Book Learnin’
Yesterday I noticed that my copy of the holy tome of spinning was in at the library. So, Mr. Knittiot and I hopped in the car and took a quick jaunt to one of our favorite places where I picked up The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning. I have had it in my possesion for less than 24 hours and I have already learned more in a couple hours of reading than I have in months. This is one of those books that must become a permanent part of my own library.
I of course skipped right to the section on scouring fleeces where I discovered a few things I thought I ought to pass on. As it turns out, water temperature does matter. Yesterday as I was combing out the results of my cold water wash, I noticed that it felt a bit greasier than my hot water batch had. According to Amos, that was most likely because the grease or fat in the fiber only melts at somewhere around 105-110 degrees. So, the detergent did the best it could, but if the substance wouldn’t melt, it couldn’t entirely remove it. He also gives a mini chemistry lesson that explains how soaps and detergents interact with fibers and the effects of hard vs. soft water on the process. And while he does provide detailed instructions for his own method of scouring, what is really impressive is the information and explanations about how everything works, which is really important if you want to experiment and find your own method (particularly one that doesn’t waste so much water, and even there, he tries to help you by telling you at what points you can conserve water).
I made it through the section on carding and found his concise, yet detailed instructions to be of great help. This morning in just 10 minutes I was able to easily master the technique and produce my first two rolags, which look significantly better than my previous attempts using what little information I found online. It’s a fairly easy process, in fact, and one which can be done anytime you have an extra five minutes or so.
I am also doing some spinning, but sadly none of it is from my festival purchases. I’m trying to finish up a project with some BFL I started sometime back, mostly because I want to free up a couple of my bobbins, but also because I hate leaving things unfinished. Over the course of the next couple of days I plan to spend a considerable amount of time with my new buddy Alden. He is so jolly and pleasant. I just know we are going to be great friends.
May 11th, 2006 at 8:53 am
The hot water jives with what the Spindicate in New England says. That the detergent doesn’t do enough by itself. That’s all I can tell you, except that “don’t agitate” is the next thing everyone says.
Alden always loses me quickly. I’ll have to sit down with more patience.
May 11th, 2006 at 9:11 am
But see, if you’d read before you experimented, it wouldn’t have had any framework and the impact would have been diluted.
I know everyone says don’t agitate - and when it is the water, I don’t. But I totally wring the bag of fleece CAREFULLY but still rather like a towel after I drain it. I hate leaving the dirty water in it to taint the next rinse. So far no problems, but you never know when that’ll bite me in the ass.
Now that you got fresh fleece that BFL looks like nuthin’ don’t it? Isn’t ti great? I love wool.
May 12th, 2006 at 9:22 am
I’m drooling my special “Alden Amos” drool right now, wishing I was at home spinning. Or just reading that book. I love that book.
May 12th, 2006 at 11:46 am
I just ordered the Amos book and am looking forward to its arrival–along with the arrival of my new spinning wheel!
I’m so glad I found your blog and have been enjoying it very much.
May 16th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
I might have to read some of that book. But I agree with Juno that having tried stuff out first gives a context in which the stuff you read makes sense and vaguely resembles english.
I am now the proud owner of a rather pretty half-fleece myself. I left it in the plastic bag and stuffed it in the freezer until I have time to do something with it. But I’ll keep the pillow case thing in mind for when it is washed.