u/Icy_Cow2286

We call him Bobbins. It wasn’t intended to be spinning related, initially, just a nickname.

Thanks, Bob, I’m glad we can share my hobbies. I know, I know, one shouldn’t just leave stuff lying on the sifa.

I’m learning lots of new stuff this TDF. Right is 286 yards (before washing) BFL. I had never really done long draw for more than a few makes before, but I knew I had to figure it out so I could tackle great wheel spinning. Not very even, but I learned a ton and I quite like the wonky results. Left is Lonk that will stay a singles, my first spin on my new (old) great wheel! Wow that is fun, spinning on a great wheel.

I had two TDF goals. The first was to do two different fiber things every day. I’m crushing that one and spinning a ton. The second was to not buy anything new all TDF. Spin from stash with tools already owned. Whoops. I am $150 poorer (that is SO LITTLE) and one fabulous great wheel with Minor’s head in perfect working order richer OMG failure rarely feels sooooo sweet.

I just finished sewing the handles on a project that has taken me months! Handspun stricken lonk and handspun zwartbles, woven on a rigid heddle loom, then felted. Sewn into a very basic bag. Currently holding things I have plied during TDF this year! (That was all clearing bobbins at the beginning of the tour; I hope next week to be to the stage of plying some of this year's spins.)

Not the first time I have tried, but the first time it has clicked enough not to frustrate the pants off me. Flax is one of my TDF goals this year.

79m, 14.5g, and the takhli I spun it on. Very uneven! But one of my TDF goals is to make progress with cotton and flax, and this spin has taken some of the fear away. Now to wash it, and allow myself some wool for the afternoon.

The heat wave in New England is tapering off enough to let me finish the first day of TDF in my jungle garden. I plied a bunch of bobbins free this morning during stage 1, and now return to a long neglected merino.

I am getting close to filling my second ever cotton spindle. When I ply spindle-spun wool, I am lazy and do it straight from the spindles. I get the feeling that is not a great idea here, and I would love to hear how you cotton spinners out there handle things and why (all the way through finishing the yarn!)

He really lies right here between my feet as I spin, silly guy.

My very first cotton spin. A goal I have for the summer. I don’t have much supported spindle experience at all, so there is lots of newness. And many slubs! But wow, when I hit the double drafting right and it smooths like butter, the feeling is incredible. Also spinning in the sunshine is pretty great.

Finally we have a proper Spring day!