Do any of you spin your own yarn?

[Hilary B]

Woohoo, I am getting some Jacob via Freecycle but not sure if that will be soft enough to make some sweaters with for the winter.

Jacob fleece is borderline. It will make a good 'heavyweight' sweater, but not a more delicate 'fashion' type, for that you would want something like Shetland (if you can find it). Shetland wool is as fine as it gets, used for making those shawls that will go through a wedding ring; being a decidedly short 'staple' it takes practice to spin it well, but once you get the feel, it is great! Jacob is a nice length for a less experienced spinner; the very long stuff is as difficult to control as the very short.

[Hilary B]

It is a good way to relax, I have found if I spend some time spinning in the evening I settle down and sleep better

Hoping that weaving will do the same for Madmax!

Before the days of spinning machines, it took 6 spinners to keep a weaver supplied.... There used to be terraces of cottages, the weaver had the slightly bigger cottage (because a loom takes up a lot of space, as well as because it was a better paid task) and there were usually 5 other cottages (the weaver's wife was expected to spin too).

[shirlthegirl43]

Aye I have been working that out! Alpaca is as slippy as soap the shetland fleece I bought (and still need to be brave enough to wash) is lovely to spin in the grease. I got some dyed merino today so might have a go with that later today.

[shirlthegirl43]

Getting the hang of spinning now - got given some Blue Faced Leicester fleece and am really quite pleased with the result.

Next step is to get a whole fleece and prepare and spin it. Waiting for shearing to start here as someone has promised me a Jacob fleece to play with.

[Polly Fouracre]

My girls being shorn sometime next week. If you are still interested Shirl, give me a shout.

[shirlthegirl43]

my girls being shorn sometime next week. If you are still interested shirl, give me a shout.

shouting :d

[shirlthegirl43]

Collecting some Jacob fleeces this evening :-)

[Flummery]

Oh, lovely. Now then, are you carding them altogether to give you a grey, or are you separating the colours so you can do a pattern?

[shirlthegirl43]

Probably some of both Flum. I have been told to help myself to as many as I want so if you want one let me know - I better not take the mickey though

[Flummery]

Still got an unspun fleece in the shed Shirley, but thanks for thinking of me.

[shirlthegirl43]

Well, I now have nearly 9 kilos of Jacob fleece! It hasn't been trimmed or anything yet so there will be some loss but the grotty bits will go in the compost bin or I might just grow some beans and it is supposed to be brilliant in a bean trench.

Lovely long staple

[shirlthegirl43]

Sure you don't fancy some Flum?

[Flummery]

Oh, you wicked temptress! I'd never get in me shed at all if I put more fleece in it!

[shirlthegirl43]

LOL, this is living in the empty chook shed. I have been playing with it today and now have some washed stuff and some really grotty bits for the compost bin

[shirlthegirl43]

The Jacob is washing up nicely and spins to make a beatifully soft, bouncy yarn. I am very spurprised at how soft it is as all the Jacob items I have seen have been a bit prickly (the dark hair is coarser than the white)