I am so thrilled with the discussions we've been having In the Spin group. I have interacted with several of you in other groups, but I'd really like to get to know you all better. I learned to spin i  4H, but really only started getting along with it the last 2 years. I am now officially smitten. I've been mostly spin indie dyed tops, because they are pretty. I noticed, I tend to sort of use a combination of drafting techniques in each bobbin, sometimes short forward, sometimes sort of long draw.  I  think I need to do a study of spinning a bit of each technique all in the same wool, to sse the differences for myself.

Anyway here is me and my current wheel, I have a multitude of spindles too.

 

Comments

Sun, 11/08/2015 - 12:50

Xylem

Erica, it's nice to see you have a suitable beverage to keep you hydrated while spinning :-)  I began spinning about 10 years ago and have two old NZ wheels here with me but do spin on spindles occasionally.  Spinning to order (alpaca and llama currently) keeps me busy, but also spinning for my own weaving.  I've used natural dyes and spun worsted through woolen from top, roving, batts, and locks.  Great thing for cooler winter weather here in SE Tennessee.  I don't seem to have any photo's of me spinning (plenty weaving!) but have added a photo of a recent batch.

Steve

Alpaca wool

Mon, 11/09/2015 - 23:22

Joyce (not verified)

and a member of the Weaver's Guild asked if I had given any thought to spinning.  Of course I had, but weaving was what I was learning.  He loaned me a spinning wheel and gave me some roving and, well, the rest is history!  I now am a confirmed fiber addict.  Spinning to weave, have tried koolaid dyeing and also have a few fleeces to clean, spin and weave into something!  My only problem is not enough time to do it all!

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 15:48

barleycorn

I attempted to spin many years ago but gave it up and sold my wheel, a basic Ashford, due to being frustrated and not knowing any teachers etc. There were only a few books on spinning back then, now with videos and youtube anything is possible. I got the bug back a year or so ago, took a class and I'm absolutely enthralled. I love spinning sheep fleece that I have prepared and washed myself, love the smell and the lanolin and like to spin longdraw from rovings. Spinning from top not quite as exciting but I must get thru some tops and rovings I purchased before I knew what I liked. I tried to spin some merino top all summer and it was not going too well but now that the house is heated and less humid I can get a good fine yarn, live and learn. I plan on doing some natural dyeing next summer. 

Tue, 11/10/2015 - 16:22

endorph

spinning a couple of years ago. I started with a drop spindle and then moved on to a wheel. I had always wanted to learn how to spin and figured that there was no time like now so. . . . I now have several spindles and two wheels. And a third wheel on the way. . . . I mostly spin prepared roving that has been dyed by friends. I have started to look into dyeing roving for myself. But I also like working with natural wools that I can then decide if I want to dye the resulting yarn or leave it natural. I have also done some carding and comding of fleece as well - both sheep and alpaca.

Mon, 12/07/2015 - 08:31

Nassajah (not verified)

I began spinning about 8 years ago because in Kentucky, where I was living at the time, weaving groups weren't around.  So, I met a lovely group of spinners called, Friendship Spinners.  We met once a month and they were all so welcoming and talented.  I've done whole fleece prep and some dying.  But, since I'm overseas, I prefer to buy roving since I don't have a support group or any live access to other spinners.  I ususally spin and gift what I do to my friends who are very happy to work with real wool, it's hard to find here for knitting.  

My first and only wheel is a lendrum single treadle.  I have a few drop spindles, but for me, the rhythmatic, calming affect of the wheel is what I like best.  I don't now or really care about WPI or other technical issues of spinning, I do it for the simple pleasure it gives me. 

Mon, 12/07/2015 - 12:35

Erica J

Welcome! I look forward to learning from your experience. I enjoy both drop spindle and wheel spinning, but I know exactly what you mean about the rhythmic nature of the spinning wheel!

I know what my holiday present will be already. My new Kromski Minstrel is waiting to be put together and decked out with a bow. I can't wait for the holidays to start spinning with it! My husband got me the distaff too.

Mon, 12/07/2015 - 12:40

endorph

Erica - enjoy the new wheel. What a nice present from Santa Oli!

Wed, 12/09/2015 - 13:32

mneligh

I started spinning in 1972, first on a drop spindle and then a wheel.  My first wheel was a double-drive Saxony with tiny bobbins.  I pretty much wore it out.  In about 1979 I went to a Paula Simmons workshop and soon acquired my Louet S10, my picker, and my carder.  I had replaced my rigid heddle loom with a 20 shaft Macomber a year or two before.  After buying a farm and "settling down", my mother bestowed the ancestral wheel on me.  Recently, for use when my software consulting jobs have taken me on the road for extended periods, I got myself a Louet S96.  The S10 is still my "go to" wheel for everything except pygora (and maybe other slick fibers).

