North - Get Spun: the Step-by-Step Guide to Spinning Art Yarns

get
Spun

The Step-by-Step Guide to Spinning Art Yarns

Symeon North

EDITOR

Anne Merrow

TECHNICAL EDITOR

Abby Franquemont

PHOTOGRAPHY

Joe Coca

PHOTO STYLING AND PROCESS PHOTOGRAPHY

Ann Sabin Swanson

COVER AND INTERIOR DESIGN

Connie Poole

PRODUCTION

Katherine Jackson

2010 Symeon North

Photography 2010 Interweave Press LLC

All rights reserved.

Interweave Press LLC 201 East Fourth Street Loveland, CO 80537-5655 USA interweavestore.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

North, Symeon.

Get spun : the step-by-step guide to spinning art yarns / Symeon North.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-59668-064-7 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-1-59668-425-6 (PDF)

ISBN 978-1-62033-184-2 (ePub)

1. Hand spinning. 2. Dyes and dyeing--Textile fibers. 3. Spun yarns.

I. Title.

TT847.N67 2010

746.12--dc22

2009045236

The wheel is turning and you cant slow down... Every time that wheel turn round, bound to cover just a little more ground

Robert Hunter, The Wheel

For my grandmother, who wasnt a very good knitter, but refused to let that fact stop her. Thanks for teaching me (much) more than how to knit.

For all of those who have gone before me, and for those who will come after me.

It is amazing that this book is finally finished! It has survived four computers, a cross-country move, and about nineteen nervous breakdowns.

I would like to thank everyone who stood by me and offered support and encouragement during this process, both in three dimensions and online. I couldnt have done any of it without your rooting me on.

Anne Merrow, my wonderful editor, listened and poked and went above and beyond for me.

Abby Franquemont, the technical editor goddess with a lifetime of spinning experience behind her, gave her all.

Ann Swanson made my first photo shoot so much fun (and beautiful!).

Tricia Waddell and everyone at Interweave, thanks for believing in this project.

Jillian Moreno put this bug in my ear in the first place. (There were times I questioned the sanity of this idea.)

Last but not least, my dear family. Now I hope you all realize when Mama says she has to work, she really means it. Thank you, Matt, Izabella, and Cyrus for all the helping hands, love, encouragement, and picking up my slack. I love you people!

Art n. skill; human skill as opposed to nature; skill applied to music, painting, poetry, etc.; any one of the subjects of this skill; system of rules; profession or craft.

Yarn n. spun thread of fiber prepared for weaving, knitting, etc.

There we have it, according to Webster: the definition of an art yarn. Humans have been struggling to define art since we started to create, and the subjective nature of art makes it all the more difficult to reduce to a simple definition. Perhaps that is why many of us are drawn to the creative process.

What makes a yarn an art yarn and not simply a novelty yarn? Artistry and intention, of course. When you set out to create yarn that is an object of beauty, then you have an art yarneven if that yarn is a gray cobweb-weight three-ply. Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

An art yarn is much like a painting. The detailseach fiber, every plyare like brushstrokes. And like trained artists, we must first learn the principles of realism before we can go surreal. Art yarn reflects the skill set from which it was created. Spinning, just like painting, will only get better with more practice.

This book covers some of the many hows in art yarn spinning, and with some luck, a few whys. Beginning with choosing and preparing your materials and continuing through drafting and plying, every choice you make in spinning can bring the finished yarn closer to the expression of your personal and artistic ideas.

A rt yarns can incorporate many different kinds of fiber, but the basic materials youll need to get started are relatively simple and easy to obtain. With just some wool and a spinning wheel you can begin to create exciting and adventurous yarns, but some additional equipment and a range of materials will open up a whole new world of possibilities.

Many of the tools used for spinning art yarns are identical to those used for spinning any other yarn. You may use some of the tools a bit differently, but the basics are the same. Some spinners prefer a collection of spinning wheels and tools with different specialties. The key to choosing the right equipment is to find what works best for you. Dont be afraid to experiment or try other equipment, even if you ultimately stick with what you have because it works.

A spinning wheel with a large orifice may be the most specialized item I use for spinning art yarns, and it is the most vital piece in my collection of gadgets. Find a wheel that you are comfortable with. Otherwise, it will sit alone, gathering dust. I spin much of my yarn on a rather large, clunky Woolhouse bulky spinner that was made in the 1970s. The orifice is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide, plenty big for my needs, and the bobbin can hold about a pound (454 g) of fiber. Although this particular wheel is no longer in production, bulky spinners can often be found for sale among used spinning wheels. Ashford currently produces a Country Spinner with a -inch (2.2 cm) orifice and very large bobbins.

My first wheel, which I still use, is an Ashford Traditional, a workhorse of a wheel. Its good for spinning just about anything and easily expandable with a bulky flyer or quill attachment (see below). Other manufacturers also offer accessories useful for spinning bulky yarns; they generally have low drive ratios (10: 1 or less), making it easier to spin thicker yarns. When youre spinning art yarns, especially at the beginning, you may be able to add twist faster than you can draft, and a lower ratio may help your hands keep up with the twist.