Stage One Progress

So, a few notes on what I did yesterday morning.

First, I took the fibre pictured in Friday's post, and I started drafting it.  First I split it in two,

then in four,

and then I split the quarters again.  Then I started to draft the fibres to make them easier to sping

For the beginners who want to know a little more about this process (I didn't know to do this when I first started, and it's no surprise I quit in frustration and didn't pick up a spindle for about ten years afterwards), I found this neat little video on YouTube:

And the neat thing?  I was searching this out because I figure it's easier to see this through video than through pictures, and I learned something about staple length. 

I don't draft out all the fibre at once -- I like to spin a bit, then take a break and draft -- I figure it's good to break it up like that, so as to prevent overdoing things.

In the end, this is how much I got done yesterday:

BTW, I've changed the project name slightly.  I was thinking popsicles, but after turning it over in my head, I realized that what this *really* reminded me of was the Lola (now called the Lola Iceberge, apparently).  Lolas are a peculiarly Canadian treat -- in fact, they were only sold in Southwestern Ontario (where I grew up), and parts of Quebec.  They were a pyramid shaped ice, came in grape, cherry and orange flavours (just like this fibre), and it was really great on a summer's evening to be given a dime and be allowed to go over to the "Smoke Shop" (that's what we called small corner stores that sold little bits of this and that in those days) and get a Lola.

You'd open the package carefully and try to squeeze the Lola out a bit at a time, trying not to make a mess all over yourself as it melted faster than you could eat it.

So that's it -- I'm making a Lola Scarf!

(anyone else out there remember Lolas???)

Comments

[KatyaR]

Loe the colors--they're so bright and cheery!

So far so good--my goal this year (AGAIN) is to spin at least 30 minutes a day, plus I'm working toward spinning enough Oklahoma alpaca to make a shawl. I spent all day yesterday cleaning my bedroom (don't ask) and still was able to get in almost an hour of spinning before I gave up for the day. I think it actually helped my poor aching back.

We've got a big group this year--yay us!

[katherine]

I'm really enjoying spinning them, it was exactly the right thing to work on right now.

I'm actually setting out *not* to spin a lot this Tour. My goal is not so much to spin all the fibre -- it's really just to spin a very little bit every day, and not go crazy and give myself an injury, which I'm always tempted to do when I get excited about what I'm working on.

Slow and steady for me this year!

[Lillian]

I remember the Lolas, but I think they were called something else here (New England). No idea if they're still around or not though. I had a few small issues yesterday that I put up on my blog, haven't gotten to spinning yet today.

[Breanna S]

I would like to join Le Tour De Fleece 2008. I am a beginner I would like to spin enough sock weight yarn to knit a pair of socks.

[Bryn]

Cool! That's so pretty. We don't have Lolas here, but we do have "Rockets"--sort of the same idea.