Spinning with Debbie Held and Blending Boards // Episode 140 // Taking Back Friday

Show notes: sweetgeorgiayarns.com/2021/03...
Today, I’m talking with Debbie Held about finding moments to spin, favourite spinning tools, and how we can use blending boards to prep fibres for spinning!
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[@marilynhusson6195]

Thank you. I am a lone wolf in the fiber world here in Florida. I felt like part of the conversation. & learning so much. I wish we were neighbors. God bless you both.

[@francesbardsley5332]

Hi there, fascinating discussion. Felicia I have some videos of yours which I found very helpful as a resource. Debbie, I was in your combo spinning class at The Wheel Ewe Spinning Retreat in 2019. I learnt shedloads. Thankyou. Looking forward to learning how to do the sock yarn you promised us but the Retreatwas cancelled last year...hopefully catch up again in 2022 x Just found the Friday morning posts and really enjoying them. Stay safe.x

[@lindasuppan6027]

A side effect of COVID has been full-time teleworking, which eliminated what I thought was the bane of my life...3 hrs a day commuting. However, that commute time was my knitting/spinning time. To top it off, my "new" office is now in my fiber room. And either the fact that I was in the room all day now, and my work hrs increased such that I was working 10-12 hrs days...there goes t g e commute time, I LOST my crafting mojo, or time to craft. Like Debbie describe, my mental state was deteriorating. I Nov., I set a goal to craft for 30 min. A day. And what a change to my outlook on life. Not total, because we are still in a pandemic, but I feel like balanceis back in my life. I had not realized how much my fiber crafting time grounded me. Appreciate this video, and the conversation of setting our priorities! Thanks.

[@sweetgeorgia]

Yep. Such a strange turn... I can believe that it’s hard to keep your home as a restful, restorative haven when you have to also work from home. I wonder if getting outside for a walk might help? I find getting into nature and away from my home can often help me feel like making new things.

[@angeliquepenaflor4438]

I work at an architecture firm where recently we started highlighting individual’s skills outside of what we do at the firm. At the firm I am the organized, data driven Project Coordinator while at home I am the fiber artist! For this first showcase I shared a color study that I’m doing where I took 8oz of a plain merino whose color matched that of 8oz of a blend which I purchased at Paradise Fibers in Spokane,WA. Broke both colors down into .5 oz pieces and using 2.5oz made proportional color stacks for a gradient. I then blended these on my home-made blending board that I made with a sturdy wooden cutting board and drum carder cloth and made rolags out of the blends. I also turned the 2.5oz of the two original colors into rolags so that they spin up the same way. I’ve spun 2 of the colors so far and I have to say they’re some of the best most consistent 2-ply yarns I’ve made yet! I can’t wait to see how the color gradient turns out. There will be 6 skeins altogether. It’s very satisfying to comb those fibers into the board and make those nice, beautiful rolls of colored fiber. I can’t wait to watch these classes to see more blending board ideas!

[@charlottelee1152]

I now keep a supported spindle project on dining room table, so I can do a few minutes of spinning whenever I pass by. The fibre is just an old stash and I don't really care what to do with it after spinning. Just need to have some spinning going on in my life that is easily accessible.

[@sweetgeorgia]

That's a great idea! And plus, I'm sure it looks pretty sitting in a basket with some fibre too. It's one of those things that helps to build a habit... making it easy and accessible!

[@heikehoyer1284]

Really interesting discussion! I think the question: "what do we do with all the yarn?" is very interesting. I myself like weaving very much, but I don' t know how to use the really nice handwoven fabrics. Now I am sewing since some Years ago because it is so practical. But I would like to use my handwoven fabrics without them looking old and out of fashion. I know, bad english, but hope you anderstand. Greetings!

[@sweetgeorgia]

I know what you mean... how do you make handwoven cloth into garments that are modern and in fashion... I think about that a lot too!

[@QuzieSuzieQ]

I look at a lot of projects as a marathon and not a race. Some projects are a race because I cannot wait for them to be done. Others are enjoyed as little bits at a time. It all depends on mood and seasons for me.

[@mariafu8765]

It was wonderful to realise I'm a spinner who do other crafts and this is ok!🤗

[@goldensolitude]

I think I am a dyer who loves to spin and weave cloth for clothes. I love working with colours and seeing what I will get in what ever methods I use.

[@sweetgeorgia]

Definitely OK!! :)

[@goldensolitude]

I don't have a blending board but would love to have one. Yesterday, I tried to make rolags with my carder but they didn't look like any rolags I had seen before. They were very misshapen. I need to watch some videos on making rolags on KZbin and practice at the same time.

[@sweetgeorgia]

Oh yes, I hear you! I love how blending boards give you more space to visualize how your fibres will be distributed. Good luck with your rolags!

[@vanessalumbra9409]

Silly me. Thought there would be a demonstration on blending boards. Watched for 30+ minutes and nothing but 30 mins of chit chat. Off to search again.