Help, I'm in spinning hell

[schrodinger]

Well, maybe not hell, but I'm feeling pretty stuck with my wheel. Okay, I've only had it 10 hours, but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong, or if this is a silly, or common problem. I start spinning the wheel (clockwise), and while I'm still struggling to get the tension just so, I will slow it down, or even stop and next thing I know the wheel is going in a counter clockwise direction, it all starts unspinning!! YIKES! Is there something simple that I'm missing? Or is it just something that I have to learn to control? Are there any tricks or tips I need to know? Thanks in advance.

Cathy

[quirky]

I dont spin yet so I can not be of real service - but I suspect you just have new spinner blues.
Remember the first time you drove a car with manual transmission? I bet you can not even remember how to grind the gears - in a few days of practice you wont remember how it felt to spin on your wheel for the first time either.

[schrodinger]

Thanks for the vote of confidence quirky. You're probably right, new spinner blues it is.
I did think I "had it" earlier this evening, but as I added more roving, the wheel started going in the the wrong direction again I got frustrated and decided that it was time to try again tomorrow. I will keep on trying, I'm sure it will click in the end.

[Vendie]

The coordination will come to you - just do a little every day (or as often as you can) and in no time it'll just click. Because I don't spin enough, everytime I start up again, I have issues getting back into it :rollseyes: But after a few minutes the rhythm comes back to be.

[schrodinger]

Thanks Frida, I like your gentle way of saying "yes, you need to get that wheel spinning in the right direction". Now if only I can convince my DH that it's me; every time he sees me try and spin he thinks that we have a 'dud' wheel -

[quirky]

every time he sees me try and spin he thinks that we have a 'dud' wheel -

Aww thats cute! See he has faith in YOU!

[Vendie]

Well, this has actually inspired me to dust off my wheel today and spin some alpaca roving that I had bought a few weeks ago. I have a tendancy to spin the wheel fairly fast, giving me a lace weight yarn. Today I decided to try slowing it down a bit to give me a thicker yarn. And OH! was I having problems getting the wheel to stay spinning in the clockwise manner. So I'm totally feeling you today! But eventually I found my rhythm, and I have almost half a bobbin full of pretty alpaca yarn.

But I have to tell you, everytime I stop the wheel and then start it again, it almost always goes in the wrong direction. It's just the wheel's nature. Once it starts and gets enough momentum, it'll continue going in the right direction. Keep it up!

[schrodinger]

Thanks so much Frida! I'm so glad that it's not just me! I actually have had a much better day with the wheel today, still spinning ultra-bulky (well... maybe not quite that bad, but you know what I mean

I realised that I was using a smaller bobbin, so switched up to a bigger one (is it called larger/slower whorl?) and slowed it all down a little and WHAT A DIFFERENCE. I'm still over-twisting a little, but nowhere near as bad as my first attempt. I'm so happy!

Thanks again for your support, I really appreciate it. I will keep you informed on my progress.

Cathy[/i]

[Shandeh]

Mine does the same thing when I stop. I usually try to grab it with my hand before it starts going back. What a pain.

[amy]

Yeah, wheels seem to like to do that! I heard a spinning instructor say once that it took her 3 weeks when she first started, to get the treadle action under control. She recommended practicing treadling just on it's own, w/o yarn attached, doing it while watching TV or whatever. Spinning is like patting your head, rubbing your belly, and doing a dance step all at the same time. Good to practice the individual parts first!

Wendy, do you go by Frida as well? I see it is the name of your blog, where does that come from?