Am I doing it right?

This spinning stuff has been pretty much trial and error. I live in a very isolated place, and there is no way to take a class. So, what I have learned, I've gotten from the two spinning books in my library and the internet. Lately you tube has been a source of inspiration.

I've been gunning to try navajo plying. I like the way it makes the colours run together. But I'm not sure that I'm doing it right. It looks like I am. It feels like I am, but see! I have this little bump where the chain ends and another begins. Someone on craftster suggested maybe it was underspun. Not. It isn't under plied either. Its way over - on both accounts.



In anycase, I'm a process spinner. I'm happy enough with the final product. Those bumps won't be noticeable at all once knit up. Now, what it'll knit up to be, I'm not sure. I do know that I won't be wearing this next to the skin at all. It is so itchy. Someone suggested that it was a low grade fiber. I usually find alpaca so soft and buttery, so its either that or I'm like some kind of reverse rumplestilskin and instead of turning straw into gold, I've managed to turn gold into barbed wire. My spinning techniques could use alot of improvement, but I dont think its me. I'm not blaming the seller either. The dye job was wonderful. The colours are great and they didn't bleed at all. The seller had to have gotten this low grade fiber from somewhere. I wonder are there questions one should ask before purchasing alpaca? I thought it was all created equally, but I guess I have a lot to learn about fibre.

How do I feel about Alpaca?

I'm not too sure really. I know that I love knitting with it - or blends of it anyway. It always seems so soft and squishy. The jury is out on the spinning of alpaca. I bought a braid of 100% alpaca off etsy seller Roaringbravado. The colour is called Autumn equinox. I love the colours. Deep plums, midnight blues, forest greens. But the texture is weird or something. Its like the alpaca has alot of guard hairs still in it. Perhaps it is my spinning, as I'm still learning. I do want to try the Navajo plying business again, and this was my intention with this yarn, but I don't know if it will work. Alpaca has a nice long staple and it is a pleasure to spin, but just check out the hairiness. I don't know if I love it or hate it. I've no idea what its destined to become. Perhaps I should have used the drum carder and blended it with something, but the colours are just too darned pretty to be messing with.


In other news, I thought I'd share a picture of the snow that we have. I have the great pleasure of dealing with a lot of old people at work. I've been hearing from a few of them that this winter we are having an 'old fashioned winter' - meaning lots of long cold spells and a lot of snow. What do you think? Does this look like a lot of snow?


This is the view from my front patio looking up the street. Notice that you can't actually see the street because the snow banks are too high. You can see the top of one car on the street. Keep in mind that my house is also up on a little hill. Wow, that is a lot of snow.

I also wanted to share a cute baby shot - because I can.



Look at those cute little faces! Kev's face isn't too bad either.