Loving my wheel

[vampedangel14]

I started spinning with a drop spindle and really enjoyed it, but I wanted a wheel so I would have both hands to work with the fiber and better control. I asked for money for Christmas so I could buy a wheel, and I got a MerlinTree Road Bug. It is small and affordable and just what I was looking for. MT is up the road from me three hours so I took a road trip and went to pick up the wheel directly from them. It was a nice drive through Vermont to get there and we stopped at a nice pizza place in the back of a country store for lunch before heading home.

I immediately started playing with it when I got home (it was already assembled) but did not get any really spinning done that night. The next day I went at it again and finally got the hang of it. My first yarn came out like my first spindle yarn; very thick and thin. I bought a niddy noddy so I could measure and the first skein came out to just 40 yards. I don't have a scale yet so can't weigh anything. 100% Merino top. I love this fiber. It is so soft and easy to spin.


While that first one was drying, I started my second one. This time it came out much more even but still had thick and thin spots. Plying helped even it out a bit, but I am very happy with how it turned out. The first yarn is on the top and the second is on the bottom so you can see the difference.


My next yarns I decided to spin some of the new fiber I got over the weekend. It is still 100% Merino top but this is superwash (which I actually didn't realize it until I was going to spin it and was reading what the bag said). I did not notice any difference in spinning it at all.  This yarn came out even better and again is more even though not perfect. This one is 207 yards.


The one I did next I decided to leave as singles instead of plying it. It is thick and thin with the intentions of weaving with it. this one is 212 yards.


I still have some of that purple fiber left (which is what I bought when I first picked up my spindle!), but I went right through the 8.5oz of that green/yellow/blue mix in one day because I couldn't stop spinning! I have more fiber to play with and I'm very excited to get to it. I already have a project planned for the thick and thin green mix, but not sure about the others just yet.

I need to buy myself a jumbo flyer and bobbins. I'm filling up what I have so fast I can't keep up!

[jexxican]

How fun! They look very nice. We can see so much progress just in these first 4 yarns, I can tell you're going to be really good. Welcome to the wonderful world of wheel spinning.

[Belladune]

Lovely spins on your new wheel! Congratulations, keep it up!

[yoopidou]

Your skins are so beautiful, colorful, soft...it makes me want to learn to spin too.

[indigo_roses]

Awesome yarns! I think my favorite is the 2-ply green one. I'm a sucker for bright colors in yarn! Keep it up, I can't wait to see more!

[Rodelphia]

Your yarns look great! I especially love the blue and green ones, they're very pretty.

[vampedangel14]

Than you everyone! They make me very happy. Now I just need to make room for more fiber and I can keep on spinning

[lillyanka]

The blue/green single is so yummy! It looks like you're getting really good really fast!

I really want a wheel, but it is literally impossible to get one here in Costa Rica.

[vampedangel14]

I wove up the singles of the green mix and then made a monster from the fabric. it is for my nephew who turned two last week but his party is this Saturday.


100_0741 by Lucky XIII, on Flickr

[jexxican]

What a special way to use your yarn. Love it.