BYC Spinning Fiber

[ninny]

I finally got a spindle!! I now have a top and a bottom whorl one. I just made my first art batt. It's super fun to do. I am having some trouble with the bottom whirl though. The yarn shop near me changed owners and now they offer tons of spinning stuff. You can rent a drum carder and everything. I just spun 150yards of wool. Im working on a wool mohair blend now. I'm having a bit of trouble with drafting it. I'm wondering if its because of the mohair and that im using the bottom whorl. ANyhoos hopeing this thread picks back up.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

If you are having trouble drafting you can try these two things.

First open the roving or bat sideways pull <--|||||--> (where the ||||| is the roving or batt) before drafting.

Hold your hands farther apart when drafting. Mohair can have a long staple length and you need to have your hands at least a staple length apart to draft smoothly

 

[thespinningcottage]

Great advice from MullersLaneFarm - you can also split the roving or unroll/split the batt into "pencil roving" first, then gradually make the splits fatter and fatter until the excess fiber doesn't get in your way.
Bottom whorl spindles are a little more difficult to balance (in my opinion) but keep practicing, you'll get it!

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

I actually prefer the bottom whorl spindles ... they are easier for me to get into motion. The top whorl spindles seem to carry a longer momentum though.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

A 70/30 Merino/Silk Navajo plied yarn

 

[littlepatchofheaven]

Hi everyone! I have a herd of 25 naturally colored shetland sheep, 1 llama and 1 french angora rabbit~ I got an ashford traditional this spring and love making yarn! Its soooo great! I dont have a drum carder yet but within a year i hope to purchase one! If anyone is interested in buying some raw shetland wool or black llama fiber please let me know! thanks! Shari

 

[HHandbasket]

Oh no, I don't need another sit-down hobby, but spinning looks like so much fun & it's something I've always wanted to do! Now, at the sweet young age of 48, I'm in a position where I have pretty much an unlimited supply of alpaca fiber available to me (hubby and I are ranch assistance on an alpaca ranch in the Sierras). Now all I need is a spinning wheel and a class....

 

[debilorrah]

Ok I am now getting the hang of the drop spindle, even though I still look like a goof doing it. After the wool is spun, what is the process for setting the spin? Dunk it and smack it on the wall is one I heard. I think they were messin with me.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Quote:
Why not start with a drop spindle and any of Abby Franquemont's youtube videos?? Abby wrote the book Respect the Spindle which was published by Interweave Press last year. Her drop spindle basics youtube video will have you spinning in minutes!

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Quote:
They weren't messing with you. A lot of folks will wash/rinse their yarns, then thwack them on the walls or counter. I do it a bit differently though ....

I do wash/rinse my yarn, then I take it outside and twirl it around. Then grab the yarn at the 6:00 position and twirl it around. Repeat at the 3:00 & 9:00 positions.

This extracts excess water & helps to redistribute uneven twists. Hang to dry (do not use any weights when drying)