I so enjoy reading about your life, wool and antics.

Some angora top I bought felted. I think it is saying 'na na na'.

Thanks for the timely post, Stephanie! I've been fighting with a spindle and batt for a while now and what you describe just might be my problem. I might give this particular batt some time on the wheel. Maybe then we'll feel the love, 'cause we certainly ain't feelin' it now.

Steph, it's not just batts that talk - every single skein / hank / ball of yarn in my home talks to me. You're definitely right about not mentioning this to "civilians" though - they just do NOT get it.

As someone who struggles with just getting the dang yarn turned into something wearable without holes or coming apart, I must admit I am in awe of anyone who can turn a sheep into the stuff I try to work with (OK, given, there are only rat bastards and not sheep in your backyard, but you're working a lot closer to the critter than I can possibly imagine doing!)

Funny how the voices always know what will work - even when we refuse to listen to them, huh?

(and to be a commenter above #300 is a thrill too!)

Of course the wool talks. Can you believe how many incredibly rude (nonspinner) people there are out there who just aren't listening!!?

We, your readers, understand perfectly

Not positive about the talking, but as someone who just jumbled the sequence in cable-plying (went s/z/s instead of s/s/z) and is looking at the pitiful result, debating how to salvage it, I will confirm that it's capable of sniggering.

Absolutely gorgeous. Feel free to send it my way. ::very big grin::

FYI - I have another batt of the stuff I gave you in Petaluma that is begging me to let it go to your house too. May just pass it up your way since I still can't spin. I'd like it to get made into something.

Wool does not merely talk. It bats you, as it were, over the head until you give in. Your single is positively mouthwatering.

(And you are messing with my head again. I expect no less.)

Yarn speaks to me, saying things like "Of course you love me."
"Sure, you can do that project that seems hopelessly out of your league."
"For crying out loud, I cost less than all the wine you bought for your last dinner party, and I last longer, and you'll feel better when you wake up after a night with me."

Just lash me to the mast of my ship and call me Odysseus.

And I don't care what my neurologist thinks; these are NOT auditory hallucinations.

your spinning !!!!!

today?????

are you baking in the oven too?

It's O.K. everyone I know it's tuesday and all but it's like 45 degrees in T.O. today.

spin in front of a fan or in the tub or somthing ( post tub pictures)

Hi Sam.

It's amazing how inanimate things talk. If you remember my dinky little bit of sock I had barely started at your appearance in Portland? [g] I swear it's - well, swearing at me and saying it doesn't wanna be socks! I mean geesh, I can do a 2x2 rib while I'm *reading*, yet I've-- Never mind.

I've also got a bunch of amethyst nuggets and green aventurine and pewter and glass and green agate beads that are supposed to be a really cool chunky necklace, and darned if they aren't sticking their non-existent little tongues out at me and saying, "Oh hell no, we aren't gonna work together. Look at us; we suck as a team, don't we? Yes we do. Hah!"

They've been saying it to me every time I look at it for about three years now. Maybe it's time I took that necklace apart, y'know?

Yarn/Fiber TOTALLY talks.

I was struggling with a scarf. Sportweight yarn, a good needle size (I not only did a gauge swatch, but I WASHED and BLOCKED it, too!), and a fairly straightforward pattern.

WEEKS I tried working on it. Every night. I'd get 3 rows forward, and would have to undo all of them. Forward and back. Forward and back. Then I finally got one full pattern repeat done (all 8 rows of it) and realized I hated the needle size. Ripped it back, cast on again using needles 2 sizes smaller and just went zipping along on it.

Until I got far enough along that I realized the person I was making it for would hate it. LOLOL

Love the corals. And yeah, some carded batts just *won't* spin worsted, just like some combed sliver is just too danged slippery to do a long draw (tho I can usually manage a kind of medium draw by spinning slipper stuff from the fold.) I always figure that it's a partnership between me and the wool (or silk, or cotton or whatever) and we both have to be kinda on the same page to get a happy-making yarn. Glad you figured out how to make you both (you and the wool) win this battle of wits!

Joy
Rewalsar, H.P., India

Yarn totally talks, as we all know. Now if only it would explain the whys behind its whims, I would be so happy...

I really, really WANT to learn to spin. Reading about this experience makes me realize how little I understand about the fibers I knit with every day.

The colors are beautiful!

