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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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My first hand-spun yarn!

Captain's Log, Stardate 01.22.2010

Since late December, I have been learning how to spin wool into yarn using a drop spindle. Yes! It’s true, I have gone totally Amish/old school.

(No offense to any Amish or old school people. I mean that in the nicest way.)

I don’t know why I suddenly decided to learn to spin. Or if I did know why, I’ve forgotten (I probably explained it to Captain Caffeine at some point, but now I don’t remember what excuse I gave to him).

Not having any yarn shops nearby that teach spinning, I bought a Cascade spindle online and some really soft, silky merino wool roving from Etsy.com. I read all kinds of online articles and watched youtube videos.

And I spun my first yarn! Here it is!





It’s a lace weight yarn (about 30 wraps per inch), since I like using finer gauge yarns over bulkier yarns. It’s rather uneven (although it’s not as easy to tell in the picture) and I didn’t ply it very well, but I made it all by myself!

Captain Caffeine does not appreciate the whole, “I made this all by myself from scratch” concept. He understands the “I made this by myself and saved myself some money” concept. Which I’m not sure is actually true in this case. Well, maybe a little, if I continue to use my drop spindle until it has worn down into a toothpick.

I also bought some more roving from Yarnmarket.com, made by Cherry Tree Hill, and some from Tempe Yarn and Fiber. I am currently working on the Cherry Tree Hill roving and am going to try a 3-ply next.

I also have been haunting Craigslist and found a listing for a secondhand spinning wheel! I picked it up yesterday! It was very inexpensive compared to a new wheel, which is perfect since I’m not sure how I’ll like spinning on a wheel. I haven’t really tried the wheel yet because I’ve been perfecting my drop spindle technique to get more consistent gauge singles.

So what do you think of my new hobby?
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Comments

Geekwif said…
I looks fantastic! Like something you'd buy at the store! I've thought about learning how to spin, but haven't done it yet. Now you've got me thinking again. :)
Fri Jan 22, 03:15:00 AM 2010
Shelley L. MacKenzie said…
Your yarn looks great! I really should pull out my drop spindle and work on my spinning again too...
Fri Jan 22, 03:33:00 AM 2010
Camy Tang said…
Thanks guys! Geekwif, it was really fun to learn how to spin with the drop spindle--the videos on youtube are pretty good. And it's really relaxing!

Shelley--you totally should!!! In fact, I think you should treat yourself to some really yummy fiber to get yourself in the groove again. ;)

Camy
Fri Jan 22, 02:36:00 PM 2010
misskallie2000 said…
Wow, This is a great hobby you have. I use to crochet but life got in the way and I so I quit 30 yrs ago. Sometimes I think I will start again but then don't. I have to many things I am doing now and just don't have time.

I am from Georgia
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Tue Jan 26, 10:20:00 AM 2010
Camy Tang said…
I know, I wish I had more time too!
Camy
Tue Jan 26, 02:32:00 PM 2010
Carrie Fancett Pagels said…
Very pretty, and you are right about it being a very soothing activity (probably most of the time unless something goes terribly wrong!) - brain studies show that repetitive activities really are great for brain rest, very calming.
Mon Apr 19, 05:58:00 AM 2010
Sheila Deeth said…
That looks so lovely! What a fun hobby.
Mon Apr 19, 09:33:00 AM 2010
Camy Tang said…
Carrie, I love when you chime in b/c your psychology background is way cool! I'm glad you said that! Although that only affirms that I need to buy more wool roving!!! LOL

Sheila--thanks so much!

Camy
Mon Apr 19, 02:00:00 PM 2010
Carrie Fancett Pagels said…
If your hubby complains about how much all that stuff costs, just get a quote for the fee for therapy in your area ha! That is what I tell mine when he complains about the cost of my beads. At least you probably don't have yarn shows do you? Bead shows are budget killers!
Mon Apr 19, 05:38:00 PM 2010
Camy Tang said…
See Carrie, great minds think alike! LOLOLOL We do have a major yarn show here, Stitches West in the Santa Clara Convention Center every year. It's reeeeeeaally hard not to spend too much money when I go!
Mon Apr 19, 07:55:00 PM 2010
DaisyTea said…
Beautiful job, Camy! I'm proud of you for braving it and taking up something new! I myself have been thinking of taking up crochet because I came across a book on making cute little critters the size of hacky sack balls. And, well, when one sistah gets brave another sistah gets brave! :D Yay You! <3
Tue Apr 20, 08:10:00 AM 2010
Camy Tang said…
OMG those little critters sound so cute! You should totally do them!
Wed Apr 21, 03:39:00 PM 2010
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