I'm trying out a new fiber blending tool, the hackle, graciously loaned by my friend, Janet. With its sharp tines, it is every bit as scary-looking as my other "torture device" fiber tools. Beginning with some indigo-dyed wool, I lashed some on the tines, filling across with a layer. Next, I lashed on some slippery, white silk. Then, some purple-dyed alpaca I've had for years, from West Valley Alpacas in Esparto, California. I repeated the layers twice more and then used a diz to take the blended fibers off the hackle, making a lovely roving. It spins up beautifully and is making a river of color on the bobbin of my Schacht wheel. Great process! And I thought I didn't need any more fiber tools...
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I don't know why I didn't think of it before. When I take a carded batt off my drum carder, I usually roll it into a button to store in a basket until I'm ready to spin. When I'm ready to spin, I either tear off strips of the batt, or attenuate it into a long roving. But why not use a diz?? The diz is usually used when combing fiber, rather than carding, but I was wanting a long roving to wrap around my wrist distaff for spindle spinning, and had this inspiration to use the diz. I twisted the end of one corner of the batt. And threaded it through a diz hole. It's hard to take selfies of fiber work! Now I'm using a diz for all my spinning, spindle or wheel. I think it will also make it easier for beginners, when I teach a spindle class. I'll prepare their wool this way, too. I'm diz-zy! |
sheep thrills
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