Just before I left for Australia (literally that morning) I got this fabulous DVD by Jacey Boggs of Insubordiknit in the post. I tossed it in my bag and took it with me, mentally adding it to the list of spinny things to do while hanging out with my mum.
I didn’t really know what to expect, although I’ve seen Jacey’s work around and knew that the content of the DVD would probably not be leaning towards the conservative - I wasn’t wrong! Coils, slubs, beads, loops, foreign objects, you name it, it’s in there. And the DVD production is top quality, with great navigation menus, on-screen tips and plenty of excellent camera angles.
A word about Art Yarns. It really bugs me when people say to beginners “Oh don’t worry - what you’re spinning is Art Yarn - lol!” Saying this about beginner yarn diminishes the incredible skill that someone like Jacey needs to produce the yarns included in this DVD. Watch a short clip and you’ll soon see that these techniques are not something you’ll be an instant expert at. In fact, one of the first things Jacey says is to put down the DVD and come back later if you’re not an experienced spinner. I love that she is honest about the skills required and doesn’t try to either mislead people about the content, or dumb down the techniques for the less experienced. With so much around now for beginner spinners, it’s refreshing to find something that’s really aimed at the more advanced.
Each set of techniques is grouped in the DVD and nicely organised so they build on each other. So, later down the line when doing coils, you might be using a technique you learnt back in segment one. For the first watching at least, I’d definitely recommend sitting through the whole DVD in order to get a sense of all the different skills, then gather your materials and have a go at the ones that appeal to you most.
Jacey speaks clearly, and not too fast, explaining the techniques, wheel set-up and materials very clearly. At the same time, dot points pop up on the screen to help the core skills sink in. She repeats each technique several times, with a close-up camera angle, and you can even set the DVD to loop the clip over and over for each technique. The instructions were so clear and memorable that Mum and I were able to try out some of the techniques the next day before watching a second time, although we did ask each other a lot of questions!
Jacey has two friends with her in the DVD, working on the same techniques but including some modifications which were interesting to learn about. For example, one of the spinners had a small oriface and Jacey pointed out several times the modifactions needed for a particular technique in this case. I was disappointed, however, that we didn’t really get to see much of the other spinners working. At least a couple of times, Jacey mentions what one of the others is doing, but we don’t get a chance to see it close-up and compare to the main yarn. I also found myself wondering several times which wheel direction was used. From watching closely, it appears that Jacey uses the standard spin-z ply-s convention, but in a few places I would feel more comfortable with a confirmation on this, especially where plying singles with threads etc.
Overall, I strongly encourage any spinner looking for some new learning to get this DVD. The bright, funky yarns may not be to your personal taste (and you all know that I am definitely Miss Conservative when it comes to handspun), but even if you don’t see yourself creating yarn with halos or eyeballs, look beyond that to the fantastic techniques that are covered. There are definitely yarns in there that I will spin, and there are loads and loads of techniques which are applicable in other yarn types and which I am now really keen to master.
Thanks Jacey for a great resource! Learn more at www.insubordiknit.com
(Photos from top: cocoons by Mum, racing stripes by Mum, cocoons by me, beehive coils by me. Please note, these are our first attempts!!)
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April 6th, 2009 at 11:04 am
This slipped in ahead of my email!
April 6th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Thanks for the review! I think I need this video, it looks fun.
Your yarn attempts look great! They don’t look like first-timer art-yarns to me. :)
April 7th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
fascinating world of spinning. Thank you for the “Tipp”
First I have to improove my spinning and then my english and then will watch this video and learn, learn learn…
Barbara
April 7th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
My first yarn looked really bad, but it didn’t look like that! Very cool!
April 7th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Jacey and Shannon both spin z and ply s, and I do the opposite, except for a couple of techniques where I had to switch and do it Jacey’s way in order for it to work. If you look at the sequences where a laceweight core is used, my cone is on the opposite side of me from where they keep theirs. Also, I can tell you that the reason there aren’t a lot of closeups on my spinning is because I don’t have a lot of experience and was flubbing the techniques all over the place during the filming (the “no closeups on Jodi for this technique” jokes were flying around behind the scenes almost as often as the small/large orifice jokes).
April 7th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
This sounds brilliant but I did agree with your comment that Jacey is unconventional - probably because I read the title as Spit and Spin. Think I need to get my glasses changed!
Your first efforts, I thought, were examples from the DVD. You must be very accompished the pair of you!!
April 7th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
That’s really cool! That’s one class I wish I’d taken at Soar - the funky yarn class.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Sounds like an interesting video, I love the look of art yarn, in fact I spun my first last night, however, I am at a loss as to waht to do with it now I have spun it!