So it’s been a while, but I have a new hobby!

And of course a new hobby and craft is definitely worth a blog post.  I have rediscovered drop spindle spinning.  I tried a couple of years ago, but between my trying to learn, making my own drop spindle, dying the fiber I wanted to spin and felting it a bit, it didn’t go well.  I think I actually got the hang of it a little, but it wasn’t fun.  At least not at that point.

But now the Topeka Farmer’s Market just started up and the Spinster’s club has a booth selling fiber, yarn, hand made drop spindles on a wood lathe, and it has real people spinning at the table.  Yay for Marilyn!!  I was completely inspired.  So I treated myself to some local alpaca fiber from their table, but when I went home I dug out the wool fiber I had dyed… 2 years ago and decided I had to learn on that since it was going to be funky as a beginner.  Then I would work on the alpaca after I’d gotten a little better.  That was some serious incentive because I have been spindling ever since!!

 Spinning is seriously addictive.  I think I’ve heard that before and now I know it is true.  I love the simplicity of the drop spindle.  I’m very interested in traditional knitting, spinning and crochet tools.  Anyway, I’ll just post more pictures of what I’ve done this week now.  =)  Yay for spindling!!!

Dyed wool spindled as my beginner project.

 

Dyed, spindled yarn in skeins.

Plying alpaca fiber into 2 ply.

Brown and white alpaca spun and plied into yarn!

Brown and black alpaca fiber, partially spun.