| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Apr 16 2004 : 10:50:05 AM
Do any of you spin, and/or have your own fiber animals? I have been spinning for about 11 years. I have sheep (Icelandic, Jacob, and churro) and an angora goat (mohair) and 2 angora rabbits. I mostly spin 2 ply yarn to knit with, but do a little bit of Navajo weaving.
I especially like to work with natural colored yarn, and have quite a variety with my own animals, but do like to experiment with natural dyes sometimes too.
Would love to meet other spinnners.
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Mar 30 2006 : 09:27:34 AM
I have a book about spinning dog hair too. I have spun up some border collie, australian shepherd and like that. Samoyed is wonderful. They arn't very elastic so it is nice to mix with wool, depending on what you would be making though. I havn't spun dog hair in years though. I have basset hounds..so no fiber source for dog wool at my house!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Kathigene |
Posted - Mar 30 2006 : 08:36:57 AM
Just like with sheep, there are different types of dog hair. Some breeds such and Collies, Keeshonds, and Australian Shepherds have a soft fluffy undercoat which is barbed similar to wool and which can be spun the same as wool. Other dogs such as Golden Retrievers have true hair and in order to spin their coat it would have to be mixed with wool. I have read that dog hair is up to 10 times warmer than wool. I have Reynauds which means my fingers over react to cold temperatures and I would love to have mittens made from dog hair. I have a Belgian Sheepdog and an Australian Shepherd so perhaps some day I'll get organized enough to save their undercoat to be spun. The book that I had read on this subject was called Chien Angora. I don't recall the author and I don't know if it is still in print.
Kathy
Dogs make such good friends because they wag their tails rather then their tongues. |
| frannie |
Posted - Mar 30 2006 : 07:29:53 AM
wow, glad i checked this out. i am trying to purchase my first spinning wheel. i have my flock of colored angoras and lots of fleece, but have not done anything with it, and it is starting to pile up!
anyway, after reading all yalls info i feel better about jumping in there.
also hope as i learn if i run into a snag, ill be able to check with you gals and maybe someone can help me problem solve.
thanks
fran in ntexas |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Mar 29 2006 : 12:56:26 PM
I think Borderleicester sheep are adorable and the wool is silky and beautiful..but it isn't my favorite ..soft against the skin wool....I think Shetland is really soft and I like my icelandic too..you can separate it into two parts..the soft undercoat part called Thel is wonderfully downy soft and I have knitted even baby things with it. THe outer coat, called Tog is strong and coarser and makes great outer wear. I like to use it for rug weaving. It is easy to separate the two coats from a double coated fleece to get the softer stuff. Or you can card the whole thing together and get good sweater wool.
You should for sure spin some of any type wool that you are considering of that breed. I remember trying all sorts before or I decided on my icelandics.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| HorseyNut |
Posted - Mar 29 2006 : 08:44:48 AM
Does anyone care for the fiber from the border leicester sheep? I would like to try spinning. I love to knit and every year I make the children nice toasty hats, but I can't afford woolen yard it costs a fortune! I thought I might like to raise a few lambs for sale and the border leicester makes a good lamb but also has exceptional wool for hand spinning, or so I have read. What I really want to know is what is the softest most comfortable wool for wearing that is easy to handspin. I want the softest I can get. The place I am looking at that has some BL sheep for sale has lovely products and the wool looks nice, what can you grils tell me? Thinking about getting some of these sheep and goats.
http://hmffarm.com/
Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do...but how much love we put in that action. - Mother Teresa |
| Lacy |
Posted - Sep 26 2005 : 10:42:20 AM
I went to the L.A. County fair this weekend and saw my first hand spinning! It's great! I don't even know how to knit or crochet yet, but am planning to learn as soon as I move to where my mother can teach me! There were four women and a man spinning on two different types of wheels, and it looked so relaxing and such a great way to visit with friends... my fiance got really excited about the woodworking possibilities, and now wants to make me a spinning wheel for christmas! we'll see... haha |
| dg7954 |
Posted - Sep 22 2005 : 10:15:38 PM
Of course I would love spun fiber as well!!! You have time because this is just laying the ground work time. I haven't even signed a lease yet.
