Plastic spinning

As I look forward to Experimental Spinning on Saturday, I realise I haven't even said anything about last month, and, we had such alot of FUN!

It was a plastic month. I've spun with plastic before and got some great results.

This time I had an ulterior motive as I wanted to have a go at combining some stashed acrylic yarn. Yes, I'm the person who everyone gives it to, and, I just can't say no.....

Even to pink!....

What I wanted to do was spin plastic around the acrylic and see if the colour would show through but be a bit more subdued. The result is not too bad...

Now, I hear you all ask, what are you going to do with it? Well may you ask...but I want to make some more nests....

Anyway, there were some amazing yarns created, combining yarns and plastic. We did discuss what you might do with these yarns and thought that things like little bags, you know, for phones and other young stuff! might be fun. I am looking forward to seeing what the others come up with.

Little treasures on sale!

Yesterday the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria had one of the twice yearly Textile Bazaars they hold at their guild rooms. I generally try and get to these as they are that wonderful jumble of all sorts of textiley things that just makes you feel that if you hunt hard enough you might just find a treasure!

It was easier getting there this year as it was held on the same day as Experimental Spinnning. I was still later than I wanted to be and sadly followed a big bus load of ladies down from the country on a road trip, and, the early crowds. Oh well.

I did manage to pick up a few little gadgets that I will add to my weaving equipment. A rug beater, another simple shuttle, some plastic bobbins that I will work out if my bobbin winder can handle and crochet hooks.

More crochet hooks! They look good!

AND, there was a treasure...

Eventually worked out what it was, a cone winder, or holder, not sure which, but potentially useful nevertheless. It has 'Passap' on it and I assume it is meant to be used in conjunction with a knitting machine. I will be useful somewhere....Luv it!

The Queen of Canine Spinnables!

Sometimes a project comes along that you just have to do. It's a challenge and interesting and, more importantly, it's of special importance to someone. Just such a project has come my way thanks to the meeting place that is my local cafe 'Bien' at the Greville Rd shops.

One of my 'neighbours' has asked me to spin Samoyed hair from her previous dog. She has collected the 'blow' each year from her Samoyed and kept it. She has also lent me the book 'Knitting with dog hair' from which the 'Queen of canine spinnables' come from. This was obviously a special friend and  a labour of love.

Some has already been some spun in Tasmania and a lovely job. She has a little knitted sample and the halo is just amazing. It's like Angora rabbit and you could argue just as soft.

So, with all this in mind, I need to spin to match the current sample, but I want to create something that will reflect my own interests and fulfil the need to have something that reflects the relationship. At the moment we're contemplating a woven rug and I want to keep it as simple as possible and add interest by spinning two different yarns: a plyed yarn to match the sample and a single to add contrast.

These are my first samples and I'm very happy with them.

Now I have to spin bigger samples, 10g plied and 10g single. This will give me an idea of how long it will take and, more importantly, how much length I'll have to play with!