On Saturday, Julie and I took a much needed trip out for some fiber therapy and visited The Fold in Marengo, Illinois. Believe it or not, the Fold is probably the closest store to Chicago that focuses on spinning and spinning supplies -- and it's over an hour and a half away from where I live. This is one store, however, that would be completly worth the trip even if it were three hours away. You can't help but fall for the incredible fiber and the warm welcome that you get when you go there.
My first mission was to find another drop spindle -- something a little lighter than my two wonderful Bosworths. The problem at the Fold is that there is so much choice, it's almost hard to know where to start. However, on a recomendation from the lovely proprietress, I tried out a Charis Yarn spindle -- it's a 1.2 oz spindle with a padauk whorl and a birch shaft.
In case you're wondering, I've been spinning up some BFL on this spindle and it spins like a dream. It is very well balanced, at least in my hands.
I also decided that since I was spinning a bit larger batches of things, that I could probably justify a second niddy noddy. This niddy is also from Charis Yarns and has bloodwood heads on a maple body. Simple and beautiful. And it almost matches the spindle!
Did I get any fiber?
Of course I got fiber. Lots of fiber.
I did focus on one specific handdyer. I hadn't planned on this, but all the types of fiber I wanted to try were present in her collection. After knitting Sigil in Targhee, I really wanted to see what it was like to spin. That very large roving is 7.25 ounces and should give me enough to do something special with.
A blog reader recommended Wenselydale as a good fiber to try if I liked BFL, so how could I say no when I saw some dyed in colors that I adore? I have 6 ounces to play with, and I'm imagining a lovely winter scarf.
The cashmere and tussah skeins are just a little treat. It's really too bad that you can't feel things through the internet. Just one touch would tell you why I bought those two special little hanks!
The undyed superfine Merino Top was a special gift that both Julie and I got to take a little of to try spinning. This stuff is almost like silk, it's so incredibly soft and fine. It will be a while before I even attempt to think about spinning it.
And for those of you who might be wondering when I am going to get to that incredible Spinner's Hill top that I bought at MS&W... well, as soon as I get that piece I need to fix my mom's Ashford traditional, I'm sure it won't be too long... I'm supposed to get a phone call as soon as the order arrives at the Fold.
In the meantime, I've gotta run. I've got an awful lot of fiber I want to play with!
Everything is gorgeous,beautiful and fantastic ! I can almost feel those knotty shoulders relax and your mood lift. :0)
I'm so pleased that you've discovered the joys of spinning. Fab !
Ah yes, the lure of those Blue Moon Fibers! The Fold does rather put one into fiber overload doesn't it? The Targhee is wonderful to spin, but it's very bouncy and springy. Other fibers from Blue Moon that are great to spin are the Merino/Kid Mohair and the Merino/Tencel.
Have you noticed yet that fiber takes up more room than yarn?
;-)
Those are lovely new tools. You now officially have more niddys than I do.
Hey, Blue Moon fibers are from Oregon! I have been a big fan of her work since I found her sock yarn. Isn't she wonderful? She even did a colorway named after the shop I worked in; Siren Song.
oh my gosh...all of it looks yummy..fiber overload in a good way. I love the really colorful one too and can't wait to see it as you go from spinning to finished product. sounds like a great day...
This redhead heartily approves of those red tipped implements! Your fiber is beautful and I'll wait patiently with the big eyes of the non spinner to see how they spin up.