Category: The Twisted Purl
Felting Soaps!
Hey Everyone! This week has gone by soooo quickly, but it has been a full one in the Twisted Purl studio! On Tuesday, I had a pretty simple day in the studio. Cyndi was getting ready for the Raspberry Pi Bake-Off, and was busy programming her creature, so I helped her by making some carded batts. She needed Spring colors, which as you all know is quite difficult for me. I think these are my best happy carded batts so far!
Here is Cyndi working on her Pi. (And probably giving herself a headache.)
I love looking at all of them lined up on the counter.
There are lots of bright pinks and yellows going on in these. They are super bright, which was a lot easier to handle with the weather outside being so beautiful.
This Thursday I finally got to meet Kate! We didn’t have much time to talk because we got straight to work learning how to make felted soaps! Although we both knew the ins and outs of labeling and packaging, and even knew how the soaps were made, we had never made them ourselves. Cyndi is a felted soap pro. She told us about the science experiment that was figuring out how to make the felted soaps the best way possible. After trying many different methods, she discovered the ultimate way to felt soaps. (Which is why hers are the best ever.) She passed her knowledge on to Kate and me, and we were able to practice together. I’m excited to see how the soaps we made turned out. Next week we get to learn how to make some designs on felted soaps! Wow! Here are some of the soaps as we were making them.
The last two yellow ones are my favorite. (One made by Kate and one made by me.) They remind me of little popcorns! Or golden eggs!
Until next week!
Zoe B.
Back to Basics: Labeling and Knitting
Hey Guys! My week at The Twisted Purl was pretty short due to some more bad weather around these parts. It is supposed to warm up next week. I’m just hoping it will finally turn into Spring like it has in the studio. I went back to my roots at The Twisted Purl by helping with the labeling and packaging of Spring time soaps. All of the colors are so happy, and most of the soaps that was labeled are already on their way to stores around the world. Here are some photos of all of the soaps on the table. Cyndi had arranged some of them into this cute heart shape before I even arrived.
When we were all done labeling, I looked into the bucket we had been depositing the labeled soaps into, and it was overflowing. Cyndi said she wished she could just keep that bucketful for when Christmas hits next year, since she can barely make soaps as fast as people order them around the holidays!
After finishing up with the soaps, Cyndi helped me remember how to knit. Granted, I’ve never been a good knitter. I’ve always had my mom to start and stop for me, and I’ve only ever made very simple scarves with very even and machine made yarn. I had to learn again on the yarn I made myself, which for those of you who read my last post know, the yarn was very uneven and crazy. Some parts of the little splotch I knitted are very nice looking, some are too thick, and some are so thin that they are curling up on themselves. Here is the finished product. I think it looks like a really ugly bow-tie, or maybe even a strand of DNA.
But this little corner of my creation actually looks decent! The yarn here was some of the later stuff I made, so I had gotten a little bit more consistent when it comes to using a drop spindle.
I hope everyone has a good week! I’m going to be hoping for more Spring weather so that next week in the studio will be a very long and full one!
Until then,
Zoe B.
The World, It’s Spinning
Hello again! I realized today that it’s been a couple of weeks since I last shared my Twisted Purl experiences on Word Press. Shame on me. Much has happened, and much has changed. What has changed, you ask? I’ll give you a clue:
Well, yes, I helped Cyndi out at a show (my first–and it was fun and wonderful and I learned many-a-thing about talking to potential customers and eating cupcakes). But also (!!!) I am now an upcoming spinner! This is very exciting news, let me assure you. Although I have not quite gotten the hang of it, now that I’ve started learning, I doubt I’ll stop.
At the show Cyndi introduced me to the drop spindle. Drop spindle spinning was rough and dangerous business. I almost ‘dropped’ on a girl scout’s head (she was kneeling next to Cyndi’s wheel, watching her spin). I will not go into the details, but she was a very demanding little girl scout. All the same, I did not almost-hit her head on purpose, and I am glad she was not injured in the almost-accident.
Tuesday and Thursday of this past week, after carding some batts, Cyndi let me practice spinning on her smaller Ashford wheel (aka her “baby”) . I have produced three small balls of ‘yarn’ that look like this:
I never thought sitting down could be so exhausting. Let me tell you, learning to spin is a workout in itself. Or at least that’s what I told myself when I didn’t go to the gym on Tuesday or Thursday. But honestly, it’s so hard. I think I am finally getting the hang of using the wheel (maybe?). Soon I am supposed to learn how to ply, and I hope I am up to the challenge.
My mother came in town for the weekend to visit, and on Friday I brought her with me to The Twisted Purl studio. She loves to knit, and Cyndi and I wanted to show her the whole yarn-making process. My mom got to pick out the colors and textures of wool she wanted in her yarn, watch me card it on the drum carder, and then see it spun by Cyndi on the wheel. She had the best time (thanks, Cyndi), and left excited to knit with her new supplies. She also took my three balls of yarn I spun earlier in the week… I think we may have turned her into a yarnaholic.
I was sad to send my mom off yesterday, but she had to get home, and I had to get back to work. It’s such an exciting and busy time in my life, full of learning and opportunity. I’m off to Baltimore for a photography conference on Wednesday, but am anxious to keep practicing my spinning. Perhaps I’ll pack my drop spindle : ) …
Stop, Drop, and Draft
Hey Everyone!
This week at the Twisted Purl studio was really fun. I started my spinning journey with my head held somewhat high, even though I knew that I was going to be in for a good struggle. When I arrived at the studio, I helped Cyndi make some carded batts to be turned into Spring time felted soaps. I always struggle with her requests for these kinds of colors, because I tend to be attracted to greens, dark blues, deep purples, browns, and blacks. Here are the carded batts that I ended up making. (Excluding the pink one, that one is waaaaay too bright to have been made by me 🙂 ) Pay close attention to the one on the top of the stack, which I worked extra hard on keeping happy and seasonal.
After finishing up with my carded batts, it was time to learn how to spin. Cyndi taught me on a drop spindle first, since it is much easier to control and think about as opposed to the larger, more complicated spinning wheel. Cyndi has demonstrated several times how a drop spindle works, and each time she makes it look very easy and speedy. Two seconds into my first attempt and the spindle was on the floor, and Cyndi was shouting “Drop!” She likes to think it is called a drop spindle because it drops all of the time, even though it’s really just because it moves closer to the ground as you draft more and more fiber. I continued drafting fiber, making “yarn,” and giggling while Cyndi yelled drop over and over. Can you guys tell which one I made and which one Cyndi made? Hint: Mine is the most creative one. Here is also a photo of me modeling my beautiful creation. (I told Cyndi I was sure this yarn would sell instantly. 🙂 NOT!)
I’m practicing intermittently as I type this post. I’m getting a little bit better. I am mostly actually spinning the fibers now, instead of just wrapping them around the drop spindle. Next week, if I am good enough at the drop spindle, I’ll get to try my hand at the spinning wheel. I’m going to look like such a pro just sitting there, I’m so sure. 🙂 Here is the stage I’m to in my house. 
It’s starting to look so much better! This experience of learning how to spin just makes me appreciate what Cyndi does so much more. It’s hard work! And she is able to do it while watching TV and holding a conversation. Impressive!
See you guys next week!
Zoe B.