Dear Lynda the G -- As to your meticulous swatch, see, as Stephanie brought to our attention, that which shall hereafter be referred to for the benefit of the purehearted merely as Franklin's Rule #2, to wit:
http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2007/06/observations-upon-reaching-lace.html

I have a feeling if I were a spinner I would be gleefully sharing in your pride - however since I am not (yet) a spinner I mostly find this very fascinating, because while I freely ogle all the handspun out there on the blogs, I still know very little about How It All Happens.
And the colour is gorgeous! I can see why you would want to keep it going through the spun yarn.

Navajo. Definitely. Not chain. The inventors need credit for the technique.

Your wool talks to you? Gosh, it has better manners than mine, which usually cusses me out.

Is that an Ashford Joy that I see? I own one and love it!!! I love the colors in that fiber. And yes, learning how to listen to the fiber makes all the difference!

Of course yarn and fiber and projects talk to us. We're not deaf!

It's a testament to your brilliance that I was captivated and worried for you and your spinning, and all I know about spinning is what you just told me in this post.

Hooray for beautiful things that emerge from frustration and perseverance! Genius, you.

That looks lovely! Geez, I was already all excited for my spindling class on Thursday... Now I don't know how I'm going to survive until then! Oh well, back to knitting/sniffing/petting/listening to my yarn.

As a novice spinner I don't have anything intelligent to add to this discussion. So, you'll have to be content with a compliment: Dude, I LOVE your Verve t-shirt!

Ok, I think you just gave me an aha moment. When I tugged on the roving that I was initially mangling it used to pull apart a little in a most pleasing manner. The top that I'm currently destroying is not pulling at all. I just overspin and watch it get sucked onto my bobbin while I wonder while I have no control. I was confused and befuddled and irritated but I think (correct me if I'm wrong) that I'm dealing with two completely different things and shouldn't expect them to behave the same way. I have so much to learn.

With all the attitude that fiber gives me, I would swear most days that it came from cats, not sheep or rabbits or alpaca.

If fiber had eyes, it would give me the same look my cat does when I can't figure out the problem. If you live with a cat, you know the one - the look that says "it really sucks that I live with a stupid human who can't speak Cat and that I must repeat myself louder and louder and louder just to get my perfectly reasonable point across."

I see, so sometimes the yarn is a pain in the knickers from batt to cast off is it? Heartening thought.

I too have suffered the same. I usually do a combination of the long draw and the short draw from a distance when faced with fiber that doesn't want to cooperate or is very neppy. And Navajo plying? I love it! Except when ones single gets too thin in a spot and decides to break! That's when one requires 3 hands.

I wish I could get the hang of the long draw.

Eh, my family is used to me hearing voices.
Lovely lovely fiber, both spun and not. Linda must eat, sleep and breathe beautiful colors. (If her workshop looks like mine, it's assured.)

I hear it, every time I pass the yarn shop, farm, show booth, "buy me, buy me". Then you get it home & it won't be quiet here either!

I understand. I personally feel that often times the so called "eccentric" folk, actuall know about what they are talking about and are MUCH more interesting. I'd much rather be considered eccentric, than normal (dry, ignorant,uncaring muggle that locks up sock clubs!!)

I won't tell on you, if you won't rat out me. My offspring totally thinks I am nuts anyway, but what they don't know won't make them understand any more either.

I'm doing some textured tussah silk from Spinderella and, lo and behold, it wants to be textured yarn! Who'd have thunk it? I'm hoping the judges at the fair will realize that it was my (the fiber's) intention to make a more novelty yarn and not just think it looks like ass.

That t-shirt is very becoming.

Nice yarn, too.

So glad you found a solution! It's going to be beautiful yarn!

I read the whole thing and understood almost nothing.....but I like the last pictured yarn best.....so I guess I understand? *grin*

So that's what all the noise is! Perhaps getting the fibre its own room will quiet the din a bit.

Does your fibre have a deep Australian accent too? Or is that just me?

My yarns and knitting speak to me. But I never let the muggles know about it. They might think they should lock me up...but we know better.

My roving usually screams at me;)

You are increasing my spinning wheel lust!

No quibbles here -- it's Tuesday, and you're spinning. Nice.

I won't tell if you won't...

Ah, that explanation was enought to convince me never, ever to try spinning my own yarn. Not happening. I bow before the masters who do so, and will gladly support them by buying their yarn.

Although I can sympathize intensely. Thus far, I've frogged a sweater with Noro Kocheron 11 (count 'em) 11 times. In three days. Because no matter how many or few stitches I cast on, the freakin' thing is either too big -- or too small. Lacing your persistence, I just gave up on it and moved to another sweater . . .

