Beyond Me

A while back, an old friend gave me all the fiber tools and stash that her late mother had left behind. 

I will tell that story some day, as it has been a huge blessing in my life.

But this is a different story:

Yesterday, the day I put my first and oldest ewe down, I also wound off a spindle of single that I had been spinning from Rachel's washed fleece.  And because of her passing, I decided to move on to a different fiber.  So this afternoon, I chose the most scrumptious roving in my stash...this gorgeous silver.

And I began spinning.

Within minutes I learned that my skill was hardly sufficient to handle this fiber.  It slipped in the most luxurious way every time I tried to let go of the spindle.  For a while I supported the spindle on the coffee table.  Or I turned it by hand as I slowly drafted.  It was painfully obvious that my experience with crimpy wool was not serving me very well with this incredibly fine gossamer.

I did finally get the hang of it...though I doubt anyone would call my yarn even.  Yet instead of giving up in favor of less challenging fiber, I think I will continue.  It is one of my smaller spindles anyway; even I can see the light at the end of the tunnel

I don't even know what this fiber is.  All I know is that within this gifted stash I also received several merino/silk and merino/kid mohair and kid mohair/silk blends.  And this gray fiber is the finest of all by far.

My guess is cashmere?  Really, I have no clue.  I have zero experience spinning any kind of fiber except that which I harvest off of my own Shetlands.  I'm hoping that the fiber ladies from the guild can help me figure it out at Saturday's meeting. 

Until then, I will just keep at it.  I'm hoping to knit up a beautiful scarf with it someday.