HENthusiastic Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 I've just had my first spinning lesson today. I loved it! She said I picked it up really quickly. I cant wait to get my own wheel. I might be getting a second hand one for my birthday When Ive got my alpaca fleece I'm going to go back for another lesson and take the fleece so she can show me how to do the whole process . Apparently, unlike sheep wool, its going to be possible for me to do the whole process by hand! I'm so excited! Look at my first efforts: A little lumpy in places, but I'm well proud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 wow, how fabby can I put in an order for some yarn for a scarf cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Beautiful ball of yarn. Are your fingers sore now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 That looks lovely! I do my sheep fleece by hand - I don't make a lot as I only use a drop spindle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Thanks guys! Plum: my fingers werent at all sore. I was only spinning for about an hour. (Its only a small ball of wool) and it was very soft. Lesley; wow, I'm impressed. My spinning lady said that sheep fleece has to be sent off to go through a washing process before you can card it. Is that wrong? Is it a lot slower using a spindle? How long do you think it takes you to spin a whole sheep fleece? What do you do with your? I'm hoping that if I get competent at it that I will be able to sell my alpaca yarn . So yes, Cooperwife you can have some for a scarf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Well done Hen. Glad it went well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Excellent, Hen!! I've sent you a pm about a spinning wheel!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 That's great news HEN. There was a spinning wheel going on our local freecycle the other day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 *begins to form an orderly queue for alpaca wool* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 How fantastic. Mind you don't prick your finger when you get that spinning wheel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 That's great news HEN. There was a spinning wheel going on our local freecycle the other day. I would have had that *begins to form an orderly queue for alpaca wool* Once I get good enough to produce a decent yarn I am hoping to sell it. The hope is that they will cover their own costs How fantastic. Mind you don't prick your finger when you get that spinning wheel! is that something from a fairy tale? I've just been told of a 2nd hand wheel for sale thats just about within my price range and about an hour away . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Surely you can wash fleece at home, it just has to be done carefully so it doesn't felt! I'm sure I found instructions on the web a few weeks ago...must go & look again...... Lesley, do you wash yours at home or send it off? Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 HEN, I'll keep an eye in case it comes up again. Sha, I think that Lesley sends them off, but I'm sure she'll pop back in to tell you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 That's WELL exciting!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 I think the washing process is quite difficult and has to be done with special stuff to get the oils and lanolin (?) out. Alpacas dont have that in their fleeces. But anyway, I'm sure Lesley will tell us soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 How fantastic. Mind you don't prick your finger when you get that spinning wheel! is that something from a fairy tale? It sure is! ......... Sleeping Beauty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 That's great news HEN. There was a spinning wheel going on our local freecycle the other day. Why didn't you say!!! - I'm bored using a spindle! The spindle is slow compared to a wheel. I've never had a problem with washing fleece well enough to spin - although it is time consuming, I don't send them off. There is someone on the River Cottage forum who will wash, card and spin any fleece for you. I'm tempted to send some of ours to be done. I only spin small amounts these days and then weave them on a small loom. I might finish a wall hanging one day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I re-found the fleece washing links I had found before..... http://www.ehow.com/how_4530833_wash-raw-fleece.html and here's an alpaca fleece article... http://www.walnutcreekalpacas.com/spinning_alpaca.htm Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 Great articles Sha - the shhep fleece one has instructions for an American washing machine - they all use top loaders so it's not as easy using a front loader. I put mine in the bath and it takes all day to keep rinsing and washing. I must make a drying rack though - that would help. I usually spin it in the washing machine and then drape it all over the fence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 I have a smallish piece of weldmesh in the garden, left over from the WIR which I am planning to use as a drying rack, it's still curved in such a way that it won't even need a frame I hope! I bet it takes a month of Sundays to dry...... Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted May 21, 2009 Author Share Posted May 21, 2009 Gosh, I'm lucky I dont have to do all that with the alpaca fleece. A friend with sheep has asked me to do some spinning for him. He says he's always wanted to have one of his own sheep fleeces spun. I'll get him to do the washing stuf. I'm off to see a wheel for sale tomorow . But its not my birthday until June 18th.... so I should be good and put it away until then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 So glad it went well . That is a very impressive ball of yarn , can't wait to see you sat at your wheel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 Mostin; you've been missing for days.... and now you are EVERYWHERE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Mostin; you've been missing for days.... and now you are EVERYWHERE! There is nowhere I can not reach Mwaaa haaa haaa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 She's been learning how to spin alpaca wool If you can't beat em join em! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
