Taking Lizzy for a Spin

In last Friday's post there was a picture of my new toy/tool Lizzy Kate. Saturday I just couldn't wait to take her out for a spin. After spinning two full spindles of Chocolate Dipped BFL roving I loaded up Lizzy and started to make a 2-ply yarn.  It took some time to figure out the best way to work and how to attenuate the yarn for smooth spinning. After a short time, everything came together and I was on my way.  Lizzy holds up to four spindles, which sit in holes of ball bearings. The spindles smoothly turn around as you ply and the singles slide through two guides that keep them from tangling and catching.

It was smooth spinning from two Greensleeves spindles to the large PGR spindle and plying took less time, had fewer (actually no) problems and created twice as much yarn was previously possible.

Here you can see me 'in action' as I spin and wind the plied yarn onto the spindle.

The finished yarn is well balanced and looks fairly even.  I'm learning more with each spindle full and will be happy to learn more in the Advanced Spindle Class at the upcoming Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair.  Elizabeth, who IS Greensleeves Spindles, will be teaching the class.  There is so much to learn and the yarn I want to spin for socks just isn't happening, as yet. Still, creating any yarn is quite a thrill.

Comments

[Dave Daniels]

That is so great! It's nice to see you SO dedicated to spinning. And I can picture you out spinning on the mountains.
Pretty yarn you've got there.

[Vicki]

That Lizzy Kate tool/toy is just beautiful. I love a functional, useful object that is also decorative and interesting to look at!

Love the action shots! ; )

[Kathleen]

Wow. Very cool. I had no idea what that thing was--a fancy dancy spindle holder. You look cute in your glasses Margene. :)

[Vera]

How cool is that!?!

[Kelly]

I've not seen a lizzy kate before it's so cool! Glad you're enjoying it. The yarn looks great!

[Chris]

Bravo! You're doing great. Love that skein.

[Lucia]

I have wondered how to ply from a spindle. What a neat toy, and what lovely yarn you make!

[knitteriam]

Wow. The yarn you made looks really nice! That is a very cool toy.

[Susan]

The yarn looks great!

[Marcia]

Awesome! Under your good example, I'm taking spindles to Maine next week and leaving the wheel home!

[Leah]

You are doing fabulous! I'm having some trouble hitting sock yarn weight with my wheel too, so I feel your frustration. Still, it's a lot of fun just making yarn!

[Kim]

My stars, Margene---your spinning is wonderful! So glad to see an action shot of your plying without mishap, unlike the action shots we took a few weeks ago---!! ;)
xoxo

[hillary]

What a fabulous new toy. The yarn looks great.

[Rachel]

I had no idea there was such a thing as a lizzy kate, but if I ever pick up spindle spinning, I must get one. How cool! I imagine it saves lots of time plying. Your spinning is looking lovely. I love to watch the progression of a spinner as they improve with practice.

[Stitch-n-Snitch]

Watch you go! ;)

[Deb]

MMMMMMMmmmmmmm! pretty yarn!!!!!!!! (okay- I am starting to feel the love of spindle spinning) (I think I just heard my husband scream)

[Jennifer]

Wow! The Lizzy Kate looks like an amazing tool! The finished skein looks very nice as well.

[Teyani]

Looks awesome! what a neat spinning tool - keep on spinning :-)It's marvelous, isn't it?

[Scout]

Look! Yarn you made! How cool is that? Super cool.

[Necia]

Oh you have got to share where you bought Lizzy from. I was up plying into the wee hours of the morning. I can't believe how long it took. Out with it, k?

Necia

[Julia]

What beautiful yarn! I am so confused by the terminology but captivated by the product. I am so afraid it would take me too long to spin enough yarn to acctually knit with. I think I'll just watch you. Your new toy is lovely.

[Kristi aka Fiber Fool]

Yeah! I'm sooooo excited for you Margene! That Lizzy looks like a good investment too. It gets a bit rough to do the Andean plying when you have a full spindle...

[Beth S.]

That is SO COOL!

I want one. ;-)

[anne hanson]

i'm trying to learn spindle spinning too, but you are doing better than me!

[peg]

Stop tempting me with spinning! I am starting to lean a bit - this could be another hobby! Love the skein of yarn!

[regina]

I'm glad to hear that the Lizzy Kate is turning out to be a good investment.

Your spinning looks incredible! keep it up!

[Laura]

I love watching you spin! And your beautiful plied yarn is to die for. :-)

[Karen]

Wow, that is so neat! I was wondering what that thing was. I agree with you that there is so much to learn with spinning. It's funny how it can be frustrating and fun at the same time.

[Laura]

I saw the Lizzy Kate on their web site and thought to myself "why would I really want/need this?" Margene you're a walking advertisement for them!! Now I say "Ohhhh, THAT's why I need one of these!!" Your yarn is SO beautiful! Time for me to put my birthday/Christmas/wish list together. hehe

[Martha]

That is beautiful yarn you made! Congratulations!

[Carole]

Hey! What are you doing there in MY room? Don't you have that sealed off in memory of my visit? Sheesh.

[Rebekah]

Now that is a really neat device!

[Doris]

Gorgeous yarn. I jsut got my first spindle, and haven't even had a chance to try it...too much travel and getting my youngest son off to college this coming weekend. But I can't wait and you are inspiring me!

[Cheryl]

Wow, what a great way to ply with spindles! And the resulting yarn is beautiful.

[Katherine]

That tool is so rad. You know, the M. Library has some new knitting books, including the Interweave book on Orenburg Lace (I'm not positive this one is new, but I haven't seen it before, and I KNOW some of the other books are new.) It has a really cool section, complete with pictures, on how to spin and ply the goat fleece (with a spindle!) into gossamer. You might want to take a look, if only for curiosity's sake. Uh, I'll return it tonight, so don't try to find it until at least tomorrow :)

[Amy Boogie]

It's great to see that tool in action
It makes me think I should take the shop one and reorder. :)

[valoree]

Wow. It's magic. Shows what inate creativity, inspiration and determination can do. Thanks! v

[Birdsong]

I am delighted that the Lizzy works so well, and that I will be able to "buy direct" in just a bit over a week! I have been Andean plying, which is darn slow... wouldn't hurt to be your height instead of mine, though, just look at the length of thread you can get! It takes character being short!

[Lark]

Great play-by-play. I am looking forward to the Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair too! Hoping to figure out this spinning magic that you Pied Piper-ing me into trying. Lovely finished product! What satisfaction!

[Kristy]

Margene, your yarn is really lovely! I would be so happy to be able to spin yarn that looks so wonderful!

[Kara]

So darling! I love the colors of your skein. They are perfect.

[christine]

Ah, now I get it! Great action shots!

[Kim]

Wow, that just looks so complicated to me...

[lisa Co. Springs]

Very pretty, Margene!

[Norma]

Look at you go....you're going to leave me in your spinning dust, I can see. .....

[Norma]

Oh, geez, too: With your height you have a distinct spindle-spinning advantage over me-- NOT FAIR. HOWEVER, given that, man, you really need to get a Golding spindle at Rhinebeck. No, you need three -- one of each size. those things spin forEVER, and with your height....holy crap, you'd have yards and yards in no time!

[--Deb]

Now THAT is nifty!! I've seen them, but hadn't seen them "in action" before.
Very cool! And your finished yarn looks wonderful. You should be so proud of
yourself!

[Katherine Allred]

So cool!

[kelly]

Beautiful! I love seeing your spinning on the site. I am just starting out with a spindle, so it's great inspiration for me to keep trying!

[Jane]

Wow, what a cool new toy! Your plied yarn looks fabulous.