You might find it easier if you include a wire in the wrapped stuff on the dowel: I mean lay a thin wire in one of the grooves in the dowel, parallel with the dowel. This goes down on the table, and makes it easier to push the stuff down in the table. I've found that stuff like flashabou doesn't behave like hackle, but there's no reason it shouldn't wind up to some extent in the thread. It may take more spinning than less. The idea (ideally, that is) is to get each strand of fiber locked on each side by a bit of thread. When they make chenille for commercial purposes, it's done on a loom - the shed is opened, a strand of fuzzy stuff is shot through; the shed is closed, locking in the fuzz, and opened again on the other side. Each fuzzy strand is locked in on both sides with a strand of warp thread. This is then cut into strands of chenille. It is also spun into longer bits.
This is what you're trying to do when you spin in the fibers with the magic tool. It's esentially a drop spindle, and you're spinning what is called a "novelty yarn." You can see these in yarn shops, with all kinds of stuff hanging off the main thread of the yarn. It's all made the same way: locking in the fibers with a twist of thread on either side of it. If you clump up the synthetic too much, you won't get the seperation and locking in effect. Put smaller amounts of flash around the dowel. It will create its own space. Don't push it up together in the clamp or on the thread. You need space between the strands, and spin it enough to lock it in. Wrap more around the hook to make a fuler body, and remember, these synthetics are going to generally be limper than hackle, and you may need to manipulate it with your left hand as you wrap it on. Steve, In Maryland http://stevebrettell.point2homes.biz -- _______________________________________________ Find what you are looking for with the Lycos Yellow Pages http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.asp?SRC=lycos10
