My Adventure With a Drop Spindle

I decided a while back that I wanted to try spinning my own yarn.  Being me, I knew I needed to be rational and get educated about it before I jumped in like I wanted to do.  So I scoured the net for spinning websites and watched countless YouTube videos.  

Next I needed to find a spindle and some fiber.  I came across Walnut Farm Designs on Etsy and found everything I needed in their beginner set.  Anita was an absolute dream to work with, and very generous!  I ordered 2 other kinds of fiber because they were so beautiful and the prices so good.  

I chose 4 ounces of Blue Faced Leicester wool in their Late Summer colorway because it's so pretty and reminded me of rhubarb.  I wish I'd taken pictures of it before I spun it.  The picture below is a different fiber and, as it's hand painted, mine wasn't exactly the same as this but you get the idea.  

Walnut Farm Designs' Late Summer Superfine Merino Combed Top

Here's how I did using the park and draft method.  It's thick and thin, not by design but because I'm inexperienced, so it's considered "art yarn".  I did go through and draft out the really thick spots and respin them, but it still didn't turn out as uniform as I would have liked.  I'm okay with that because it's my first try and I'm amazed that I did this well.  

I created yarn!

I LOVE these colors!

I haven't used it yet.  I'm still deciding what it should be.  It was such a thrill to add it to my tote with special "real" yarn.  Most of my stash is acrylic and separate from my meager stash of wool, alpaca, and cotton yarns.  

The process of taking fiber and creating yarn is so fantastic.  You never know how the colors will express themselves, and the fiber definitely has a mind of its own.  And the process made me appreciate the product that other hand spinners create. 

If you've ever thought about spinning, go for it!  Do your research, get your fiber and a spindle, and get spinning!