| |
Local Resident Enjoys Art of Spinning
| click on photo to expand |
 |
Hoffmann took up spinning four years ago.
Photo by Linda Karn |
(posted Apr 26)
Pat Hoffmann enjoys spinning her own yarn for knitting. Hoffmann spent
a few hours demonstrating the craft at Speedway's Main Attraction Mall
on April 25.
She admitted that she was so mesmerized by watching others spinning that
she would "stare" at them; so one day she decided it was time
to stop staring and learn the craft.
Hoffmann buys her own fleece in Danville. She selects the sheep to be sheared.
At that point the fleece is dirty with lanolin and vegetable matter from
the animal and needs to be cleaned. Hoffmann ships the fleece to Michigan
to be cleaned. "It can't be machine washed." The agitation would
ruin the fleece. She said there is usually a three to four pound reduction
in weight after the cleaning because the fleece holds that much debris
and oil.
Hoffmann dyes her yarn to knit colorful wool clothes. She recommends using
unsweetened Kool-Aid for dying.
The process of changing fleece into thread involves feeding the fleece
onto the spinning wheel. The tread width varies, depending how big the
strand of fleece is.
"The trick is to get it (thread) even," Hoffmann said. Once the
thread is drawn taut by the wheel, it's wound up on the bobbin. A clockwise
wheel rotation yields a Z twist roving; counter clockwise gives an S twist.
An S twist is used to put two yarns together.
It takes about an hour's worth of spinning to fill a small bobbin. A typical
women's sweater takes three to four pounds of fleece.
Hoffmann often refers to knittersreview.com when she needs spinning advice. She said those interested in spinning
can take classes in Martinsville.
|
|
