The drop of the spindle, that is.
A couple weeks ago I attempted to spin a bit of fluff for the first time. I'd watched this video that made it look so easy...
Well, it wasn't too bad, but it was significantly trickier than anticipated.
I've never been the most coordinated of souls, and using a drop spindle does require that the right hand know what the left hand is doing (not too mention the legs!). Then there's knowing how thick the fiber needs to be before drafting, then how much you can draft without the fiber pulling apart, then getting the spindle to spin well and the twist to work it's way up properly and how to stop the spindle from spinning and when to stop and wind the new yarn around the shaft...
phew.
I like to think of my finished product as a thick-and-thin (though mostly thick) art yarn.
I definitely intend to try again at some point (there is far too much lovely fluff out there to play with!). I can't say that I personally felt the same passionate obsession that I felt when I first learned to form a stitch, but it is certainly a challenge that I cannot ignore.
After all, those lovely and stormy-looking Dyeabolical braids do taunt me so very much every time I go into River City.
The thing is, I started with the drop spindle because...well...it's a vastly more economical way of testing my spinning skills than the wheel and I'm really quite glad I did. I do see the potential. But I also see the potential for a spinning wheel to be much easier to use.
Some day.
In the meantime, I will do the drop again. Occassionally. It's a nice change of pace.
(The results of my first spinning efforts may be seen as knit into the Yarn Tasting. I used about a third to a half of the fiber that comes in the basic drop spindle kit from Spinner's Choice.)
