SpinnySpinny

I tried out the new diz with the Merino I’ve been working on. I’m not used to a metal one so it took some adjustment. I have to be more careful to not pull too much fiber at once because it is not at all forgiving. Even with the plastic button I could kinda wiggle it through, and the milk bottle one would just get a larger hole (a different sort of problem.) I also have to remember not to let go of it. The button is small enough that I can leave it hanging there but this will pull the fiber apart.

There is one more bobbin and then I can start plying, I only started this project two years ago. Now that I have the new drum carder I may do more of this fleece flicked and carded, but for now I’ll continue with the combs. I’m not convinced there would be any observable difference, but I feel like I should be consistent and not change things in the middle.

I’ve been using a button as a diz, to pull fiber off the combs and into an even top for spinning. It works, but is a bother because the fiber tends to migrate around to the front side and tangle. And it is always getting lost. So this weekend I happened to be at a little get-together with The Boyfriend, where there just so happened to be your basic backyard machine shop. Because, you know, everybody’s got a machine shop out in the garage. Go burners!

Anyway, our host gave us a tour and some time later I was encouraged to go play in the shop. I used to do a bit of metalwork, long long ago, but it was entirely with hand tools. And blacksmithing, not cold metal. So while I’m generally familiar with the concept, I hadn’t used a drill press since middle school. My most recent experience was making hot metal flat and/or pointy with a homemade brake drum forge nearly ten years ago. And had no idea where anything was in somebody else’s shop.

So I rummaged around and found a suitable piece of flat steel. I bent it into a likely shape in the vise, we cut it to size, rounded the edges and then I polished it. Yes, it will rust, but I’ve got plenty of other steel equipment that I manage to keep in working order so I’m not worried about it.

What I am worried about is finding a new hobby. Or more correctly, picking up with an old one that I haven’t messed with in forever because I like living in cities. I’ve promised to bring the combs next time.