A few weeks ago I learned how to spin from my Mom. We also watched a spinning DVD and videos on the internet. I already know how to draft the yarn while I spin. Today I taught my big brother how to spin.

My first yarn ball was pinkish-red wool. I spun it clockwise. Then, I plied some pink sparkly yarn to it going counter-clockwise. We buy our wool on the internet. We are going to visit a goat farm in Temecula next month and learn more about spinning. We also know people who have llamas. I want to try to spin with goat and llama fiber.

The first spindle that I used was a Turkish spindle by ArtEdje. The second spindle that I used was a Grafton Fibers Swan. The third spindle that I used was a cedar Cascabeles. I like the third one the best! My brother used a green Dreamingtree spindle that had leaf prints on it. My Mom says they are called top whorl (except the Turkish one).

I like the third spindle the best because it spins for a long time which makes spinning yarn faster. I spun brown wool on this spindle. My mom spun some blue-green wool on a spinning wheel. Then, I wrapped them onto two bobbins on a Lazy Kate and plied them together with the Cascabeles spindle.

You can see some pictures of me spinning with my brother, Ricky. He is 9 years old. One picture shows me with our four spindles and the first balls of yarn that my Mom and I made!

I think spinning is really fun! I like to crochet the yarn that I make. I call my yarn, "Joey's Handspun Yarn". I will be selling my yarn online starting in June at www.goshyarnit.com.

Joey Tan and her brothers, Ricky and Wilson, live and spin in Murrieta, California.