| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Cheekyredhead |
Posted - Jun 25 2008 : 05:22:45 AM
I just wanted to say Hi to all the farmgirl spinners and weavers. I'm wondering what's on your spindles, wheels, and looms. I'm working on spinning sock yarn but there's nothing on my loom at the moment.
TTFN
Cheeky
Imagine the view from the top of your dreams
www.getaclew.blogspot.com |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| KarenP |
Posted - Sep 10 2009 : 4:35:21 PM
Wow, I want to talk about nice people...
I contacted Sievers to see if there was a manual I could get for my (new to me)floor loom.
Cindra, emailed me back and send out a manual FREE OF CHARGE!
Now,I bought a USED loom (guessing 20 years old)from a private party near me.
Ant they send the manual at their expense!
Janet Meany also has been so helpful from The Weavers Friend (newsletter)
http://www.sieversschool.com/pages/about.html
http://www.weaversfriend.com/page1/page1.html
Weavers are great people!
KarenP
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
| beekeepersgirl |
Posted - Sep 09 2009 : 08:16:30 AM
Hi Grace -
Thank you so much for all the help! I'm going to try all your suggestions and see what happens. I wish you were closer too - you sound like a wonderful teacher. I'll let you know how it goes!
Luanne
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
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| grace gerber |
Posted - Sep 09 2009 : 07:46:13 AM
Well spinning books are like spinning wheels there are tons of them and it all depends on how you learn and you wheel. I would say go to the library and see what they have first. Also see if you have a local guild that might have a lending library. That way you can see many books and tapes to see what clicks. I have a lending library for local folks and that way the learning is free.
Here are a couple of suggestions to help. Make sure that your fiber is in nice combed batts or roving that will surely help in the drafting when you start. Then make sure that before you start your feet you do some predrafting which means pull gently the fibers so you get the fiber no thicker then a pencil to start, again this will help so your hands are not having to work so much with getting the fiber drafting correct. Then I given my student some music that is a slow beat that way they hear something that they will copy with their feet. Also, breathe - we all forget to do that when we are tense and then the body starts to panic and your feet get moving faster and well, there goes the mess.
If you are having trouble getting your hands and feet to work I give my student a ball of commercial yarn. Have them just practice with getting the feet to slow down and the hands to gentle move with the rhythm and before you know it your making perfect yarn (O.K. you are not but the mind/eye connection sees the yarn, feels the rhythm and remembers)Who says we can not be tricked??
I have taught well over a thousand students this method and it works. Which you where closer I would gladly sit down with you and assist. If I can be of further help just say so - I LOVE teaching spinning - it is my soul.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| beekeepersgirl |
Posted - Sep 09 2009 : 04:12:55 AM
Oh Grace - thank you so much!!! I'm not getting loops, so I think it must be a treddling problem. I still seem to have a problem coordinating my hands and feet. If I'm paying attention to drafting smoothly with my hands then my feet start going too fast. If I watch my feet I forget to pull the fiber smoothly. The fiber I'm spinning right now is Finn, given to me by my boyfriends cousin who raises them. Maybe I will just get better with more practice! Do you know of a good teaching book? I sure wish there was a spinning class close by that I could go to!
Thanks again for your help!
Luanne
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
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| grace gerber |
Posted - Sep 08 2009 : 8:20:27 PM
When you say like a boucle are you saying that you have loops?? Or when you say you have lumps are you saying you have thick and think bumbs thru out the yarn? It makes a difference because if you are getting loops you are having too much tension on the take up and so you have trapped too much energy. If you have lumps it is a drafting problem which means if you prep the fiber into strips and then slow your treddling and moving your hands at an equal pace your yarn will smooth out. Also depending on what fiber you are spinning will assist me in figuring out how to correct the problem. With more info we can get that yarn to smooth out.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| Ms.Lilly |
Posted - Sep 08 2009 : 07:50:51 AM
OH Luanne, you lucky girl! I am saving my egg money to buy myself the Kromski Minstrel. It took me forever to find a spinning class here. After 9 months of searching I was able to find one. Now I am getting ready to take a second one. Do a search for local fiber shows. We have the Flock and Fiber show coming up and that is where I am taking mine. Enjoy your wheel.
Lillian |
| beekeepersgirl |
Posted - Sep 08 2009 : 05:26:14 AM
Hi ladies!
I was given a Kromski Minstrel wheel as a gift because I wanted to learn to spin. There are no classes close to me that are in the evening (I work full time during the day), so I am trying to teach myself. Can anyone tell me why my yarn is "lumpy"? It looks like a Boucle when I get done!
