Too hard and too easy

One of the things I love about spinning is how relaxing it is. There's something about having fiber sliding through the fingers that I find almost meditative. Occasionally, though, I come across a fiber that just does not want to play nicely.

The colors in this merino are so deep and rich that I was really excited to start spinning it. Unfortunately, the fiber ended up being slightly felted and full of neps. Full. Of. Neps. I spent an eternity picking them out.

Fiber: Enchanted Knoll 100% merino, "Tia Dalma"
2 ply
430 yards
110 grams

Despite all the travails of spinning, the yarn did really did turn out well, so I shouldn't complain too much. My other Enchanted Knoll fibers don't seem to be suffering from the same neppy affliction, so I think this bit of merino is just a fluke. All's well that ends well, I suppose.

After such a labor intensive spin, though, I wanted something guaranteed to be easy. Enter the pencil roving.

Fiber: Crown Mountain Farms Corriedale pencil roving, "Finding Rainbows"
2 ply
420 yards
110 grams

I had never spun pencil roving before, and good grief, it was like spinning on autopilot. Spinning pencil roving is the equivalent of knitting a garter stitch scarf. In the right mood, it can be just what's needed to maintain sanity. In the wrong mood, the monotony can drive one batty. Fortunately, monotony was just what I needed at the time.