I'm have been spinning for about 7 or 8 years now. I spin alpaca. I raise Alpacas and have access to their wonderful fiber. I learned to spin on a Frickie wheel. That is the only wheel I own and love it. I also purchased a Woolie Winder for the wheel. I own a Roberta electric spinning machine. I use it mostly for plying. I just recently upgraded that with a Woolie Winder. I don't do drop spindling and have never learned how to. Liz

Comments

Sun, 10/31/2010 - 14:48

Aunt Janet (not verified)

Hi Liz,  I am a spinning maniac, myself.  I spend way more time spinning than I do weaving.  I can spin while working, in short bouts.  I own and operate a wool processing mill. While the carder is running, I set my spinning wheel where I can see both ends of the machine, to keep an eye on the operation.  I have to jump up often to add more wool, or make necessary adjustments, but I get a lot of spinning done.  I couldn't weave while running machines.  I need a lot more concentration for weaving.  I can just about spin in my sleep.  I do, however enjoy a free time spinning hour now and then.  That is when I get a couple of skeins in an hour, depending on size of the yarn.  I'm working on a Romney fleece that I carded into roving.  It is shiney white and I'm spinning rug weft yarn, bulky singles.  I spun five hundred yards yesterday while running the carder! 

There is an alpaca warp on my Julia (2 harness counterbalance loom), which I'm weaving with handspun wool/mohair including a bumpy novelty yarn.  I'm warping my Glimakra Standard in a log cabin for jacket fabric for my grandsons.  Next warp up will be my Glimakra band loom, which I will warp for trim on the jackets.  When I finish off the jacket fabric, I'll put on a rug warp to use up some of my handspun.  I'm thinking of a shaft switching pattern.  I took a class a couple years back on that technique.  I may change my mind before I get there.

In the mean time, I'll be spinning lots of yarn.  I have a couple of alpaca fleeces to get to this week.  I'll be blending the dark one with some very soft Romney.  the other is a white suri which I will also blend, but haven't picked out the wool yet.  I will probably use a Romney lamb wool, and throw in about 10% angora from my bunnies.  This will result in a nice soft yarn I would use for my grandkids sweaters, or blankets. 

OK I'm overplanning now.  Don't you love how one project leads to thousands of possiblities?

Aunt Janet

 

Thu, 11/04/2010 - 19:39

SundownAlpacas (not verified)

Wow, and I thought I was an over achiever. I have thoughts like that and lots of knitting patterns that I will someday knit before I leave this earth. LOL I also have a carding machine. I bought it mainly to do my own processing. Do you have any spinners to process yarn? Liz
Mon, 11/08/2010 - 22:50

Aunt Janet (not verified)

No spinning frames, and none in the foreseeable future.  I don't feel that I'm an over achiever.  Just have to keep my fingers busy.  I'm a figiter. If my fingers aren't occupied, I feel uncomfortable. 

I just came home from a trip to Missori, visiting my sister, her children, and grandchildren.  I planned to bond with those grandkids, so I brought along a bunch of Kumihimo disks and taught all of them who were old enough to do the very simple "fill in the gap" braid, and a more complicated pattern for the older ones.  We had a great time, and they will remember me.  I braided on the bus, in the airport, and on the plane. 

I also demonstated spinning for them on a tiny spindle that I brought along.  They were charmed by the crafts, and my attention to them.  Way fun.

Thu, 11/11/2010 - 20:56

SundownAlpacas (not verified)

Sounds like you had alot of fun. The children will remember you, the person who spent time doing things with them. Great memories for all. I understand about the fidgeting. ;)