Thanks!
Luanne
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
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| knitnpickinatune |
Posted - Sep 07 2009 : 8:00:46 PM
well,my thought would be this-as long as you're not working with anything that can spill or stain,I'd go with some wood flooring (got some at Costco for a mere $25 a box! If you prefer vinyl,that's ok too. Wall to wall rugs just gather dust,fleas,dust mites & dirt. If you get area rugs,I'd get a size that can go in the washer.
http://www.pluckyfarmgirl.blogspot.com
http://www.mandochicks.com
http://mandolinbabe.net
http://www.mandolinbabe.com
http://www.mtndulcimer.com
@MandolinChick on Twitter
fingerpickin Farmgirl #702 |
| KarenP |
Posted - Sep 07 2009 : 5:35:10 PM
Sherrie,
I will mainly do weaving in the room.
Thanks
KarenP
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
| knitnpickinatune |
Posted - Sep 07 2009 : 2:58:58 PM
Karen,what type(s) of crafts do you do in that room?
http://www.pluckyfarmgirl.blogspot.com
http://www.mandochicks.com
http://mandolinbabe.net
http://www.mandolinbabe.com
http://www.mtndulcimer.com
@MandolinChick on Twitter
fingerpickin Farmgirl #702 |
| KarenP |
Posted - Sep 07 2009 : 12:33:59 PM
Ok, I started to clean out the "junk" room to put the new (to me) loom in.
What kind of floor should I do?
The carpet HAS TO BE replaced, as the junk was hiding my soap "ACCIDENT" from a few years ago.
Should I just take out the carpet and pad and use carpet squares?
Would a vinyl floor be better?
Please give me some suggestions....
Thanks for any help you can offer...
KarenP
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
| knitnpickinatune |
Posted - Sep 07 2009 : 08:50:22 AM
I gotta get back to learning how to spin-I have 2 drop spindles,and was working one of sheep fiber & I have another kit with alpaca. One is a top
whorl & the other is a bottom whorl. I do have a small backstrap loom that I make mandolin straps with (non adjustable)I have a Harrisvill lap loom and got an inkle loom about 2 months ago. Got a book on how to use it about a month ago,and after this payday I need to get thread to weave in it (didn't realise you can't do yarn on an inkle!) I've also woven Ipod holders & such.
http://www.pluckyfarmgirl.blogspot.com
http://www.mandochicks.com
http://mandolinbabe.net
http://www.mandolinbabe.com
http://www.mtndulcimer.com
@MandolinChick on Twitter
fingerpickin Farmgirl #702 |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Sep 07 2009 : 07:18:44 AM
Congrat's Karen - you will love it and I think you received a fine deal. There where several ladies in my spinning guild who have a Siever loom - they have since left the state so I am not sure where they went or I would give you contact info for assistance. I am sure you will just find and I can not wait to hear how you like it. It is exciting to me when someone get's to start a journey in the fiber arts. Keep us informed if you can.
Happy Weaving
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| oldfashioned girl |
Posted - Sep 05 2009 : 3:21:29 PM
Karen, Congrats on the new loom! Since this forum first started I have gotten a spinning wheel and I love it! I am so excited for you!!
Monica
farmgirls rule!
www.justducky48.etsy.com
www.justducky48.blogspot.com |
| windypines |
Posted - Sep 05 2009 : 2:36:52 PM
Congratulations on the new floor loom. That sounds so exciting setting it up, and then making something! Good luck
Michele |
| KarenP |
Posted - Sep 05 2009 : 1:43:17 PM
Well, I did it! I bought a Floor Loom.
It's a Sievers Loom made in Wisconsin in Door Co.I think it's a called a jack style.
I paid $450 for it and bench together. I hope I got a good deal.
I have never used a floor loom so this should be interesting.
First I have to make room to get this set up...
But now since the new issue of MJF is here... it will have to wait a bit longer...
KarenP
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
| Keeper of the Past |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 11:07:57 AM
Shirley, you are so right, I have tried that put I get to knitting when we take a road trip and don't switch off...then there I am, single socked! Do you think it will ever be the fashion to wear socks that don't match?? I will finish them...we all like to wear our wool socks in the winter. I have never knitted 2 socks at once on the long circular needles...have you?
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
A woman is like a teabag - you never know how strong she is until she gets
into hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt. |
| Shirley |
Posted - Aug 16 2008 : 11:28:00 PM
Sarita,
I knit both pair of socks at the same time, so when Im finished both are done.