Yeah, it's not just the wool that talks. I'm an art quilter and the fabric talks too. It can be very demanding about what other fabrics it's willing to be seen with, and how you coax it through the sewing machine. I hear you.

It is not just wool that speaks (softly, you need to listen closely...) I have some beautiful bamboo yarn that is resisting, mightily, all attempts to knit it into something. It is lovely, soft (withstands going to the frog pond nicely) but everytime I start something with it, it blows raspberries at me. It has a particular project, obviously...but it really has not shared the project with me, yet. In the meantime it is getting stroked (and the cats leave the bamboo alone...so no threats have worked against it.)

That's so cool. I really need to learn to spin. But I have a feeling its one of those things that I need someone to teach me. I can't just wing it like I did with knitting (I was doing that wrong for a year before I figured it out.)

I do not want to learn to spin .... I do not want to learn to spin .... I do not want to learn to spin .... do you think if I keep chanting that while covering my eyes that I might escape?

Very nice photos, Samantha! This post was so interesting to me. I love the process of spinning even thought I don't spin.

At least your voices have something constructive to add - mine, not so much.

Wow. I certainly have a lot to learn. I'm sure the finished product is going to be beautiful.

My yarn (talking knitting here, as I don't spin -- but the voices remain the same) -- doesn't talk much when things are going its way. Maybe a contented hum at best. But it sure says "NO!" when all is not well! Kind of like a baby. "Figure out what's wrong and FIX IT -- with no other clue except that I'm really pissed off!"

Of course it all talks to me....I am always amused at my spinner friends that get all technical about their WIP's etc. (and they are just as amused at me) because I listen to the fiber and do what it tells me to do. Period. End of story. And it always works.....any time I try to bend its will it never works. You just gotta listen!

I just learned how to chain ply 3 weeks ago (after 20+ years of spinning, and I can't get enough of it. It makes the coolest colorways, because no matter how hard I try to spin batts/slivers/rovings so that the colors combine nicely, they just don't seem to work like I want. Your singles will ply up beautifully that way. Love the colors.

Fiber most definately talks! There's nothing wrong with that. It's when we start talking back... uh.. . Well, you get the idea. But it does us good to listen! I really listened to some fiber I bought at MDS&W recently and boy did it turn out well as a result! Some of my best spinning to date!

oh thank GOD....the voices are real. I can quit trying to ignore them in a vain attempt to seem normal. They're such sweet voices. Really can't resist them. Hmmmmm are we sure this is normal?

My yarn talks to me too . . . We don't have to tell the muggles :-)

You have helped me with your struggles. It is so nice that other people can have the same problems as you. With being new to spinning I tend to think that I am just not doing it right. Of couse that is true, but I am glad to know that there is another way.

Now I want to get myself home and spin on my bit of Fleece Artist merino I have started. I can hear it calling from here at my office 50km away. Fibre talks? Hah! It bellows, Darlin'.

Wicked awesome Verve shirt!
No comment on the talking...

I love the image of nailing jello to a tree!

Not only do fiber, yarn, plants, pets, and in-progress quilts talk, so does content on a website. I told that to some clients the other day and it made perfect sense to them. So we can hold off on categorization until we have enough content to categorize and the content tells us how it "wants" to be categorized.

Sometimes I think that maybe enlightenment is just learning to listen.

Thanks for "outting" this important truth, Steph. I need frequent reminders.

It's only a problem when the yarn/fiber starts arguing with the voices in your head.

"A lot of spinners spin everything the same way, regardless of prep type." Yup, that's me. Long draw... woollen... I need to broaden my spinning horizons.

"Finally it hit me. If what I was doing wasn't working....why didn't I try something else!
(I am not as smart as you think.)"

and 10 is bigger than 9, every time. =]

Wow!
I thought I wanted to spin as a sideline to my knitting, but I'm not so sure now.
I've done a wee bit of drop spindle, and what you're talking about here sounds confusing! Intriguing, but a whole new language to learn.

Steph, you missed the most important information. WHERE DID THAT BATT COME FROM? It's gorgeous...

My wheel has been sitting there, woefully, with 1/2 a bobbin of Ashland Bay English Garden on it for months (while I knit, and worked, and wove, and started restoring an old wheel). Something like that batt calling my name would get me back at the wheel.

it is a true artist who "listens" to the voice of their medium. michaelangelo apparently said in sculpting all he had to do was release the form that was already inside the block. hence, once you, stephanie, listened to the form already in the fibre, lo and behold! the art was released! :)

When anything inanimate talks to you, you must listen. Few people have the ability to hear it---it's a gift!

