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vaneramosI have a rival. At least it's out in the open.
The demonstration at Riverdale Park on Saturday was given by a knitters and spinners guild that Danny![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
djjo joined recently. We arrived shortly before he was to start knitting at noon, with a few minutes to look around. But one of the organizers quickly spotted him and ushered us into a barn where spinning wheels and other yarn paraphernalia were set up.
Down in the barnyard someone was sheering sheep and bringing up arm loads of raw wool, but it was far from ready for Danny's capable hands.
Yarn is the end product of a labour intensive process. The raw wool is dirty and greasy. It must first be washed. The lanolin oil extracted from it is refined and used in cosmetics. Then the fleece must be disentangled, a process called carding. The old-fashioned way involved large wire brushes. A more recent invention, the carding machine, basically a rolling drum with wire bristles, makes the work easier. Unfortunately it doesn't produce as fine an effect, so smaller carding brushes are sometimes used. Finally, the carded wool is ready to be spun into yarn using the familiar spinning wheel or a smaller, portable tool called a drop spindle. Somewhere in the process the wool may also be dyed, though its natural colours are attractive, too.
You should have seen Danny's eyes light up when someone handed him some freshly spun yarn. He would happily spend the next three hours knitting samples.
About that time I realized I might as well disappear into a graveyard or something.
The demonstration at Riverdale Park on Saturday was given by a knitters and spinners guild that Danny
djjo joined recently. We arrived shortly before he was to start knitting at noon, with a few minutes to look around. But one of the organizers quickly spotted him and ushered us into a barn where spinning wheels and other yarn paraphernalia were set up.Down in the barnyard someone was sheering sheep and bringing up arm loads of raw wool, but it was far from ready for Danny's capable hands.
Yarn is the end product of a labour intensive process. The raw wool is dirty and greasy. It must first be washed. The lanolin oil extracted from it is refined and used in cosmetics. Then the fleece must be disentangled, a process called carding. The old-fashioned way involved large wire brushes. A more recent invention, the carding machine, basically a rolling drum with wire bristles, makes the work easier. Unfortunately it doesn't produce as fine an effect, so smaller carding brushes are sometimes used. Finally, the carded wool is ready to be spun into yarn using the familiar spinning wheel or a smaller, portable tool called a drop spindle. Somewhere in the process the wool may also be dyed, though its natural colours are attractive, too.
You should have seen Danny's eyes light up when someone handed him some freshly spun yarn. He would happily spend the next three hours knitting samples.
About that time I realized I might as well disappear into a graveyard or something.
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no subject
Date: 2004-05-03 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-03 04:00 pm (UTC)Is my humour too dry? I'm not really jealous, only amused. Honestly, I'm delighted to see Danny take such pleasure in this. And I'm fully content to wander alone around a cemetary with my camera for an hour. I wouldn't fit with anyone who had no passions of his own.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-03 04:03 pm (UTC)yarn widowers
Date: 2004-05-03 05:30 pm (UTC)Re: yarn widowers
Date: 2004-05-04 06:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-03 06:13 pm (UTC)I'll make the obligatory bad pun about spinning a yarn…
*HUG*
no subject
Date: 2004-05-04 06:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-04 06:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-04 06:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-04 06:59 am (UTC)There's always time
Date: 2004-05-04 09:46 am (UTC)I'm just glad I'm still learning things and can become excited by fibre. I joined this group (The Toronto Spinners and Weavers) 3 months ago and it has been AMAZING! It has brought back a lot of enthusiasm that was waning for a while.
Hugs and go fondle some fiber. Make yourself happy! Danny
no subject
Date: 2004-05-04 10:28 am (UTC)Big Hugs Van!
Date: 2004-05-04 10:02 am (UTC)That being said, I have to say that fibre is a very warm and loving Mistress who also demands a little time and attention. Both of which I am happy to give!
It was an amazing day. I finally learned how to prepare raw fiber so it can be spun. Now I just have to get more practice in with the drop spindle so I can use some good stuff rather than the practice fiber I have.
Speaking of which - this is the guy who made my spindle Edward Tabachek.
The one I'm using is similar to the one on the far left.
Hugs Van and everyone have a good day! Danny
Re: Big Hugs Van!
Date: 2004-05-04 10:39 am (UTC)