John writes:
<<I'm just learning how to spin and am primarily self taught.>>
The best way to learn to spin, IMO :) It has frustrations, of course,
but you're not taught a bunch of old spinsters' tales; you can bring an
open mind to your experiences and assess them more objectively than if
you're on the receiving end of a teacher's experiences.
What got you started spinning, and what have you tried so far?
<<Any hints you can give to spin combed Lincoln top I would appreciate.
I am
a tyro spinner and cannot figure it out. I've tried with 3 different
spindles and my wheel and just can't seem to get anything approaching even
out of it.>>
It might be the top--some are just plain hard to spin.
Some ideas that might help....
Try spinning from the fold, as someone suggested. To do this, pull a
section of top off that's about one staple-length long. Longer will
leave a mass of tangled fibers in your hand when you're done spinning
the section. Lay your leader (yarn attached to bobbin) over your fiber
hand's index finger--yes, right along the back of the finger. Lay the
top crosswise over the leader, ends draped down on either side, and
gently, loosely hold those ends together with your other fingers.
Start treadling, and watch the twist move into the leader then into the
edge of the folded bit of top. Start drafting backwards (my preference)
or forwards if you prefer--works either short or longdraw--at the speed
you need to get the size and amount of twist you like.
Another option is to pull long strips off the top. The smaller amount
of fiber can be easier to control while drafting.
Or, the problem might not be drafting but getting a yarn you like? I've
only recently found a commercial top that I both enjoy spinning and like
the resulting yarn, and it's not Lincoln :) A true worsted draw will
give you a yarn that makes the most of Lincoln's characteristics. Don't
overtwist the yarn; it doesn't take a lot of twist to make a sound yarn
when the fiber is that long, while overtwisting will turn it into
something that could be substituted for wire.
If none of this hits your need, perhaps you can give us some more info
on what you've tried and what you don't like about the results?
Holly
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