BYC Spinning Fiber

[MullersLaneFarm]

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Are your shetland the single or dual coat? Has the fleece been skirted? Were the sheep covered before shearing? What is the staple length of the shetland? Do you have photos?

 

[littlepatchofheaven]

I sent you an email but will answer your questions here in case someone else is wondering also! Are your shetland the single or dual coat? SINGLE
Has the fleece been skirted? BASIC 1ST SKIRTING ONLY
Were the sheep covered before shearing? NO
What is the staple length of the shetland? MOST ARE 4-6 INCHES
Do you have photos? YES, PLEASE EMAIL ME AND I WILL SEND THEM TO YOU!

 

[chicken boy sam]

Hello Everyone!!!

I'm going to be making a drop spindle this weekend. I'm going to go to the local hardware store and get a spindle, then sharpen it at the end but sand it so it is blunt, then use a wooden wheel as the whorl, and then a little brass/metal hook. I figured it would be cheaper than a kit

Is it as easy as it looks? How long does it take (How much roving) until you can get good enough at it to have reasonable yarn?

Also, I'm in 4-H, and I have been helping on a farm where they have 18-20 highly show quality romneys with FANTASTIC wool. Is romney roving good to start with?

Thanks, CBS

 

[Elinor's chicks]

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Sure! Spinning fiber can be harvested from Fuzzy Lops, just like it can from long haired cats, dogs......well, you get the idea. You won't get a lot, and unless you just want to make a sample skein of the pure bunny fiber, you will want to card it together with something - most likely sheep's wool. If your bunny 'molts' and occassionally drops a lot of fiber, it could be a "plucker." Just grasp a lock of it and tug gently. If it comes off or combs out very easily, keep going. If not, you can always take out a pair of scissors and carefully clip the bun down. If it is outside, this might not be the best time of year to do that.

I have 4 French Angoras and they keep me well supplied with fiber to spin!

 

[Elinor's chicks]

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Making a spindle is ridiculously easy. Using one takes some practice. Even someone who is good at it will need a long time to spin enough yarn to do anything with. Romney is wonderful to start with - easy to spin, takes dye beautifully, not as soft as some, but makes great socks and outerwear. Probably wouldn't want it next to the skin.

 

[chicken boy sam]

Elinor's chicks :

Quote:
Making a spindle is ridiculously easy. Using one takes some practice. Even someone who is good at it will need a long time to spin enough yarn to do anything with. Romney is wonderful to start with - easy to spin, takes dye beautifully, not as soft as some, but makes great socks and outerwear. Probably wouldn't want it next to the skin.

Sounds like a plan

The owner of the sheep teaches spinning lessons, but she uses wheels. I wanted something that would be more portable and more "hands-on". She's even building a "wool house" which shes going to but all of her wool, yarn, roving, and wheels, for teaching lessons and whatnot. She said she tried to use a spindle once but she thought the wheels were easier. Maybe once I've mastered the spindle, I'll learn the wheel.

Also, does anyone here have angora rabbits? What breed? I was thinking of possibly getting one as I already have a cage- although I would probably use a hutch instead...​

 

[chicken boy sam]

Here's one of her ewes, Cocoa:

I believe this is her ram lamb, Hue, but not positive

:

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Gorgeous sheep!

You are very fortunate to have a spinner close by to you. Spindle spinning is wonderful and you may be surprised just how much yarn you can spin using a spindle.

Wheels are great if you have chunks of time to dedicate to spinning, but if you don't, you may be able to get more yarn spun using a spindle since they are so portable. If you keep your spindle and wool with you at all times, you will be able to spin a few minutes here and there (like when waiting in line).

Spindling is a great way to learn the 3 basic movements of spinning ... drafting, putting a twist in the fiber & winding on the bobbin. If you do decide to get a wheel, and there are spinners that never do, you will have the drafting down pat!

I had thought long and hard about turning one of our outbuildings into my fiber shop, but since our children have flown the coop, I have 3 bedrooms upstairs (2 which I have converted to fiber spaces!!)

 

[chicken boy sam]

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Nice!!! The structure is actually a taken down gazebo type thing.... Although its rectangular. It is beautiful hand done post and beam with pegs holding it together, all hand-crafted. She also wants to put a porch in the front for her to spin on as she looks out on the farm (The whole farm is a hill, then at the bottom is a pasture. The wool house would be in the middle of the hill, next to the green house and chicken coop.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

That sounds beautiful and relaxing!!!