Two sets of needles, go a little ways then put that one down and do the same on the second pair. Its so hard to finished one and then know you have to do another one just like it. this way is much batter
Shirley |
| tempestastrali |
Posted - Aug 16 2008 : 9:48:43 PM
Hi everyone, I'm really excited about my new-old loom! I hope to be able to share some of my learning experiences and projects soon - just brought her home from out-of-state a couple days ago, and haven't really gotten a chance to play yet.
I have a question though, because I'm kind of confused. The woman selling it was 87 and has had it 30 years+. I didn't get to talk to her though, because hse's in very poor health, but her son said it was a "four harness counter balance". I know what that means, but I'm not sure if that's right? Could anyone look at the pictures and see if you can tell, or tell me what I'm supposed to look for? I tried looking up pictures of four harness looms, and they all look so different, I just can't figure it out.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
~*Magdelina
"How strange that Nature does not knock, and yet does not intrude!" Emily Dickinson
"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." ~ ~Kahlil Gibran |
| Keeper of the Past |
Posted - Aug 16 2008 : 9:20:12 PM
Debra, I went to your shop....how nice! Your shawls are beautiful. I have only made 3 so far and out of my handspun. They are very warm. I made one in a fushia to match a hat that I had knitted and felted. I will try to put a picture on my blog of this outfit. Have you ever sewed two triangles together to make a lap blanket? You will like St.Joe. It has a lot of character.
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
A woman is like a teabag - you never know how strong she is until she gets
into hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt. |
| Keeper of the Past |
Posted - Aug 16 2008 : 9:07:21 PM
I have a 6 ft or 8 ft triangle loom too. I just moved it outside today onto the patio. It takes up lots of room. I have not started a new project on it for quiet awhile. Like it because I just have the one yarn to deal with. I would like one of the long rectangle looms that you weave in the same fashion...have you see them? There is a picture on Hill Creeks web site...in Columbia, Mo.
New Boston is over toward the Kirksville area. 36 Hwy east out of St. Joe to Hwy 11 out of Brookfield then about 24 miles. It takes us over 2 hrs to go to St. Joe.
Oh wow! I hate to pack, little lone pack and then have to unpack. Bless your heart...just glad you have the neat hobby of spinning and weaving to take the edge off.
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
A woman is like a teabag - you never know how strong she is until she gets
into hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt. |
| joyfulmama |
Posted - Aug 16 2008 : 4:16:13 PM
I have a majacraft rose and an 8ft triangle loom. I knit (have socks on the needles now). I have a shawl on the loom now that is almost done- it is for a farmgirl here. I have tons of spindles and they have various fibers on them. I haven't done much this summer as we were packing to move- but we just found out we are not moving so I am trying to get the main rooms unpacked so I can back to work. I have another shawl to weave for Dawn after Sage's is done.
Where is New Boston in Missouri. We are looking to move to the St Joseph area next year- we are in Nevada right now. Welcome to the forum
Blessings, Debra
"Your life is an occasion, Rise to it." Mr Magorium..
http://myvintagehome.com
http://woolieacres.net
http://modernmanna.org
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| Keeper of the Past |
Posted - Aug 16 2008 : 3:32:21 PM
I just joined MJ Farmgirl connection and was reading some of the older post and got so excited when I read this topic. I spin, weave, knit, and felt and have about 50 head of sheep. I have 4 spinning wheels but my Louet is my favorite. I look forward to seeing and reading about what you are creating. Oh, I am spinning shetland wool from one of my lambs...sooo soft and the color is a light silver. It is time to start knitting socks again or should I say finish the other sock of three different pairs. I love to knit the first sock but have trouble starting the second sock. My daughter is weaving purses and scraves with wool. The warp is a polypay and the weft is shetland, in natural colors until she puts the needle felting on with a very soft and fine correidale.
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
A woman is like a teabag - you never know how strong she is until she gets
into hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt. |
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Jul 18 2008 : 4:25:22 PM
i got the items i neded to make my spindle and bought 2 ounces of wool (about 6-8 yards) so now i gotta make it and i am on my way! i did go to a new store in town called "the weavers yarn" and she helped me with the warping of my loom. finally i can get busy lol as tho i havent been?? peace connie in alaska |
| oldfashioned girl |
Posted - Jul 18 2008 : 4:20:47 PM
my drop spindles arrived yesterday and I already got my wool a few days ago now I just need to find some time. I also got my pleater Monday and have no time to do anymore than look at it. I am so excited, but I am not sure which one to check out first!! What a wonderful dilemma!!!
monica
www.justducky48.etsy.com |
