Guess what came in the mail...

I thought I should finally post my fabulous last package from my secret pal Christi. Not only did she send me the most amazing yarn in my favorite colors, but so much more.

I almost bought this issue of Interweave Crochet, but I stopped myself because I crochet like a monkey. As you can see I had to get into the yarn. I just couldn't wait until I got more batteries for my camera. Your eyes ain't lying, that's 2 skeins of Malabrigo laceweight (in my favorite color, no less) and one skein of the worsted. Plus she sent Burt's balms and a key chain and a knitting calender.

Christi has been an amazing secret pal. Not only because of the great things she sent me, but also because she started me off in a new hobby, spinning. Guess what came last week?

Lot's of pieces of wood and a picture? That jumble of lumber is my brand new Louet S17 spinning wheel. I got it from Adrian at Hello Yarn. I would definitely recommend anyone looking for a Louet to buy from her. Not only does she have the best prices I've found online, but she also sent extra instructions on assembly that she wrote herself. I really did need both sets of instructions to figure out a couple of things. Here she is finished.

I think her name might be Mavis. I've always loved the name and it just seems to fit. I didn't get the exact color I wanted, because the varnish I used had a slight amber color which really toned down her chartreuseness.

I really thought the biggest challenge in spinning was drafting. That was before I started using a wheel. I've been using a spindle for several months and I do a pretty good short draw, but there is so much more to think about with a wheel.

I should add a little background. Before I got my wheel, I had seen exactly two spinning wheels in person, both Ashfords neither in use. I had absolutely no idea how to start. I tried using my wits to figure out how to get the leader on and get the wheel to spin while actually adding twist and all hell broke loose. The drive band flew off, it was a mess.

Then I remembered that my secret pal sent me Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning by Judith MacKenzie McCuin in August. What a life saver. Even though I am pretty skeptical about any book series that has as its motto "read less-learn more", it was just what I needed. I quickly found a better way to attach the leader and even more important I learned to adjust the tension while the wheel is spinning.

I would show you my first spun fiber (that's right fiber not yarn), but I had read so much online about beginners over spinning that I under spun it so bad I could get it of the bobbin without it falling apart. I then threw caution to the wind and made this.

It's not very even and it's seriously over plied, but it's yarn. I used the Finn that comes with the wheel. It doesn't feel very nice, but it is very easy to draft. I got bored with all the white and it's so hard to see how much twist you are adding so I got out my food color and vinegar and dyed some of the roving. I folded it in half and painted it and dyed it in the microwave.

I then broke it in half. I spun each half from a different end.

I hoped to have two colors plied together in each section, but somehow the yellow lined up together.

The swatch looks lovely, doesn't it.

I made a really big swatch because I have no intention of using this for any garment. It is really scratchy. I kind of like that it's not a yarn I intend to use, because it takes all of the pressure off me while I learn. I have amassed a small stash of fiber that I would actually feel bad about ruining.

That is 8oz of undyed Bluefaced Leicester top , 8oz of wine Corriedale top, 2 oz of Dijon Merino top , 3.5 oz of Zitron Merino Pencil Roving, 4 oz of hand dyed lemon-lime Merino, and 8 oz of carded Romney roving ( a little less, because I had a nightmarish attempt at the long draw). I'm hoping that by the time I work my way through the Finn, I won't be so afraid of playing with the nicer stuff.