The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Mel Rice on February 14, 2012, 11:36:00 am
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Well I seem to have "mastered" the basic idea. The two ply comes out quite thick. (at least as thick as bought in chunky/arran) I dont know whether to try and get it finer to use it for sock making or to do something with it this thick as it seems fairly consistent at the moment...I thought I might make a throw/blanket with different squares sewn tog. No one wants a pure wool jumper!!!
What do you do wiyh your home spun?
Should I work in getting it finer in the first spin? Or keep working on cocistency?
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"No one wants a pure wool jumper"
Well, that's what I wear and my OH. Not much good for children as frequent washing is a drag, but for adults pure wool is wonderful. It needs washing far less frequently than synthetics and once you've washed a few you get the knack and it's not much more work than washing anything else by hand.
Your wool blanket idea sounds great :)
You will gradually get the hang of producing finer yarn. I find that poorly prepared fleece spins thicker than really well prepared fleece, which drafts so much more easily - so an extra go through the carder can help.
When I was first learning, I tended to try to spin too quickly which resulted in thicker yarn.
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Once you can spin a fine even yarn its the devils own job to spin the thick interesting stuff!
What about some hats with the thick yarn, lovely and warm, maybe combine with a ribbon yarn for colour?
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That's what everyone said to me, once you can spin finely you'll want to do this thick, textured stuff and won't be able to :D
I used my early, lumpy handspun to make a very good hat - I have some left over, so I can have another one when it wears out, I work in it and it's very warm :) And it knitted up surprisingly evenly. The other thing someone suggested was to save the early stuff and then when I could spin more finely, use the early stuff to create textured stripes in a jumper - sounds pretty smart to me :)
Right now I'm spinning some merino and silk, finely, with the intention of making a jumper from it :)
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You could knit it into a pure wool jumper and post it to me if you like :D :D
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Hi Mel,
How bizarre! I've been looking at starting spinning myself and just thought I'd ask the forum if anyone knew about spinning and here you are!
Do you have any advice to impart? Have you brought your wheel or rented? Where have you managed to source one from? What type of fleece do you use, how easy have you found it and how long has it taken you to get the hang of it?
I hope you don't mind me bombarding you with all these questions ;) I'd love to hear about your experiences (and anyone else's) I'm really keen to find out more :D
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Well, my first big spinning project (before I had my own sheep) was moorit shetland tops, and I knitted a jumper from it (in the summer of 2006) - I have worn it most days since then (not for farm work i have to add), it is fairly thick and I have NEVER washed it yet!!! Now starting to get a worn out (and has been repaired several times altready... It is really warm, I do not own a winter coat (or any coat other than water proofs) anymore, so real wool jumpers are brilliant!!!
Anyway re lumpy yarn - as the others say, keep it for special effects once your spinning is quite even and often very thin... although I find some fleeces are just for spinning thicker yarn and others not.... not sure how to explain it. You can always use several strands of wool if quite thin, should make a warmer jumper in the end.
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You could knit it into a pure wool jumper and post it to me if you like :D :D
You got there before me. ;D I would even pay the postage.
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Smalltime smallholder there are many spinning groups out there, you need to do a search through the WSD guild for your nearest guild and also you can often rent (for a nominal cost) a wheel and stuff. It really depends on where you are as to who can help you. i belong to the Ceridigion guild and also spin at the Welsh woolen museum, we have new spinners at both groups.
Do pm me if you want further help
Julia
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I'd second going to your local spinning meeting. I had been trying to teach myself and was at the 'struggling, lumpy wool' stage. An experienced spinner came and sat by me, adjusted my wheel, showed me to do something different with my hands, and like magic I could spin ;D Plus you get a good morning's natter :D
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I'd second going to your local spinning meeting. I had been trying to teach myself and was at the 'struggling, lumpy wool' stage. An experienced spinner came and sat by me, adjusted my wheel, showed me to do something different with my hands, and like magic I could spin ;D Plus you get a good morning's natter :D
Mind, it's contagious and will spread to all your friends ;) :D
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;D
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Hi all thanks for the support so far.....A local group would be great but my german is not up to it there is even a local museum/workshop that does day and w/e courses but again I think I might strugle (but Im trying to pluck up courage!)
I got my first wheel on E-bay Its got a very small wheel, looks nice but before I got round to realy trying it my OH came back from a trip to the UK with another one from an allsorts auction. Its a Kromski wheel (mazurka model) It only arrived as it was so no spare bobbins or whorls so I'm still trying to source them locally (otherwise I have to get things posted o the kids and they post them on.