I'm so glad that you want to sell your spun products. I will definitely keep you in mind. You will be the first person I contact. I have to figure out the quantities of everything I will need to start, so I will let you know as soon as I can. Thanks so much. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 22 2005 : 7:31:39 PM
not a dumb question at all.. I would love to sell my yarn..my main problem is getting enough spun up ahead to have an inventory!! I always have plenty of wool (have my own sheep) and just need to spend more time spinning. I have been in a sewing phase lately and I noticed there was dust on my spinning wheel yesterday..gasp!! Will be doing lots this winter though..that is my main spinning time. Have you thought of selling spinning fiber too? or just yarn? Do keep me in mind though..I will be back in spinning mode when Christmas is over..if not before. I do love to spin and need to get this wool I have ready to go spun up!! I hope you get lots of others interested too...I love the idea of a yarn shop selling handspun.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| dg7954 |
Posted - Sep 22 2005 : 6:44:43 PM
Hi Jenny, I posted a message about purchasing wool for a yarn store I am planning to open. There are spinners in the area, but, for some reason the other yarn store owners aren't interested. I really am. As a knitter I am always asking for exactly what you spin, and am told a lot that "we don't carry a lot of that." Dumb!!!! I overhear others asking for it as well. I want to carry the real deal in my store. And, the farther away it comes from the better. Do you sell your yarn? If this is a dumb question, please forgive me. I am very new at this and don't know anything yet except from a customer's point of view. |
| Shirley |
Posted - Sep 01 2005 : 12:51:11 AM
I was at the county fair with my 4-H club as leader ,so I had lotsa time while they did there thing.There was a lady spinning and so I pulled up a chair and watched her and picked her brain all afternoon that day. That was in 1979. So then I signed up for a weaving class at a vocational school, hoping they also knew how to spin, and she did.
Since then Ive taken classes and taught spinning.
I used to be the Sheep to Shawl supt at Puyallup fair for several years, and you learn a lot doing that sort of thing.
The fairs are a good place to find spinners and then drill them with questions LOL
And the Spring Fair at Puyallup has a shepherds extravaganza in April.
Lotsa Lotsa spinning stuff and lotsa people to ask questions to, and I always have a booth there
I could go on and on hehehe
shirley in oly |
| AnnieT |
Posted - Aug 31 2005 : 12:19:03 PM
I learned to spin at the Jensen Historical Farm in Cache Valley, UT. There were some spinning guild members giving a demonstration there, and I asked if I could try. I got the hang of it after a few minutes, and the lady invited me to the next guild meeting. I've been hooked ever since. Got my first wheel two years ago, used, and I love it. The best way to learn is to find someone. They'll have all the materials you need, and most spinners are very generous with their time and knowledge.
Annie |
| Kathigene |
Posted - Aug 31 2005 : 06:42:06 AM
Randi, I wish you were closer to Syracuse. We could go to the New York State Fair! Every year they have a wonderful exhibit where they take wool from the sheep all the way to yarn being knitted. It is a fascinating exhibit and I wish it were a larger building so you could sit and watch. It's in a small building and you sort of have to pass through but you do get a chance to ask questions. But I could watch them work for hours. It's almost mesmerizing. The have someone spinning and then someone using a small loom. That's one thing we have up here in Syracuse that's wonderful is the State Fair. You can spend more then a full day without every going near the rides or commercial things just checking out the wonderful quilts, arts, animals and things of farmgirl interest. I wish I was going this year!
Kathy
Dogs make such good friends because they wag their tails rather then their tongues. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 9:55:07 PM
Shirley..that is a great idea! My wheel is an Ashford traditional and it IS very basic. I have a book called "the care and feeding of spinning wheels" which has alot about restoring and fixing up older wheels too.
randi...I taught myself to spin...didn't know anyone to teach me. There are alot of guilds and stuff around..and some places have spinning and weaving shops. I had one an hour away from where I lived in CAlif and they were very helpful if I had questions. The nearest one here is a long long ways away so I havn't been to one since we moved here..I am more experienced now, but I long to feel all the luxury fibers and see all the fancy wheels and looms and all...I will have to make a trek up to check one out (about 3 hours away) sometime this winter maybe when things quiet down.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| verbina |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 5:31:01 PM
hi all how do you all know how to spin? i wish i did .i dont know where to start.suggestions?? randi |
| Shirley |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 01:15:34 AM
Look up
Ashford Spinning wheels, they have very good pics of wheels and it might help with what a wheel looks like, and the parts on it.they have a traditional wheel that has the basic look of a simple wheel. or just look up spinning wheels for making yarn, otherwise you get cars with aspinning wheels and other weird things. LOL
shirley |
| Shirley |
Posted - Aug 30 2005 : 01:07:59 AM
Spinning wheel
My guess would be that someone handmade this spinning wheel.(probably Asher Wilcox)
Is it single drive or double drive? (the string that makes the whole thing go around)
most of those older wheels were made for production, because that is how they made thier clothes.