Now if we could just get it to tell us precisely what it wants to be when it grows up, we could collaborate so much more easily. It is a partnership, you know.

What will the muggles think when they hear us earnestly quizzing our yarn, batts, etc,? Who cares? Spin on!

Wow... Greek

I totally did not understand a word of that. By the time I was done my eyes were squinty and my mouth was hanging open in concentration - still nothing.

Spinning still intimidates me.
I think I'll go knit until I my mouth closes.

I believe I shall stick to my knittin'. I kinda went all "flying toasters" just trying to read through that, having absolutley no clue what you were talking about; draught, draw, worsted that doesn't mean weight...Yup, you lost me. Very very glad there are people like you out there who do this, because it means there is yarn out there for me to do unto...But I think I'll stop beating myself up for not being a spinner, now! Anyway, those colors look gorgeous; can't wait to see what you make of it!

being new to spinning, I'm not fluent in "fiber" yet, which may explain the very un-yarn-like substance that is coming off my wheel. I need to listen more closely...

My first peek into the secret life of spinners.
How can I have knit so many years and know nothing of this?!!

De-lurking to say thanks for these spinning tips, which are HUGE for a beginner like me who is trying to figure it out on her own. Would love to see more posts like this when you have the time and inclination.

Spinning lingo is unnavigated syntax for me. Spinning does seem to contain same basic elements as other art forms e.g., patience, time, commitment, physical coordination, lots of mental/spiritual stretch, and workworkworkwork.
I do know my stash talks to me, however my ears aren't quite tuned to be able to follow; however, eventually those bags (many) of mohair and Habu trippy stuff will be something - just have to keep practicing the craft and listening.

You are so totally right. I'm not even sure really how I spin. I do pre-draft so I can get the single to be as thin as possible. I usually shoot for at least a sport or worsted weight. I always think I am going to get it the size that I want, and then after it has totally done what it wanted, I'm like, oh ... yeah... this is what I was planning to do.... :)

I've often wondered if way back in the dawn of time, someone heard wool talk. It first said take me off this sheep please, and she did, and then she listened in case the fleece would say more, and she just kept going along with it. that first fibre person was a really good listener.

I just learned how to spin and I LOVE it. Thank you for today's post, I understand (almost) every word of it!

I have a couple of Grafton rolags here...so thank you for the heads up!

Not only does it talk, sometimes it screams, as it TAKE ME HOME! LOL!

I know your shirt likely says "Vous"...

... but it looks like "Venus".

Which only goes to show how very much you love spinning :)

All I can say is, if you can get it to do ANYthing, you're way ahead of me! Gorgeous stuff there, no matter who's doing the bossing. Methinks it may be time to beg Mom for Great-grandma's spinning wheel and learn to spin.

Surrender is my operative word...approach with an idea and then surrender....good for everything..I learned this through basket weaving...I would have an idea and the cedarbark would have a different idea...should I pull hours of work apart or love wherever it was taking me....surrender is what I learned to do best..then if it wasn't appreciated I could always say, not my fault the fibre made me do it...lol...cedar

I wish I could get the hang of the short draw.

Communication is a wonderful thing! Unspun fibers, dyes, yarn...all yelling for attention - a lot like my small children. You can suggest and gently guide, but in reality they are going to do what they want!

Thanks for a wee lesson, before my wheel arrives. Dare I tell Hubby that soon, there's gonna be lots of talking, demanding old batts around here? He only knows of one.

Thank God I'm not the only one who is nuts! Mention the little voices around here and they threaten to take my pointy sticks away.

Right now I have some extremely rude and contrary alpaca on my wheel. It's practically spitting at me.

When my socks talk back to me, I put them in time out!

I really didn't think the fiber would talk to me, a beginning spinner, but...it does. I guess maybe it's more appropriate to say that I listen to it when it doesn't behave the way I think it should! The fiber's lovely - can't wait to see it plied!

No, no...I hear you...I mean it...it's totally speaking our language...

Wow. I just learned so much. I am a terribly new spinner (I bought my pretty pretty pretty Lendrum Folding wheel in May with only one lesson prior to that and never touching the lendrum before) and I had no idea. I did just order 2 new spinning books though.

I've never posted before but I read your blog every day and I love it! All I've got say after reading today's blog is - I didn't understand a word of the spinning stuff but I'm sure glad there are spinners out there who can keep me stocked up with yarn!!! LOL

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I must be insane, because I do that kind of thing ALL the time!!

