Sunday, November 28, 2010

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.

3 comments:

Spinners End Farm said...

It is beautiful and looks like you are doing a fine job of it! Sorry to hear about your older ewe...spinning can be such good therapy for a heavy heart.

Nancy K. said...

I'm anxious to see what your friends at the guild think that fiber is. It sure is beautiful!

Karen said...

I'm very sorry to hear about Rachel, Sabrina. I'll be thinking of you. And I'm glad that you're continuing on with the spinning despite the difficulty. Oh, and that picture of the fresh snow is absolutely gorgeous.