Thursday, February 19, 2009

Trying something new

I am learning to spin organic cotton on an acorn support spindle. Or at least that's my plan. After spinning chiengora for several years, I thought I could handle the short staple of cotton. I am hoping I am still right about being able to do this, but I am definitely wrong that cotton spins at all like dog fur. The drafting method is very different for me, and quite a challenge I will add. So far I have learned I can't spin cotton on my Louet s10 wheel, no matter how much I lubricate the wheel. There is too much pull from the wheel and the cotton falls apart in my hands before I can get enough twist into it. I have always wanted a book charkha, and maybe someday I'll get one. From the videos I have watched that looks like the best way to spin cotton. But on my present budget, I am committed to trying the tools I already have. The support spindle has been a challenge for me in the past, and I have left it behind on more than one occasion and returned to my wheel or my favorite drop spindle. Those options didn't work this time. So I will keep at it and attempt to master this little acorn. I hope the one handed drafting skill I am learning with the cotton will be useful when the Great Wheel comes home. Maybe I can try spinning the cotton on the great wheel? I have seen a video or two of cotton spinning on spindle wheels. The Great Wheel is considered a spindle wheel and isn't a charkha a spindle wheel also? So much fiber, so much to learn, so much fun.

2 comments:

glenda said...

very interesting. Hope you post your reactions and end product!!

Anonymous said...

thanks Glenda, my big plans are for a sweater for my grandson, but one twist at a time for now, this is a slow process for me