Margaret Miller

I have been watching Abby Franquemont's Drafting: The long and Short of it  DVD as well as Mabel Ross's  Handspinning: Advanced Techniques  video to try to get a grip on the subtle variations in ways of doing long draw. It seems to me that a true woollen long draw has to be done one-handed as this would have been how wool was spun on Great or Wool Wheels. The use of the second hand may have come about when rolags/rovings were spun on flyer/flax wheels. Possibly because spinners were so used to using both hands that they couldn't help themselves or that the support hand added extra stability for the yarn when the fibre hand draws back. (Why doesn't a Wool Wheel need this? Is it something to do with the direct drive spindle mechanism?) I think I will also dig out a variety of reference books (old and new) to see if they can help clarify things.

We went geocaching today down the Channel way today, trying to find a spot to place our own very first cache. This photo was taken at a small marine reserve lots of kelp apparently and lots of red things if the information signs are right. Two snorkelers emerged while we were there.

Hand dyed, handspun Superfine Tasmanian merino wool(15microns!) this means it is very soft and snuggly next to the skin. A thick and thin yarn plied with the Navajo Technique to emphasise the texture. 7 wpi or approx 12 ply/bulky yarn There are two skeins for sale - so thick and soft I filled two bobbins on my Majacraft Rose Spinning Wheel. If bought separately there is enough to complement another yarn as a highlight. If bought together you could make a cowl or even a cloche. Skein 1: 90gms and 53m for $15 + pp Skein 2: 63gms and 36m for $10 + pp Of course, if you buy both then the postage will be combined. As usual contact me through email or Ravelry.

Early this summer I found a method to 'dye' with rust. Essentially I soaked the yarn in a strong vinegar and water solution (50/50?), then wrapped the yarn around something rusty, I used the blade of our old mattock. Then I sealed it with glad wrap and left it outside for nearly a week. It was in the sun most afternoons but it also rained. The fibre was a soft Tasmanian merino but now it feels a lot harder - evena a little brittle. When iron is used as a mordant they say this can happen, so I'm not really surprised. The colour is quite soft and pleasant, but it doesn't have that saturated dyed look, rather more like it is adherring to the surface of the fibre.

Handblended on traditional wool combs this polwarth fleece and dyed bamboo from EGMTK was a softly spun Aran/10ply yarn. It will make a beautiful snugly scarf.

This lovely soft yarn from a EGMTK batt was sold at the Great Beanie Picnic held on 20th February for the exhibition of the Alice Springs Beanie Festival Travelling Show . The lady who bought it has at least one beanie in the show - she wasn't sure if she would use it for Art Beanie or for herself. either way it has gone to a good home. Most people seemed to be poking around looking for a bargain, and as any spinner knows fine blends don't come cheap! Still we had a good afternoon and I was able to demonstrate/teach a few younger people to drop spindle and showed them how to make a CD spindle of their very own.