Do any of you spin your own yarn?

[shirlthegirl43]

Oh well, the wheel has gone too pricey for me.

Anyone got a wheel I can borrow to have a go with please?

[shirlthegirl43]

Sounds fab Shirl. can you post a pic of your drop spindle. I'm intrigued

Sorry Incy - missed this till now. Just taken piccies for you.... To the left of the 'yarn' on the spindle you can see my early efforts with jacob fleece. The top stuff is merino/silk blend which I bought online for a very reasonable cost and it feels gorgeous to work with.

[Hilary B]

That's a very different-looking spindle, but it obviously works!

[Polly Fouracre]

OOOOOOHHHHHHH yes please

Shirl, remind me at the end of May. The fleeces are so thick on them now you could knit a thousand jumpers!
I will, hopefully send the fleeces off to be carded which will give us one long,long rollag per fleece so can be cut off at a jumpers length. Unless you want to card your own?

[shirlthegirl43]

That's a very different-looking spindle, but it obviously works!

It was suggested to me as a very inexpensive start to spinning. It works quite well - the CD obviously goes a bit wonky but the effect is there.

[shirlthegirl43]

Shirl, remind me at the end of May. The fleeces are so thick on them now you could knit a thousand jumpers!
I will, hopefully send the fleeces off to be carded which will give us one long,long rollag per fleece so can be cut off at a jumpers length. Unless you want to card your own?

Ooh, excited now Doesn't it cost lots to get it carded? It would be easier for me if it was done as I haven't progressed as far as buying carders yet, but I worry about costs (being on a strict yarn budget).

Busy trying to stay awake as I am watching another spinning wheel

[green thing]

my OH is a knitting nut
www.ravelry.com

[shirlthegirl43]

my OH is a knitting nut
www.ravelry.com

Yup, I am a member of Ravelry too

[Hilary B]

A really nice fleece CAN be spun uncarded. The tricky bit is getting rid of any 'unwanted objects' (bits of twig etc) without disturbing the way the individual hairs lie beside one another, but it really does work well once you are used to it.
I did a whole moorit shetland fleece one autumn, and I've never carded anything.

[shirlthegirl43]

A really nice fleece CAN be spun uncarded. The tricky bit is getting rid of any 'unwanted objects' (bits of twig etc) without disturbing the way the individual hairs lie beside one another, but it really does work well once you are used to it.
I did a whole moorit shetland fleece one autumn, and I've never carded anything.

Sounds so interesting, I can't wait to have 'proper' fleece to try it though it might be a bit of a challenge with a drop spindle! What did you make with your shetland yarn?

[Hilary B]

Sounds so interesting, I can't wait to have 'proper' fleece to try it though it might be a bit of a challenge with a drop spindle! What did you make with your shetland yarn?

Gave it to a knitting friend. I don't knit!

[shirlthegirl43]

Gave it to a knitting friend. I don't knit!

LOL That gave me a good giggle thanks

[Flummery]

A really nice fleece CAN be spun uncarded. The tricky bit is getting rid of any 'unwanted objects' (bits of twig etc) without disturbing the way the individual hairs lie beside one another, but it really does work well once you are used to it.
I did a whole moorit shetland fleece one autumn, and I've never carded anything.

Depends whether you want a 'woolen' or a 'worsted' fibre. If I remember rightly, a worsted is produced when you spin directly and a woolen when you card. (I could have this the wrong way round - I've had a few sleeps since I learnt to spin!) Woolens are softer, worsteds more hard wearing.

[shirlthegirl43]

Is it easier to spin the fleece 'in the grease'? Somehow I feel that it should be easier to get a really fine spin if the natural oils are holding the fibres together - or do I have it completely wrong and the oils make the 'hairs' slip past each other?

Still trying to find out if there is anywhere that hires or loans wheels for peeps to have a go (rather than joining the guild which meets once a month on a Wednesday which would not suit me at all.

[Flummery]

Yes, I never wash the fibres until it's spun and plied. At that stage I wind it into longish hanks and wash them. I've often used shampoo as it's gentle! Hang them with a clothes peg in the line till dry than wind into balls.