I spin some of my own warp and all of my own weft, as well as knitting with my yarn.  

I'm active in the local spinners guild that does American Civil War reenacting, and participate in sheep-to-shawl events.

Sun, 01/03/2016 - 10:39

ChrisLouise

Hi, my name is Chris, I am from Australia and have been spinning for about 6 months. I love spinning raw, unwashed wool, and only wash first if some of it is just too dirty too spin. I am interested in all things raw, and dyeing yarn. :)

Wed, 04/06/2016 - 14:55

Spinnertoo

Hi...I have returned to hand spinning after a few years away from it. I am awaiting the delivery of my first loom.I plan to use my spun yarn for weft.(until now I have used my yarn for knitting). I use spindles to spin...differing ones...depends on what I am spinning as to what spindle I use. I use top (for wool) and "easy spin" natural colour cotton. I enjoy spindling...it is so relaxing...and I like that I can make the type of yarn I want/need. There are no yarn shops in our town, which is another reason I spin my own.I order my fibre from the internet..so far I have had pretty good luck with it. It takes a long time to spin the wool I need but it is sort of "anti-stress therapy " too.lol. I stick with natural dyes. I have tried to find a group nearby for weaving and/or spinning, but the only one is an 8 hour drive away...so you can imagine how happy I am to find this site...I look forward to reading about your experience and suggestions...happy spinningSmile

 

Wed, 04/06/2016 - 15:34

Xylem

You're absolutely right about the time factor imbalance between spinning and weaving, but to date my best pieces have all been spun and woven by me. Some from commercial roving but most from fleeces I bought or was given.

Most of my special pieces have ended up as gifts and the accompanying story of their manufacture has always been a hit and, of course, totally failing so far to generate word of mouth sales and make me a fortune!  

Steve

Fri, 04/08/2016 - 19:11

mneligh

At the time of the American Civil War, historians say that it took about 6 - 7 spinners to keep up with one weaver.  I say maybe, if you're spinning your own warp.  Sometimes, for some purposes, you have to spin your own warp, and in my case I'm more careful with warp, particularly when it's for my big loom. 

If just spinning weft, for me it's closer to 2 -3 times as long to spin as to weave.  I am a fast weaver, too.

I have friends that swear they've seen me spin a lb in 9 AM - 7PM session.  I personally think one of the bobbins was partly full.  That is sock weight, spinning from prepared fiber.  Eight oz  sock to lace weight in a single session from prepared fiber is not that big a deal to me.  I've done 2 lbs of novelty rug yarn in a single session, but that is huge diameter.

One of the keys to having that kind of output is good fiber prep.  I got a picker and carder around 1980, and using them I have been known to get whole fleeces ready to go onto the loom inside of two weeks while working a day job outside the home.  That includes drying time.  The smoother the batt, the less stopping to fix things you'll have.

Also, I have 8 oz bobbins.  To me that is really more important than one would think.  Large bobbins, used with well-adjusted sliders on the flyer, allow me to listen to an audiobook and just go.

Please note how long I've been spinning.  I was probably slower and lumpier than all of you when starting out.  Speed and control have come with time.  When you're my age, you'll be faster and better than I am.

Sun, 04/10/2016 - 06:13

Erica J

Great perspective! Thank you for the encouragement to us!

Fri, 04/15/2016 - 00:47

nancy3terrific (not verified)

I wasn't sure if I liked spinning - but I took the intermediate spinning class at MAFA this past summer - and totally changed my perspective. I now feel that I am a confident spinner and have finally started spinning those amazing fibers that I bought at Maryland Sheep and Wool last year.

Sun, 10/01/2017 - 19:55

Erica J

I hope we have some new members here and that they will share their introductions as well!

Sun, 10/01/2017 - 22:08

mdquear

I had a serious stroke and lost 90% of the sense of touch in my left side.  This was back in 2007.  I took a few lessons in 2008, but spinning was frustrating, impossible with my sense deficit - or so it seemed to me.  Last winter I decided I was just going to make spinning work and I would spin every evening for a few hours.  Now months later I can spin some decent yarn.  It took a lot of experimentation, trial, error and determination to make it work.  That's how I came to spin.

It helped that friends gave me trash bags full of roving, otherwise I would be broke.

I do weave which I learned to do a year before the stroke.  So that's my story.

Mon, 10/09/2017 - 06:51

Erica J

Wow that is a very motivational story! I love stories of people's determination. It is always good to have inspring reminders of the power of determination! I'd love to see your handspun yarn and see your learning journey.

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