was trying my patience and needed more work. picked up a cat/dog brush to help work out the compaction in the fiber you can see the little dreds there. fluffy little clouds of fiber, after being worked through with the brush singles waiting to be plied finished plying and ready to be measured and wound I am starting this year with - some warm up spinning (see above), clearing my bobbins, attaching new leaders, and buying new fiber that will be a delight to spin. last year I fell short by a couple bobbins, so I immediately bought more afterwards...

Yesterday was a great day.  I don't think we (as people) say that often enough.  I had a great day.  John picked me up for an outing in Santa Barbara, I met some new people, ate some food (not awesome, but that's okay) and we stopped in Solvang on the way home and I was able to visit Village Spin and Weave on Alisol.  I have been once before when I purchased a nostepinne about a year ago when I first learned how to spin.  I liked their shop, but since I was still pretty new at spinning I picked up just a few ounces of fiber and then head home to practice. I realized after a few weeks of spinning with my "CD on a stick", my fingers hurt like something awful and I needed something a little easier.  Jump forward and after reading and seeing it in action yesterday, I think I might have been doing it wrong.  As the incredibly nice woman who owns the shop says, I have good form, I think I was trying to hard.  As in - storing too much twist, spinning...