Hmmm. I am still a bit confused as to which techniques are assigned to worsted vs. woolen. Most of what I've tried to spin thusfar is worsted prep. But although I've tried to do some studying, I'm spending most of my time with the fiber and the wheel and haven't gotten any formal training. I've been using a longer draw (sort of) but there isn't a whole lot of arm swinging since I am too nervous to move my front hand very far from the drafting zone...

Now I want to learn to spin...

BTW, I heeded your advice and decided to backup my computer this morning. I hadn't done a backup in over a year, and my computer has been acting a little sluggish the past few days. Well, it bricked right in the middle of the backup. I have yet to figure out what is there and what is gone. (sob)

I should have done it sooner! Everyone heed the Harlot and back up your computers!

I speak just enough weaving to translate some of the spinning. Recognition of esses and zees, woolens and worsteds helps communication with fibers in many areas.

Still, I've had plenty of frustrating episodes of noncommunication. I once spent a frustrating week trying to swatch baby cashmerino into something resembling a firmly knit lace. No matter how sharp the points with which I skewered it, it refused to K3tog or P2togtbl at gauge. I finally loosened up, settled on a simple seed stich with a few columns of faggoting and we get on very well during those brief times I get around to visit it.

ALL my fiber talks to me. ALL my PROJECTS talk to me. Fortunately, my husband is a weaver and understands completely when I look at him and say "well, I thought this was going to be a round basket, but apparently it wants to be oval (or square, or triangle)".

It's good to listen to the fiber.

BTW, nice closet!! That's the quickest any of my comments has posted.

Be the batt.

Be at one with the fibre.

Isn't that like trying to argue with an infant? You know they just need whatever, but they think they need something else. Too bad you can't nurse a batt. That was always my go-to answer when nothing else worked with my babies.

good thing that roving didn't come off Franklin's Dolores... can you imagine trying to spin it as it wheedled drinkies out of you, or how absolutely obstinate it would've become if you didn't, you know... give in to a little fondling before setting to proper spinning... as if you could, with all the boozing up she'd have done to our Harlot! Happy the outcome is showing success. Cami

Golly, I hadn't even noticed that I didn't understand a word of what you wrote until I read the comments. See, my husband, my best friend, and her husband are all computer professionals, so I'm used to meaningless words washing over me.

I understand about the listening and I normally hear my fibre but I think it's in a huff today!

I'm an inexperienced spinner who is currently having trouble with her fibre :( (what's with these twirly bits?)

Greetings from Yonkers where it is too damn hot to knit with wool!

Someone sent me this quote today. I thought you would like it!

If automobiles had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
- Robert X. Cringeley

Oooooooooooh. Pretty. Red. Fuzzy. :)

Yep, it totally talks! You've just got to listen! And I'll tell anyone that -- I don't care if they think I'm nuts! Because if they'll think I'm nuts because of that, they'll probably think I'm nuts for 20 other reasons too, so eh, what do I care about what they think of me? Rock on.

That first photo looks like watermelon.

Mmmmmmm---Watermelon.

And you say you don't know enough to do a book about spinning - shame on you - we're waiting for one. When people ask me "what are you going to make with that?" I always tell them "the yarn will tell me when it's ready" - but then most of my friends think this psych nurse is a little crazy anyway!

Of course it talks! If it didn't theres no way it could talk me into increasing my stash size faster than I can even conceive of what to make with all the stuff, much less actually do it!

Fiber laughs at both me and my spindle. Or maybe both the spindle and the fiber are laughing at me. Either way, I find spinning more relaxing with a beer nearby. It takes the sting out of the mockery.

Haha. It happens. For some reason, I realized that I did my current project completely correctly, then decided to frog it. Though it was completely correct. I think I've lost my mind.

Fiber speaks. Oh yes, it does. Why is it then, that 90% of knitters/spinners are hard of hearing? Why do we not pick up that sound, we must be yelled at and screamed at by it before we scratch our heads and say, "Oh yes, ok, I see now."

isn't it funny how fiber decides what it wants to and whether we approve or not it tries to do it? Been there. done that. 10 years later i can almost decide what to do with fiber...but not always!

looks beautiful tho. love the colors!

Y'know, I really want to spin. I won the most beautiful purple heart spindle from a fellow blogger and I want to spin. I want to spin and spin well so that I can then justify buying a wheel and spinning. I want to buy a wheel and spin because it seems to me to be such a soothing and meditative process.