I'm very proud of my first item of home grown knitting (my sheep, my shearing, my spinning and my knitting)
I think I will have to work on the carding and/or be a little more picky about the odd bits of fibre...after all I have PLENTY!
I only use carding batts. Would I be better with a drum carder? (also I found this bit a little boring and I was desperate to start spinning) Now Ive decided that I can card and watch telly (evening activity) whereas spinning has to be done at another time as I need to watch the thread too much...and its too noisey!
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Since spinning is very visual and tactile, it would actually be quite a good way to make contact with people - you'll be surprised how much you can make friends over a common interest and the odd word in each other's language :-*
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Thanks for all the advice, everyone. I have managed to find a local craft group that do spinning and have just made first contact :D I can't wait to get started!
My turn for advice maybe, Mel, I used to live in Germany. I think you should go for it re your local group. No one will judge you on your German language skills and I'm sure you'll find them a really friendly bunch! :D
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Hi Mel - if your spinning wheel is too noisy it probably needs a thorough oiling and adjustment - it should be virtually silent. That on its own could explain why your spinning is still thick. Once oiled the wheel will be much easier to treadle and will go altogether more easily. After that, oil it every few days, or when you spin after a break.
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And Kromskis are famous for drinking oil.
Carding is noisier than spinning (and I don't like it, even with a drum carder).
I'd buy your batts or get them processed (there are some mini-mills in England that do individual fleeces, might find some there too), oil your wheel and spin while watching telly - that's what I do :wave:
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I'm learning, on an Ashford Traditional loaned by my local Guild, assisted by the Guild once a month and by the occasional visit by a more experienced friend (who spins while chatting as well as while watching TV ;) :wave:)
Last month's Guild meet included the AGM. I have had dealings with quite a few organisations over my lifetime, and I have never ever been at an AGM conducted with such good humour, professionally and swiftly getting through the business while the members' wheels quietly hummed... :D
jaykay's Lendrum is a silent sleek dream to use and I was a bit taken aback by the rather clunky by comparison Ashford. Then, on jaykay's advice, I got some sewing machine oil and oiled it (found the instructions on the web - you're supposed to use candle wax for some spots, but I used oil everywhere this one time and will dig out a candle for my next maintenance session.) Ah.... now it moves freely, hardly makes a sound, and is nearly as much a pleasure to use as the Lendrum.
I'm at the thick and rather lumpy stage, too. If the lambs and calves allow, I shall be at the Guild this weekend, so I am hoping to get to the next level... :)
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Lendrum - the best ever spinning wheel!!! I have only ever oiled mine once (OH has some fancy bicycle oil), and it is running a dream....
JK - I bought a drum carder and cannot believe the difference it makes... (especially if you get a keen 8 year old to turn the handle for you...)
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Certainly a drum carder is better. I just want mine mechanised now, as I lack the keen 8 year old :D
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I have a keen 9 year old, but no drum carder :D - we might be onto something here?! I'm also a the thick stage and havnt braved plying yet, as much because I keep using it for crafts (gods eys, dream catchers, finger weaving etc) at my forest school sessions. The children love having a go with the drop spindle, and then having a quantity of similar ready done stuff to use in their creations . A friend I spin with likes it thick and lumpy so she spins 'in the grease' and uncarded to make wonderful woven wallhangings and rugs.
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i have experience of working with Ukranians and I certainly do not speak Russian, the language barrier was no problem as you 'speak' visually and over time pick up some words. i ended up teaching someone how to knit without a word being spoken! Here in Wales I have joined a group that has a lot of welsh speakers just so that I can get used to hearing the language.
Jaykay your carders and drum carder should not be making any noise, or very little, the drum should only JUST touch not embed them selves into each other and same with the carders, you stroke one over the other gently otherwise you will damage the carders and the fleece or what ever you are carding
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I havn't found a group only lessons in another town (not that local) My friend had an older friend demoing so I might try to make a contact there. Ive found the younger people (40 or less) are quite keen to converse with my broken german and hands. The older people find it quite difficult. They are often very set in their ways, learned Russian as a second language and speak with a thick local accent. My OH, who did german at school and beyond equates it with hearing "Jordie" to a londeners ears!
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So you will soon be fluent in German Geordie ;D ;D It will be like when you hear someone from America or Africa or India with a Welsh accent on top of their own. :D
Whereabouts in Germany are you?
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Our bit of Germany is east of Dresden, on the little bit that forms a tiny triangle pointing down between Poland (half hour drive) and Czech Republic (10 mins drive) We really enjoy nipping over to Poland to the giant french hypermarkets and DIY centres, or the other way for a meal....its quicker and cheaper than driving to the nearest big(ish) town.