It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I’ve been busy:
I would like to expand on the photos, but as ever, have run out of time. I’ll just mention a rather unusually beautiful video I saw today: a Guy with a camera in his head broadcasts footage from inside the flames. Eerie and moving.
I have few long overdue photos to share today for anyone interested in henges. On the last day of August I visited the Avebury henge, one of the largest prehistoric stone circles in Europe. Unfortunately someone also went and built a village in the middle of it. (There’s an aerial photograph here.) Still, it’s very impressive and worth a visit purely for the mind-boggling historical nature of the place. Nearby is the partially excavated West Kennet Long Barrow, one of the largest surviving British long barrows. I kept an eye open for wights but was disappointed - or should that be relieved?
I was reminded to post these by the recent news on Stonehenge’s construction date. Sadly (but unsurprisingly) the Stonehenge stones have been roped off since 1977, unless you make a special booking. At Avebury there are no ropes or barriers, although I imagine that attempting to climb the stones would result in your immediate removal!
Further reading: Avebury: a present from the past
After an exhausting week, during which I’ve managed to injure my hip and shoulder (temporarily, I trust), this weekend is going to be pure bliss. I intend to move very little, but might start spinning up this fat braid of chocolatey BFL roving, courtesy of The Yarn Yard:
Good enough to eat. But I won’t.
…well, it’s not very attractive yarn - being both under-spun and over-spun - and I suspect that people would pay good money not to knit with it, but those are minor, frivolous details. It’s twisty stringy stuff, and it stays together (so far).
Brace yourselves…
There, isn’t that perfectly hideous? I’m proud of it, though. It’s about 43 yards and 10 inches, or 39.5 metres. I don’t know what weight it is because it varies between slubby and thick to almost dental-floss thin. I’m happy to report that my spinning evened up considerably towards the end, though.
I used up all of the Bowmont roving that I bought at the iKnit day, and promptly ordered 100g of Blue Faced Leicester tops from World of Wool.
Attempt the Second:
I’m getting the hang of it now. It’s still thick-and-thin, but seems to get more consistent every time I pick up the spindle for another go - and I do so frequently. There is certainly a learning curve, but I like the challenge very much. I’m leching after a lighter spindle (so as to spin fingering and lace-weight - I would love to be able to use my own handspun in my doll clothes, for example!) and maybe a spinning wheel at some nebulous point in the future.
Lots of instructive videos, covering all aspects of spinning on a drop spindle.
PDF articles on spinning basics and techniques.
Extremely informative forum - Ravelry members only, for now.
Abby Franquemont’s video tutorial and tips.
Close-up of one drafting method.
A good overview of spinning in general.