You probably want to find out what parts are missing first, because it isnt going to spin anything without all the parts. Its very hard to find someone who makes or repairs those old spinning wheels. to spin cotton you have to have a very tight twist because the fiber is so short. Is the orifice a small circle or large opening(the place where the wool goes into the wheel and twists, making yarn, and wraps around the bobbin)?
Do you have any idea what parts are missing?
It also could be a flax wheel, as they used to spin alot of that also.
Dont know what else to try and help you with, its really hard to figure out those old wheels even if its sitting right in front of someone, because they were all so different , and if some one made it who knows.
Did the lady you got it from say, when was the last time someone had spun on it.
hope some of this helped
shirley In OLY |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 11:41:40 PM
You sure can't beat that price either..gives you room to make the repairs or parts replacements for it when you only paid $5!!!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| AnnieT |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 8:59:20 PM
Pamela,
Congratulations on your new acquisition! If you email me a photo, I may be able to help you ID it. I don't know a whole lot about older wheels, but I'm good at websearches! I own a Louet, myself.
Annie |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 8:38:00 PM
congratulations Pamela!! that is so exciting. I wish I knew more about that type. Is it a flyer or spindle type? CAn you post a picture at all? I have several books that may help.
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things |
| Photobugs |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 7:27:52 PM
I am now the proud owner of a spining wheel. Bought it this weekend from a lady I knew when I worked for the school district. She said it was her great-grandmother's and it was from the mid 1800's. It seems to be missing a part or two. But it is in pretty good condition considering it's age. I got it for $5.00. My Dh and I looked at photos of some listed on ebay to try to figure the thing out and how it works...as I know nothing about them. But I did go on some sites that were listed here on this forum (I think) and learned a bit. It has the name Asher Wilcox printed on the side. Can anyone tell me anything about it? I do not know if it can be used for wool or cotton or both.
Any help would be appreciated.
Pamela
"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" |
| Eileen |
Posted - May 23 2005 : 08:37:17 AM
OOO, When and where is the Black Sheep Gathering? I would like to attend.
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| teripittman |
Posted - May 22 2005 : 8:36:56 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ElizArtist
Teri-Did I see that you are teaching classes at the Black Sheep Gathering in Oregon? Or was that another Teri Pittman? I may go up to that, but am still undecided.
Elizabeth
joyously dancing through life
Yes, that was me. I tend to forget about this forum, until I see one of the magazines. I'm not teaching at Black Sheep this year but will probably go down on Saturday for the fleece auction. Like I need more fleece  |
| teripittman |
Posted - May 22 2005 : 8:34:48 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ElizArtist
Hey farmers & spinners!
Have you ever tried cotton on an Ashford or Louet(as those are my other wheel options)? I heard that it's impossible on the Louet, but I don't take "impossibles" too seriously.
Where is Paula Shull located? I'm always looking for people to teach workshops here.
Elizabeth
joyously dancing through life
That's nonsense. I spin cotton on my Louet all the time. Here's how you do it. First, you need the fat core, high speed bobbins. I managed to get mine at Woodland Woolworks on sale. You need to flip the leather brake out of the way. And finally, you need to crisscross between at least three hooks on the flyer. When you start out, you want to start at the back of the bobbin, as far away as you can. You also want to sort of "spin around the corner". The thread comes straight out towards you, but you are drafting off to the side. Once you've built up a bit on the bobbin, it gets easier.
It amazes me that in all the years I've been spinning, I've never gotten as many compliments as when people see me spin cotton on the Louet.
And Paula Shull is in Oregon, in the Portland area I think. Sorry to be so long in responding to this post. |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Mar 21 2005 : 5:29:13 PM
how nice to have you here fran!! I love my angora rabbits...I used to have alot more than now. I wish I could find a good doe close by. I have spun some dog hair but not much...and it is fun. I knew a gal that had samoyeds..boy was their hair nice.
Wow..I never thought about growing cotton ..maybe I should try THAT!!
You are already an inspiration on your first post!! Welcome!
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
| fibergirl |
Posted - Mar 21 2005 : 12:57:41 PM
Hi,
I found this forum by accident...I am a spinner, knitter and crocheter. My specialty is spinning with dog hair (called chiengora). I use this fiber the same as sheep wool, although it doesn't have the same stretch, it works very nicely.
I have 5 angora rabbits. They get haircuts and their hair is so wonderful for scarves and other things.
I use natural dyes, and grow indigo and cotton in my back yard.
Gardening is another hobby.
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