Learn to Spin. Step 2: Drafting

[Avalon the Arcane]

Thanks for your answer Jane Doe -- it's really helpful.  I'm sure I'll get a feel for the weight as I start to spin more. 

[SewMamaLady]

I just got to watch the batt pre-drafting video. Whooooo! She scares me when she rips that batt in half. It's great though, I love her energy. Rip that batt all fast like friends! Bam! lol Maybe I'm too timid with my fiber. I tend to treat it like it's royalty. Maybe fiber is like a dog and senses this nervous vibe? Maybe that's why I'm not getting anything fibery done lately. I need to dominate my fiber Cesar Milan style. I am the alpha dog!

I do predraft my batts differently. I originally watched a video where the lady split the batt in half and then split the two pieces into a loving, roving type piece. (Depending on what the batt looks like of course.) Usually when batts I spin I have two matching length pieces that I work from. I do this just in case I change my mind on what I'm doing half way through. Then I at least have a choice if I want to save the longer strips in a roving form. I guess it sticks in my mind that it's harder to put back together than it is to pull into pieces. I'll have to see if I can find that video again. I don't know if I'd recognize it even if I came across it.

I learned to spin off of Megan's videos. She just explained in a way that was very easy to understand as far as I was concerned. Another lady I like is Rexenne on YouTube. She has a few spinning/cleaning/dyeing videos. We're not to all of the stuff she touches on yet.

[Ravenau1]

I'm going to admit that, Ravenau1, your drafting is much better then mine... are you sure you haven't done this before? I'll have to try and be more patient I guess.

Definitely never done it before Belladune!  But the fibre seems to be quite long, so I think that makes drafting easier? 

[Belladune]

yes, the length of the fiber would make it easier... I just get distracted and start pulling willy nilly... Still trying to convince hubby to bring me some roving from the basement for more practice.


SML i agree with you, I was shocked when she just ripped that batt up too.  I guess thats still a newbish type thing i do, gentle with my batts... If they are multi colored, and have a few layers, I start pulling the colors apart... not sure why... I suppose it gives a different yarn when you just take a chunk and draft it out like she does in the video... I'm going to have to try this with one of my batts...

[Zombie_Queen]

I read the lesson and watched the vids while the kids napped this am. I only split my roving once as it was already pretty thin. Here are some pics.

Started with this.


The piece of roving I tore off.


The two separated pieces. As you can see one was slightly thicker than the other.


The drafted pieces.


All rolled up

[Shannin]

Started with this roving from MaineWoodsYarn on Etsy... I took 1 yard of the roving which was about 1/4-1/3 of the whole thing.



And made this:



I'm not sure how long it took me but I was going pretty slow and making sure it was all even. I did it at around 2am while my boyfriend was sitting next to me playing CoD2... haha.

[EKO]

OK, I've finally got my supplies and have started my drafting, I have some more to do later but my 7 week old needed to eat again, so I can post my pics while she nurses.

What I started with.


Unrolled.


Split, (a little uneven)


Drafted (a comparison)


My drafted piece all rolled up.


All my supplies,


C&C welcome

[tar3820]

So I skipped some steps last week and spun my undyed wool that I got in my kit. It didn't turn out too bad considering I was winging it.. and tonight I dyed it.


I'm drafting the 4oz roving that also came with the kit. That's stuffs the real deal. I've already spun about an eighth of it and I can tell I'm getting better.

[Zombie_Queen]

So I skipped some steps last week and spun my undyed wool that I got in my kit. It didn't turn out too bad considering I was winging it.. and tonight I dyed it.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iyvKZkXNwhY/S2ZtNuLVHUI/AAAAAAAAFDY/8Fzc1svwdKo/s640/IMG_4512.JPG

I'm drafting the 4oz roving that also came with the kit. That's stuffs the real deal. I've already spun about an eighth of it and I can tell I'm getting better.

Great job! I"m really tempted to go ahead and spin some of my undyed alpaca.

[themuppet]

Great job! I"m really tempted to go ahead and spin some of my undyed alpaca.

hahaha me too!  I was wasting time on youtube the other night watching spinning videos.  Now I want to go go go!