Roc Day: Try Spinning This! 

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Happy New Year, everyone!

Running out of fiber?! Here are some other things to try your hand at. Bring what you can, and anything else you can think of to spin. Suggestions:

Newspaper, don’t forget the comics and ads for some color

Pattern paper (This will be supplied, there is plenty)

Magazines

wrapping paper

tissue paper

fabric

tinsel

Easter straw

Plastic bags

Japanese paper

Thread and/or fine yarns to ply with

Shred or cut papers in direction they tear most easily.

Water spray bottles to lightly mist paper, a towel to wrap them in.

Scissors, rotary cutter, straight edge, cutting boards.

Spinning

Newspaper, pattern paper, magazines and wrapping paper: to spin with one strip, it should be aprox. ¾” –  1 ¼” wide, depending on how heavy you want the yarn.  Twist an end and add that to your leader. Begin spinning to add twist. When there is about 3” left, overlap ends and continue spinning, and so on. Misting paper very lightly may help.

You might also try cutting thinner strips with the paper shredder and try spinning it more like roving.

Plastic bags can be cut in strips ½” – 1”+. Cut off bottoms and tops of bags and discard them. Cut strips across bag so you have loops of plastic. Put your hand through a bunch of these loops, pull one off at a time and chain them together until you have desired length, and spin. Ply if desired, either with itself or with another material. I would use the thinner strips if you plan to ply it with itself. You can try shredding the plastic and feeding that like roving, too. 

Fabric can be cut in thin strips, Easter basket straw and tinsel–try spinning it like roving. Mix things together.

Japanese paper: If you would like to try this, washi paper, made from bark, is recommended. I believe it can be bought locally at Hyatt’s, craft store may carry it, too. Rather thin strips can be cut, links on how to do this can be found in files in the guild’s ravelry group. This process is rather complicated, but I think it could be somewhat simplified if anyone would like to try using this type of paper.

Links: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/common-threads-guild/pages/Roc-Day-2014-Spinning-paper-plastic-etc-links

As it turns out, I am unable to join you for this. Amanda has graciously agreed to run the meeting. Hope you all have fun, wish I could be there. Liz

Holiday Party December 8

Spinning Cotton with Erica!

It's that time of the month again!

Photo by Erica of her 20 lb. bale of cotton

Sunday's (Nov 10) guild meeting will include a presentation and workshop on spinning cotton, led by member Erica F. Erica loves to spin cotton, check out some of the beautiful things she's made from her hand spun cotton here: Erica's blog and here

Don't forget to modify your bobbin!!

There will be a materials fee of $3-$5 for anyone who would like to participate in the hands-on workshop.  We'll be trying out at least 3 different varieties of cotton in roving form, as well as learning how to make cotton punis on handcards.  We may also have cotton bolls to spin from thanks to Amanda, and a demo of punis on the drum carder thanks to Donna.  Thanks to Dennis for supplying some of the cotton!  


Please bring your wheel set to spin at your fastest ratios and a fat core bobbin (if you have one) or a half full bobbin, or an empty bobbin with something wrapped around it, like a chunk of pipe insulation as pictured on page 14 of this document:  http://spinolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/MachIIUserGuide20100304.pdf

Spinning with Drop Spindles

Sunday October 13, 2013

This month's program will focus on spinning with a drop spindle. Linda C. will cover the basics, plying, and she will also show you how to get some variety in your yarns. Anne P. will talk about some of the different types of spindles. And for those of you already quite adept at drop spindling, please bring in some of your spindles and tell us a bit about them, what they're good for, and to let others try them. If anyone has problems with a spindle they have, bring it in and see if someone can help you with it. 

Once the presentations are done, if those of you that are good at this would let others try your spindles and help out any others that may need it. Wool will be provided, both Linda and Sue P. will have spindles available for sale. If you have a specific fiber you would like to try and/or find the best spindle for, bring it in to try on other's spindles.

I've been thinking about next year's spinning challenge and thought maybe we should try a challenge with a drop spindle, for a change. So here is your opportunity to find out how to do it!

Western NY Fiber Arts Festival 2013

The Western NY Fiber Arts Festival is almost here. For time/place information go to www.wnyfiberartsfestival.com .  Michaele and Victoria need the names of volunteers and spinners to be put on a list for passes to get into the festival. There are passes for 4 spinners who will demonstrate for at least four hours, and passes for those who will volunteer for 4 hours for positions such as greeting customers at the front table to hand out brochures, and working at the Used Equipment Sale table. Please e-mail them with your name right away at michaelewe@roadrunner.com or locusthill@yahoo.com and also please honor your commitment to volunteer so the Festival Committee is not left with absent volunteers at the last minute. 

There are also a few spots still available for Mary Fisher’s morning class; Painting with Wool, and her afternoon class; Sculptural Wool Felting. More information is on the WNY Fiber Arts Festival web site.

Please contact Michaele or Victoria with any questions.

Mary Fisher's creative creations. Don't miss this chance to learn how to felt wool. 

Rainbow dyeing

Here are some photos of the results of todays dye program. It was a perfectly beautiful day for this type of project, reflected in the results! First time dyeing for some, hopefully we will see some spun up in the next few months. I think I have these labeled properly, let me know if I don't.

Joanne

Peter

Mary

Mary

Petra

Kris

Dye Day September 8th

Information for Sunday's meeting has been sent out to those of you participating.  

Let me know:

If you didn't receive it and should have. Please email me directly, or contact Doreen.  

If you would like to participate, there is enough dye. The fee is $5, you bring 8 oz. of fiber.

If you would like to dye more than 8 oz., we can charge you accordingly.