Tell me it gets better!!! Pics too.

[Strawhatbrat]

I used my wheel for the first time last night. It was NOT easy. Nope. not at all.
Here was last nights first attempt: I've never even used a drop spindle.

And here is my second try last night.... where I *almost* started to get it. I don't think it's actually useable... but I'm keeping it FOREVER!!
On the bobbin:

On the niddy noddy:

In a hank:


But the truth is.... when it isn't twisted into a neat hank... it looks like this: (but still WAY better than last night, right??)

[dragonflyducky]

It does get easier!
What kind of wheel do you have?  In the picture with the spool I don't see the brake band that mine has.  Ofcourse there are many wheels with different set ups....Are you sure it's set up correctly?

[Strawhatbrat]

The brake band is on the right... I did forget to put it back. I'll be trying again today... with the brake band ON.

this really is so much fun.

I have a couple books that I'll be looking through today. I know NOTHING about tension, brake band function... anything. I just HAD to experiment last night. Plus, the wool smells sooooo good.  There's a class at our local LYS but it isn't until mid November.

The wheel is the ashford traveller. It was a toss up between that one and the lendrum when I played with them at the LYS. I liked them both the same, but I thought this one was prettier. So she won

[dragonflyducky]

try messing around with the brake tension to see what you like.  I bet you could just pick someone's brain at the LYS if you need tips.  I have also seen some spinning videos online....can't remember where...maybe  youtube?
Good luck... wool does smell great, and feel great

[zeeblebee]

Your stuff looks great and even. When it isn't twisted up it will be kinky- its a single so it can't be balanced like a plied yarn could. While you can spin a single with low twist that will hang straight, it isn't expected right off the bat(t)!

Anyway, what you have done so far is fantastic, and it does get easier and more even and the rest of it. I stuggle to get the fun slubs, thick singles and uneveness I had when I was a beginner now. I really didn't appreciate them.

[nicolassa]

It looks great!  We all started out with yarn like this.     Just takes a little time and practice.

Have you set the twist on your single?  It will help with the kinks.  Just soak your yarn in a bowl of hot water for about 15 minutes and hang it up to dry.  You can weight it if you wish; I usually weight my singles (but not my plied yarn) in order to help make them easier to knit. 

Welcome to our little spinning community!  You should post this yarn on the Fiber Friday board this Friday.   

[sarahbird]

That second skein looks nice!  You're progressing much faster than I did, don't worry.

[LizzieMcGuire]

I think your second skein looks good!
If your yarn is uneven and a bit overspun you can try plying. That really motivated me, because it looks much better even if your singles are not perfect.

[bananasplit]

Your yarn is perfect!  When it's all twisty, their called 'energized singles' if you knit them like this, they lay differently, but some people like to do energized projects.

To tame them, soak in hot water, and hang them up.  I usually put a moderate amount of weight on them.  I use a Container Store S Shower hook (big plastic thing) and hang it from the shower rod, then use another hook attached to the bottom of the skein, and from that I'll hang whatever is handy to weigh it down some.  One time it was a partly filled kettle.  Another time I used a plastic kids bucket and put the shampoo and conditioner bottles in it.  Literally, whatever is handy.  Let it dry liek that and it will behave.

Rock on.

[mullerslanefarm]

I have the same wheel and you do have it set up okay the way it is.

One of the lovely things about the Traveller is you can use it as either a double band drive (the way it is set up in your picture) or using a single band drive and either Scotch or Irish tension using the brake band.

I think your yarn is beautiful and wish I could still spin that way without having to concentrate so hard to do it!!

When you ply this with another single (with your wheel going in the opposite direction that you spun your singles), you'll remove some of the extra energy in those singles.

Also, when drying my hand spun, I do not weight the yarn.  I know a lot of folks are taught/teach that, but if you do, know that when you make an item from the weighted yarn, once that article gets wet, it will need to be heavily blocked so the yarn doesn't take the shape of it's unweighted self.