I had the unbelievable fortune to take not one, but two of the online class offerings from MDSW last week.
My first class, Twist with Maggie Casey, was mind-blowing. For a long time… too long…I have spun the same default yarn. Now, that is not necessarily a bad thing if you always make the same thing… but if you want to make different things, you need to make different yarn.

BFL, Shetland, and Merino
Enter Maggie Casey! I spent 3 hours with her helping me see twist in an entirely different way… and as a result twist and tension have become my new jam! The fibers she sent for her class were just incredible, as you can see!
I loved that she started at our “default” yarn and had us make tiny adjustments from that point. It was dramatic to feel the difference and to see the difference on the bobbin!
And if all that wasn’t enough, I then spent two hours with Judith MacKenzie learning about Columbia Sheep and especially their amazing fleece! I learned about processing wool… washing, carding, flicking, and how amazing fiber makes processing so much easier! (and better quality fiber means better spinning!) Judith sent a gorgeous box of fiber… some washed locks to flick, a batt that I made rolags from, and even some unwashed locks to wash myself! (Have Dawn Dishsoap, will wash fiber! Purists out there…if Dame Judith says Dawn works and I believe her!) This fiber washes up completely white… bright white! And I learned why Columbia wool likes to be dyed! Columbia wool has “dye sites” which is how the fiber draws in dye from the tip and the color is pulled down the fiber in a corkscrew fashion on each strand of fiber (I Googled this to learn more, but I found nothing. However, if Dame Judith says it, I absolutely believe it!) It was also fun to see a familiar face in the virtual class!
On a side note… Columbia Fleece are enormous! If you’d be interested in splitting a fleece with me, let me know!

Columbia in all forms!

Unwashed locks on the far right…it gets so clean!

Flicked locks… puffs of white that begs to be spun!

These rolags… long draw heaven right there!
I did a bunch of sampling this week and I was inspired to move beyond sampling and use my newly learned techniques to spin up the Chickadee fiber from FiberNymph Dye Works and I am blown away! I have a full bobbin and still have fiber to spin! Three ply sock yarn that is actually sock yarn weight has been achieved! I am so excited and hope to finish the bit of fiber I have to go today and ply next week.

This mixed BFL is going to be gorgeous yarn!
I got the second Backyard Birds shipment this week and the Polwarth/Silk fiber is gorgeous! The Colorway…Blue Jay and I am thinking shawlette currently because I don’t know that I could get a shawls worth of yarn spun, but who knows!

I love the hint of blue in the complimentary color fiber!
And that is all I have for this week! Have a great Mother’s Day weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!
I just read Janelle’s post about her MDSW classes, and it’s exciting to read yours! I’m sorry that MDSW was cancelled for the second year, but the ability to take some amazing classes sounds like a very good thing. Your fiber and yarn is gorgeous and I look forward to seeing some awesome new handspun with what you’re learning. Happy spinning and Happy Mother’s Day, Kat!
You spin beautifully! I love to read about your spinning endeavors and progress – I do not spin (for now) but I appreciate the time and talent that goes into creating a fiber to knit with.
My blinders are still firmly in place in regards to spinning, but it is all very lovely and it’s cool that you were able to take some great classes.
Happy Mother’s Day, Kat!
Judith mentioned Columbia sheep in the class I took with her, too — she said that they’re big and not particularly nice, so they don’t make great sheep for smaller female shepherds! But I think their wool is good, and I find it really fascinating that they’re a uniquely American breed. I now need to put a class with Maggie Casey on my wish list!
It sounds like your learned so much! J-Mac is the best!
Most of those words went right by these ears, but I can sense the joy in the photos … and the making 🙂
Lots of exciting spinning news here Kat. How fun that you took two classes from two well-known and talented teachers. I can sense your enthusiasm. Spin on!