So, when is the Yarn Harlot's book on spinning coming out so that I can read it and understand all you know before attempting to tackle these feats?

If you could do that sooner, rather than later, I would be forever indebted to you. Oh wait, I already AM indebted to you for all the joy and wonder and knowledge you've already passed on. . . . CRAP! I've got nothin'. . . . .hmmmmm, maybe you could just consider writing the spinning book out of the goodness of your (huge) knitter's heart?

Thanks

i have 3 lbs of coopworth roving.

every book i checked says to spin it for outerwear & rugs.

i tried to spin it for laceweight, convincing myself it would make a good, sturdy shawl. i stopped when i saw a vision of myself with my flesh ripped to shreds by a tad too harsh 2 or 3 ply.

Thanks to your explanation, I think I now understand the difference between "top" and "roving." (I've just started spindle spinning, and am having lots of fun, but I don't have an instructor.)

A.) I will not be sucked into this spinning thing that every other knitter seems to be doing. Peer pressure does not affect me, (even though it looks really fun).

B.) Yarn talks to me all of the time. It says things like - "I would make a great pair of slippers", "you know you want me", and "why not just buy one ball of me, take it home, and think about it?"

I always thought I might give spinning a "whirl" one day ! But it all sounds way too complicated. I think I'll stick with knitting.

The rest of us spinners out here totally understand. The silk I have been working with recently has gone from speaking to screaming and the cotton I just bought..well, frankly I don't want to hear what it is going to have to say. The yarn looks great though and it is a really pretty color! Can't wait to see it finished!

LOL!!!!!!!! That's so true and so funny! When my friend was learning to spin, I told her that different fibers would tell her how they wanted to be spun. She said "Ok." (Basically it was a cross between "Yeah right! and "Whatever!") I could tell that she figured that I was either really going over the edge or into some New Age phase that just wasn't going to be pretty. A month or two later she called me up with a very surprised "You were right! I see what you mean!" I just cracked up because it does sound a little wacky until you've spun a bunch of different fibers. I just love that about spinning. I'm always learning something new every time I play with fiber. What really amazes me are those people who start out with a gorgeous but dirty fleece and end up with a beautiful sweater (or Gansey) that has been hand washed, combed or carded, spun uniformly the perfect weigh for the project and then knit up. AMAZING! I've done smaller projects with my handspun, but no sweater yet. I'm still looking for the perfect fleece!

Oh it talks alright. Just wait until it talks to you from off of the sheep's back and tells you how it wants to be washed, blended, dyed, and what it would like to be knit into.

"Nail Jello to a tree"!! You are so silly! ;)

Ahhh, I am so jealous of your long draw! I just got my wheel on Thursday and have already spun up two different yarns - I am addicted, but inch-worming my way along. Yours looks lovely so far, can't wait to see it plied!

You look so calm with your handspun. Not a frazzled wreck from having your drive go bellyup. I know it's not true, but I'll enjoy the illusion.

hey there:)
love that pic of u
nice color tee, r u in the warm color family?
anyway, i know its so nice to take a nice pic
peace&blessings
mary~

Hey Steph! Nice single. It's amazing how different in color a single and the fibre it came from can look.
Anyway, I've been wanting to do some charity knitting for a while but wasn't sure what kind. I think I'd really like to make hats, and I know you guys have been collecting them on tours and stuff, and I was wondering where I could send them. I live in South Carolina.

psssst, I hear the voices, too...

Thank you SO much for demystifying woollen vs. worsted. Something I never *quite* caught onto!

BIG RANT! Why is it, I would like to know when spinners talk about the "voice" of fiber they are considered nuts? I mean to we say other artists are crazy when they "listen" to the wood they are carving? Give me a break, I'm sick of being thought of as a fruit cake just because I buy kool aid by the case and when the check out girls asks if I'm having a party I explain I don't drink the stuff, I dye wool. Eyes roll, and the looks says weirdo.

Well fine. But I'm warm in the winter and YOU aren't in your plastic clothes.

Sorry, had to be said. Crazy sheep woman signing off!

Hi Stephanie:

I enjoy reading you blog almost everyday. I to am working on the baby surprise jacket, but I seem to have hit a snag on row 57, The increases accross the back seem to be a little off.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

susan

How funny. I just started spinning some pretty, sparkly purple fluff, and it was trying to tell me the same thing that your coral batt was. And I suspected all along, but still spun a quarter of it the wrong way because I was afraid to try the long draw. Now, armed with info from teh interwebs, I will march (er, spin) onward!

Thanks. :)