Not the Maillot Jaune

But I did finish on the podium.  The second weekend of the Tour, I spun like a mad woman.  I had missed a few days and wanted to catch up.  I was feeling good and got a ton of spinning done.  Alas, when I woke up on Monday morning, my right hand was swollen.  I took an anti-inflammatory and went to work.  At 8:00 pm, I flipped on the TV to watch the Tour coverage and pulled out the fiber to spin.  My hand was still a little swollen, but I figured it would go away once I got going.  Not so much.

The problem was the group of muscles right under my thumb.  I hold the fiber supply in my left hand and draft and smooth the yarn with my right.  I had overworked the thenar muscle and boy did it hurt.  So, I drastically cut down on the spinning time.  I tried a little every day, just to see how it felt - I'm sure I spun less than an ounce for the last week.  I did spin a very little every day.  I wanted to think that I was tapped into someone's "suitcase of courage" by keeping my hands in it and continuing to move forward.

 

My main goal was to spin 3 pounds of orange fiber.  The skein on the left was 2 puffs (1 oz. each) of mohair and wool from my friend Edie.

Amazingly, it looked the same unspun as the roving for the skein on the right.  I don't know if the depth of the colors in that right skein show up well, but in person it's gorgeous.  I had 2 pounds of this and it was also a mohair/wool blend.  I still have a 1 pound ball and about 2 oz. left from the other 1 pound ball.  I'm very sad to report that the woman who dyed this fiber is no longer in the fiber business.  She took up soap making shortly after beginning spinning and loved that more.  It's a real pity I didn't buy more of her blends.  It spun beautifully and I love the resulting yarn.

My other goal was to fall in love with my Woolee Winder.  Mission accomplished there.  It no longer squeals and I'm so amazed at the amount of yarn that fits on 1 bobbin.  It seems that everything I've read about it is true - tons of yarn, faster spinning, plying is a breeze.  If you haven't tried one, go now and find someone who has one.  Here's a gratuitous Woolee Winder p*rn shot for you.

Comments

[Anon Sock Pal]

Hello! Just wanted to let you know that your socks are a little bit delayed. I am moving and just finished work in time for my summer vacay until school starts again next month. So things have been hectic but I haven't forgotten about you. Your socks will be on their way very shortly. Thanks for bearing with me!
Love that orange!!!